Page 31 of Hidden Nature

Her mother-in-law volunteered to bring pies. Thank God! But Janet had insisted on doing all the rest.

Because, she admitted, she wanted Drake, his parents, hers, everyone, to be proud of her. And she’d gotten a second chance at being a really good marriage partner, and—hopefully soon—being a mother.

That summer she’d nearly drowned in the lake. Technically, she did drown. But they’d brought her back. Given her this second chance.

She wanted this to be a step toward all of that.

With her mind on the cranberry sauce she’d talked herself into making from actual cranberries—what if it didn’t gel?—and all the sides she had to prepare, not to mention the intimidating sixteen-pound turkey, she didn’t notice the white panel van turn into the lot behind her.

She parked, gathered her purse. Remembered her keys and dropped them in her outside pocket.

Late afternoon had gone gloomy, and now she worried about snow.

What if, what if they got dumped on and her parents couldn’t make the drive? She really wanted them there.

She got out, then nearly walked into the door of the van when it opened in front of her.

A man got out, smiled. He said, “Sorry.”

Then jabbed a needle into the side of her neck.

She managed one gasp and started to struggle, but the side door rolled open.

He shoved her inside, climbed in after her.

Dimly she heard the door roll closed again, heard him say:

“Got her, babe. Easy peasy.”

She managed to choke out, “Help,” before everything went dark.

“Don’t you worry, Janet.” The woman in the driver’s seat glanced in the rearview before she pulled out of the lot. “That’s what we’re here for. Check her pulse, doll. We don’t want her fading out on us before we get her home.”

“Slow and steady, babe. She’s just under.”

But he lifted her onto the cot on the side of the van and strapped her down. Once he had her secured, he climbed back into the passenger seat. He fastened his seat belt, then turned on the radio.

“Easiest one yet.” He slid on sunglasses, smiled a happy smile. “Who knew she’d take a drive to the supermarket out of the blue like that?”

The woman drove, carefully, at the speed limit, toward the highway. And gave a silent thanks for the blessing now in the back of the van.

“What’s meant’s meant, doll,” she said. “She’s nearly the youngest one we’ve released. I have a real good feeling about Janet.”

He consulted the chart. “Twenty-four, five-five, a hundred and twenty-one pounds. Type O-neg. All good on her last checkup.”

He sat back with a sigh, tapped his foot to the beat on the radio.

“Pretty perfect. I gotta say I wasn’t sure it was worth it, driving down here after we both worked an early shift. But, babe, you always know best.”

“She’ll have a story to tell, I know it. Then we’ll take what she has and set her free.”

CHAPTER FIVE

When Janet woke with her head floating, her first vague thought was: Hospital.

She heard the beep of a monitor, saw beige walls and the IV needle on her left hand. The narrow bed had guards on either side, and the back was lifted so she half sat, half reclined.

She’d had an emergency appendectomy her junior year at college, then the accident in the lake, so thought hospital.

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