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And what were the odds I’d meet a Hanley at the grocery store? I reminded myself. The guys who had chased me didn’t seem the type to be wandering the grocery aisles looking for feminine products and toilet paper, two must haves on my list.
When we arrived at the store, Dad hovered next to the grocery cart uncertainly. I took pity on him and tore the list in half, making sure I had the products I needed on my half.
“Here,” I said, shoving his half at him. “We’ll meet over there when we finish.” I indicated a small area dedicated to complimentary coffee and he nodded his agreement. I left him with the buggy since what I had to grab wasn’t heavy. I found myself scanning the faces around me, waiting for someone to point and scream, “Grab her!” I settled after a few minutes as people ignored me and went about their business. I grabbed my favorite brand of pads and wandered down the aisles looking for the dishwashing detergent. I accidentally turned down the baby aisle, and it was as I passed a woman pushing a baby boy that I finally got the reaction I’d been anticipating.
I brushed past her, murmuring, “Excuse me,” when she went rigid. The smile I’d been aiming at the little boy froze on my face as I felt her tense. My own shoulders tightened, and I forced myself to glance over my shoulder at her. There was something familiar about her features, but it was the terror on her face that set my heart to hammering. She wasn’t out to get me. She was terrified for me.
“You’re not safe here,” she said, almost under her breath as her hand wrapped around my arm. “You aren’t safe,” she spoke again, agitated as she repeated her warning. She searched the area around us as she pushed her cart forward, dragging me with her. I followed along, unable to tear myself from her grip if I’d wanted to. She was striking, and her build could be considered statuesque, but there was no mistaking her strength.
I stared at her as she moved us along, her eyes peering around almost frantically. I knew I should be frightened, but oddly felt safe with her, and her familiarity was distracting me from the terror I knew I should be feeling. I glanced down at the baby boy sitting in the cart as he fussed, and it was like being slammed in the face with a sledgehammer.
“Shh, don’t cry, Nicky,” the woman soothed as I stared into the little boy’s familiar yellow eyes. He shoved his fist into his mouth and stared back at me unblinkingly. It was hard to draw a breath as I memorized the boy’s face, knowing instinctively I would be asked about him. I didn’t know how old he was, probably between one and two, but the woman’s features suddenly made more sense.
“Here,” I stumbled as she released me suddenly and I found myself surrounded by cleaning supplies. “Look, I know this doesn’t make a lot of sense but you need to get the hell away from here.” She glanced around, but her tension only seemed to increase as she hunched forward protectively. “I’m going to get him out of here. Stay here. Don’t move. If he discovers you….” She trailed off as she patted the baby’s head and then glanced back at me. “I’m sorry. I know this seems crazy. Just stay here. Give me 15 minutes to get him out of the store.” I nodded, already figuring out she was somehow connected to the Hanleys.
“I know Dominic,” I told her as she gave me another concerned look. “I’ll do what you asked.” Tears welled up in her eyes when I said his name and she glanced down at the boy, Nicky. “Do you want me to give him a message?” I offered, sensing regret mingled with her fear. Her soft expression hardened, startling me into stepping back at the violent emotion now displayed.
“Tell him he was right,” she replied, her grimace brittle. “And he could do worse,” she finished cryptically. I frowned, opening my mouth to question her when we heard a man bellow, “Samantha!”
Her face transformed then, going from bitter to determined in a flash. I barely saw her move, but suddenly I was being splashed with bleach as the acrid smell caused my eyes to water.
“Stay,” was the last thing I heard as she hurriedly pushed the cart away from me, her back straight as she turned the corner and I heard her greet someone. I shrank further back into the shadowed corner she’d found to hide me in. The scent of the bleach she’d drenched me in no longer bothered me, as it protected me from the man on the other side of the aisle.
