• Chapter 53,  North of Happenstance

    North of Happenstance: Chapter Fifty-Three

    With a weary sigh, Kate shut and locked her outside door. Hefting the overnight bag over her shoulder, she made her way out to the curb, where a nervous looking M.T. stood, beside an equally unsure Penny. Or maybe they just appeared tense to Kate, who was feeling a little, well, panicky herself. “Tell me one more time,” Kate said, shoving her bag in the backseat of the car. “That I’m doing the right thing here.” M.T.’s face gave nothing away. “Kate…” “She’d go and see him anyway,” Penny intruded, leaning up against the trunk of Kate’s car. “You know Janessa. It’s much better that she’ll have you there.” M.T.…

  • Chapter 55,  North of Happenstance

    North of Happenstance: Chapter Fifty-Five

    Groaning quietly, Penny woke up slowly. Agonized. Eyes tightly closed, her brain felt like it was ricocheting madly around her head—even just breathing seemed to be sending the thing unraveling, bouncing painfully from left to right, unhinged. Parched. That’s how she felt. Her mouth was dry. Impossibly dry. Smacking her lips together, she tried to get some moisture inside the dessert coating her teeth, her tongue… Stretching, Penny let her eyes slowly slip open. Wait. Her arms raised up over her head, Penny felt confused, disorientated. This wasn’t her duvet. This wasn’t her bed. This wasn’t her house. It was only by sheer will that Penny kept herself from shrieking—alarm…

  • Chapter 56,  North of Happenstance

    North of Happenstance: Chapter Fifty-Six

    Breathing heavily, the collar of her coat pulled up high, half obscuring her face, Penny rushed through the throng of people milling around the copious displays of books scattered around the entrance to the LitLiber. Her eyes twitched uneasily from left to right and back again. But she didn’t see anyone. And, by anyone she meant Calida McDonald, of course. When her fingers closed around the doorknob to Jake’s office, Penny felt her stomach pinch tightly, ears pressed momentarily against the wood gain of his door, waiting for any noise. What if they’d found her already, what if they were in their now, cornering Kate… But silence met her probing…