Inhuman (11)

To read from the beginning, please visit the Inhuman page.

“Hi, Mom,” Amanda said into the phone. “I made it. The movers just left.” After the unsettling trip out to her car, she had needed a little comfort and reassurance. She just hoped her mother wouldn’t pick up on the anxiety in her voice.

“Dear, you sound like you’re out of breath. Is everything alright?” her mother asked.

Amanda laughed nervously. “Oh, yeah. Fine. Just hauled my luggage in from the car. That’s all.”

“Ok, good. Now are you sure you don’t want your father and me to come and help? We could leave here bright and early. I could bring breakfast…?” 

As much as she wanted the company of her family, Amanda knew they’d be safer staying away. “No, really it’s fine. The movers already took care of most of it. Just going to run out to the supermarket for a few things and then I’ll get started putting my clothes away and…”

“But Amanda, we’re just dying to see the place. Couldn’t we…?”

“No, Mom. Really. Let me get settled and you can come for a proper visit.”

“Alright,” her mother sighed. But…”

After a few more minutes of gentle persuasion, Amanda made her excuses and said goodbye. She really did need to get some food in the house. Maybe the town wouldn’t seem so strange if she got out and had a look around and maybe talked to a few people. Even if it was only the cashier at the supermarket.

The afternoon shadows were growing long so before grabbing her keys, she drew the blinds closed on the front windows and turned on a lamp. None of the curtains moved on the houses around hers this time but she couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling she was being watched. “I’m being ridiculous,” she murmured. “Of course the neighbors are going to be curious. And small town people can be suspicious of newcomers.” And with good reason, she thought. If they had any idea they had a secret government laboratory in their back yard…

Amanda retraced her steps to the supermarket she had passed on her way into town and found a parking spot near the main entrance. Mentally, she was composing a list of supplies she’d need to buy when she realized she was gripping the shopping cart handle like her life depended on it. Taking a deep breath, she willed herself to relax. Lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, onions… she filled her cart with vegetable basics. One of the store clerks stocking the shelves smiled and nodded. That’s better, she thought, relaxing a little more. 

After she had collected everything she would need from food to personal care, she wheeled the overflowing cart to the checkout aisle and began to unload. The cashier chuckled at the size of her order and asked, “find everything you need?”

Amanda smiled and said, “Yes, I just moved here and I needed almost everything.”

“Well, that’ll keep you for a while,” she said as she scanned each item. “That’ll be $189.98. Cash or card?”

“Cash,” Amanda said, handing over four $50 bills.

“Here you go. $10.02 is your change. Thank you and welcome to Makepeace, Ms. Connor.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that,” she replied with a smile. Maybe the town wasn’t so strange after all. Then, as she was loading the bags into her car, it hit her. The cashier’s words echoed in her ears. “Welcome to Makepeace, Ms. Connor.” But she had never given the woman her name.  

The Bucks County Novels – by Margaret Sorick

Once a year (yes, I’m terrible at marketing…) I like to remind my followers that I have a series of novels available for purchase on Amazon. The novels are set in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where I live. My characters are ordinary people with families, people who fall in love and sometimes find themselves in outrageous circumstances. While the same cast of characters appears in each of the books, the plot focuses on a different one every time. The first  novel in the series: Three Empty Frames won first prize in The Writer’s Digest E-book Awards for Mainstream Fiction in 2017. Here is a look at each one of them:

Three Empty Frames  – Book OneThree Empty Frames_02_HR_front_2

Life just got complicated for Jennifer Dunne. Her dead mother’s diary has revealed clues to a famous art heist from the 1960s. Have the missing masterpieces been hidden among her things all this time? Jen is targeted by a pair of ruthless criminals who certainly think so. Meanwhile, she’s falling in love with her new lawyer, who works with her to unravel the clues. But will the fledgling relationship survive when another handsome rival appears on the scene? And have the clues to the whereabouts of the missing masterpieces led them astray? Were the paintings hidden in plain sight all along?

Seeing Red – Book Two 514HE57Sz1L

Beautiful, hardworking, Desdemona Murray doesn’t see herself the way others do. She only remembers the awkward teenager she once was. The talented landscape designer is hired to install a custom deck at the home of star football player, Ethan Samuels. When she catches the eye of the handsome professional athlete, and he begins to pursue her relentlessly, she is at first, flattered and amazed. However, her heart belongs to a man whom she believes only considers her a friend. Adam Quinn has always been a ladies man, not one to settle down, or so she thinks. Little does she know his feelings for her run much deeper. When Des finally sees both men for who they really are, the choice she must make is obvious. But when she chooses, Des finds out how dangerous it can be to break free from a man who can’t take no for an answer.

Run For It – Book Three fullsizeoutput_cc7

Joni Cooper is in the best shape of her life. In fact, she’s training for the Boston Marathon. So why does she feel like the last kid picked for the team? Mostly because her two best friends have fallen in love with a pair of handsome brothers. It looks like she’s stuck with the third and final brother, Graham, as an escort for both weddings. Even though Graham is gorgeous and successful, he’s also irritating as sin. Will the two of them manage to call a truce until the two couples are married? Or will the sparks these two generate erupt into a five alarm fire?

Tainted Inheritance – Book Four fullsizeoutput_f0c

Why would anyone want to hurt Olivia Sutton? Her life was finally coming together after her divorce. She’s found new love with contractor Leo Donovan and made a fresh start in a new home. When she becomes the victim of one too many random accidents, she realizes someone is stalking her. Has something in her past come back to haunt her? And can she and Leo discover the secret before it’s too late?

Breaking Bread – Book Five breaking bread_01 copy

Maya Kaminsky has finally realized her dream of owning a French bakery cafe, despite the opposition of her rigid, narrow-minded family. But as the business grows and thrives, Maya discovers she has an enemy. Beginning with petty mischief, the cafe becomes targeted by vandals who quickly escalate to dangerous sabotage. To complicate matters, Maya’s childhood friend, Brad Logan, moves back into town and with his recent inheritance, buys her building, intending to help her out. However, Maya’s fierce independence makes it a struggle to accept help from anyone, let alone a man with whom she finds herself falling in love. Nevertheless, Maya will need all the help she can get to save both her business and her life.