Slumped against the stone wall, sitting on a cold wooden bench, she watched the fly climb toward a spider’s web bejeweled with dew drops that dazzled in the slanting rays of sunrise. One wrong zag, and the fly ensnared itself in the web, ejecting a spray of droplets. The spider appeared, darted forward and sank its fangs into its hapless prey. In a moment, the struggle was over, the spider wrapping its prize to eat later at its leisure. The fly never realized a predator lurked in its midst—not in such a beautiful, quiet space.Metal scraped against metal. Ancient hinges groaned. The stable door opened and Giovanni’s grimacing face appeared. “I am very sorry, I must apologize—”“I told you never to apologize.” Grabbing her crutches, Jess stood. “I would have done the same if I were you.” Even so, relief washed through her. And it was the truth. If she'd been him, she might have done worse—if someone stole her child in the middle of these strange coincidences piling up.
