Chapter 13

“Bert, I have to get home. This gentleman needs help. I don’t have time to talk right now. I just stopped by for a few supplies,” Miah said with urgency.

Bert Renaldo put his hand on her arm to stop her. “I need you to look at a patient for me, Miah. A little girl. It won’t take that long.”

“Not now, I’ll come back later tonight.” Miah’s voice was soft but very firm.

Bert tightened his grip, intending to pull her back, but as he did so, he felt something moving along his skin. Looking down, he saw several small spiders with vicious-looking fangs crawling along his arm. With an oath, he let go of Miah and shook his arm hard. The spiders were gone as if they’d never been, and Miah was already walking quickly to her side of the car. She was looking at him as if he were a nut. He started to explain, but when he couldn’t see any evidence of spiders, he decided it wasn’t worth the trouble.

Bert hurried to the car, deliberately taking her arm again and bending low to peer in the window at Al