In the Land of Milk and Honey by Jane Jensen Read Free Book Online Page A

Saturday.”
    â€œDamn.” The woman lightly frowned. “I work an early shift at the hospital on Saturdays. Don’t get home until three.”
    â€œIf you’re sure you’ll be here before we close, I’d be happy to set aside a few pints for you.”
    â€œWould you?” The woman looked like she’d been promised a winning lottery ticket. Then again, the first spring strawberries straight off the farm were close. “I can
definitely
be by, like, three thirty?”
    â€œWe close at four, so yeah, if you can make it by then that would be great.”
    â€œThat’s amazing! Thank you so much!”
    Amber smiled at the woman. They were definitely on the same wavelength. And her baby was such a cutie. Lucky baby to have a mama like this one.
    â€œAnd I suppose you’re completely out of raw milk?” the woman pouted.
    â€œOh, yeah! Sorry. That goes fast.”
    The woman sighed. “I figured. Oh well!” She jostled thebrown-haired munchkin strapped to her chest. “We’ll have to get our moo moo at the store tomorrow!” she cooed to the little girl. “Lilah’s crazy about the stuff,” she told Amber.
    â€œWell that’s something she and I have in common.” Amber leaned forward to touch the baby on the nose. She was rewarded with a smile.
    â€œThey have it at the natural food store in town, but it’s a pain getting over there. We’re so lucky, aren’t we? I have a friend who’s a mom in Maryland. Sometimes she’ll drive up for a visit just to pick up raw milk. I can’t imagine not being able to get it whenever I want it.”
    This was a topic Amber felt passionately about, and her tiredness from the long day faded as her blood rose. “I know!” she agreed. “Technically, I’m not supposed to sell it to anyone who’ll take it over the state lines. But screw that. Anyone who wants to buy it from me, I’m not asking questions. If they happen to mention they’re from Jersey or Maryland, I’m just like, ‘La la la! Didn’t hear that!’”
    The woman laughed. “Good for you! So how much do I owe you for the asparagus?” The woman pulled a wallet out of a pouch in the carrier.
    Amber hesitated. “You know, I have a gallon of milk in the truck I poured one glass out of this morning. If you want it, you can have it. Just so you have something to hold you over till tomorrow. No one drank out of the carton or anything.”
    The woman looked unsure. “Seriously? I don’t want to take it if you were keeping it for yourself.”
    â€œOh, I still have most of a gallon at home. I’m good.”
    â€œWell . . . okay. That’d be wonderful! Would you like some milk, Lilah?”
    â€œMoo moo!” the little girl said happily, kicking her legs.
    Amberlaughed.

CHAPTER 4
    The CDC held a VIP emergency debriefing at the police station on Tuesday morning, four days after the Kindermans had been found. The heads of a few state agencies came down from Harrisburg, and only the top brass of the police were invited. Fortunately, Grady stopped at my desk and nodded at me to come along. He knew I had a real jones for this case, even though the CDC were in charge of it.
    Dr. Glen Turner from the CDC led the meeting. He was in his mid-thirties with sandy hair, a goatee, and a “hip scientist” vibe. His button-down oxford shirt and khakis stood out among all the suits. He came across as very intelligent and firmly in charge. He was pretty cute too. Not that I cared one way or the other. It was just an observation.
    â€œOur lab has identified the toxin.” Dr. Turner had his laptopplugged into a projector, and he put up a photograph of a plant. It had long stems and a wide head made up of tiny white flowers. “The Kindermans died of tremetol poisoning. It was in their cow’s milk. Tremetol is found in a few wild