The Baby Snatchers Read Online Free PDF Page B

guts to stand up to the woman? What if Cynthia’s teenage years
had been as dark and depressing as Cam’s? Had she been kicked
out of home, like he had? Was that the reason she was pregnant and
alone at sixteen?
    The questions kept coming, racing around and
around inside his mind and he had no answers. With gritted teeth,
he pressed his hands against both sides of his head in an effort to
slow down his thoughts. Bryce threw him another concerned look and
with a gargantuan effort, Cam managed to calm himself enough to
reassure his colleague.
    “It’s all right, Bryce. I’m okay. I am. I
probably don’t look like it, but I’ll be fine. I have so many
questions about how this came to be. Having no answers is
frustrating.”
    “I understand. You’ve had a shock. Is there
anything I can do?”
    “No. I appreciate your offer, but this is
something I’m going to have deal with on my own. I’m glad we
brought that meth investigation to a close. The boss owes me a few
days off. I’ll go and see him now and tell him I need to collect. I
have to visit with my sister and work out what the hell has gone
wrong with her life. A baby at sixteen?” He shook his head, feeling
grim. “It’s not the best way to get ahead.”
    “I’m sure between the two of you, you’ll be
able to work something out. Who knows? Things might not be as bad
as they sound. I’m only getting the information secondhand,
remember?”
    Cam nodded, his gut still heavy with dread.
As far as he could see, there was nothing good about a teenage girl
who might have been kicked out of home and now had a baby in tow,
but maybe he was reading too much into it? Maybe it was like Bryce
had said. Maybe it wasn’t quite as bad as it sounded.
    There was only one way to find out.

CHAPTER
THREE
     
    Present day
     
    Dear Diary,
     
    ‘ We’re all put on this earth for a
purpose.’ It’s what Matron kept saying to me. It wasn’t the first
time I’d heard those words. The nuns at my high school had said
them, too. It was like they were supposed to instil some kind of
fervor in the students to work harder and to excel; to seek out our
higher purpose; fulfil our destiny.
    Now, so many years later, I don’t know if I
believe the words or not, but one thing is for sure: I’ve dedicated
my life to finding out. From that very first moment, so long ago,
when Matron pulled me aside and whispered to me of her plan, I was
sure I’d found my purpose and I’ve spent many years striving to get
it right. I only hope my efforts will one day be recognized.
    Not everyone will agree with my methods, but
no one will argue with the outcome. Each time, I did what was
necessary and right… And THAT I do believe…
    * * *
    Georgie stowed her handbag in her locker and
made her way to the staff tea room. A handful of nurses rostered on
the morning shift sat around a kitchen table, most of them holding
steaming cups. Nodding and smiling in greeting, she went to the
small counter and poured herself a cup of coffee. Adding cream and
sugar, she took a grateful sip and sighed in satisfaction.
    “Ah, there’s nothing quite like that first
taste of coffee,” she murmured and took a seat at the table.
    Her mother glanced up from the newspaper
spread before her and frowned. “You look a little tired, Georgina.
I hope you got some sleep?”
    “Yes, but it was fitful. I kept thinking
about Cynthia Dawson. I hope Cheryl or someone else from FACS gets
here in time. Did we have any patients come in overnight? Is there
still a rush for the bed?”
    Her mother shook her head. “No, thank
goodness, but we have four women due in today. Whether they go into
labor on their due date is anybody’s guess, but we still need to be
prepared.” She glanced around the room at the other nurses and then
returned her attention to Georgie. “It won’t be an issue for
Cynthia Dawson. She’ll be discharged this morning.”
    “Marjorie!” Georgie protested. “You can’t do
that! We need to keep her