Chapter 163
The next day, I woke with a knot of anxiety in my stomach. The events of the previous night, the stolen equipment, the near escape, the knowledge that someone was watching us...it all weighed heavily on me. But I couldn't afford to dwell on it. I had a job to do, a contract to fulfill.
I went to Dr. Merill's pharmacy, a small, unassuming shop tucked away on a quiet side street. Dr. Merill was an elderly man with a kind face and a wealth of knowledge about herbal remedies. I had a contract with him to prepare a specific herbal medicine for six months, a task I usually found calming and therapeutic. I had delivered the first month's supply, and now it was time to start preparing the second.
As I entered the pharmacy, the familiar scent of dried herbs and tinctures filled my nostrils, a comforting aroma that momentarily eased my anxiety. Dr. Merill greeted me with a warm smile.
