Page 59 of Matthew
Inside were twelve identical bags ofHerbal Bliss – Organic Pest Repellent Mix.Pale green packaging, crisp branding, each one stamped with a lot number and some smug marketing line about “natural resilience.”
Callie narrowed her eyes. The bags were too clean. Too stiff.
She picked one up. Too heavy. Too compact.No give in the packaging. She leaned in and sniffed. No familiar scent, nothing sharp or minty or earthy. Just…sterile.
Matthew reached over and took the bag from her, testing the weight with a quiet frown. Then he drew his knife and carefully sliced the top open.
A fine, gray-white powder slid out in a slow pour. Smooth. Odorless.
Not herbal. Not even close.
She took a step back. “That’s not pest repellent.”
“No,” Matthew said, resealing the bag with duct tape he’d pulled from a pocket in his cargo pants. “That’s hydroxypropyl cellulose. Filler compound. Used in counterfeit pill production—oxy, benzos, worse. Not dangerous by itself, and not illegal to transport, but when it shows up this way?” He looked up, his jaw tight. “It’s part of something bad.”
The words landed like a slow drop of cold water down her spine. Callie swallowed hard. Twelve bags. All of it hidden in plain sight among the normal stock.
And tucked inside her nursery as if it belonged there.
She looked toward the front of the property, the gravel drive quiet for now. “Caspian’s coming to get this?”
“Texted him five minutes ago.” Matthew nodded.
She leaned her arms on her knees and stared at the container between them. “This is my family’s business,” she said. “My home.”
“I know.” His voice was calm, yet fierce. “And we’re going to protect it.”
The sound of tires crunching gravel made them both look up. Caspian’s dark SUV appeared, and they watched him ease around the back edge of the greenhouse at a slow pace.
Matthew rose to his feet and offered her a hand up. “Let’s pack it back up. Let Carter and the team confirm what we’re dealing with.”
Callie hesitated for a second before taking his hand. It was warm and steady, and right now, exactly what she needed.
Whatever was going on, it was bigger than one mispacked box.
Caspian pulled the SUV in close, engine idling low as he climbed out with a nod.
“See anything on the way in?” Matthew asked.
“Yeah. That truck turning onto the backroad that leads to the next county.” Caspian popped the hatch. “I gave Carter aheads up to see if there are anyeyesout there to track it.” He eyed the box. “What do we have?”
“Looks like hydroxypropyl cellulose,” Matthew replied.
Caspian shook his head, muttering a curse as he bent down to help Matthew load the box into the back of the vehicle. Callie watched the way both men handled it—carefully, as if they knew it was more than a mislabeled product.
She could feel it now.
Caspian shut the hatch, gave Matthew a quick update about Carter’s timeline, then pulled away with a wave.
The moment the SUV disappeared down the gravel path, silence settled again around the greenhouse.
Callie stared at the dusty footprint where the box had been. “I take it that was bad stuff.”
“Yes,” Matthew said quietly beside her.
Her stomach curled in on itself. “So, whoever packed that box—”
“Knew what they were doing. They chose something that wouldn’t raise eyebrows.” He looked at her then, steady. “It’s not illegal to have HPC. Itisillegal to sneak it in mislabeled bulk through someone else’s business.”
