Page 33 of Shapeshifter's Vengeance

I sip my coffee, letting the rich flavor calm my nerves. It's a brief escape, a moment to gather my thoughts. As I gaze out thewindow, I feel a prickling sensation, as if someone is watching me. I turn, and my eyes meet those of a woman seated a few tables away. She's staring directly at me.

Without hesitation, I grab my coffee and walk over to her table. "Mind if I join you?"

She smiles with a warm, welcoming expression. "Not at all. Please, sit."

I settle into the chair opposite her. "I'm Evelyn. Are you new in town?"

She nods. "Yes, I moved here about a month ago. I'm Rachel, a teacher."

"A teacher? That's wonderful. What do you teach?"

"Elementary school. I love working with kids. They have such an unfiltered view of the world."

We chat for a while, exchanging stories about our lives and the town. Rachel seems genuine, her laughter infectious. It's a relief to have a normal conversation, even if it's just for a little while.

Eventually, I glance at my watch and realize I need to get back to the department. "It was really nice meeting you, Rachel."

"Likewise, Evelyn. I hope we can chat again sometime."

I smile. "I'd like that."

I leave the café feeling a bit lighter. But as soon as I step into the department, reality crashes back in. I head straight to Mark's desk. "Mark, I need you to look into something for me."

He looks up from his computer, his brow furrowing. "What is it?"

"There's a new arrival in town, Rachel. I want you to check the town database for information about her. Where she works, where she lives, where she came from and when."

Mark nods, his fingers flying over the keyboard. I wait, tapping my foot impatiently. It feels like an eternity before he looks up, his expression serious.

"There's no Rachel in the database."

I freeze, a cold dread settling in my stomach. "Are you sure?"

He turns the monitor toward me, showing the empty search results. "Positive. No one by that name has moved here in the past few months or works here in town."

My mind races. Who is Rachel, really? And why did she lie about her identity?

I return to my office, my thoughts swirling. I can’t shake the feeling that Rachel is connected to everything happening in Harmony Grove. But how? And why did she choose to talk to me, knowing I’m the Sheriff?

I spent the next few hours poring over the case files, my mind only half on the task. I kept replaying my conversation with Rachel, looking for any clue I might have missed. Her smile, her ease—it all seemed so genuine. But something about her is off, and now I can't ignore it.

As the day wears on, I decide to call Alexei. He needs to know about this. His voice is a comforting presence on the other end of the line.

"Alexei, I met someone today. Her name is Rachel, but she's not in the database."

"That’s strange. What do you think it means?"

"I'm not sure yet. But I have Mark looking into it. We need to be cautious."

"Agreed. Just be careful, Evelyn."

"I will. You too."

As I hang up, my mind is already racing ahead. There’s so much at stake, and any new player in town could either be a threat or an ally. I need to find out which one Rachel is.

Ana’s living room feels like a war room. Papers are scattered across the coffee table, half-empty coffee cups balanced precariously on stacks of old books. The deputies—Mark, Linda, and Teresa—sit around, faces serious. Ana and I stand by the fireplace, the warmth doing little to ease the tension.

Ana sighs, rubbing her temples. “Still no luck with finding a personal item of Elara’s. Without it, a locator spell is out of the question.”

---