Page 37 of Shapeshifter's Vengeance

My heart races. "So, she was there. And now Zara is dead."

"That can't be a coincidence," Teresa says.

"Agreed," I say. "We need to find Cassandra. She's our best lead."

Mark speaks up. "What about the café? Should we keep watching it?"

"Yes," I reply. "But we need to expand our search. Cassandra could be anywhere."

The team nods, determined. We plan our next steps, each of us taking on new tasks and leads. As the meeting ends, I feel a sense of purpose. We're getting closer.

After everyone leaves, I sit alone in my office, my mind clouded with the thoughts of everything going on. The town is counting on us to solve this, to bring justice. And I won't let them down.

I take a deep breath, gathering my strength. Tomorrow is a new day, and we'll continue the fight. For Zara, for Alexei, for Harmony Grove. The hunt for Cassandra is on, and we won't stop until we find her.

Chapter 16: Confrontations and Notes

EVELYN

I sit at my desk, staring at the grainy photo of Cassandra—Rachel, as she calls herself now. The file spread out before me feels like a chaotic mess. My phone buzzes, and I glance at the screen. It's Mark.

"Hey, Mark. What's up?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

"We got a hit on Cassandra's face. She's been teaching at Harmony Elementary under the name Rachel Meyer," he says, excitement tinged with concern. “And I have her home address listed with the school.”

"Oh shit! Why didn’t I remember that about her? She told me she was a teacher at the elementary school. Damnit, we could have saved so much time! I'm going to pay her a visit right now," I reply, already grabbing my keys.

"Be careful, Evelyn. She's dangerous."

"I will. Thanks, Mark."

I hang up and head to my car, my mind racing. Rachel Meyer, a teacher at the local school, was living among us undetected the whole time we were searching for her!Damn, you’d think I was the one with the memory problem. And why didn’t I think to investigate anyone new to the town first?!

I drive through the quiet streets of Harmony Grove remembering how it used to be. As I pull up to the modest house, I see her sitting on the porch, reading a book. She looks up, and our eyes meet. Her mismatched eyes, one blue and one green, send a surge of uneasiness through me.

I approach calmly, my heart pounding. "Rachel? Or should I call you Cassandra?"

She sets her book down and stands, her expression neutral. "Rachel is fine. What can I do for you, Sheriff?"

"We need to talk," I say, keeping my voice level.

"About what?" she asks, feigning innocence.

I take a step closer. "We have reason to believe you're involved in the recent murders."

Her eyes narrow slightly, but her voice remains calm. "That's a serious accusation. And it's completely false. I'm a teacher, not a murderer."

"We know who you really are, Cassandra," I say, holding her gaze.

She crosses her arms, her demeanor shifting. "I don’t know who the hell Cassandra is. Now, unless you have evidence, I'd appreciate it if you got off my porch."

I study her for a moment, searching for any sign of weakness, but she stands firm. "This isn't over. We will find the evidence."

She smirks. "Good luck with that, Sheriff. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have lessons to prepare."

I turn and walk away, my mind buzzing. She's playing a dirty game, and she's good at it. But I won't let her win.

Back at the department, I gather the team. Ana, Mark, Linda, and Teresa.

---