Chapter 1

Terra looked up. A girl with bright red hair and a wide, almost rehearsed smile stood there. Terra nodded. “First day.”

“Kayleigh.” She offered a hand. Terra shook it. “I’ll show you the break room. You’ll need the good coffee.”

The warmth was easy, natural. Terra relaxed for the first time that morning. Shelving, patrons, periodicals—nothing she couldn’t handle.

But by the end of her shift, something had shifted.

Tucked inside her locker: a folded notebook page, no name, sharp, angular handwriting.

Don’t trust everything she tells you.

No signature. No clue.

Terra read it three times, her stomach tightening. Kayleigh? The easy laugh, the staff warnings? She shoved the note into her pocket, leaving the library as the late sun offered no warmth.

At Elm and Third, Liam leaned against the deli wall, phone in hand. “Took you long enough. I was about to send a search party.”

“First day. Cut me some slack.” She tried to smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

Liam noticed. He always did. “What happened?”

She pulled out the note. He read it, brow furrowed, then looked at her, half concern, half curiosity.

“Someone’s trying to spook you,” he said. “Any idea who?”

“None. I only met, like, three people.”

“And the one who was nice?”

Terra hesitated. “Kayleigh. She seemed... fine. Genuine.”

“Seemed.” Liam folded the note, handing it back. “Let’s get food. You can tell me everything.”

They ordered sandwiches. Terra picked at her turkey while Liam watched.

“She helped me find the break room,” Terra said finally. “Showed me the good coffee. Told me which staff members were jerks.”

“Standard first-day stuff.”

“I know. That’s why the note feels so...” She trailed off. “Wrong.”

The deli bell jingled. Terra looked up.

Kayleigh stood in the doorway, scanning the room. Her eyes met Terra’s, widened—just a split second—then smoothed into something careful.

She walked over, ignoring Liam. “Terra. I need to talk to you.”

“Okay.” Terra set down her sandwich, pulse quickening. “What’s up?”

Kayleigh glanced at Liam, then back at Terra. “Not here. Can you meet me tomorrow? Before your shift?”

“Why?” Liam’s voice was flat, guarded.

Kayleigh acknowledged him with a tight smile. “Because someone left a note in my locker too.”

She pulled a crumpled paper from her jacket. Terra saw the same sharp handwriting, the same pressed-too-hard ink.

She’s not who you think she is.