Beneath the Midnight Sky

e stepped into Hawthorne's Café. The sound of chatter and the

the patrons lingered on her just a second longer than u

en tables, the same mismatched chairs, even the old chalkboard m

voice called her n

orne. He looked older, sure, but the warmth in his hazel eye

ed. This was her playful partner years

hug that took her by surprise. "Fifteen years!?," he said, his voice tinged with dis

asual reunion. "I'm working on a story," sh

eads toward her, it was enough to confirm her suspicion-everyone in Evermore was not comf

and something earthy, like old wood. Ethan leaned

but this story you're chasing? It's not worth it. People around here don'

omeone, Ethan. This is my hometown too, and people

town..." He paused, searching for the right words. "It has a way of

jingling interrupted them. Ethan straightened. "That

their attention to the courthouse steps, where Mayor Gregory Thorne stood with confidence. His voice ran

," he said, his tone smooth and authorita

, comforted by his words. But she saw something else in the may

Charlie murmured to Et

ng," Ethan muttere

slipping something into her hand so quickly that Charlie almost didn

e. She recognized one of them instantly-a younger version of Mayor Thorne. Turning it over, h

g crowd, searching for the woman who had handed

" Ethan asked, noticin

. "It's a warning," she said, h

getting really concerned

a problem. One that she could definitely no

nsation of being watched. Whatever secrets this town was hiding, someone didn't want her