Ami Sheldon loved books. They were her whole world as she was growing up. She even dabbled a bit here and there in an attempt to write one of her own. But, now her trusted friends grew to be too many. They were stacked on the floor in her closet, as well as lining the shelves of her living room bookcase and small bedroom. You could always find one beside her bed on the night stand under a soft, pink shaded lamp. But on one particular night, having gone out earlier to her local bookstore to purchase another book, it didn't reveal the message she found until she arrived back at her lonely apartment with her cat who waited patiently at the front door.

The book was a classic: 'Alice in Wonderland'. She'd been eying it for weeks, having to save up little by little to purchase it. It was an early edition and in mint condition. The book cover was in almost a shade of pink, but more with purple hues. She had fingered it lightly, every time she picked it up. The story had always been one of her favorites as a child. The shop keeper always smiled when she came in and nodded, leaving her to her wanderings knowing she would end up in the same location. When she finally purchased the book, he had been more than pleased, taking care to wrap it carefully in tissue before placing it in the bag.

"Spider, were you waiting for a treat perhaps?" she asked as she entered the front door, speaking to her black cat who was waiting just behind it. She moved into the room and set her purchase on the small kitchen table.  Pulling a bag of cat treats out of her pocket,  Spider mewed in answer, so she poured a few of the morsels on the floor. "Now not too many Spider, they are getting more expensive each time I get them from the grocers." she smiled, patting her cat's head.

Slipping off her shoes, she headed for her refrigerator freezer for a quick bite to eat. A microwave sandwich, and a glass a milk served its purpose before she took her purchase into her small bedroom and flipped on the bed stand lamp. After undressing and calling her cat; who quickly joined her to wash at the end of her bed, she settled in amongst her puffed pillows and withdrew the book from the bag. She unfolded the tissue paper, stuffing it into the nightstand's drawer. Then running her hand along the binding and cover of the book, she smiled, sniffing the volume in her hand as she closed her eyes with pleasure. "Ah!" she spoke to the busy room of furnishings, books and her cat. Then she sighed deeply before opening the front cover. A yellowed piece of paper fluttered onto her lap, and onto the blanket beneath the book. Her brows furrowed as she picked it up. She gently placed the book beside her, finding a note written in pen. "What's this?" she spoke out loud.

Spider stopped momentarily to look at her, his paw extended in the air in which he had been washing. His ears flipped quickly to the sound of her voice. "Mew?" he seemed to ask.

The note was written in fine penmanship, but it startled her as she read it: "Beware! iI you have purchased this book, it has been in error! This book does not belong to you. Please return it to its rightful owner!" An address was scrawled beneath it, claiming to be from somewhere outside London, England.

Ami scoffed. "Geez, what is this all about? What do you think of it Spider?" she asked, peering over the note at her now curled up cat, who definately seemed settled in for the night. "Of all the nerve of some people, huh? Maybe the store keeper put it there as a joke?" she chuckled, before laying the note inside the drawer with the tissue. Then picking up the book, she began to read. Whether the book actually belonged originally to someone else, it was now in her possession. Wasn't that what was said to be 9/10ths of the law? Before she laid it down to sleep, she couldn't help feel bothered about the note. So, opening the drawer beside her bed again, she reread the note. Should she google the address? Perhaps she thought, she would do so in the morning over breakfast. Curiosity would certainly get the best of her over morning coffee and a bagel. Sleep came first though...then the note.