Ami awakened with a start the following morning. She'd had a strange dream. It involved the note she'd found in the book she'd bought. Her goal for the weekend was to research the address given in the note, as it was outside of London, England. She knew she could not go there as financially it was impossible. But a virtual tour and the help of Google's map with satellite just might do the trick.

So it was, her first weekend off in months from the small gift shop where she was employed, that she turned on her lap top on the kitchen table, while toasting her Hawaiian bagel in the toaster oven and made herself a small pot of coffee. She set the book beside the lap top, along with the note on top of its cover. It didn't take her long to find the address on the map. As she zoomed in on it, she was taken back how large the home appeared to be. Was it actually the place?..it looked the size of a mansion, or that of a very large manor house. She wished it wasn't just a bird's eye view above the roof and property. There was no cars or other vehicles sitting in what appeared to be a winding driveway. Putting on her reading glasses in hopes to get a closer view and with the aid of a small magnifying glass, she peered at the picture on her screen and studied it for several minutes. Turning her attention to Spider, her cat, she announced: "Perhaps we need to talk with the shop keeper. Maybe he did put the note there...or would know why someone might?"

Ami knew in her heart the kindly old gentleman who ran the shop would not do such a thing. He didn't appear the type anyway. Getting up after finishing off her bagel to place her dish in the sink, and taking one more sip of coffee, she set the cup down to pat her kitty on the head. "Momma needs a shower. Then you and I have some investigative work to do."

Spider merely rubbed up against her pajama clad legs and purred. When Ami finished with her shower she found her cat sitting next to the lap top, peering at the screen. Its screen saver scrolled slowly across it, displaying a cat chasing a mouse. Ami chuckled. "I'm afraid that is one mouse who will never be caught Spider. Least wise, not by you."

When she was fully dressed and ready to go, she stuffed her kitty in her over sized purse and headed out the door. The wind and rain had picked up, but Ami merely put up the hood on her coat and headed the few blocks to the bookstore, talking quietly to Spider as he mewed in protest. The walk helped clear her head and awaken her senses. "Shh, now Spider we are going in. Not a peep out of you, you hear? If you are good you can have some of your treat when we get home."

When she opened the shop door a little bell jingled above it, allowing the shop keeper to be aware of anyone's entrance into his store. He looked up and smiled, his small spectacles sitting halfway down his nose. "Good morning Miss. Back to get another book, perhaps another classic?"

Ami smiled back, then walked on past with no response. She picked up an old volume of 'Huck Finn' and leafed through the pages, hoping it too might have a piece of paper float out and onto the floor. She was disappointed when nothing happened. Then she moved along the shelves and did the same to any and all classics, but to no avail. When she looked quickly back down the shelves of books, she noticed the shop keeper watching her. "Something wrong Miss?" he called out to her.

Spider mewed and she quickly hushed him, heading back in the direction of the counter. As she reached it, she asked: "Has anyone ever found a note tucked inside one of your books?"

The shop keeper appeared puzzled. Drawing his brows together he asked why.

"I found a note tucked into my book last night. A warning actually, as to if anyone buying said book, they were to return it to the rightful owner. Now, don't you find that a bit strange?"

Leaning forward on the counter with real interest, he smiled a crooked smile while his eyes twinkled in response. "Really, and why should you ask me? Do you think I may have had something to do with it?"

"Did you?" she asked wide-eyed.

The shop keeper shook his head negatively, as he pursed his lips. "Can't recall doing so, or any reason why I would Missy. Did it tell you by chance, whom the book belonged to?

"Just gave an address...which I checked out on the internet...somewhere south of the Thames, outside of London. Why would someone go to all that trouble and put a note in a book meant to be sold?"

Chuckling, the older gentleman replied. "I have no clue! But, it makes for a great mystery, don't you think?" he winked at her, before turning to continue with pricing a shipment of books behind the counter. "Was there anything I might otherwise help you with, my dear?"

There was no response. Ami had disappeared out the front door as the bell above the door jingled and her small frame quickly disappeared from sight of his store front window. He merely smiled and went back to work, but didn't forget about what she had shared. It was odd someone would put a note in one of his books, and that she would be brave enough to ask him about it.

Ami hurried down a few blocks, having to cross the busy intersection to her favorite coffee shop. Once inside, she pushed Spider's head back down inside her purse. "Be patient while Momma has her coffee...I promise to share my shortbread with you." She smiled down at him quickly, looking around to make sure she wasn't overheard. When the waitress came to her table, Ami placed her small order then gazed out the window at the rain, while it slid down the window pane before her. Each drop curving and turning to whichever way they desired to go. None appearing to follow a straight line.  After her order was set before her, she sipped on the hot brew then broke off a piece of the shortbread cookie and dropped it into her large purse. Spider purred in response.

As Ami sat contemplating her next move, a young couple entered the coffee shop and sat behind her. She listened to their small chatter about anything and everything. The girl was doing most of the talking. When Ami headed back out into the wind and rain, she felt very alone. Couples had a way of having that affect on her. She missed her David, whom she'd fought with several months back. Just when she thought they were getting on well together, he appeared to have picked the fight to which they broke off their relationship.

Arriving back at the apartment, and removing her coat to hang on the back of a kitchen chair to dry, she let her kitty free himself from her large purse. She sighed in despair. What should she do about the note and her precious book? Was there really anything she had to do? Why would she give up a classic that she paid over three hundred dollars for, scrimping and saving for months to have it return to a total stranger? Who was to say they were the rightful owner of the book anyway?

Ami went to her small television and turned it on for company. Kicking off her shoes, she went to retrieve the book. When she went for it, where she thought she had left it...sitting on the night stand beside her bed, it was gone. She spun around frantically, then recalled she had placed it by her lap top in the kitchen on the table. Ami felt compelled to leaf through the pages. When she reached the back cover another surprise met her eyes. An envelope with the same writing upon it appeared again in pen. It read: "If you don't think I'm serious, this should prove it!" Tucked inside the envelope was a check for one thousand dollars.

Ami gasped. Why hadn't she seen it last night? Why didn't it fall out as the note had? She stared at the check in disbelief. Now she would have to wait until Monday to go to the bank and check out its authenticity. It appeared legitimate...the bank was apparently a prominent bank in London. Setting the check down on the table, she picked up the book and shook it, just in case there was another surprise tucked inside. Nothing happened. Why would someone go to such lengths to get the book back... why? It would haunt her till she got some answers. Of that she was sure!