Ami wasn't just sure what her next step would be. But, she wanted to find out answers to all her questions. Why would someone sell a book and try to get it back? Why hadn't she found the note sooner when she first opened the book, before purchasing it months later. Perhaps her only answer was in the note itself? She was anxious to go to the bank on Monday and check out the legitimacy of the check. Sitting at her kitchen table, she devised a letter to send to the address in England. Spider, kept a vigil watch from the living room window looking out at the wind and rain.  Ami made the attempt at an old fashioned letter on paper, just before putting it in the computer to print out.

After accomplishing her task and addressing the envelope, she signed the print out as: A. Shelton, then sealed the letter inside. She hoped it would not take weeks to get a response. She also worried if it was safe to even use her post office box, instead of her apartment address. The post office was not open on the weekend so it would be yet another errand she would have to run on Monday.

When Monday did arrive, she began to feel hopeful on her walk to work. She stopped into the bank on her lunch hour and discovered the check was real. The bank and the account the check was drawn from were not trumped up. When the clerk asked if she would be cashing it, Ami refused. Although most the tellers knew her, she was leary of what they might think of her having such a check... especially all the way from England!

"No, as you can see my name is not on it. The line is blank as to whom it should be made out to. I will be sending it back to its owner today. Thank you though for all your help." she smiled weakly. Ami hoped the teller was not suspicious of her even just for possessing it, as well as bringing it to her attention. Without looking back, Ami hurried out of the bank and on to the post office to mail her letter.

When the days dragged on, and winter seemed to arrive with a light dusting of snow, Ami went about her daily routine of work, cleaning her apartment and sharing life in general with her cat. Weeks has passed since she mailed the letter.  She only ventured a few times into her favorite bookstore, as the owner often watched her. Now it made her feel uncomfortable just being there.

One Saturday afternoon, discouraged from a rough day at work, she did wander again into the bookstore and noticed a tall young man leaving through the books on classics. She stepped back quickly as she noted an envelope in his hand. Without being aware of her presence, he slipped it into a book. As he looked about him nervously, she stepped into the aisle and smiled.

"Good book?" she asked, curious now which one he replaced in the shelves.

"Yes, I suppose so!" he grinned down mischievously at her. He was a good foot taller, with amber colored eyes. "Excuse me!" he quickly brushed past her. Without taking a backwards glance, he hurried out of the store.

Ami was right on it...she followed as quickly as she could, trying to see which direction he went. If she was not mistaken...he spoke with a British accent.  As luck would have it, she saw him dart across the street and duck into the nearby cafe. One of her favorite haunts. She waited for what seemed like hours before she slowly followed him there. Then putting on a nonchalance face, she ordered a coffee and sat near the window, all the while looking quickly about till she spotted him. He was not but two tables away, but his back was to her. He appeared to be talking on his cell phone. Feeling brave, she left the table she had been sitting at and moved into the chair directly behind him. As suspected, he spoke in a clear British accent.

"Yes, I did as you said...the package is delivered. No, no one saw me...well, perhaps a possibility? No sir, I will not let you down..." then he talked in a hoarse whisper as he leaned in on his table.

Ami strained her ears to catch what he was saying. Then feeling conspicuous, she looked about to make sure no one was watching her. He shifted in his chair behind her and as he stood up to go, she heard him say...

"Yes, I told you...a young girl. Quite small actually. I think...I think..." he was now standing beside her. "Yes, I'm still here..."

They looked at each other then and Ami knew she'd been caught. "Oh, hello again!" she tried to fake a natural surprised meeting with her stranger.

"I'll have to call you back. I think we may have a problem!" Turning to sit directly across the table from her, he leaned in. "Perhaps you wouldn't mind telling me why you are apparently following me?" his eyes studied her face as he waited for her response.

"Excuse me?" she tried to sound surprised. Her heart began beating wildly in her chest. "I didn't know you were here...I always come here for coffee!" she hoped she was convincing in her act of innocence.

"Did I not just see you in the bookshop across the way? Did you see anything in there just now, or overhear my conversation?" his face inched in closer to her own.

Ami gulped, but smiled sweetly. "I always come here for coffee, like I said. Especially after the bookstore. The two are my favorite hang outs."

"Hmm! What's your name by the way?" he seemed to relax a bit.

"Ami, what is yours?"

"Jonathan. Since we are sticking to first name basis, are we not?" he grinned in an impish manner. "Sorry about that just now...I guess you think I'm a bit paranoid or something?"

Ami chuckled. Cocking her head she admitted. "Perhaps...just a little." she brought her index finger up close to her thumb as if in measurement. They both laughed at the situation.

"Are you quite sure you saw nothing back there? Oh gees, there I go again...paranoid!" he hit his head with the palm of his hand. Quickly standing and grabbing his own drink from the table where he had been sitting, he stuffed his phone into the front pocket of his shirt.

"Nice to meet you Miss Ami. Perhaps we shall meet again someday...but, I have to run...literally, I mean." he grinned down at her. Then like he said, he hurried out of the coffee shop and back across the street to the bookstore. Ami watched in amazement. Now was not the time to follow him, that was for sure! As she slowly sipped on her coffee, she continued to watch for the young man to come back out of the building. To her disappointment, he did not!