Chapter 43
City Limits Café & Books — Late Morning
The bell above the door chimed as Izzy stepped inside behind Caitlin.
Warmth hit first—coffee, baked bread, something sweet in the air—and then the low hum of voices layered over soft music drifting from somewhere behind the counter. Sunlight spilled through the front windows, catching on the shelves of books and the chalkboard propped near the register.
TODAY’S SPECIALS
Chicken salad croissants
Tomato basil soup
Fresh blackberry scones
It felt… easy.
Normal.
“Look who finally made it back to us,” a voice called.
Willow stepped out from behind the counter, wiping her hands on a dish towel, her face lighting up.
“Well, I’ll be,” she said, smiling wide. “Izzy Moreno.”
Izzy barely had time to brace before Willow pulled her into a hug.
Behind her, Marylou from the visitor center was already coming across the room.
“We heard you were in town for that birthday bash Burke put on for this one,” Marylou said, nodding toward Caitlin. “And we were hoping—you’d come by.”
Izzy laughed softly, a little overwhelmed, a little caught off guard.
“It’s good to see you,” she said.
Marylou leaned back enough to look her over.
“Well, you look like a million bucks,” she said. “Last time we saw you was during that trial… that awful man. We worried about you. How are you doing, really?”
The question landed softer than it should have.
Izzy smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I’m okay,” she said.
Caitlin slid an arm through hers, steering her gently toward a table near the window.
“Coffee first,” Caitlin said. “Then we solve the world.”
Willow pointed toward the corner.
“Sit wherever you want, honey. It’s good to have you back.”
Back.
The word lingered.
They settled into their seats, sunlight warming the tabletop. Outside, cars rolled by slowly and steadily, another morning in town.
Izzy wrapped her hands around her coffee when it came, staring down into it for a second too long.
Caitlin noticed.
“Hey,” she said softly. “What is it?”
Izzy shook her head at first, like she might push it away—but then it slipped anyway.
“It’s just…” She let out a breath. “I don’t know who I am right now.”
Caitlin frowned.
“Iz—”
“My job’s gone,” Izzy said, quieter now. “Everything I built in Denver. That was… me. That was my life.”
She glanced around the café—the easy smiles, the familiarity, the way people actually saw each other.
“And here,” she said, voice catching slightly, “places like this don’t exist the same way. Not like this. Not with people who actually know you. Care if you walk through the door.”
Her eyes shimmered before she could stop it.
“My barista knew my order,” she said with a soft, almost self-conscious laugh. “But that’s not the same as this.”
Caitlin reached across the table and took her hand.
“Oh, Iz,” she said gently. “I know. I’m so sorry.”
Izzy shook her head. “No, it’s… everything feels untethered.”
Caitlin leaned forward, her expression shifting—something hopeful breaking through.
“Or,” she said, “you’re free.”
Izzy looked at her.
“I mean it,” Caitlin continued. “You’re not tied to anything now. You could come here. For real. Stay.”
Izzy blinked.
“Cait—”
“You could work in Asheville,” Caitlin went on, warming to it. “Or better—open your own gallery here. Be your own boss. Do it your way.”
She squeezed her hand.
“We could be together again.”
The words landed deeper than Izzy expected.
“Would you at least think about it?” Caitlin asked softly.
Izzy opened her mouth—
A sharp flash of light cut across the table.
Caitlin flinched, instinctively turning toward the window.
Across the street, a black SUV idled at the curb.
The window was down.
A long lens pointed straight at them.
Caitlin’s blood went cold.
“Iz,” she said under her breath, not moving her lips. “Don’t move.”
Izzy stilled.
“Someone’s taking our picture right now.”
Izzy’s pulse spiked, but she didn’t turn.
Caitlin’s hand tightened around hers under the table as she reached for her phone with the other.
Quick. Controlled.
She typed.
Black SUV across from café. Camera. Now.
She hit send to Burke.
Neither of them moved.
The café noise carried on around them—laughter, dishes, someone asking for more cream—like nothing was wrong.
Outside, the lens never wavered.
Then, a patrol cruiser rolled slowly down the street.
Deliberate.
It passed the café… then eased enough to block part of the SUV’s line of sight.
The driver—Deputy Luke Hale—didn’t look at them.
The SUV hesitated. Then the window slid up.
The vehicle pulled out into traffic and was gone.
Caitlin let out a breath.
Izzy finally looked at her.
“What was that?” she whispered.
Caitlin didn’t answer right away.
She was still staring at the empty street where the SUV had been.
Her voice, when it came, was quieter than before.
“I don’t think that was random.”