Page 8 of A Secret Message

where anna marie first learned about herself,

there is a park in which the crooning one is on a black pedestal

upon entering the site, you must press the right key

as many times as it took for THE storm to first appear

and then and only then

shall you see me

"WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?"

Chirp, chirp.

Salt and Light gazed at her in concern, but Vixen realized they were only humoring her when the pair then went back to eating their chop.

Hmph!

A week had already passed, but Vix hadn't madeanyprogress at all in decoding the clues to finding Pedro Martinez,a.k.a. Alpha 1989.She felt like she was missing something right under her nose again, butwhat?

Vixen checked her watch and bit back a sigh. She only had ten minutes until opening, so she gave her feather babies a couple ofhead scritches and blew them a kiss before stepping out of the aviary.

Monday mornings were always busy, but today seemed a lot busier than usual, with several regulars already lined up by the counter.

Juno threw her a relieved smile when she saw Vixen approaching. Time went by in a blur, and it was already half past ten when Juno and Vixen had their first chance to rest their feet.

She checked her phone for any messages, and Vixen couldn't help smiling when she saw therewasone.

Gabriel's Friend:Any luck?

Vixen:Zero progress. But either way, Claire and I are in your debt. If you ever find yourself in Lavender Cove, coffee's on me.

Gabriel's Friend:Funny you'd say that.

Vixen:You're in LC? You have to come over then! I work at Books, Blends, and Blessings.

Gabriel's Friend:I know the place.

Vixen:Great! How do you like your coffee?

Rule:Black.

Vix:Noted. One Americano for my good friend Rule coming right up.

Vixen twisted her hair up in a bun, and she even found herself humming under her breath as she prepared a fresh batch of beans to grind and brew.

Gabriel's friend was sonice,and she wondered if he would look exactly as she pictured him. Maybe in his sixties, silver-haired, and with wise, gentle eyes? He had to be as old as Claire's aunt at least.Right?

"What's this?"

Vixen saw her part-time employee gazing down at her notebook, which she had accidentally left lying open on the side table behind the counter.

"You don't seem the type to write poems and stuff," Juno commented.

Vixen feigned a look of hurt."Excuse me?"

"Name five poems then."