Let’s be Spies!

Emily Mackenzie had learned a long time ago how to keep her head down, how to disappear in a room even when people were looking right at her. She had brown eyes that always seemed a little too tired for someone her age, and brown curls that framed her face like an unruly halo she’d stopped trying to tame a long time ago. Life had never handed her much, and she wasn’t the type to expect it to start now.

She’d been in foster care for most of her life—bounced from house to house until she stopped keeping count. Her current placement was with the Gordon’s, a middle-aged couple who smiled for the caseworkers and sneered behind closed doors. Emily knew the truth: the only reason they took her in was for the state checks. And those checks were about to run out.

She’d overheard them talking one night, whispering about how they’d be “done with her soon,” how she’d need to “find her own way when she graduated high school.” They never said it to her face. They didn’t have to. Emily understood loud and clear. She was disposable.

Because of that, she spent as little time in the Gordon’s house as possible. After school, she’d head straight to the community center, the library, the park—anywhere that didn’t have their judgmental stares or fake kindness. Most days, though, she ended up with Rae.

Rae Tucker was her best friend, the only person who really got her. They’d met two years ago, both new to town and stuck at the same bus stop. Rae had just moved from Texas, her accent still lingering in the way she talked. She had long, straight brown hair and sharp blue eyes that saw more than Emily was comfortable with at first. But over time, Rae became the one person Emily trusted completely.

Rae’s mom liked Emily, or at least didn’t seem to mind her always being around. Her home felt warmer, more real. It was the only place Emily ever let herself breathe.

“I don’t know what I’m gonna do,” Emily said one afternoon, staring at the ceiling of Rae’s room. “Once I’m out… there’s nothing. No savings, no backup. Just me.”

Rae was lying beside her, chewing on a piece of gum and staring at the same spot on the ceiling. “You’re not gonna be alone,” she said. “You’ve got me. We’ll figure it out. Maybe get an apartment, find jobs. Start fresh.”

Emily smiled faintly, though the weight in her chest didn’t lift. “You make it sound easy.”

“It’s not. But that doesn’t mean we don’t do it anyway.”

For now, Emily clung to those words like a lifeline. She didn’t know what the future held, but as long as she had Rae, it was a little less terrifying.

One day, Emily stood with Rae outside their local coffee shop, a place where they often met up to escape the tensions at home and school. The chill of the air made Rae pull her scarf tighter around her neck, while Emily tucked her hands into the pockets of her jacket, her dark eyes scanning the bustling street.

The teens had just finished their holiday shopping, trying to make the most of the break before school started again. They were chatting casually when they noticed a tall, confident woman approaching them.

“Hey, you two,” the mysterious woman greeted the,, her voice smooth but with an undercurrent of purpose. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Rae raised an eyebrow and shot Emily a quick look. They were no strangers to random strangers with hidden agendas, especially in a town like theirs, where secrets were always lurking beneath the surface. Emily could sense something was off, but curiosity got the better of her.

“Uh sure. But I have a few questions. First who are you, and what is this about?” Emily asked, her voice guarded. She knew how to be cautious—she had to be.

Delilah smiled warmly, though it was clear she wasn’t here for small talk. “I’m Delilah Knox. I’m a private investigator. I’m looking into a few missing person cases, including those of Gabriella Borbón, Phoebe Page, and Dawn Chavez. I believe they are classmates of yours.” She paused for a moment, letting the weight of the names settle. “I was hoping you two could help me gather some information.”

Rae and Emily exchanged a look, their instincts immediately on alert. Emily was no stranger to manipulation, having spent most of her life in the foster system. Rae, with her easygoing nature, was still cautious, but the offer of getting involved in something bigger piqued her interest.

“We don’t know much about those girls,” Rae said, shrugging slightly. “I thought I saw online they went on a road trip. What exactly do you need from us?”

Delilah’s gaze softened just a fraction, but her voice remained steady. “I believe you two have connections. You spend time with people who know things, or you’re around places where information might be shared. I need you to keep an eye on certain people, notice things that don’t add up, and report them back to me. It’s all very discreet.”

Emily didn’t like the idea of getting involved in something that could pull her deeper into the unknown. She’d spent too long keeping her distance from things she couldn’t control. But Delilah’s offer held a certain weight. Emily had been tired of staying on the sidelines of her own life, constantly running from her foster parents, constantly hiding in the background. Maybe this could be her chance to change things, to get involved in something that mattered.

“I don’t know,” Emily replied slowly, her eyes narrowing. “You’re asking us to spy on people?”

Delilah didn’t flinch. “I’m not asking you to do anything risky, just to observe. If you see anything suspicious, report it back to me. And yes, I will compensate you for your time.”

Rae turned to Emily again, her blue eyes wide. “With everything with your foster parents, you could use the money. You can even have my share.”

“You don’t have to do that! We haven’t even agreed to anything.”

“This is an opportunity you can’t let go to waste. Why don’t we hear her out at least?”

Emily hesitated for a moment, the gears in her head turning. It wasn’t the safest route, but Emily was used to taking risks. Plus, she knew she would be needing the money, and soon.

“Okay,” Emily said finally, meeting Delilah’s gaze. “Before we agree to anything, we want to know exactly what we’re getting into. And how much are we talking about?”

Delilah nodded, clearly pleased. “Why don’t I buy you girl’s some coffee and discuss inside, where it is a lot less… cold.”

Emily looked to Rae, a little nervous, though her friend seemed rather excited. What were they getting themselves into?

Emily and Rae stood in front of a bookstore downtown, one that had seen Mark Donovan enter just minutes ago. Delilah’s instructions had been clear: get close to him. Be friendly. Gain his trust. And watch everything. Maybe get into his house if possible.

The red head had calmly explained how she suspected the senior had **** three of their classmates, and faking the evidence of them being on a roadtrip. Naturally, Delilah had left out the supernatural suspicions she had of the boy, simply framing it as something mundane.

Emily and Rae hadn’t quite been sold, since it did sound dangerous. However, this fear soon went out the window when Delilah offered them 10 grand each for their help. After this, they were far more willing to get involved and take the risk.

“He’s here,” Rae whispered, spotting Mark through the foggy window, tucked in the corner with a book and a cup of coffee. His hooded sweatshirt was pulled up, and his earbuds were in, but it was definitely him.

Emily exhaled slowly, bracing herself. “Let’s do this.”

They stepped into the shop, brushing snow off their coats. The scent of old paper and cinnamon coffee wrapped around them. Emily made a show of glancing through books near Mark’s table before Rae “accidentally” bumped into him.

“Oh! Sorry,” Rae said with a bright, practiced laugh. “Didn’t see you there.”

Mark looked up, mildly surprised. He pulled out one earbud. “It’s fine.”

Emily stepped in. “You’re Mark, right? We’ve seen you around school. I think we’ve got some mutual friends… Katie Lawrence?”

Mark blinked. He didn’t recognize them, but the mention of Katie piqued something. “Yeah. I know Katie.”

Rae jumped in, beaming. “I’m Rae, this is Emily.”

“Hey,” Emily added, offering a small, casual smile. “You come here a lot?”

“Sometimes,” Mark said slowly, wary but polite.

“Well, if you ever wanna hang out with someone who gets how boring this town is during break, we’re around,” Rae said, nudging Emily. “Right?”

“Totally,” Emily said smoothly. “Not a lot of people out and about lately.”

Mark gave a small nod, eyes flicking to Rae, then Emily. “Yeah… weird how quiet it’s been.”

The three stood in brief silence, then Rae reached into her bag and pulled out a scrap of paper. “Here, in case you want to text. Maybe we’ll bump into each other again.”

Mark took it cautiously. “Sure.”

They left the store shortly after, their boots crunching over the salted sidewalk.

Back outside, Rae whispered, “That went pretty well, right?”

Emily kept her expression neutral. “Yeah. He’s quiet. Watching everything. I think he suspects something—but he took the number.”

Rae nudged her. “Let’s just hope he texts.”

Emily stared over her shoulder at the bookstore window, where Mark was still sitting, earbuds in again but eyes no longer on his book. He was watching them leave.

Mark Donovan watched the two girls leave the bookstore, his eyes narrowing slightly as they disappeared into the snowy street. Something about them didn’t sit right. He replayed the interaction in his head—Rae’s overly bright smile, the casual mention of Katie, the oddly timed bump into his table. It had all felt… rehearsed.

“What the hell was that?” he muttered under his breath, thumbing the corner of the paper they’d given him. He slipped it into his pocket but didn’t look at it again.

They somehow knew Katie and happened to recognize him, even if he wasn’t the most popular person in school. Acted like they were just trying to be friendly—but Mark had learned to be cautious since he first acquired his dolls, and he had learned fast.

Too convenient, he thought, eyes flicking back to the snow-covered sidewalk beyond the window. Way too convenient.

But he also knew better than to act paranoid. If they were sniffing around, it meant someone was looking, someone who hadn’t bought the social media posts. And if they were plants, sent by whoever was poking around the missing girls… better to keep them close than push them away.

Mark leaned back in his chair, **** his heartbeat to slow.

“Alright,” he muttered to himself. “Let’s see what you’re really after.”

He took his phone out, opened a new text, and started typing to the number they’d given him.

“Hey. This is Mark from the bookstore. You two wanna hang sometime?”

He hit send. Then he smiled—tight-lipped, calculating—and took a sip of his coffee. If they wanted to play a game, he was more than happy to do so.