Chapter 16: The Woman Who Wasn't Laura
Michael stared at his phone.
The call had lasted eleven seconds.
Eleven seconds that had destroyed everything he thought he understood.
"Call her back," Boone said.
Michael immediately pressed the number.
It rang once.
Then went straight to voicemail.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Evelyn sat motionless beside Sophie, her face drained of color.
"Michael," she whispered.
"You have to understand.""
He turned toward her.
"Understand what? That my wife has a twin sister? That you knew about Lily? That somebody just called me pretending to be Laura?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"I didn't know Margaret was alive.""
"Your own sister?""
"I watched them bury her.""
Michael laughed bitterly.
"Apparently, nobody in this family stays dead.""
Sophie pulled the blanket around herself.
"Is Mommy coming back?""
Michael looked at her.
He wanted to say yes.
He wanted to promise that Laura would walk through the door, explain everything, and make the world right again.
But he couldn't.
Instead, he sat beside Sophie and took her hand.
"I'm going to find out what's happening.""
Boone stepped into the corridor with Agent Shaw on speakerphone.
"Tell me what you know about Margaret.""
Agent Shaw answered immediately.
"Margaret Carter was reported dead five years ago. Her death certificate was signed by a physician at St. Mary's Medical Center.""
"The same hospital where Laura supposedly died?""
"Yes.""
Boone looked through the glass window toward the room.
"Convenient.""
"There's more. Margaret's body was never positively identified. The funeral home received a sealed casket.""
Boone rubbed his beard.
"Another fake death.""
"Possibly. We've requested the original records.""
"Where was the funeral?""
"At a cemetery outside Knoxville.""
"Who arranged it?""
A pause.
"Evelyn Carter.""
Boone closed his eyes briefly.
"Get someone to that cemetery.""
"We already have.""
"Good. And find Patricia Coleman. I want to know exactly which woman left her house with Lily.""
Agent Shaw hesitated.
"Patricia says she recognized Laura.""
"Then why are you hesitating?""
"Because the woman who called Michael used a number registered to a dead person.""
Boone looked down the corridor.
"Who?""
"Margaret Carter.""
Inside the room, Evelyn began speaking.
"I need to tell you something.""
Michael looked at her.
"Start talking.""
Evelyn stared at the hospital bracelet in his hand.
"Laura and Margaret were identical twins. When they were young, they used to switch places. Their parents couldn't always tell them apart.""
"That doesn't explain why Margaret was pretending to be Laura.""
"She wasn't. Not at first.""
Evelyn swallowed.
"After Margaret's husband died, she became very protective of Laura. She believed Michael was dangerous.""
Michael stiffened.
"Why?""
"She thought you were helping Ryan.""
Michael stood.
"I was held in that barn for six months!""
"I know that now.""
"You knew what Ryan was doing!""
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
"I knew pieces. Not everything.""
Sophie looked between them.
"Grandma, did you know Mommy had a twin?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
"Did Aunt Margaret take my sister?""
Evelyn couldn't answer.
Michael turned away.
His phone vibrated again.
A message.
No number.
A photograph.
It showed a woman sitting inside a car, holding a little girl.
Lily.
The woman was looking directly at the camera.
Her face was Laura's.
But the message beneath the picture read:
*SHE IS NOT YOUR WIFE.*
Michael felt the blood drain from his face.
He showed Boone.
Boone enlarged the photograph.
The woman wore a silver necklace with a small crescent moon.
Michael recognized it.
Laura had owned the same necklace.
But she had lost it years earlier.
"Where was this taken?"" Boone asked.
Michael examined the background.
A red brick wall.
A white church steeple.
A faded sign visible through the rear window.
"That's St. Agnes Church.""
Evelyn looked up sharply.
"Margaret used to volunteer there.""
Boone called Agent Shaw.
"We have a location. St. Agnes Church.""
"Don't go alone," she warned.
"I'm not planning to.""
He looked toward Duke, who had just entered the hallway.
"Get the bikes ready.""
Michael grabbed his jacket.
Evelyn stood.
"I'm coming.""
"No," Michael said.
She looked wounded.
"Michael—"
"Someone has been using your secrets to hurt children. You're staying here with Sophie.""
Sophie grabbed his sleeve.
"Don't leave me.""
Michael knelt.
"I'll come back.""
"Promise?""
He looked at Boone.
Boone nodded.
"We'll bring him back, sweetheart.""
Michael kissed her forehead.
Then he followed Boone outside.
At St. Agnes Church, the parking lot was empty.
The front doors were locked.
Boone walked around the building while Duke checked the rear entrance.
A faint sound came from inside.
A child's voice.
Michael froze.
"Lily?""
No answer.
Then a woman's voice.
"Michael?""
He turned.
Laura stood in the doorway.
Her hair was shorter.
Her face was thinner.
But there was no mistaking her.
Michael took one step.
"Laura.""
She raised her hand.
"Don't come closer.""
His eyes filled.
"You're alive.""
Laura nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you come home?""
She looked toward the church interior.
"Because I couldn't.""
Michael moved closer.
"Who called me?""
Laura's expression changed.
"Margaret.""
"Where is she?""
Laura looked at Boone.
Then back at Michael.
"She's inside.""
A little girl appeared behind her.
Pink sweater.
Dark hair.
Missing front tooth.
Lily.
Michael's knees weakened.
"My baby.""
Lily stared at him.
Laura reached for her hand.
"Come here, sweetheart.""
But Lily didn't move.
Instead, she looked at Michael and asked a question that made him stop breathing.
"Are you the man Mommy says I have to forgive?""
Michael looked at Laura.
"What did you tell her?""
Laura's eyes filled with tears.
Before she could answer, a second woman stepped out of the church.
She looked exactly like Laura.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same voice.
But she was holding a gun.
"That's enough," she said.
May you like
Then she pointed it at Michael.
"You're not taking either of my daughters.""
