Chapter 4: The Woman at the Elevator
For three seconds, I couldn't breathe.
The woman standing near the elevator had Clara's dark hair, Clara's slender shoulders, and the same way of tilting her head slightly when she was nervous.
But Clara was dead.
I'd watched them lower her coffin into the ground.
I'd held Lily's tiny hand at the funeral while people told us how sorry they were.
I'd spent two years waking up in an empty bed.
And now a stranger was standing in my hotel wearing my wife's face.
"Daddy, Mommy's here!""
Lily slipped off the bed and ran toward her.
I caught her just before she reached the hallway.
"Wait, sweetheart.""
The woman took one step forward.
"Daniel?""
Her voice.
God help me, even her voice sounded like Clara's.
My knees almost buckled.
"Who are you?""
She looked at Lily.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
Lily began crying.
"Mommy, you came back!""
The woman covered her mouth.
"Oh, my baby.""
I tightened my hold on Lily.
"Don't come any closer.""
The woman's expression crumpled.
"Daniel, please. I know how this looks.""
"How it looks?""
My voice echoed through the suite.
"I buried my wife. I watched them close her coffin. I raised our daughter alone. And now you're standing in front of me pretending to be her?""
She shook her head.
"I'm not pretending.""
I stared at her.
"Then explain why there's a passport with Clara Bennett's photograph issued six months after her funeral.""
Her face went white.
"Where did you find that?""
"Answer my question.""
She glanced toward Thomas.
He was standing behind me, visibly shaken.
"Mr. Bennett," he whispered, "I think we should call the police.""
The woman immediately looked at him.
"Thomas, please. You know me.""
Thomas stepped backward.
"No.""
"Look at me.""
He studied her face.
Then he shook his head.
"Miss Clara died.""
The woman closed her eyes.
"That's what they wanted everyone to believe.""
My blood ran cold.
"Who?""
She opened her handbag and removed a small photograph.
It showed Clara sitting on the balcony of Suite 701, wearing a white dress.
She was smiling.
The date printed on the back was November 12, two years earlier.
Six months after her funeral.
I stared at the picture.
"Where did you get this?""
The woman looked directly at me.
"Because I was there, Daniel.""
"Who are you?""
She hesitated.
Then she said, "My name is Claire Bennett.""
I almost laughed.
"That's a ridiculous answer.""
"It's the name on my passport.""
"Your passport is fraudulent.""
She looked at Lily.
"Your daughter has the same birthmark behind her left ear that her mother had.""
I felt Lily shift in my arms.
The woman continued.
"She was born at 6:42 in the morning. You were so nervous you nearly dropped your coffee when the nurse handed her to you.""
My throat tightened.
"Anyone could find those details.""
"Your wedding vows," she whispered.
"You forgot the second sentence. Clara laughed so hard that the photographer had to take another picture.""
I stared at her.
That detail had never appeared in any public record.
It was something only Clara and I knew.
But before I could speak, she took another step toward us.
"Daniel, you have to listen. I didn't die.""
I felt the room spinning.
"Then whose funeral did I attend?""
She looked down.
"Someone else's.""
Thomas made a choking sound.
I turned toward him.
"Did you know about this?""
"No, sir. I swear.""
The woman reached into her handbag again.
This time, she pulled out a folded document.
"Look at the signature.""
I took it.
It was a medical transfer authorization from a private hospital in Charleston.
The patient's name was Clara Bennett.
The date was two years earlier.
But the attending physician's signature belonged to Dr. Richard Hale.
I knew that name.
He had been Clara's oncologist.
He had also signed her death certificate.
My fingers went numb.
"Where is Dr. Hale?""
The woman looked frightened.
"That's exactly why I came here.""
Suddenly, footsteps thundered through the corridor.
Marcus, the head of security, appeared with two officers.
"Mr. Bennett, we've located the suitcase.""
He stopped when he saw the woman.
His eyes widened.
"Is that...?""
The woman immediately backed toward the elevator.
"Daniel, don't let them take me.""
I stepped forward.
"Nobody is taking anyone until I get answers.""
But one of the officers moved between us.
"Sir, we need everyone to remain calm.""
The woman looked directly at me.
Then she said something that destroyed whatever hope I'd just begun to feel.
"Daniel, the woman you buried was my twin sister.""
The elevator doors opened behind her.
And as she stepped inside, she whispered one final sentence.
"Clara is alive, but she's been hiding from the man who ordered her death.""
The doors began closing.
I lunged forward.
"WAIT!""
But she was gone.
And my little girl was crying in my arms.
"Daddy, why did Mommy leave again?""
I had no answer.
Then Marcus approached, holding the suitcase.
"Sir, there's something inside you need to see.""
He placed it on the bed and opened the zipper.
Inside were several dresses, a collection of medical documents, and a small velvet box.
I opened the box.
There was another wedding ring.
But this one had an inscription I'd never seen before.
*DANIEL — TRUST NO ONE. NOT EVEN YOUR BROTHER.*
I slowly lifted my head.
May you like
My brother's name was Michael Bennett.
And he was the man who had signed my wife's funeral arrangements.
