Chapter 13: The Woman Wearing My Wife's Face
“Vanessa has a sister?””
My voice sounded strangely distant, as though someone else were asking the question.
My father nodded, staring at the photograph of Nora.
“Her name is Victoria Cole. She and Vanessa were involved in the investment company before the fraud was discovered. Victoria handled the accounts. Vanessa handled the clients.””
Rachel gripped the edge of the table.
“Why does she look like me?””
“Because they were using your identity,” my father answered.
“Victoria underwent reconstructive surgery years ago. I believe the resemblance was intentional.””
I looked at him in disbelief.
“You knew there was another woman who looked like Rachel, and you never told me?””
“I didn't know until tonight. I recognized her face when I saw the photograph.””
Rachel took the phone from my hand and enlarged the image.
The woman beside Nora had Rachel's eyes, Rachel's nose, and the same scar beneath her left ear. But something about her expression felt wrong. Rachel's eyes softened whenever she looked at Nora. This woman's gaze seemed empty.
“Thomas said there were two women and one truth,” Rachel whispered.
“He wants us to believe one of us is lying.””
My father nodded.
“Victoria probably knows where the original records are hidden. Thomas may be using her to convince us that Rachel's identity can still be questioned.””
The police lieutenant approached with two officers.
“We've established a perimeter around the warehouse. Our tactical team is preparing to enter, but we need to confirm the hostage locations.””
I stepped forward.
“My daughter is inside. I'm going in.””
“No, Mr. Miller. You'll compromise the operation.””
“Thomas expects me at midnight.””
“And that's precisely why we're not letting you walk into an ambush.””
Rachel touched my arm.
“Listen to him, Ethan. If they see you arriving with the police, they may move Nora.””
The lieutenant nodded.
“We're planning a controlled approach. We also have the recorded call in which Thomas admits involvement in the crash. That gives us grounds to move, but we need to prioritize the hostages.””
My father suddenly opened the velvet box he'd brought from the safe. Beneath a false lining was a small metal key.
“This opens a service entrance beneath the warehouse,” he said.
“The old building was part of our company's storage network. Thomas used it to move documents without going through the main loading area.””
The lieutenant examined the key.
“Why didn't you mention this earlier?””
“Because I wasn't sure the entrance still existed.””
The officers quickly reviewed the building plans. A narrow passage ran from the service entrance to a maintenance room near the warehouse floor.
The lieutenant assigned a team to secure the route.
I caught Rachel's hand before she could follow them.
“You're not going inside.””
She looked at me.
“Ethan—”
“You've spent six years fighting to come home. I'm not letting you get hurt now.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Nora is my daughter, too.””
“I know.””
“Then don't ask me to stand outside while she's frightened and alone.””
I had no answer.
Finally, I nodded.
“But you stay with the officers. No running toward gunfire, no trying to rescue anyone yourself. Promise me.””
Rachel managed a small, painful smile.
“I promise.””
At 11:54 p.m., the police began moving.
My father and I waited inside a command vehicle while Rachel remained with the medical team. The lieutenant monitored the operation through a radio and a live feed from a camera mounted on one officer's equipment.
The warehouse appeared almost deserted.
Dust floated through the beams of the officers' flashlights. Rusted machinery lined the walls, and old shipping containers formed narrow corridors across the concrete floor.
Then a voice came through the radio.
“Command, we have visual confirmation of one adult female and one child. They're near the eastern wall.””
My heart stopped.
“Is the child safe?”” I asked.
The lieutenant held up a hand, listening.
“Hostages appear unharmed. We also have a second adult female.””
Victoria.
A few seconds later, the radio crackled again.
“Command, we have movement on the upper platform. Male suspect approaching the hostages.””
Thomas.
I leaned toward the speaker.
“Tell them to get Nora out.””
The lieutenant ignored my interruption and issued instructions to the tactical team.
Then Thomas's voice suddenly came through an open microphone.
“Where are the records, Ethan?””
I froze.
He was speaking directly to a camera.
“You have six minutes. After that, I stop negotiating.””
A second voice answered.
Rachel's voice.
“Let the girl go, Thomas.””
I shot upright.
“Rachel is inside!””
The lieutenant turned sharply toward the screen.
The woman standing beside Nora was no longer Victoria.
Rachel had somehow slipped past the medical team and entered the warehouse.
“Rachel, no!”” I shouted into the radio.
On the screen, she stood several feet from Thomas, her cane in one hand and her other hand raised.
Thomas laughed.
“You always were stubborn.””
Rachel looked at Nora.
“Sweetheart, come to Mommy.””
Nora began crying.
“Mommy!””
Thomas grabbed Nora's shoulder.
Rachel took a step forward.
“Don't touch her.””
He tightened his grip.
“You have no idea how much trouble you've caused.””
Rachel's voice trembled.
“I know exactly what I've caused. I exposed you.””
Thomas smiled.
“No. You exposed Vanessa. You exposed Daniel. But you haven't exposed the person who ordered the original crash.””
Rachel went still.
My father stared at the screen.
“What is he talking about?””
Thomas reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded document.
“The original authorization. The one your father signed before the accident.””
Rachel's face drained of color.
Thomas held it toward the camera.
“Would you like to know who asked him to sign it?””
Then he turned toward the woman standing in the shadows.
“Victoria, come here.””
A woman stepped into the light.
She looked exactly like Rachel.
But she wasn't the woman holding the cane.
May you like
She was Vanessa's sister.
And she was holding a gun.
