Chapter 11: The Girl at My Door
“Do not open that door.””
Claire whispered, “Daniel, she’s crying.””
“I don’t care.””
“She looks—”
“What?””
Claire went silent.
“She looks like Sophie.””
My knees nearly gave out.
“How old?””
“Maybe nineteen.””
That made no sense.
The photograph showed two newborn babies.
If Emily was Sophie’s twin, she should be six.
“Then she’s lying.””
Vanessa heard me.
“No.””
I turned.
“What?””
Vanessa’s face had gone pale.
“Ask Claire what the woman’s last name is.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“Claire, what’s her last name?””
I heard Claire speaking through the door.
Then she returned.
“Mercer.””
Everyone looked at Vanessa.
Emily Mercer.
Vanessa whispered, “My sister.””
My stomach dropped.
“You have a sister?””
“Half-sister.””
“Your mother never mentioned her.””
“Linda doesn’t know.””
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Emily isn’t Sophie’s twin.””
I wanted to shake her.
“Then explain the photograph.””
“The babies weren’t born six years ago.””
Martin stared at her.
“Rachel wrote Sophie and Emily.””
“Yes.””
“Then who are they?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“One of them is Sophie.””
“And the other?””
“Emily.””
“That is impossible.””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“The photograph was taken when Sophie was born. But Emily wasn’t a newborn.””
I looked at the image again.
Two bundled infants.
Similar size.
Hospital caps.
“Then how?””
“She was premature.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Very premature.””
Martin frowned.
“That still doesn’t explain a thirteen-year age difference.””
Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because the woman at Daniel’s house isn’t the baby in the photograph.””
Silence.
I felt rage building.
“Stop speaking in riddles.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“The baby Emily died.””
My chest tightened.
“Rachel’s second daughter?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Three days after birth.””
I stared at her.
“Then why did Claire believe she was taken?””
“Because that’s what Rachel was told.””
“Who told her?””
“Nathan.””
Everything circled back to him.
“Nathan convinced Rachel her daughter was alive?””
“Thomas ordered him to.””
“Why?””
“To keep Rachel afraid.””
I looked at the photograph.
“Then who is Emily Mercer?””
Vanessa whispered, “Thomas’s daughter.””
Martin actually stepped backward.
“Thomas had another child?””
“With my mother.””
The room went silent.
“Linda?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Before she married my father.””
“Does Linda know Thomas is Rachel’s father?””
“She knows him as Thomas Mercer.””
I stared at her.
“Your mother had a child with Rachel’s father?””
“Yes.””
“And that child is Emily?””
“Yes.””
“So Emily is Rachel’s half-sister.””
Vanessa nodded.
“And technically Sophie’s great-aunt.””
The family tree made my head hurt.
But the money explained the secrecy.
“Why was she hidden?””
“Thomas took her.””
“Why?””
“Because Linda was nineteen and he was married. He paid her family. The baby disappeared. Linda was told she died.””
“And Emily grew up knowing Thomas?””
“Yes.””
“Why use Mercer?””
“Because Thomas wanted her identity hidden.””
My phone was still connected.
Claire whispered, “Daniel, she can hear us.””
A young woman’s voice suddenly came through.
“Daniel?””
I froze.
“I’m Emily.””
“Step away from my house.””
“I’m not here for Sophie.””
“Then why are you there?””
“Because Nathan is coming.””
My heart pounded.
“How do you know?””
“Because he called me.””
“Why?””
“He thinks I have Rachel’s flash drive.””
I looked at the drive in Ramirez’s hand.
“He’s wrong.””
“I know.””
“Why does he think that?””
“Because Thomas told him.””
Vanessa whispered, “It’s a trap.””
Emily heard her.
“Vanessa?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
“You’re alive.””
“For now.””
Emily’s voice hardened.
“You knew what Thomas was planning.””
Vanessa started crying.
“I tried to stop it.””
“You tried to marry Daniel.””
“I didn’t know everything.””
“You knew enough.””
I interrupted.
“Emily, get away from my house.””
“I can’t.””
“Why?””
“Because Nathan is already here.””
Claire screamed.
The call exploded with noise.
Glass shattered.
“Sophie!”” I shouted.
Gunfire cracked through the phone.
Then the connection died.
I ran.
Ramirez grabbed my arm.
“Police are already at your house!””
“That’s my daughter!””
We raced downstairs.
Vanessa followed despite officers ordering her to remain.
Outside, Ramirez received radio updates.
“Suspect entered through rear window.””
My heart hammered.
“Claire and Sophie?””
“Safe room.””
“Emily?””
“Unknown.””
We drove like hell.
Police cars filled my street when we arrived.
I jumped out before the vehicle fully stopped.
An officer blocked me.
“Sir!””
“My daughter is inside!””
“Safe room is secure.””
Then two officers dragged Nathan through the front door.
Blood ran from his nose.
His hands were cuffed.
He saw me.
And smiled.
“You still don’t understand.””
I lunged.
Ramirez stopped me.
“Daniel!””
Nathan laughed.
“Ask Vanessa who opened Rachel’s trust file.””
I looked behind me.
Vanessa stood beside the police vehicle.
Her face changed.
Nathan continued.
“It wasn’t me.””
“Shut up,” Vanessa whispered.
“It wasn’t Thomas either.””
“SHUT UP!””
Nathan grinned.
“It was Vanessa.””
I stared at her.
Nathan’s smile widened.
“But she didn’t open it three years ago.””
Vanessa started backing away.
“She opened it when she was sixteen.””
I froze.
Sixteen.
Long before I knew her.
Long before Rachel died.
May you like
Nathan delivered the final blow.
“Vanessa knew Rachel.””
