Chapter 8 - David felt the room tilt.“Say that again.”
Clara swallowed.
“She called me Lily.”
Melissa stood.
“Clara…”
“No.”
David turned on her.
“You knew?”
“I didn't know what she meant.”
“You knew enough.”
Melissa began crying.
“She thought Clara was her daughter.”
David looked at the birth certificate.
Then at his seven-year-old daughter.
Then at Melissa.
“So who is Clara?”
Melissa shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“You've had seven years to figure it out.”
“I was trying to protect her.”
“From what?”
“From everyone.”
David was about to answer when a loud crash came from the hallway.
Ryan drew his weapon.
David grabbed Clara.
Someone was running through the apartment.
Fast.
A bedroom door slammed.
Ryan sprinted after the sound.
David followed.
He reached the bedroom.
The window was open.
The curtain was moving.
But there was no one outside.
Ryan looked down.
Then he saw the fire escape.
Someone had climbed out.
Ryan pointed.
“I'm going after him.”
David stopped him.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because this is exactly what they want.”
Ryan turned.
“What?”
David looked at the room.
Something felt wrong.
Too obvious.
Too easy.
He searched the floor.
Then the bed.
Then the nightstand.
Nothing.
Until he noticed the mirror.
A tiny piece of paper was taped to the corner.
He pulled it off.
One sentence.
CHECK THE BABY'S BLOOD.
David stared.
“What?”
Ryan looked at it.
“Don't.”
David turned.
“Why?”
“Because it could be another trap.”
David ignored him.
He called a private doctor.
Twenty minutes later, they had a blood sample from Mikey.
The results would take hours.
David sat in the living room.
Clara slept beside him.
Melissa sat across the room.
Neither spoke.
Finally David said,
“How did you meet Daniel?”
Melissa's eyes stayed down.
“At work.”
“And how did he know you?”
“He trusted me.”
“Why?”
“I kept records.”
“What records?”
“Payments.”
David nodded.
“And when Lily disappeared?”
“I helped Daniel.”
“With what?”
“I moved money.”
David stared.
“For what?”
“To keep Lily hidden.”
“From whom?”
“The people hunting her.”
David leaned back.
“And you said she died?”
Melissa nodded.
“I thought they found her.”
“Who is chasing her?”
“I don't know.”
David looked at Clara.
“Then why are they calling Clara Lily?”
Melissa whispered,
“Because maybe they are the same child.”
The words made no sense.
David shook his head.
“No.”
“Think about it.”
“Clara was born seven years ago.”
“So was Lily.”
“Clara is my daughter.”
“I know.”
“Then how could she be Lily?”
Melissa stared at him.
“I don't know.”
A few hours later, the doctor called.
David answered.
“Hello?”
The doctor's voice was hesitant.
“Mr. Carter?”
“Yes.”
“I need to see you in person.”
“Just tell me.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
A pause.
“Because the blood test produced an unusual result.”
David's stomach tightened.
“What result?”
“The baby's blood type is incompatible with the birth records you've provided.”
David frowned.
“Maybe the records are wrong.”
“That isn't the problem.”
“What is?”
“The sample contains a rare genetic marker.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means Mikey may have a biological relative who was listed as deceased.”
David stopped breathing.
“Who?”
The doctor hesitated.
“Lily Harper.”
David dropped the phone.
He looked at Melissa.
She was already crying.
Clara woke up.
“Dad?”
David stood.
He could barely speak.
“Mikey…”
“What about him?”
David looked down at his son.
Then toward the door.
Someone knocked.
One knock.
Then two.
Then a child's voice.
“Daddy?”
David froze.
It was Clara's voice.
But Clara was beside him.
Again.
The voice came from outside the apartment.
“Daddy, let me in.”
Clara stared at the door.
“That isn't me.”
David slowly approached.
The voice came again.
“Daddy, please.”
He reached for the lock.
Then Clara screamed,
“DON'T OPEN IT!”
David stopped.
A shadow moved beneath the door.
A tiny pair of shoes.
Then the child whispered,
“Dad…”
The voice became weaker.
“She's not really your daughter.”
David looked at Clara.
The shadow outside vanished.
The hallway went silent.
A few seconds later, David heard footsteps running away.
He opened the door.
No one.
Only a red envelope lay on the floor.
Inside was a photograph.
Two little girls.
Same age.
Same dark hair.
Same eyes.
One was Clara.
The other was Lily.
May you like
On the back were three words.
ONE OF THEM LIES.
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