Chapter 11 - The Woman in Clara's BedThe woman wore Clara's clothes.
She had Clara's medical bracelet.
She even had Clara's voice.
But she wasn't Clara.
A doctor confirmed it.
A silicone facial prosthetic had been used.
I felt physically sick.
"Then where is my wife?"
Harris brought me to a secure room.
The rescued Lily sat on the bed.
She looked tiny.
Exhausted.
But alive.
I knelt.
"Lily."
She threw herself into my arms.
I held her for what felt like an hour.
Then she whispered:
"Daddy, Mommy is in the house."
I froze.
"What house?"
"Our house."
"What happened?"
"Grandma said Mommy had to stay quiet."
"Where?"
Lily pointed at Miss Button.
"In the secret room."
My blood ran cold.
"The basement."
She nodded.
"They made Mommy talk into the doll."
"Why?"
"She knew where the papers were."
I looked at the recorder.
"The memory card."
Lily nodded.
"Mommy told the doll everything."
Including where the second archive was stored.
We returned home with police.
The basement was searched.
Behind the wooden cabinet, officers found a false wall.
Inside was a narrow passage.
At the end was a locked room.
The door opened.
Clara was inside.
Alive.
Weak.
Barely conscious.
I fell to my knees.
"Clara."
She opened her eyes.
"Michael."
I held her.
"I'm here."
She began crying.
"They wanted you to sign."
"You're safe now."
"No."
She shook her head.
"They'll never stop."
"Who?"
She pointed toward the doorway.
"Mr. Gray."
Harris stepped forward.
"He's not here."
Clara shook her head.
"He is."
"What?"
"He has been inside this house the whole time."
Suddenly we heard footsteps upstairs.
Heavy.
Slow.
A man appeared at the top of the basement stairs.
Gray suit.
Silver hair.
Calm expression.
Mr. Gray.
He looked at Clara.
Then me.
May you like
Then Miss Button.
"You finally found the truth."
