Chapter 4 - The BasementRichard did not sound angry.
That frightened Sarah more than shouting would have.
He sounded patient.
Almost affectionate.
Her mother pushed Sarah toward another door.
“Go.”
“No.”
“Sarah.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
Her mother grabbed her face.
“Listen to me.”
Her hands trembled.
“You came here because you wanted answers.”
Sarah nodded.
“You will get them.”
“What answers?”
Her mother looked toward the locked door.
“The reason your father lied.”
A heavy impact shook the wall.
Richard was trying to break through.
Her mother shoved open the second door.
A staircase descended.
Sarah looked down.
“How do we get out?”
“You don't.”
Her mother started down.
Sarah followed.
They descended into darkness.
Twenty steps.
Thirty.
Forty.
Finally they reached a basement.
But it was not an ordinary basement.
It looked like a private laboratory.
Servers lined the walls.
Steel cabinets stood beneath fluorescent lights.
Documents were stacked on desks.
Photographs covered one entire wall.
Sarah walked toward them.
Families.
Politicians.
Businessmen.
Judges.
Police officers.
And her father.
Thousands of photographs.
All labeled with dates.
“What's this?”
Her mother answered:
“Blackmail.”
Sarah stared.
“Richard has files on everyone.”
“He doesn't just have files.”
Her mother pointed toward the servers.
“He controls them.”
Sarah stepped closer.
“What do you mean?”
“He has recordings.”
“Of what?”
“Everything.”
A door slammed above.
Richard had entered the basement.
Her mother pulled Sarah behind a server rack.
Footsteps descended the stairs.
Slow.
Measured.
Richard appeared.
He carried no weapon.
He didn't need one.
He walked to the center of the room.
“I know you're listening.”
Sarah held her breath.
Richard continued.
“I know you're angry.”
Silence.
“But you're missing the important part.”
He turned toward the monitors.
“Your mother didn't disappear because I wanted her gone.”
Sarah's mother covered her mouth.
Richard pressed a button.
A projector came alive.
A video appeared.
It showed Sarah at age six.
Her father beside her.
Her mother in the background.
Then the image changed.
A hospital room.
A doctor speaking.
A newborn baby.
Sarah's mother watched the screen in horror.
Richard said:
“Tell her.”
Sarah looked at her mother.
“Tell me what?”
Her mother began crying.
Richard smiled.
“You were never their only child.”
Sarah froze.
The video changed.
Another little girl appeared.
Same green eyes.
Same dark hair.
Same smile.
Richard looked directly toward the hiding place.
“And she's still alive.”
Sarah's mother whispered:
“No.”
Richard pressed another button.
A photograph appeared.
The girl was now grown.
Twenty-three years old.
Sarah stared at the image.
Then she saw the name beneath it.
EMILY HARRINGTON.
Her own name was underneath.
Sarah looked at her mother.
“Who is Emily?”
Her mother closed her eyes.
May you like
And Richard said:
“Your twin.”
