Chapter 4: The Woman on the Phone
“Vanessa, is he dead yet?””
The voice coming through the phone sounded exactly like Elena.
Same soft Southern accent. Same slight rasp at the end of each sentence. Even the faint clicking sound she made with her tongue when she was impatient.
I knew that voice better than my own.
For fourteen months, I had replayed Elena's old voicemails whenever I couldn't sleep.
And now I was hearing it from a woman who supposedly couldn't exist.
Vanessa slowly lifted her eyes toward me.
I tightened my arms around Ava.
“Who is that?”” I demanded.
The woman on the phone laughed.
“Vanessa? Why aren't you answering me?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“There's been a complication.””
“A complication?””
“Marcus found the room.””
Silence.
Then the voice changed.
Not completely. Just enough.
The sweetness disappeared, replaced by something sharp and impatient.
“You let him find her?””
Vanessa looked at the steel door.
“I didn't expect the little girl to say anything.””
Ava buried her face against my chest.
I felt her trembling.
The woman on the phone sighed.
“Vanessa, I specifically told you to keep that child away from the pool.””
“I know.””
“And now?””
Vanessa glanced at me.
“Now Marcus knows.””
A long pause followed.
Then the voice said something that made my blood run cold.
“Kill the original. We don't need her anymore.””
I stared at Elena.
My wife had both hands pressed against the narrow opening in the steel door.
Her eyes were wide with terror.
“Marcus,” she whispered.
I moved toward her.
Vanessa immediately stepped between us.
“Daniel, take the child.””
Daniel reached for Ava.
I turned.
“Touch her and I'll break your arm.””
He stopped.
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“Marcus, stop pretending you're in control. You're standing in a basement with no way out.””
I looked at the phone.
“Who are you talking to?””
She ignored me.
“Listen carefully,” she said into the receiver.
“We need to change the plan.””
The woman laughed.
“You've already changed the plan too many times.””
Then the call ended.
Vanessa lowered the phone.
I stared at her.
“Give me that.””
“No.””
“Give me the phone!””
She slipped it into her purse.
“You wouldn't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
She looked at Elena.
For a moment, the two women stared at each other.
Then Vanessa smiled.
“You always wondered why Elena's body was never found, didn't you?””
I felt my throat tighten.
“Get to the point.””
“Because there was no body to find.””
“I know that. She's standing right there.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No. I mean there was never a body in the water at all.””
I frowned.
“What?””
She continued.
“Your wife was supposed to disappear. Permanently. But someone made a mistake.””
Elena gripped the steel door.
“Don't listen to her, Marcus.””
Vanessa laughed.
“Still pretending you're the victim, Elena?””
“Shut up.””
“You should tell him what happened after the marina.””
Elena looked away.
I turned toward her.
“What happened?””
She shook her head.
“Marcus, please. Not now.””
Vanessa seized the opportunity.
“Tell him about the woman who came to visit you. Tell him what you called her.””
Elena's face went pale.
I looked between them.
“What woman?””
Vanessa smiled.
“The woman who wore your wife's face.””
My stomach twisted.
Before I could respond, a loud metallic crash sounded from above.
Then a voice shouted.
“POLICE! EVERYONE STEP AWAY FROM THE HATCH!””
I looked upward.
For the first time since entering the passage, I felt hope.
Vanessa's expression changed instantly.
“Who called them?””
I stared at Daniel.
He slowly raised his hands.
“I did.””
Vanessa turned toward him.
“You stupid bastard.””
Daniel took a step backward.
“I'm done.””
She reached into her purse.
I saw the movement.
“Daniel, MOVE!””
He ducked just as Vanessa pulled out a small black pistol.
A gunshot exploded through the narrow passage.
The bullet struck the concrete wall beside Daniel's head.
Ava screamed.
I threw myself over her.
“GET DOWN!””
Another shot rang out.
Then someone above shouted.
“DROP THE WEAPON!””
Vanessa spun toward the ladder.
She fired again.
The answering gunshot was louder.
She dropped the pistol and collapsed against the wall, clutching her shoulder.
Daniel kicked the weapon away.
Two armed officers rushed down the passage.
“Hands where we can see them!””
I raised both hands.
“There's a woman locked inside that room! My wife! She's injured and needs medical attention!””
The officers immediately moved toward the door.
One of them knelt beside Vanessa.
“Ma'am, don't move.””
She was breathing hard.
But even with blood running down her arm, she was smiling.
I couldn't understand it.
She had been caught.
The police were here.
Her plan was falling apart.
Yet she looked almost relieved.
I turned toward Elena.
“Baby, we're getting you out.””
She nodded weakly.
An officer examined the electronic lock and called for a specialist.
Daniel crouched beside me.
“Sir…”
I looked at him.
“Not now.””
“I need to tell you something.””
“What?””
He glanced toward Vanessa.
“She didn't make that phone call.””
I frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
Daniel lowered his voice.
“The woman on the phone. I've heard her before.””
My heart began pounding.
“Where?””
“At your house.””
“When?””
“Three weeks ago.””
I stared at him.
He continued.
“She came through the main entrance wearing a black coat. Vanessa introduced her as a distant relative.””
I felt sick.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I thought she was your wife.””
I turned toward the steel door.
Elena had gone completely silent.
Her hands were shaking.
“Marcus,” she whispered.
I moved closer.
“What?””
She looked at Daniel.
Then at Vanessa.
Finally, she looked into my eyes.
“She's not a relative.””
“Who is she?””
Elena swallowed.
“She is the woman who took my place.””
The officer managed to release the chain.
The steel door swung open.
I finally saw my wife.
She was thinner than I remembered, wearing a faded gray shirt and loose trousers. Her feet were bare. A small medical bandage covered one wrist.
I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around her.
For a moment, she didn't move.
Then she clung to me.
I felt her tears against my neck.
“I thought I'd never see you again,” she whispered.
I kissed the top of her head.
“I should have found you sooner.””
“No. You came.””
I pulled back and held her face.
“Where is the other woman?””
Elena looked toward Vanessa.
“Ask her.””
Vanessa laughed weakly from the floor.
“You're wasting your time.””
An officer tightened the restraints around her wrists.
“Save it for the interrogation.””
Vanessa turned her head toward me.
“You think you've won?””
I stared at her.
“You're going to prison.””
She smiled.
“Maybe.””
Then she looked at Elena.
“But you still haven't told him the truth.””
Elena stiffened.
I turned toward my wife.
“What truth?””
She looked down.
Vanessa's smile widened.
“Go ahead, Elena. Tell your husband why the other woman looks exactly like you.””
Elena's lips trembled.
Then she whispered:
“Because she's my twin sister.””
I felt the room tilt.
Elena had never mentioned having a twin.
Not once during our marriage.
Not during our engagement.
Not even when we talked about our childhoods.
I stared at her.
“You have a sister?””
She nodded.
“Her name is Evelyn.””
“And she's the woman on the phone?””
Elena closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
I took a step backward.
“Why didn't you ever tell me?””
“Because I thought she was dead.””
Before I could ask another question, one of the officers' radios crackled.
A voice came through.
“Control to rescue team. We have a situation at the main entrance.””
The officer raised his radio.
“Go ahead.””
“We've identified a female matching the description of Elena Cole. She's currently entering the property.””
I looked at my wife.
She was already shaking her head.
The officer continued listening.
Then he said:
“She's carrying a child.””
My blood ran cold.
“Which child?””
The radio crackled again.
“Female, approximately six years old.””
I looked down at Ava.
She was in my arms.
Then I looked at Elena.
And she whispered the words I would never forget.
“Marcus…”
“What's wrong?””
“Evelyn has a daughter.””
May you like
She looked toward the ceiling.
“And she looks exactly like Ava.””
