Chapter 4: The Woman at the Window
I called Evelyn back three times.
She didn't answer.
On the fourth attempt, the number disappeared from my call history.
I stared at the screen.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
She was still standing beside the bed, one hand pressed against her mouth.
“You know her number,” I said.
Vanessa shook her head.
“You've known about her all these years.””
“Marcus—”
“You knew she was alive.””
“Yes.””
“You knew she was watching Maya.””
Her eyes closed.
“Yes.””
The answer hit harder than I expected.
I stepped toward her.
“How long?””
Vanessa didn't respond.
“How long has Evelyn been watching my daughter?””
“Since she was born.””
My stomach twisted.
“Why?””
“She believed Maya should have been hers.””
“That doesn't answer the question.””
“It does if you know what happened.””
“Then tell me.””
Vanessa sank onto the bed.
For several seconds, she simply stared at her hands.
Finally, she whispered, “Your first wife wasn't the woman you thought she was.””
I almost laughed.
“You're really going to start with that?””
“She lied to you.””
“So did you.””
“I know.””
The quietness of her answer stopped me.
Vanessa didn't defend herself.
She didn't argue.
She simply sat there looking exhausted.
I pulled the photograph of Evelyn from my pocket.
“You told me your first wife was an only child.””
“She was.””
“You just said Evelyn was her twin.””
“She was adopted.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Your first wife didn't know she had a twin until she was twenty-six.””
I looked down at the photograph again.
Two women.
Same eyes.
Same jawline.
Same dark hair.
One was my dead wife.
The other was the woman who had just called me.
“What happened when they found each other?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“They became obsessed with each other.””
“That sounds like a good thing.””
“It wasn't.””
She looked up.
“They were raised in completely different homes. Different families. Different lives. But when they met, Evelyn became convinced that your wife had stolen the life that should have been hers.””
“That's ridiculous.””
“Evelyn didn't think so.””
“What did she do?””
Vanessa looked toward the bedroom window.
“She started showing up.””
“At our house?””
“Everywhere.””
“Did my wife tell me?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because she was afraid you'd leave.””
I stared at her.
“Leave her for her sister?””
“No.””
Vanessa's voice became barely audible.
“She was afraid Evelyn would hurt you.””
I felt a chill move across my arms.
“Did Evelyn hurt her?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
That silence told me enough.
I walked to the window.
The curtains were slightly open.
Across the street, an empty sidewalk stretched beneath the afternoon sun.
A delivery truck passed.
A dog barked.
Everything looked normal.
But suddenly I couldn't stop wondering whether someone had been standing there.
Watching.
Waiting.
My phone buzzed.
A new message.
*Don't go home to your parents' house.*
I stared at it.
Another message arrived.
*Maya isn't there.*
I called my mother.
She answered immediately.
“Marcus?””
“Mom, where's Maya?””
A pause.
Then confusion.
“She went outside ten minutes ago.””
My blood ran cold.
“Why?””
“I thought she was in the backyard.””
“Is she there now?””
“No.””
I was already moving.
“Lock the doors.””
“What happened?””
“Just do it.””
I grabbed my keys.
Vanessa stood.
“Marcus, wait.””
I turned.
“Where are you going?””
“To get my daughter.””
“I'm coming.””
“No.””
She froze.
“You're not coming with me.””
“Marcus, listen—”
“You've lied to me for eleven years.””
“I know.””
“You hid a living woman from me.””
“I know.””
“And somehow you expect me to trust you around Maya?””
Her face crumpled.
“Please.””
I walked past her.
Then she said something that made me stop.
“She's going to take Maya.””
I turned slowly.
“Who?””
“Evelyn.””
“How do you know?””
“Because that's what she tried to do before.””
My grip tightened around the keys.
“When?””
“The night your wife died.””
I stared at Vanessa.
“What happened that night?””
She looked like she was fighting herself.
Then she whispered, “Evelyn came to the hospital.””
My heart began pounding.
“She wanted to see Maya.””
“And?””
“Your wife refused.””
“What happened?””
“She told Evelyn to leave.””
“And then?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“An hour later, your wife was dead.””
I couldn't speak.
“Was Evelyn there?””
“Yes.””
“Did she kill her?””
“I don't know.””
The words came out too quickly.
I narrowed my eyes.
“You don't know?””
“I wasn't there when it happened.””
“Then why have you spent eleven years hiding her?””
“Because when I found her, she told me if I ever contacted you, she'd make sure you lost Maya.””
I stared at her.
“Why would she have that power?””
Vanessa looked down.
“Because she had evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
Before she could answer, my phone rang.
My mother's number.
I answered immediately.
“Mom?””
Her voice was shaking.
“Marcus, Maya came back.””
I exhaled.
“Where is she?””
“She just walked through the front door.””
“Put her on.””
A small voice came through.
“Dad?””
“Maya, are you okay?””
“Yes.””
“Where did you go?””
She was silent.
“Maya?””
“I saw someone.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
“The woman from the picture.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She went white.
“Where did you see her?””
Maya whispered:
“She was standing across the street.””
I closed my eyes.
“Did she talk to you?””
“Yes.””
“What did she say?””
Maya's breathing changed.
“She said you were going to find out the truth.””
“What truth?””
“She said…”
Maya hesitated.
Then her voice dropped.
“She said Vanessa wasn't the person who saved me.””
I looked at my wife.
Vanessa's face had gone completely still.
Maya continued.
“She said she was the person who took me.””
The call went silent.
I pulled the phone away from my ear.
Vanessa whispered, “No.””
I looked at her.
“What did she mean?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No, no, no…”
“Vanessa.””
She backed toward the wall.
“I didn't take her.””
“Then who did?””
She looked at me.
May you like
And her eyes filled with tears.
“Your first wife gave Maya to me.””
