Chapter 12 - The Woman With My Eyes

She had my dark eyes, my crooked smile, and the same stubborn crease between her eyebrows. My sister, if Daniel was telling the truth, had grown into a person I'd passed a thousand times in crowds without recognizing.

"Rose," I whispered.

The woman in the footage climbed into a silver hatchback and drove away before the police perimeter was established. The license plate returned to a rental agency under an assumed name.

"Do we know if she's in danger?" Claire asked.

"We don't know whose side she's on," Vega said. "She stole evidence."

At the protected residence, Ruby watched me stare at the printed photograph. "Who's that lady?"

I knelt beside her. "She might be my sister."

Ruby studied the face. "She looks like you when you're mad."

"That's a family talent."

My daughter gave a tiny smile. Then she reached into her pocket. "The man with the truck gave me another thing. I forgot because I was scared."

My heart lurched. She unfolded a receipt covered in tiny handwriting. On the back: THE WOMAN WITH EVAN'S EYES IS NOT YOUR ENEMY. ASK HER ABOUT THE WHITE BOX.

There was a number beneath the message.

Vega traced it to an old voicemail account registered to a nonprofit shelter. When she called, a woman answered on the third ring.

"My name is Rose," she said. "If Evan is with you, tell him our father lied to both of us."

I took the phone. "Where are you?"

"Somewhere Martin can't find me. I took the folder because it names the people who paid to hide me. Your wife is the only living witness who can identify the signature beside my mother's."

"Then meet the police."

"I tried. My attorney was attacked yesterday."

"Rose, I need to know if you're really my sister."

She went quiet. "You used to call me Peanut," she whispered. "You put your yellow toy car in my crib because you thought I couldn't sleep without something to race."

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I remembered the car. I remembered a baby who grabbed my finger and wouldn't let go.

Rose breathed unsteadily. "Evan, someone has been telling your family lies because they need Claire to open a safe. And Martin has your daughter in his plans."