Chapter 8 - The Woman Who Looked Like MadelineDaniel thought Emma was confused.
The doctors had warned him.
Sedatives.
Stress.
Dehydration.
Memory could blur.
But Emma insisted.
“She looked like Madeline.”
“Same hair?”
“Yes.”
“Same face?”
“Almost.”
“Almost?”
Emma thought.
“She was older.”
Daniel sat back.
Adrian entered after permission.
When Daniel told him, Adrian’s expression changed.
“No.”
“What?”
“There is another sister.”
Daniel stared.
“You said Rachel was Madeline’s younger half-sister.”
“She was.”
“And?”
“Madeline had an older sister.”
“Name?”
“Evelyn.”
“Where is she?”
Adrian looked uneasy.
“No one knows.”
Ross returned with preliminary family records.
Evelyn Reed.
Born forty years earlier.
Last confirmed record twelve years ago.
Then vanished.
“What did Emma say the woman did?” Ross asked.
Daniel turned to his daughter.
Emma whispered.
“She opened the door.”
“What door?”
“The basement room.”
“Did she hurt you?”
“No.”
“Did she try to take you?”
“She said she would come back.”
Daniel’s pulse rose.
“What did she call you?”
“Emma.”
“Did you know her?”
“No.”
“What did she say about Madeline?”
Emma hesitated.
“She said Madeline was lying.”
“About what?”
“Everything.”
Adrian rubbed his face.
Daniel glared.
“You know more.”
“I know rumors.”
“Talk.”
Adrian explained Evelyn had once helped their father run the clinics.
Then something happened.
She disappeared with documents and money.
Samuel Reed told everyone she was dead.
No body was ever found.
“Rachel believed Evelyn survived,” Adrian said.
“Did Madeline?”
“I don't know.”
Daniel stared.
Maybe Evelyn was the person Madeline feared.
Maybe Adrian had been framed as the threat.
“What would Evelyn want with Emma?”
“No idea.”
Ross interrupted.
“We may have one.”
She showed them a photograph recovered from the hidden basement camera system.
A woman.
Blonde.
Older than Madeline.
Entering the room.
Time stamp: two nights before the funeral.
Emma had told the truth.
Evelyn was alive.
The footage showed her speaking to Emma.
Then looking directly into the camera.
And smiling.
Ross played audio.
The woman said:
“Tell Madeline I found what she stole.”
Then she left.
Daniel felt a chill.
“What did Madeline steal?”
Adrian looked at the screen.
“Maybe evidence.”
“Evidence of what?”
“The Reed clinics.”
Ross paused the video.
Then another recording appeared.
Madeline entered thirteen minutes later.
She watched footage of Evelyn.
Her face changed from anger to panic.
Madeline whispered:
“She knows.”
Daniel leaned closer.
Then Madeline dialed someone.
The audio captured only her side.
“We have to move Emma tomorrow.”
Pause.
“No, not the hospital.”
Another pause.
“The funeral is already arranged.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
Madeline continued.
“If Evelyn thinks Emma is dead, she’ll stop looking.”
Daniel stared.
This was the first proof that the funeral might have been part of a hiding plan.
Still monstrous.
Still criminal.
But not necessarily intended to kill Emma.
Then Madeline said something worse.
“If she opens the coffin before we move her, everything is over.”
Daniel looked at Ross.
“Move her where?”
No answer.
The video continued.
Madeline:
“Noah cannot be allowed near the cemetery.”
Noah turned white.
Daniel looked at him.
“She knew you.”
Noah nodded.
“But why?”
Adrian answered.
“Because Noah is Rachel’s son.”
Daniel still didn't understand.
Adrian looked toward the screen.
“If Rachel knew what the family did, maybe she left something with Noah.”
The boy shook his head.
“I have nothing.”
Ross asked:
“Did your mother leave belongings?”
“A box.”
“Where?”
Noah looked uncomfortable.
“At the shed.”
Daniel and Ross exchanged a look.
They drove there with officers.
The shed stood behind Daniel’s property.
Inside were blankets.
Cans of food.
A backpack.
Noah pulled out a battered metal box.
“My mom said never open it unless someone came looking for me.”
Ross examined it.
Locked.
Noah had the key around his neck.
He opened it.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
A flash drive.
And a letter.
Noah unfolded it.
His mother’s handwriting.
If you are reading this, then I was right to be afraid.
Noah’s hands shook.
He continued.
Madeline is not the one you should fear most.
Daniel felt cold.
The next line:
If Evelyn finds you, run.
Noah looked up.
Ghost suddenly barked outside.
Everyone turned.
A car was parked at the edge of the woods.
Headlights off.
Someone stood beside it.
A blonde woman.
Older than Madeline.
Watching.
Evelyn.
May you like
Then she raised one finger to her lips.
And disappeared into the trees.
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