Chapter 11 - The Woman With My Birthday
The woman standing across from Elise at the abandoned ferry terminal did not resemble her.
Nora Keene was taller, with dark curls and a pale scar crossing her right eyebrow. But the document she held was identical to the birth certificate inside Elise’s coat.
Same hospital.
Same delivery time.
Same certificate number.
Same mother: Rebecca Ward.
“You stole my identity,” Elise said.
Nora gave a tired laugh. “I was about to accuse you of the same thing.”
Rain struck the broken terminal windows while Victor remained near the entrance, one hand inside his coat. Elise did not know whether he carried a phone, a weapon, or another lie.
Nora placed a metal box on the ticket counter.
“My foster father gave me this before he disappeared,” she said. “He told me to open it only after someone named Elise Ward found me.”
Inside were three hospital bracelets.
One read ELISE WARD.
One read NORA KEENE.
The third read only SUBJECT C.
Beneath them was a photograph of three newborn babies lying side by side.
Elise turned the picture over.
A sentence had been written in faded blue ink.
ONLY ONE CHILD WAS BORN THAT NIGHT.
Before Elise could speak, Victor locked the terminal doors.
Nora stepped backward.
Elise stared at her husband.
Victor removed his hand from his coat and placed an old brass key on the counter.
“I didn’t bring you here to trap you,” he said. “I brought you here because the third woman has already found us.”
May you like
A light appeared outside the terminal.
Someone was walking toward the doors.
