CHAPTER 7 — THE WOMAN WITH MY FACE
CHAPTER 7 — THE WOMAN WITH MY FACE
No one spoke.
Not Elena.
Not Liam.
Not even Richard.
Agent Brooks slowly turned the tablet toward me.
The security footage was grainy, timestamped 10:42 a.m.
A woman in a charcoal trench coat stepped from a black sedan and entered the federal evidence warehouse.
She wore oversized sunglasses.
A silk scarf covered part of her hair.
But when she lifted her head toward the camera...
Every feature matched mine.
My jawline.
My eyes.
My smile.
Victoria whispered,
"...It's her."
I shook my head.
"No."
My own voice sounded distant.
"I've never seen that building."
Brooks studied me instead of the screen.
"I believe you."
Richard laughed bitterly.
"You shouldn't."
Brooks ignored him.
"The woman entered using an FBI clearance badge that belonged to an agent who died six years ago."
Elena frowned.
"So whoever planned this expected Emily to become the suspect."
"Exactly."
Margaret suddenly grabbed my arm.
"I've seen this before."
"What?"
She stared at the image.
"Your mother once told me..."
"If they can't kill you..."
"...they'll replace you."
The room fell silent.
"What does that mean?"
Margaret looked toward Brooks.
"Tell her."
The agent hesitated.
"There have been rumors for years."
"What rumors?"
"Operation Black Harbor occasionally used women who resembled political targets."
"Doubles?"
"Professional impersonators."
He looked back at the screen.
"But this..."
"...is the closest match I've ever seen."
Before anyone could speak again, Elena's phone rang.
She answered immediately.
"Marquez."
She listened.
Her face changed.
"When?"
A pause.
"Lock down every office."
She hung up.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Our headquarters."
She looked at me.
"Someone emptied every account belonging to Hawthorne Leisure Holdings."
Richard frowned.
"That's impossible."
"The transfers were authorized..."
She swallowed.
"...using your executive biometric signature."
Richard's confidence vanished.
"I've been in FBI custody all afternoon."
"I know."
"So who signed them?"
No one answered.
Because everyone was thinking the same thing.
Someone had Richard's fingerprints.
Brooks' phone rang again.
He answered.
Then looked directly at me.
"The woman from the surveillance footage..."
"They found the car."
"Where?"
"Five miles from here."
"Any sign of her?"
"No."
He paused.
"But she left something behind."
"What?"
"A note."
He unfolded a photograph sent to his phone.
May you like
Only six handwritten words appeared.
Tell Emily she owes me everything.
