Chapter 6 - CLAIRE
Emily couldn’t speak.
The other woman could.
“What the hell is this?”
She wore a black leather jacket and jeans. Her hair fell to her shoulders. She looked angry rather than afraid.
Margaret stared at her.
The face was different enough to make them strangers.
But the eyes—
Margaret knew those eyes.
Her own mother had them.
Emily whispered, “Who are you?”
“Claire Bennett.”
Ruth began sobbing.
“Oh, God.”
Claire looked around.
“Why did some guy call me and say my birth mother was here?”
Margaret nearly collapsed.
Claire saw her.
For a second, the anger left her face.
“You’re Margaret?”
Margaret nodded.
Claire’s jaw tightened.
“My dad told me my mother died.”
Emily laughed bitterly.
“Apparently everybody died.”
Claire looked at her.
“Who are you?”
Emily touched her locket.
Claire’s eyes went straight to it.
Then she pulled an identical chain from beneath her shirt.
Emily went pale.
Claire opened the locket.
Inside was the letter C.
Margaret looked at Ruth.
“Three lockets?”
Ruth’s face changed.
“No.”
Margaret felt ice move through her.
“What?”
“I only knew about two.”
Thomas’s voice returned through the speaker.
“Now we’re getting somewhere.”
Daniel shouted.
“Come down here!”
“Oh, I will.”
Claire looked furious.
“Who is that?”
“My husband,” Margaret said.
Claire stared at her.
“My father?”
Margaret looked at Ruth.
Ruth whispered, “Biologically… probably not.”
Claire laughed once.
“You people are insane.”
Then the fire alarm started.
Margaret froze.
The sound ripped straight through her.
Same pulse.
Same metallic scream.
Twenty-two years later.
Smoke began pouring from a vent.
Daniel grabbed Ruth’s wheelchair.
“We move now.”
They ran.
Claire helped Emily with the stairs.
Margaret stayed close.
Smoke thickened.
A door behind them slammed shut.
Then another.
Thomas was controlling the building.
“Basement!” Ruth coughed.
Daniel looked at her.
“What?”
“There’s a service tunnel.”
They reached the stairwell.
As they descended, Claire grabbed Margaret.
“Tell me one thing.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now.”
Claire’s eyes burned.
“Did you ever look for me?”
Margaret stopped despite the smoke.
“I didn’t know you existed.”
Claire’s expression cracked.
Margaret reached for her.
Claire stepped away.
“Move!” Daniel shouted.
They reached the basement.
Ruth pointed toward an old laundry room.
Behind a rusted dryer was a narrow steel door.
Daniel forced it open.
Cold air rushed in.
They entered the tunnel one by one.
Emily went first.
Claire behind her.
Margaret turned to help Ruth.
A gunshot exploded.
Ruth jerked.
Blood spread across her shoulder.
Margaret screamed.
Thomas stood at the far end of the basement.
Gun raised.
“Leave Ruth.”
Daniel stepped in front of Margaret.
Thomas smiled.
“You know the funny thing about family secrets?”
May you like
He fired again.
“They never stay buried.”
