Page 24 of One Last Step

I frown and get to my feet, intending to scold Sophie and demand to know what a strange woman is doing following a child into her home.

When I look at her, however, all of my thoughts disappear.The tall young woman who stands in front of me with the elegant figure, straight blonde hair and sky blue eyes is the spitting image of my sister.

CHAPTER TWELVE

“Excuse me,” Elena says, breaking the brief but uncomfortable silence in the room.“Who are you?You’re interrupting my breakfast.”

The newcomer smiles.I believe she intends the look to be sheepish, but her eyes dance just like Annie's did.When she speaks, I nearly cry out with relief.The voice carries a German-Swiss accent, proof that I am not looking at an apparition.

“I apologize, ma’am.Miss Sophie told me you would be available to talk now.”

Elena looks at Sophie, who shrinks back.“Miss Sophie is a child,” Elena says, “and you should know better… I’m sorry, you still haven’t told me who you are.”

The stranger reaches into her jacket pocket, and now I see that she's wearing a professional pantsuit with a white button-down and navy pants and jacket.She retrieves a business card and offers another sheepish smile."Special Detective Claudia Becker, Interpol.I see I've caught you at a bad time.I apologize for the intrusion.If you could call the number on this card to schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience, I would be—"

“How did you even get in here?Is the door unlocked?”

“Your employee, Herr Gustaf, was kind enough to let me in when I identified myself.”

Elena’s lips thin.She stands abruptly and gestures rather rudely toward the elevator.Not that I blame her.Whether Claudia is who she says she is or not, for her to have entered prior to business hours and followed Sophie upstairs is absolutely unacceptable.

“Come on,” Elena said.“Let’s go downstairs.If you must talk with me now, then let’s do it downstairs.”

“I can come back another—”

“You’re here now,” Elena snaps.“Since you’ve already invaded my privacy, I’d prefer to get whatever you need done out of the way so you don’t need to do it again.”

She steps onto the elevator, Claudia behind her.On an impulse, I enter the elevator and call Sophie to me.Elena looks at me, stunned, and I explain, “I’m going to take her out for a walk while you and Detective Becker talk.”

Elena lifts her hands to the sky, then sighs and lets them drop.“Fine.Yes, that’s a good idea.”

Iwilltake Sophie out, but the real reason I join them is that I’m unable to tear my eyes away from Claudia.It’s terrifying how much like my sister she looks.She is nearly as tall as Annie—she was five-foot-eleven—and the hair and eyes are a perfect match.Perhaps her nose is a trifle more upturned than Annie’s, but her high cheekbones and full lips are precisely the same.

The elevator door opens, and we step outside.Claudia gives me an amused smile and says, “I apologize.I haven’t gotten your name yet.”

I realize that I’ve been staring at her ever since she arrived.Heat climbs my cheeks, but I’m still unable to tear my gaze away from her.“Mary.Mary Wilcox.”

“She’s my governess,” Elena interjects, “and she was just about to take Sophie out.”

God help me, I know I should, but I can’t pull myself away from her.The journal with my sister’s handwriting is still upstairs in my room, and now this woman with my sister’s features is here in front of me.I know that Annie came here when she left America.Have my instincts once more led me to Annie’s trail?

And Claudia could be… Yes, she could.She’s the right age, her mid-twenties.She could be my sister’s daughter.It’s insane to think that I’ve stumbled across my niece after all of these years, but it’s not at all impossible.

Thankfully, I am rescued.A young man walks in—Gustaf, I assume—and says, “Dr.Rousseau, Mr.Meyer is here with his son.He’s asking if he can take Sophie out to lunch with them.”

“Yes, fine,” Elena snaps.“Sophie, go.And Gustaf, why… please alert me before you let anyone else inside outside of business hours.”

Gustaf blushes beet red.“Yes, ma’am.Sorry.”

Sophie grabs my hand and drags me to the door.Any curiosity she might have had about the situation is eliminated by the arrival of her friend.“Come on!Let’s go!”

I let her lead me to the foyer, where another employee—a young woman who can’t be more than eighteen—opens the door and allows Lukas and Luc Meyer inside.

The two children zip to each other’s side and immediately begin talking a million miles a minute.Lukas smiles and extends a hand.“Good morning, Miss Mary.It’s wonderful to see you again.”

I take his hand and manage a smile, but I am already anxious to return to the woman who could be my only living relative.“Good morning, Lukas.”

“Is Dr.Rousseau available?”he asks.“I was hoping to talk to her for a moment before we left.”

---