Chapter 4 She’s a double
Andrea shook off the feeling and turned back to the cityscape rolling by outside the window. All she wanted was to get home, slam the door shut, and try to forget what had transpired that morning.
The cab pulled up in front of Andrea’s apartment building, and she paid the driver and stepped out onto the sidewalk.
As she entered the apartment, the silence wrapped itself around her like a warm hug. Andrea kicked her shoes off and fell onto the couch.
For a long moment, she lay there, letting the stillness calm the racing thoughts in her mind.
As she closed her eyes, Mr. Jerkins‘ face came in view instead–his searing gaze, his whispered words.
Andrea opened her eyes abruptly. She couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was going to be irrevocably different.
John, Andrea’s father, entered the living room, his face a mask of concern. “Andrea, what’s wrong? Why are you back so early?”
Andrea’s eyes went big in alarm. She had not expected her father home.
She was silent for a moment, unsure how to phrase her thoughts.
“Dad?” Andrea’s voice quivered. “Did Mom and you, um, have twins at birth and get separated? You know, how the story goes?”
John looked away from concern to confusion. “What do you mean, sweetie?”
Andrea exhaled and felt stupid. “Never mind. I forgot we have a birth footage of me.‘
John sat next to Andrea on the couch. “Andrea, what’s going on? You’re scaring me.”
”
Without saying another word, Andrea got up and ran upstairs to her room. She closed the door behind her and was alone.
As she leaned against the door, Andrea thought of everything. She could still hear Mr. Jerkins‘ voice in her head: “Sonia, my love.” Who was Sonia? And why did Mr. Jerkins think that she was his wife?
Andrea’s gaze drifted to her bed, where her laptop sat open. She stood and sat, her fingers hovering over the keyboard.
Andrea’s eyes narrowed, determination rising.
Andrea continued to scroll down Sonia’s online profiles; she couldn’t help but notice the resemblance.
They had different hair–Sonia’s was darker, straighter–and their eyes were different shades of brown.
Yet, there was a similarity in the structure of their facial bones, the shapes of their noses, and the curves of their mouths that wasn’t to be mistaken.
Andrea’s head was reeling. Could they be siblings?
She clicked onto other photos to see Sonia’s face.
It was a strong resemblance, yet different enough to detail they were not identical twins.
The fact that they could be long–lost sisters or at least second cousins sent shivers down Andrea’s spine.
Andrea quickly reached for her phone and dialed Pamela’s number.
“Hey, girl! How’s it going?” Pamela answered.
“Andrea, I’ve been worried sick about you. What happened with Mr. Jerkins?”
Andrea took a deep breath. “You won’t believe what I found online.”
“Try me,” Pamela said, curiosity raised.
Andrea was still doubtful where to begin. “I looked up Sonia Maxwell. and we look alike, Pamela.”
There was a pause on the other end. “What do you mean?”
“Our faces, our features. they’re similar. Different hair, different eyes, but it’s uncanny.”
Pamela’s voice turned to a whisper. “That’s freaky. You think you’re related?”
Andrea’s voice shook. “I don’t know. But I found articles about Sonia going missing in 2019.”
“Oh my god,” Pamela breathed. “This is getting weirder by the minute.”
Andrea’s anxiety peaked. “What if Mr. Jerkins is telling the truth? What if I’m. Sonia?
Pamela sounded assuring at that point. “Andrea, you are not Sonia; you are you. We shall figure this out together.”
Andrea’s throat lumped. “Thanks, Pamela. Just talking to you makes me feel better.”
“Anytime, girl. Now, what is our next move?” Pamela asked.
“Hey, Pamela? I need you over to my place to help figure this out,” Andrea requested.
“Already grabbing my keys,” Pamela said. “Be there in 20.”
Andrea let the phone drop, as a sense of relief washed over her. With Pamela’s cool head and quick wit, together they could unravel the mystery.
She began pacing around her room, gathering her thoughts. What did she know so far?
Sonia Maxwell, Mr. Jerkins‘ business partner, went missing in 2019.
She and Sonia shared an uncanny resemblance.
Mr. Jerkins believed she was Sonia.
The ringing of the doorbell brought Andrea back to reality.
She ran downstairs, flung open the door, and launched herself at Pamela.
“And thanks for coming,” Andrea said as she led Pamela upstairs.
Pamela dumped her bag onto the bed. “Spill.”
Andrea handed Pamela her laptop opened to Sonia’s Social profile.
Pamela’s eyes widened. “Gosh, you two do look alike.”
Andrea nodded. “I know. And Mr. Jerkins thinks I’m Sonia.”
Pamela’s face set in a determined expression. “We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
The two began an ebullient search for more information about Sonia and Mr. Jerkins on the internet.
The sun had moved to set below the horizon of the earth, gilding the room with golden light. Andrea and Pamela continued working.
Andrea and Pamela had spent hours researching, scanning the screens until exhaustion finally claimed them. Shumped back in unison onto the bed, Andrea’s open laptop sat before them, softly glowing at them in the dark.
Sleep wrapped itself around them like a shroud, but it was short–lived.
A knock at the door brought Andrea awake.
“Andrea, sweetie, wake up,” her father called softly.
Andrea rubbed her eyes, disoriented.
Pamela stirred beside her, yawning,
“Good morning, Mr. Owen?” Pamela asked.
“There’s a man here to see Andrea,” John replied, his voice low.
Andrea’s heart flipped.
Who is it?” she asked, a sense of trepidation seeping in.
Her father was hesitant. “He didn’t give his name, but. be careful, okay?”
Andrea turned to Pamela, showing a look of deep concern.
Downstairs, Andrea felt her anxiety build with every step.
As she entered the living room, a figure stood by the window that became instantly recognizable. Mr. Jerkins.
His eyes locked onto hers, a mix of desperation and longing.
“Andrea. Sonia,” he whispered, taking a step forward.
Andrea’s instincts screamed warning. She stood frozen, unsure what to do.
Pamela was suddenly there beside her, comforting in her solidity.
“What do you want, Mr. Jerkins?” Pamela asked calmly.
Mr. Jerkins didn’t turn away from Andrea’s face. “I need to talk to her. Alone.”
Andrea turned to Pamela. “It’s okay, I can handle him.”
Pamela’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You sure?”
Andrea nodded. “Yeah, go upstairs. I’ll be fine.”
Pamela hesitated, then nodded and went upstairs. The door creaked shut, and Andrea turned to him.
“What do you want, Mr. Jerkins?” she asked firmly.
He took another step closer, his eyes pleading. “It’s Daren, actually.”
“I don’t care to know,” Andrea replied, cold. “I’m not Sonia. Just because we look alike doesn’t make us the same person.”
Daren’s face twisted in anguish. “You don’t remember anything? Anything at all?”
Andrea shook her head. “No, I don’t. And even if I did, I’m not Sonia.”
Daren slumped in defeat, traces of defeat etched on his face.
Suddenly, he pulled out a small photo from his pocket.
“Look at this,” he said with a voice barely audible.
The picture showed Daren and a woman who looked uncannily like Andrea – Sonia.
