Read Online Troubled Waters (The Lake Trilogy, Book 2) by AnnaLisa Grant - Free Book Online Page B

just fine. We gather our phones, say our goodbyes, and split off into different directions based on which lot we parked in. I’m halfway down the stairs when I have to go back for the sweater I brought for the chilly library. I send Dana on her way, as I don’t want to hold her up any longer because of my absent-mindedness. I scan the room expecting to see Furtick in an unassuming location. There’s no one around so there’s no reason for him to stay hidden, but I don’t see him and suppose he’s just keeping with protocol.
    As I make my way back to the door the woman who could be Eliana Meyer’s twin is leaving, exiting the building at the far end of the room. Something in me won’t let me miss my chance again. She walks quickly but I’m able to keep up this time. She’s making her way to the parking lot. I want to call out to her, but shouting “hey” will just sound menacing.
    “Excuse me! Excuse me?” I call but she doesn’t turn around. In fact, she walks faster. She’s fumbling with her keys. “Hello? Miss? I’m so sorry…I don’t mean to scare you. This is going to sound crazy,” I say as I approach her, out of breath. Still ignoring my calls she reaches her car and drops her keys. I catch her shoulder as she stands from picking them up. She stops, facing the car and then turns around slowly. “Oh, my…it’s you.”
    We’re both out of breath and shock mirrors our faces. This can’t be happening.
    “I’m sorry. You have me mistaken for someone else,” the woman says. She’s nervous but I know that over-pronunciated, over-rehearsed cadence.
    “No, I haven’t. You’re Eliana Meyer. What the hell is going on here?” I demand.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please, let go of me. You’re hurting me.” Her face is pained and I realize that I have just attacked a woman in the parking lot who has the misfortune to more than just resemble a dead woman.
    “I’m…sorry. I…I’m sorry.” I let her go. She gets in her car and speeds away.
    I walk back to my car feeling incredibly confused. Maybe Luke is right and my mind is telling me it’s time to really start dealing with Will’s death, but the resemblance is more than uncanny. She’s a clone of Eliana Meyer. I have to see her again.
    I exit the parking lot just minutes behind her and find her in traffic faster than I could have hoped. I weave in between cars, driving more dangerously than I ever have. I’m right beside her, looking as many times as I can and still be safe, but it’s dark and hard to really see. She speeds up and for a minute I think I’m going to lose her as she threads herself between other cars. I can’t give up.
    As I race to catch up to her I realize that I’m on a familiar path. This is the exact route I take to get home. Following behind her she turns into our neighborhood and I can’t believe my luck! Even if I don’t get another face-to-face with her tonight, I’ll at least know where she lives. This will allow me to confront her in the daylight and get an even better look at her.
    Before I know it she’s pulling into our driveway where Luke, Claire and Furtick are standing. What is going on?
    “Luke, what is going on here?” I demand as I exit furiously from the car.
    “Where the hell have you been? Are you confused about what you are not to go out after dark means?” Furtick is pissed and I’m confused. Why didn’t Luke send him? I told him exactly where I was going to be. “We’ve been calling and calling and you haven’t answered. I didn’t think I needed to sync the GPS on your phone to track you, but it looks like I’m going to have to do that!”
    “I texted Luke and told him where I was! But that’s beside the point! Someone needs to tell me what’s going on here!” I’m yelling now. I’ve never yelled at Luke or Claire before and it’s a little unnerving for all of us.
    “Layla, just calm down,” Claire says, trying to use her angelic tone to subconsciously