“It’s hard to explain out here, honey,” Chance said.
“Well, I’m not letting you in,” Calliope said and shoved Chance’s ID back through the door. I surged forward, causing Shotgun to curse.
“Calliope, my name is Thalia. I’m your eldest sister. I’ve been searching for you for a long time. We were adopted apart from me, and I discovered I had siblings six months ago, and I’ve been seeking you ever since. Calliope, can you see the street? There’s a black limousine with our sister Clio inside, and Polly is with me,” I said.
“Do I sound like an idiot?” Calliope said.
“Look through the window. If we came to harm you, well, a limousine isn’t the best vehicle to hide in. I’m your sister, I swear it, Calliope,” I said. Silence greeted me from the other side. Long moments passed, and then the sound of chains being removed echoed in the hallway. The door opened cautiously, and Chance stepped back as Calliope peered through the crack.
“You’re my sister?” Calliope asked, sounding puzzled.
“Yes, I’m the eldest. This is Polly; she’s the youngest,” I said, beckoning Polly forward. Polly stepped into the light, and Calliope gave a gasp. The door opened, and it was mine and Polly’s turn to gasp.
“She’s identical to you!” I said. Calliope studied us carefully, and her gaze settled on Polly. “Clio’s my identical twin; you must be Polly’s!”
“Come in; it’s too dangerous to stay outside. And tell your driver to move; he’s attracting too much attention. If our other sister is inside, she’s in danger,” Calliope said and pointed to the window. Chance was pulling his phone from his pocket again as he strode to the window. Moments later, Chance ordered Tiny to tell the driver to move, and Chance remained at the window until the car pulled away.
“Hey,” I said, smiling at Calliope.
“An explanation wouldn’t be amiss,” Calliope said, pointing at Polly.
“I only know what Thalia told me; it would be best if she told you,” Polly said. While they spoke, I studied Calliope carefully, she appeared well-fed and not drunk, and there was no haze of drugs in the apartment. It was clean but spartan.
“No, I said you tell me,” Calliope demanded. Polly began speaking as Shotgun took a stance by the window, and Chance hovered by the door. Bear stood behind me, with Kelly trying to be inconspicuous. Polly explained what she could remember, asking me for further information when she forgot something. For some reason, Calliope was fixated on Polly, and then I realised why. It was because they were identical twins.
While Calliope and I might look alike, Polly was identical to Calliope. Polly brought the truth to the situation with her face, and that was what Calliope needed. Polly spoke gently as if sensing Calliope might throw us out at any moment. The men had cooled their own aura of danger, and despite their size, they were trying to appear reassuring.
“Well, you found me, now what?” Calliope asked.
“We’d like you to come back to Spearfish with us,” I said, and Calliope sent me a dark look.
“Why?”
“Because we’re sisters, and enough time has been stolen from us,” Polly replied.
“Well, I can’t afford to fly, and I don’t have a passport,” Calliope said.
“Honey, we have a private plane, and all you need to do is agree to come with us,” Chance said.
“And if I say no?” Calliope said. “Will you force me?”
“Nope, but you will leave this shithole tonight and going to a safe hotel which we’ll pay for,” Chance said. Calliope studied Chance carefully.
“Which sister are you married to?” Calliope asked.
“Clio, she’s in the limo,” Chance replied.
“Clio stayed outside because this place is a dump?” Calliope sneered. Chance didn’t bite.
“No, Clio was kept outside because she’s six months pregnant. Weren’t letting the smell of this place harm my unborn baby.” Calliope studied him.
“I’ve no money or belongings.”
“Don’t care, do care about my wife. Clio wants her family together, so we would appreciate it if you came with us,” Chance said gently. His words weren’t meant as a threat. I glanced around again and finally recognised what was bugging me. There were no photos, none of Calliope or family.
“You weren’t adopted?” I asked, aghast.
“Nope grew up in an orphanage and shunted from foster home to foster home. None of them good. After I smashed in one foster mother’s head, they kept me at the orphanage for the final six years of my life,” Calliope explained. My head dropped. I’d be taking Clio and Calliope to dance on our birth parents’ grave. Damn them to hell. How could they have abandoned my sisters like this?