CHapter 59

Layla

I followed him down the stairs. I didn’t really care much about the house I was in. I was looking around for security cameras. We passed a man standing by the front door. “That is Edwin, one of the security guards,” Silas said, and I nodded. I followed him into the living room, and I stopped short. Playing on the TV was what looked like my funeral. Dean, Aleck, Mallory, Andrew, and everyone else were standing around the coffin.

I looked at Silas. “See, when we found you, it was the day you were getting married. We already had everything prepared. We would have kidnapped you early that morning, but your security details were alert as ever. Marie was already dead, so I had her body tattooed to look like yours. That way, they wouldn’t suspect anything. Unfortunately for you, and luckily for me, you got shot and ended up right where we needed you,” he said, smiling.

“A couple million, and the doctors operated on you, replacing your heart with Marie’s and giving your family Marie’s body. They buried her thinking it’s you, so you see, love, nobody is coming to save you,” he said, smirking, and my heart sank. If I were to call them, they would think someone was pranking them and it wasn’t real. I guess he saw my face.

“See, you understand. Follow me,” he said, smiling.

I followed him out the door and stood shocked at the sight before me. The house was at the top of a hill. The houses were below, some together, some scattered far apart. I saw a tower, which meant there was a form of communication. When I looked out, all I could see was the ocean, as far as the eye could see—endless water. I saw what looked like a dock in the distance.

I was never getting off this island without help. He said he ruled this place, and that meant everyone would be afraid of him; the damn doctor sure was scared of him. I wasn’t going to give up. Come heaven or hell, I will find a way off this island, even if it means fucking killing him.
Later that night, he had me sitting with him at the dining table, eating dinner. “How is the food?” he asked.

“The food is fine, thank you,” I said.

After dinner, he forced me to sit on the living room couch as he listened to my heart. It made me uncomfortable, but I didn’t say anything. Thankfully, he didn’t sleep in the same room as me. I couldn’t sleep; my mind was working overtime. I sat up and put my slippers on. I opened the room door, and he was sitting on a chair facing the room door with a baseball bat.

“Going somewhere, Marie?” he asked, twirling the bat.
“Yes, I’m going to get a drink of water and then sit outside. It’s a new place, and I can’t sleep,” I said, looking at him.

“Very well, go ahead,” he said, looking at me, his eyes scanning me. I walked past him and headed down the stairs and straight to the kitchen. I took a bottle of water, opened the door, and stepped outside. I saw a bench and went over and sat down, looking at the vast ocean before me.
I heard him, but I didn’t move or say anything. He came and sat beside me. “Would you like me to give you something so you can sleep?” He asked,"

“No, thank you,” I said, taking a drink from the bottle. He put a blanket on my lap.
“Don’t stay out too long; it gets very cold,” he said, standing up and walking back towards the house.
“Okay,” I said.

I knew he didn’t trust me, and he wouldn’t for a while, so I needed to be on my best behavior.

It’s been three months since I’ve been on this island. I count the days, which makes it almost six months since Layla Tavers was dead for everyone. It was the same every day. I stayed alone, and he left me alone. After the first week, I knew his routine. Breakfast was at eight, and then he went back to his office. He would come out at lunchtime, then go back into the office, then come back out for dinner at eight. Then he would make me sit and listen to my heartbeat for half an hour, and then he would leave me alone.

His office was always locked, so was his room door. He didn’t leave, nor did anyone come there. The only people around the house were the security guard, Edwin, and the woman, Bethany, who cooks and does the cleaning. I found a library and stayed there reading. I knew he was always watching me; there were cameras in all the rooms in the house except the bathrooms.

We were having dinner, and he was smiling to himself. “I have to go to the States, Washington D.C., for business. You will be coming with me, and Marie, make no mistake. If you try anything, I will kill them all. I have people watching them, and the minute I see or hear they are looking into your death or something, it’s over. I’ll let you watch me kill them,” he said, and I knew he meant it.

“Okay. I will need to wear a wig and contact lens, or someone may recognize me,” I said, playing into his little drama. He didn’t say when we were leaving, but I just had to pray and hope he didn’t change his mind.

“I see you’re learning. I will have someone get that for you,” he said as he continued eating.

This was my one chance at escaping him. I knew he was always watching, but after the first month, I already had a way of letting them know I was alive. It was only a matter of getting off the island. I knew he saw me writing. That day he rushed into the library and slapped me, ripping the paper out of my hands. He stood looking at it. It was just a sketch. He just dropped the paper and walked out.

After that, I started testing my boundaries. He would sometimes let me go down the hill and walk around. The security guard was always with me. No one really spoke to me; they just said hello, and that was it. I asked him if I could start a garden. It was four days after that he said yes, and that was my only source of happiness. That was all that kept me sane and gave me hope.

Dean

Six months is a long time for people who have lost the person they love. We are now trying to live. We would sometimes sit with Mal and Andrew and have a drink and reminisce about her and all the good times we had. I was sitting in my office when Aleck walked in.

“One of us needs to go to Pennsylvania for the meeting,” he said, taking a seat.
“Well, it seems it’ll be me because you’re telling me it means you don’t want to go. How are you holding up?” I asked him. He let out a sigh.
“Same as you,” he said.

The phone on my desk began ringing, so I answered.

***DEAN: Yes.***
***SECURITY: Mr. Cavanaugh, there’s a young woman here that says she has a letter for you, and it’s important.***

I looked at Aleck.

***DEAN: Let her up.***
***SECURITY: Okay.***

I put the phone down and looked at Aleck. He looked at me with raised eyebrows.
“I don’t know. We’ll find out,” I said. Five minutes later, I heard a knock. The door opened, and my assistant walked in with a woman; she looked about forty. She waited until my assistant left and looked at us.

“I’m sorry, you said you had a letter for me?” I asked her.

“Yes. Let me explain. I work at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C. I’m a cleaner. A few days ago, I was cleaning one of the penthouses and found a piece of folded-up paper. Normally, I wouldn’t have been intrigued, but I found it hidden in the pillow, meaning it was hidden from someone and left for someone to find it.”

I looked at Aleck. I didn’t understand what this had to do with us. I guess she saw the look on our faces.

“Curiosity got the best of me, and I unfolded the paper. When I did, I saw something written there:

***"If found, please deliver this to Dean and Aleck Cavanaugh. A matter of life and death. You will be rewarded.***
***There are multiple addresses on it, so I came here***," she said, pulling an envelope out of her bag and putting it on my desk.

I picked it up and began reading.

***Dean, Aleck, it’s me. This is not a prank. I’m still alive. The man I’m with is Silas Reid. He’s dangerous and watching all of you. His wife’s heart is in my body. That’s why he has me as a prisoner. I don’t know if or when you’ll get this. By that time, he would have already taken me back to Tristan da Cunha. The woman you buried is his wife, Marie Reid, whom he killed. He removed my tattoos. There is a doctor in South Africa named Robert. He was the one that took care of me. He paid the doctors off to switch us. He has cameras here and security guards. I don’t have a phone or any means to contact anyone. He says he will kill all of you if he hears or sees you looking into my death. He is crazy. Please be careful, both of you. Watch out for Mom, Dad, Andrew, and Mal. This was the only way to get to you both. To prove it is me: I loved you both at eighteen. Marcella was my nurse while I was in a coma. Rea loved Aleck. Chris has a twin, Cameron. You and Dean killed them and buried them in the crate. I have a second identity: Samantha Russo. Please believe me.***

I stood up immediately and handed the letter to Aleck. I pulled open my drawer and got the checkbook out. I made out a check for one million and handed it to the woman.

“This is your reward. You never mention this to anyone. You never found this letter. Is that understood? If anyone asks, you came here for a job,” I said, looking at her.

“I understand,” she said, taking the check and walking out. I looked at Aleck.
“This can't be real, can it?” Aleck asked.

“Only one fucking way to find out,” I said, looking at him.