Lindsey walked into the sitting room. Two policemen sat on her couch while her parents stood in an embrace. Clem sat with his arms crossed over his chest as far from the policemen as he could.

The Detective who visited them last time stood when Lindsey made herself known to them. Margaret’s face was red with worry.

‘What’s going on?’ She asked.

‘They’re here for the DNA test.’ Her Dad spoke. Margaret buried her chest into Trey’s chest.

Lindsey backed up. Detective Luther's eyes shot up, fearing Lindsey would bolt.

‘Is this really necessary? I’m not Leah King! How many times do I have to say it?!’

‘That’s what you say but we have to investigate to be certain.’ Detective Luther said.

‘Mom, Dad can’t you say no?’

‘They wouldn’t do that if they had nothing to hide.’
‘It’s alright Lindsey they just want your hair. Let’s get this over with. They won’t bother us again if we do.’ Trey narrowed his eyes at the cop who nodded in response.

They took a lock of her hair and dropped it in a clear plastic bag. All they said was they’d be in touch and left. Lindsey ran a hand through her hair, tracing the part her hair had been cut. She clutched her head, she was going to lose her mind.

Lindsey ran to her room and locked the door. How many times would she have to yell it? She was Lindsey! The lady next door knew it. The pink walls were like red hot flames closing in on her. Another reminder of the girl that had her face. Lindsey brought her knees to her chin.
In a way the DNA was good for her, she thought. It would prove to them that she wasn’t Lindsey then everyone could go back to their normal lives and the search for Leah could go on without Lindsey!

Her phone buzzed with a text. She fished it out. It was a text from Serge. Lindsey wanted to shove the phone back into her pocket and dive into her bed. The pink walls and her imagination weren’t helping. She kept on imaging Leah in this room but every time she thought of Leah she saw herself.

Lindsey repeatedly asked herself how it was possible? She replayed her life in her mind looking for any missing gaps. She shook her head, she wouldn’t let a creepy town turn her against her family.
Hey, what are you up to? Serge's text read. Lindsey chuckled nervously.

‘What the hell am I doing here?’ She whispered to herself.

I’m losing my mind. She texted back.

How do you do that?

For one you keep the memory of a missing, possibly dead girl in your head.

Something happen?

Yeah, the police came for a DNA test. They think my parents are kidnappers. They’re trying to tell me my whole life has been a lie. In a way it has been.

Lindsey brushed the tears off her face. Her chest heaved. She regretted her text she didn’t mean to pour out her frustrations to someone she barely knew.

Why don’t you come over and we can talk.

No, Serge I’m sorry I didn’t mean to spill my guts.

I’m here if you need someone to hear you out. Plus I made fresh Turkish Delights. Would love for you to try them.
Lindsey sniffled as she thought about Serge's ability to bake. She would have to judge for herself. She wanted that to be the reason but Leah’s memory yelled at her in that room.

***

‘Great, I worried you wouldn’t come.’ Serge said when he answered the door for Lindsey.

She offered him a little smile. She had to escape through the basement window to leave the house. She locked her bedroom door in case her Mom went in to talk to her.

‘I needed to judge your baking skills.’
‘Do you bake?’

Lindsey rolled her eyes. ‘I do a little more than bake. I can do anything.’ She followed Serge to the kitchen she had been in a few hours ago.

A large dish of Turkish delights was placed on the isle next to a laptop.

‘I’ll be the judge of that when you come over to cook for me.’ Serge grinned.

Lindsey chuckled. He just invited her over for dinner. Well sort of, Lindsey reasoned.

‘When will the DNA test be back?’ Serge slid Lindsey a side dish.

Lindsey placed a couple sweets on her plate. ‘They didn’t say. I just hope it’s soon I don’t want to have the results playing on my mind much longer.’

‘How much do you know about Leah’s case? Are they following someone?’

‘I have no idea, Serge. All I know is I’ve been living in her house and sleeping in her old bedroom. You have no idea how creepy that is. I mean what if she’s dead!’

Serge rubbed his chin. ‘I haven’t been following the case as much as everyone else but that shouldn’t be a problem.’

Serge pulled his laptop closer to him and opened it. He pushed his glasses up his nose and beckoned Lindsey. After typing a few words into the search engine dozens of articles on Leah came up.

‘Oh my gosh.’ Lindsey gasped when her face flashed in front of her.

‘Are you okay?’ Serge asked.

Lindsey backed away from the laptop. They had the same cheeks, the same eyes Leah’s hair was different, Lindsey’s was curly and Leah’s was straight but she could easily have been looking at her own high school photo.

‘She looks exactly like me Serge! What does this mean!’

‘Nothing Lindsey she just looks like you.’ Serge shut the laptop.

Lindsey shook her head. ‘Why do I doubt that?’

Serge placed his hands on Lindsey’s shoulders and squeezed.

‘Let’s find out if there’s something to find out. Don’t over think this Lindsey, you’ll hurt yourself.’

Lindsey swallowed. They returned to the laptop.

‘Sixteen year old Leah King disappeared seven months ago after a supposedly routine trip to the hardware store. A theory the police have now proven to be fiction. Leah’s parents left Hollow Cove with Leah’s younger sister after just six months of the barren investigation. Actions of grieving parents or guilty people? Early leads led to dead ends. The police earlier investigated Winston Baker a convicted convict about Leah’s disappearance but the local troublemaker still roams free. Reports at the local police station claim that detectives what another crack at Leah’s Father a man born and bread in Hollow Cove. Local gossip points fingers and Leah’s high school boyfriend. Leah King’s disappearance has locals sneering at their neighbors and frowning at the police for letting the sweet home girl down.’ Serge read.

Shivering ran through Lindsey’s body. She hugged herself while Serge continued browsing.

‘Most of it’s the same story. The police never made an arrest. Barely any evidence.’

‘Is it possible that she just ran away and wasn’t taken?’ Lindsey whispered.

Serge shrugged. ‘I don’t know they did mention something about a boyfriend. I know it’s bizarre, but don’t let it get to you. The DNA test’s going to be a good thing. The town will know you’re Lindsey.’

Lindsey nodded, she couldn’t promise it wouldn’t get to her. Now that she had really seen the girl who had her face. By the time Lindsey left the house with Serge she had eaten most of the Turkish delights. He was a decent baker but there was a few inconsistencies that Lindsey caught.

‘You didn’t have to walk me home.’ Lindsey said, she worried Dad or Clem would see them. Dad didn’t do too well with boys.

‘It’s no biggy.’ He shoved his hands into his pants.

The wind bit at Lindsey’s shoulders. She rubbed her bear skin. Ruffling across the street caught her attention. She was a house away from home but she stopped when she saw a figure behind a tree in front of her house.

Lindsey froze.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Who is that?’

It was dark but Lindsey could make out the outline of a long cardigan and jeans. The person darted behind the trees and disappeared.

‘There isn’t anyone there Lindsey.’

‘No, Serge there was behind the tree.’ Lindsey pointed at the tree behind her house leading into more trees.

Serge adjusted his glasses. He frowned when he couldn’t see anyone. He walked to the tree. Lindsey crawled behind him.

‘Who ever was he isn’t anymore. Probably a homeless person. The neighbors surrounded by a lot of forests and most homeless people like to camp out there.’

Lindsey’s heart slowed down. She exhaled and nodded. ‘You’re probably right. Just nothing.’