Vanessa stared at the phone.

Across the corridor, the man claiming to be her father began to smile again.

And somewhere inside the sealed archive, a second door unlocked.

ROOM 17 WAS OPEN.

End of this installment.

PART 16 — THE WOMAN WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE

The call had ended.

Vanessa Carter stood in the corridor, staring at the screen of her phone.

"I'm your sister."

The words repeated in her mind.

Then the second sentence returned.

"I'm the one who actually shot Daniel Mitchell."

Across the corridor, the man claiming to be her father watched her with an expression that was almost amused.

"You shouldn't have answered that call," he said.

Vanessa slowly lowered her phone.

"Who was she?"

Daniel said nothing.

"Who was the woman?"

"Someone who wants you to believe things that aren't true."

"She knew my childhood name."

"Lots of people know that name."

"She knew what happened in Room 17."

Daniel's expression tightened.

Vanessa took a step toward him.

"And she knew you weren't my father."

The man looked at Bell.

"Special Agent, you should be careful. This woman is not thinking clearly."

Bell kept his weapon trained on him.

"Put the device down."

Daniel smiled.

"You really think you can arrest me?"

"Put it down."

"You don't even know who you're protecting."

Bell did not move.

Daniel looked back at Vanessa.

"Elizabeth, listen to me."

She flinched slightly.

He had used the name again.

"Don't call me that."

"That's who you are."

"No. That's who you want me to be."

Daniel lifted the black device.

"Your sister is lying. She was never supposed to survive Room 17."

Vanessa stared at him.

"Then why did she?"

His smile disappeared.

For a moment, the man seemed unable to find an answer.

Then a metallic sound came from behind the archive door.

The door to Room 17 was opening.

Bell turned his head.

"Foster, check the door!"

Foster moved toward the corridor.

"Copy."

Daniel suddenly threw the black device against the floor.

It shattered.

The lights went out again.

"DOWN!"

Bell shouted.

A gunshot cracked through the darkness.

Vanessa dropped behind the counter.

Another shot followed.

Then came the sound of a heavy object hitting the floor.

"Bell?"

No answer.

"Agent Bell!"

A flashlight switched on.

Its beam moved across the corridor.

Foster appeared near the doorway.

"Vanessa!"

"Where's Bell?"

Foster looked toward the opposite wall.

"He's down."

Vanessa crawled toward him.

Bell was lying on his side, one hand pressed against his upper arm. Blood had soaked through his sleeve.

"Marcus!"

"I'm okay," he muttered.

"You're bleeding."

"Not the first time."

Vanessa pulled his hand away carefully and examined the wound.

It was a graze, painful but not immediately life-threatening.

"Foster, get medical assistance."

"Already requested."

Vanessa looked toward the corridor.

Daniel was gone.

The device was broken.

And the door to Room 17 stood open.

A cold draft came from inside.

Vanessa slowly stood.

Foster moved beside her.

"Don't go in alone."

"I'm not."

They approached the doorway.

Inside was a small room with white walls, a metal desk, and a single chair.

A computer terminal sat against the far wall.

On the desk was a photograph.

Vanessa picked it up.

It showed two little girls standing beside a woman in a blue dress.

One girl had dark hair.

The other had lighter brown hair.

Both were smiling.

On the back, someone had written:

ELIZABETH AND GRACE — FIRST DAY HOME.

Vanessa stared.

Grace.

The name from the phone call.

She looked at the photograph again.

Then she noticed something.

The woman in the blue dress was not her mother.

It was Helen Mitchell.

Vanessa turned toward the corridor.

"Where's Helen?"

Foster looked around.

"She was behind us."

"No. Where is she now?"

They turned.

The archivist Walter Price was standing near the entrance.

He looked terrified.

"She left."

Vanessa approached him.

"Where did she go?"

Price shook his head.

"I don't know."

"Which direction?"

"Toward the elevator."

Vanessa looked at Foster.

"Lock the building."

Foster raised her radio.

"All units, secure the elevators. Assistant Director Helen Mitchell is leaving the archive. Do not let her exit the building."

Price stepped forward.

"Agent Carter, there's something else."

Vanessa turned.

"What?"

He pointed toward the computer terminal.

"The room wasn't supposed to open until both identities were verified."

Vanessa looked at the screen.

Two names appeared.

ELIZABETH MITCHELL — ACTIVE

GRACE MITCHELL — ACTIVE

Beneath them was a third line.

BIOLOGICAL RECORDS — SEALED.

Vanessa stared.

"Who created this system?"

Price looked at her.

"Your father."

"Which one?"

He hesitated.

Then answered.

"Both."

PART 17 — TWO SISTERS, TWO IDENTITIES

The FBI medical team arrived and treated Bell.

Vanessa remained in Room 17.

The photograph was still in her hand.

She looked at the two girls.

The girl on the left appeared to be about seven years old.

The girl on the right was perhaps six.

Their faces were remarkably similar.

Same eyes.

Same nose.

Same small smile.

But they were not identical.

Foster approached.

"Agent Carter, we've located Helen Mitchell."

"Where?"

"She hasn't left the building."

"Then where is she?"

"Inside the old records elevator."

Vanessa looked toward the doorway.

"Alone?"

"According to the camera, yes."

"Take two agents. Bring her here."

Foster nodded.

Vanessa looked back at the photograph.

"Can you access the sealed biological records?"

Foster glanced at the computer.

"I can try."

"Do it."

The computer requested an authorization code.

Vanessa stared at the screen.

A small prompt appeared.

ENTER ORIGINAL FAMILY SEQUENCE.

She frowned.

"What sequence?"

Walter Price approached.