Sara's knocked lightly on the door and then waited. At the sound of approaching footsteps she glanced behind her to see a man in his late fifties coming towards her.
She felt the friendly smile touching her lips fall away as she took in the man's angry expression. And then he was pushing her roughly against the door.
Sara screamed and then his hand clamped tightly over her mouth.
"Shut the hell up, Amber"! The man hissed his eyes filled with rage.
Sara looked at him her eyes wild with fear.
"Tell me you have my money, Amber", the man insisted pressing his body roughly into Sara's.
Sara's breath was coming in short bursts through her flaring nostrils, and she felt like her heart might explode in her chest. She hadn't been this scared since her time on the run with Michael. Oh, God how she wished he were here with her now! If only she had asked Michael to come along with her.
The man was glaring at her.
"I'm gonna take my hand away from your mouth and you're gonna tell me you have the money you owe me, okay? Nod if you understand me, bitch"! The man hissed.
Sara nodded her head and felt the man's fingers loosen against her lips. He slowly removed his hand and placed it around her throat.
"Now don't even think about screaming again", he warned.
Sara gulped in a huge breath.
"I'm not who you think I am, I'm not Amber", she said trying to speak calmly.
"You're not Amber, huh"? The man asked with cruel amusement gleaming in his eyes.
"You're not the little bitch who borrowed twenty grand from me"?
Sara shook her head vehemently.
"I swear I don't know anything about any money. I'm Amber's twin sister. I came here looking for her….To meet her", Sara tried to explain.
The man grabbed her face in his hand squeezing lightly.
"Please", Sara said softly. "Please just look in my wallet. You'll see that what I'm telling you is the truth".
The man looked at her for a moment, but then reached his hand to unfasten her handbag. He slipped his hand in and rummaged around. Sara breathed a sigh of relief when he brought out the wallet and flipped it open.
"Sara Thomas", he read aloud. He looked from her to the license and back.
"How do I know this is real? What kind of idiot do you take me for"? The man spat.
"You're forgetting that I know all of your tricks, Amber".
Sara saw a flash of red hair.
"Let her go, Lou". The man's head whipped around and was met with a fist. He fell away from Sara and she felt her arm almost pulled from the socket as her sister grabbed her and pulled her along.
"Come on"! Amber urged picking up speed.
Sara picked up her pace until the two women were running. They made it to the front door of the building and pushed out onto the busy Chicago Street.
The two women had been running for quite some time when Amber led them into an ally.
Sara stopped and clutched at her mid section trying to catch her breath. Amber looked at her and then pulled open a door in the side ally grabbing Sara pulling her inside.
The room was quiet and dark, and all that could be heard was the sound of the two women's harsh breathing.
As Sara's eyes adjusted she could make out the shape of boxes and cleaning supplies. And then Sara heard the unmistakable sound of a match striking as the accompanying glow lit her sister's so familiar face.
Sara stared at her. Now that the danger had passed Sara found herself in awe of her twin's uncanny resemblance to her.
Amber gazed coolly at her and then brought the match to her cigarette.
The match went out and Sara stood staring in the dark as the cherry on her twin's cigarette brightened with each inhalation.
"Um, thank you… for um"… Sara faltered and pushed a shaky hand through her hair. "Thank you for that", she said simply.
Sara could feel her sister's eyes on her.
"What were you doing at my apartment"? Amber said coolly.
"Um, I was hoping that we could talk. I just… I just wanted to meet you", Sara said and then felt herself growing angry.
She could have been hurt, possibly even killed, and here Amber was treating her like she had done something wrong. Sara looked at her sister, her features hard to read in the gloom.
"I'm Sara", she said pushing her anger aside. "I'm your sister".
Sara heard Amber take a deep breath, followed by a slow throaty laugh.
"You're my sister"? Amber laughed again. "No shit? Well then this is just too good Sara Tancredi".
She stared at Amber in the darkness.
"You know who I am", Sara said softly.
Choosing not to answer Sara's question Amber dropped her cigarette to the floor and stubbed it out with her boot.
"Come on", she said, and grabbing Sara by the arm she led them through the dark room passed the shadows of boxes and shelves filled with cleaning supplies.
Sara squinted as the bright light hit her eyes.
Amber had led them to a door which opened onto a deserted hallway. Amber glanced at Sara once more and then led her passed several closed doors before coming to a stop in front of a door on the left side of the hall.
She pushed the door open and stepped into the room her fingers still wrapped around Sara's arm. Sara had no choice but to follow her sister inside.
The room was small and held a vanity table and a few hard backed chairs and a waredrobe. Sara took in the array of makeup and creams laid out on the table and decided it was a dressing room of sorts.
When they were safely behind the closed door Amber slid the dead bolt and turned to face her.
"So, Sis, what brings you back to Chicago"?
Sara pulled her eyes from her surroundings and stared at her sister. She found herself wondering just how much Amber knew about her.
"Um, I actually came here to see you, Amber", Sara said meeting her sister's eyes.
It was like looking into her own eyes thought Sara. Like back when she was using and would stare at her own reflection feeling so unreal she felt the need to see if she was actually there.
Amber cocked an eyebrow and smiled.
"Well then let me guess, your dying and you need a kidney"? Amber deadpanned.
Sara was taken aback at her twin's statement.
"I... I just wanted to meet you and... I don't know, connect with you, I guess. You're the only family I have left", Sara finished softly.
Amber stared at her, her expression still void of emotion.
"And this matters to me, why"?
Sara met her sister's eyes. "I don't know, I just thought maybe... you know what? I shouldn't have come here", Sara said suddenly.
She had the feeling Amber didn't want this meeting, and to force it on her would only result in an argument. And that wasn't her intention. Sara had had enough dysfunctional relationships to last a lifetime.
Sara was turning to go when Amber reached out to her.
"Wait. Listen, I'm not good with this sister shit. I'm actually not good with anyone who comes outta nowhere. My radar seems to go off if you know what I mean"? Amber said with a smile brightening up her face.
"Usually someone comes outta nowhere they want something from me, and at the moment I'm not feeling too charitable".
Sara nodded and returned her sister's smile. "I understand".
Amber fished a cigarette out of the pack and then held it out offering Sara one.
"Um, no, no thanks, I don't smoke".
Amber struck a match and stuck it to the end of her cigarette.
"Of course you don't , I mean your a doctor, right"?
Again Sara found herself wondering just how much Amber knew about her life.
"How do you know so much about me"? Sara asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Amber took her cigarette up to her lips.
The smoke leaving her mouth, "I guess I must have read a thing or two about you in the newspaper, Sara. I mean the Governor's daughter, wow! You certainly faired well. I mean I only got the abusive father. You got a Governor"! Amber said her bitterness showing through her smile.
Again Sara was taken aback. What was she supposed to say to that? Amber seemed so honest yet guarded. This strange combination along with such a bold confession made Sara feel uncomfortable.
"Look, why don't we go grab lunch or something"?
Amber regarded her coolly.
"Lunch? No I can't. I'm up soon. As a matter of fact I hope you don't have a problem with my getting ready while we talk, I go on in about 15 minutes".
Sara watched , as Amber stubbed out her partially smoked cigarette.
"Um, no I don't mind.
She was wondering exactly what Amber had to get ready for when she heard music start up somewhere in the building.
"We're open for business", Amber said and she pulled her t-shirt up over her head.