The Doppelgänger: A Psychological Thriller Read Online Free

startled her. She got a message.
    ‘Pick a bouquet up at the florist and get it to Quinlan.’ The message from Susan read. She stepped into the train, reading the message again. Darcy leaned against the railing as the doors closed and the train parted.
    She got off a few stops later to pick up the bouquet from a florist down the road. After picking up the bouquet from Susan’s favorite florist somewhere in the Loop, she headed for the Quinlan Life Sciences building. She had no idea why she was running errands for the life sciences department.  
    Her footsteps carefully moved on the pavement. She heard a buzzing noise. She had another message.
    ‘The auditorium.’ It read. That’s where Susan wanted her to be.
    Her eyes turned to the Quinlan building on Sheridan Road. She hurried into the red and glass building. A sizeable crowd of students gathered in the reception. The crowd cleaved to let her in. She held her arm over the bouquet protectively. She passed through the narrow opening and stepped into the elevator. She got off at the auditorium and took a few steps toward the door and opened it. The IT technician was busy checking the sound and lighting.
    “Did you pick the flowers up?” Susan asked, startling her. Susan stood behind her. Her grey eyes examined Darcy. Darcy walked to the table where she had placed the bouquet.
    “Here you go,” Darcy said, handing her the bouquet of flowers. The smell of lilies diffused in the air.
    “Thank you. I forgot about the guest speaker we’re hosting today,” Susan said, arranging the flowers. “I booked the whole thing last week and forgot all about it.”
    “Guest speaker?”
    “The Faculty of Life Sciences invited a special guest to deliver a lecture on data collection methods used in research,” Susan went on. She stepped back. “The conference was planned in conjunction with the library supposed to help out.”
    “But why are we helping? We’re not the life sciences library.” Darcy remarked.
    “He’s something of a celebrity.” Susan said, thoughtfully.
    “Celebrity? Who?”Darcy asked, curious.
    “Dr. Cleo Williams,” Susan said nonchalantly. Darcy didn’t blink. Susan tended to the flowers. The red roses colored her memory. She closed her eyes and swallowed some spit. It tasted weird. It couldn’t be him. Not again.
    “Dr. Cleo, the CEO of Ambrosia?” Darcy asked.
    “Yes, who else?” Susan uttered carelessly. “We’ve been trying to get him for ages. He finally agreed.”
    “But…but he lives in New York. Did he come down to Chicago just for a lecture?” Darcy rationalized. Her heartbeat filled her ears.
    “He has some business in Chicago. He agreed to participate in the lecture while he is here,” Susan explained. Darcy nodded weakly. Business. Her cold fingers froze over the chair. She was crushing the wood. Susan eyed her. Nerves bulged on Darcy’s neck. Darcy’s pupils dilated.
    “Are you okay?”
    Darcy coughed. She held her hand up.
    “Thanks for the flowers.” Susan said.
    She walked away. Darcy stood at the door for a few seconds. Her heart raced. He was the shadow she had seen outside the window last night. He was here for her. He had found her. He tracked her down.
    She scurried to the washroom and locked herself in. She breathed. The broken glass had been replaced. It reflected her face lined with cold sweat. Worry lines formed on her forehead. She shouldn’t have worn green. It was the color her mother wore when she died.
    Her face was pale. She pinched her cheeks. A momentary flash of pink popped on her cheeks. She splashed cold water. The image vanished. The collar of her emerald green blouse was wet. Water trailed down between her breasts.
    The door opened. A student walked in. Darcy grabbed a few tissues and wiped her face. The student stared at her disheveled state. Darcy backed off. She pulled her purse and hurried out. The lecture theatre doors were open. Students were walking into it. Susan caught her standing