Deadly Double

by Byrd, Adrianne

  “Sister?” he asked again, feeling a prick of unease.

  “Yeah, and a real piece of work, too. Id your ever see her around, stay clear. But I have a feeling she’s going to be around a lot. Marcus is afraid that she’s going to file a lawsuit against the institution.”

  William struggled to keep up with the conversation. “That shouldn’t be a problem,” he said worth a weak smile. “I wouldn’t know who she was anyway.”

  “It’s kind of hard not to.” Rae laughed.

  “Why is that?”

  She shrugged. “Because she’s a dead ringer for Michelle Andrews. Twins.”

  He could feel his panic morph into a full-blown anxiety attack. Instead of climbing to the twelfth floor, William felt as if the elevator was plummeting to the ground. Luckily, his feelings didn’t come across in his expression because Rae ranted on.

  “Frankly, I think someone took her. The last time I checked on Andrews, she was too sedated to go anywhere, let alone muster the strength to steal a badge and escape on her own.”

  William swallowed. “About this twin sister...”

  “What about her?”

  The elevator stopped. “You wouldn’t happen to know her name, would you?”

  “Sure.” She shrugged as the door opened. “Josephine Ferrell.”

  Chapter 11

  Numb, William stepped out of the elevator while Rae dogged his heels. Another vision of prison bars flashed in his mind, this time with the added image of him dressed in bright orange suit.

  “Kind of wild, isn’t it?” Rae asked.

  “Yeah, it’s a lot to take in,” he said, making his way to his office.

  “Marcus will keep us abreast of any funeral arrangements. Of course, with Brian in the hospital…”

  “Dr. Coleman, I really have to start my rounds. Maybe we can play catch-up later,” he said, exchanging his coat for a white lab jacket. He rushed to his desk and retrieved his digital recorder for dictation.

  “Of course we can. I guess I got carried away since I hardly ever see you around. Different shifts and all.”

  William nodded, and then waited for her to leave. After a pregnant pause, it finally dawned on her that she was holding him up, and a blush of embarrassment stained her cheeks.

  “Well, I better go,” she said, backing out of his office. “I’ll see you around?”

  He nodded again and watched her leave. Instead of getting right to work, he closed the door and laid his head against the frame. “Stupid, stupid, stupid.”

  The severity of his reactions was making him physically ill. At the same time, if he didn’t pull himself together he was going to draw unwanted attention.

  “Twins,” he whispered, and backed away from the door.

  Josephine had never mentioned she had a sister. It’d had been more than sixteen years since he’d seen her, but he was pretty sure he was right about that.

  If he was wrong, he had just kidnapped a schizophrenic patient and left her alone with Ecaterina. He walked over to his desk and grabbed the phone.

  A quick rap on the door interrupted him. He turned as an agitated Geena, one of the institute’s older RNs, entered the office with her pudgy hands clamped on her plump waist.

  “There you are. Your eight o’clock family counseling session just left. Mrs. Banks said their time is just as valuable as yours and they would come back when you remember how to tell time.” She pushed up her wire-frame glasses on her button nose. “Can’t say that I blame her.”

  “I deserved that one. But Geena, I’d appreciate it if you could leave the attitude at home.”

  She straightened. “Will do.” Geena turned with a sly smile and left his office.

  William picked up his phone again and called Ecaterina. After he counted fifteen rings, he hung up, and feared the worst.

  #

  The patient had a splitting headache.

  At the moment, all she could do was lie still and hope the room would stop spinning. After a while, she grew tired and closed her eyes. A second later, she heard a door open.

  “All right now. The electricity is back on, and it’s time for something warm to eat,” a woman’s heavily accented voice said.

  Frowning, the patient struggled to open her eyes.

  “I’m glad you’re awake,” the elderly woman said, smiling down at her. “William thought you’d be out of it for most of the day.”

  William?

  “Let’s get you feeling better,” the woman said, easing the patient back against the pillows. “I told him you’d probably be hungry before he came back. I know how these flu bugs can be. You’ll need plenty of fluids, so I made you some chicken noodle soup.”

  “W-where...?” the patient forced the question out of her parched lips and winced when her throat burned from the effort.

  “Ooh. You really are out of it,” the woman chuckled and then spoon-fed soup into the patient’s mouth.

  After a few sips, the patient relished her newfound warmth. However, the older woman’s slow feeding became an agitation and she grabbed the spoon and shoveled the hot soup greedily into her mouth.

  “My, you’re hungry.”

  She ignored the woman and concentrated on emptying the bowl. After a while, she did away with the spoon and simply lifted the bowl and drained the remaining contents.

  “Okay.” The older woman said, reaching for the empty bowl. “Maybe I should get you some more.”

  The patient nodded and wiped her hand along her mouth and struggled to focus on her host. “Who...?”

  The woman fluttered a blue-veined hand across her chest, and then flattered the patient with a belated smile.

  “Of course you don’t know who I am. What was I thinking?” She patted the patient’s arm. “My name is Ecaterina. I work for your cousin Sheila’s brother-in-lawI think.” She laughed at herself. “I get confused whenever I try to decipher things like that.” She chuckled again. “I’ll just run and get you some more soup.”

  The patient frowned and eased back against the pillows. Cousin? She struggled to think, but her head ached.

  “Sick,” she groaned, pulling at the covers. However, she couldn’t seem to untangle her feet from the bedding. The spinning grew worse while the soup seemed to slosh around in her stomach. “B-bathroom,” she whined as she teetered on the edge of the bed.

  “Dear Lord.” Ecaterina reappeared and rushed toward her. However, she didn’t reach the bed in time and the patient toppled out and hit the floor. Stars danced behind her eyes while her stomach threatened to repel her lunch.

  “Oh, dear,” Ecaterina said. “Let me help you.”

  They made it to the toilet bowl just as her stomach relinquished what she’d eaten. After that, she dry heaved until her stomach muscles cramped.

  Ecaterina made a cool compress at the bathroom sink and did her best to help clean the patient up. “You poor thing. How long have you been sick like this?”

  The patient gave a slow shake of her head. She didn’t want to talk; she wanted the compress to take away her headache. When it appeared it wasn’t working, she tried being as still as possible.

  “Goodness. Maybe I shouldn’t have tried to put something in your belly like that. I guess that’s why William is the doctor, and I’m just a housekeeper.” Ecaterina pressed another compress against the patient’s forehead. “Come on, Josie. I’ll help you get back into bed.”

  The patient’s eyes fluttered open again. “What?”

  “I said I’d help you get back into bed.”

  “No. My name. What did you call me?”

  Ecaterina frowned. “Josie. That is your name, isn’t it?”

  #

  Detective Delaney and Simmons stopped by their favorite Chinese restaurant, the Emerald Dragon, for takeout before heading back to the office. They walked through the doors of the dark restaurant exhausted from their long day at Keystone.

  Xiang Zhu, a petite, Asian woman greeted them from behind the checkout nook. “Ah. Back agai
n?”

  “Are you kidding?” Tyrese smiled as he leaned against the counter. “This is our home away from home.” He winked.

  Ming rolled her eyes, and then flashed Xiang a polite smile. “I’ll have my usual.”

  “One sesame chicken; and what about you, Detective Simmons?”

  “How about this time you give me your number?” he asked cheekily. “I would love to take you away from all of this.”

  Xiang gave him a sweet smile. “My family owns this restaurant. I would never want to leave them. But how about I order you your usual as well?”

  Tyrese sighed and straightened up. “I guess that’s going to have to do then.”

  “All right. I’ll be right back,” she said, and walked toward the kitchen.

  “Another crash and burn.” Tyrese chuckled.

  Ming smacked him on the back. “The story of your life.”

  “Tell me about it.” He sucked in a deep breath and looked down at his partner. “So do you suppose Dr. Bancroft’s husband knows who wanted to kill his wife?”

  “No clue, but I have every intention of asking him once he’s stabilized.” She eased out of the way as more customers entered the establishment. “Are you thinking he might have something to do with his wife’s murder?”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

  “True.” She nodded, and then thought it over for a moment. “But then we would be looking at one hell of a coincidence. A murder happening at the same time someone kidnaps a patient.”

  “If she was kidnapped,” Tyrese interjected.

  Ming rolled her eyes. “Please don’t tell me you’re buying into Ms. Ferrell’s whole wandered off theory.”

  “We can’t ignore it.”

  “Hey, maybe Andrews stole the badge and killed her doctor on the way out,” Ming added sarcastically. “Of course, I don’t know where she would’ve acquired a gun unless she’s been keeping one beneath her bedpan for the past six weeks.”

  Tyrese chuckled. “Anything is possible. Maybe on of her doctors hypnotized her to commit the murder gave her a weapon and everything.”

  Ming stared at him. “You really ought to watch something else other than the Sci-Fi Channel.”

  He shrugged. “Like I said, anything is possible.”

  Ming grew thoughtful. “I guess. Right now my gut is telling me to learn all I can about the sister. That Josephine character, something about her just doesn’t sit right with me.”

  #

  It was close to five o’clock when Josephine returned to Keystone in a limousine with a team of attorneys. Hines spotted her from his office window on the third floor and grumbled under his breath. Maybe if he ran, he could get out of there before Ms. Ferrell made it to his office.

  “Wishful thinking.” He turned away from the window and pinched the bridge of his nose. Dealing with lawyers, cops, news crews, and an antsy staff, Hines was thankful the day was finally drawing to a close.

  At the brief rap on his door, he marveled at how fast Ferrell made it up to his office. “Come in,” he called out.

  William poked in his head. “I just got a message that you wanted to see me?”

  Hines exhaled and flashed the tall, handsome doctor a brief smile. “Ah, yes. Come on in.”

  William entered the office and closed the door behind him. “I meant to stop by earlier, but I arrived a little late this morning.”

  Hines nodded. “I doubt if I would’ve had time to talk with you. It’s been one thing after another today. I’m sure you’ve heard about Meredith and our missing patient?”

  “Yes. Dr. Coleman filled me in. Any news on Brian?”

  “Looks like he’s going to pull through. Thank God. It’s the only good news of the day.” Hines took the seat behind his desk. “I know you’re new, but trust me this sort of thing doesn’t normally happen around here.”

  William nodded but was mindful to mask his emotions, especially when so many bubbled just below the surface. “I know this is a trying time for the staff.”

  “Tell me about it. I’ve had calls from most of the women on third shift fearful about returning to work. With there being such a shortage of nurses in the state, that’s the last thing I want to hear.”

  Again, William nodded and waited.

  Hines sighed. “I’ve talked to some of the other doctors and because of this recent tragedy, we’re going to be a little short-handed. Is there any way you can move your vacation from next month to this week?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Well, Meredith would have been on vacation this week and next week. But she would have been here when you took yours next month. Actually, we have quite a few people who requested time off in November. Bottom line is that I rather spare you now instead of later. Dr. Turner and Dr. Coleman have agreed to share your appointments if you could do this for us.”

  William blinked and recognized the gift horse for what it was. “Sure. That wouldn’t be a problem.”

  Marcus sighed and visibly relaxed. “Great. So after you wrap up today, then we’ll just see you back in two weeks.”

  “Two weeks?”

  “I know it’s short notice,” Hines went on. “But you’ll be doing me a great favor.”

  “Then consider it done.” William relaxed and forced a smile.

  At the sudden loud pounding on the door behind him, William jumped.

  “Ah, that must be Ms. Ferrell.” Marcus’s shoulders slumped. “I wish I was going on vacation. Can you please let her in?”

  Blood drained from William’s face. “Ms. Ferrell?”

  Hines straightened his tie. “Yeah. She’s...something else. Of course, you probably already heard about her by now.” He sighed. “But I better go ahead and get this over with. Go ahead and let her in.”

  Slowly, William turned. A combination of fear and anticipation swelled within him as he took a deep breath and opened the door.

  Chapter 12

  “Good. You’re still here.” Josephine breezed into Hines’s office while a strong trail of heavy perfume wafted in her wake. “I brought you your damn papers.”

  She brushed past William without sparing him the slightest glance.

  Josie. Air rushed from William’s body as his gaze followed the immaculately dressed caramel beauty. Diamonds clung to her ears, neck, and wrists while a magnificent fur coat was draped around her slim shoulders. She was stunning.

  William’s attention was so focused on the woman from his past that it took him a while to notice the four men dressed in black suits behind her.

  He should leave, he realized, but couldn’t manage to move. Instead, he wanted her to look at him…to recognize him.

  “Dr. Hayes,” Marcus said.

  William’s gaze shifted toward Marcus. “Yes?”

  “I don’t think you’ve had the pleasure to meet Ms. Ferrell. Ms. Ferrell, Dr. William Hayes. He’s one of our new physicians at Keystone.”

  “Are you one of the jerks responsible for losing my sister?”

  He flinched as his brows furrowed. “No. But you must be the sister Michelle gave a black eye. I see that it’s healed rather nicely.”

  Marcus coughed, but William suspected it was to mask a snicker.

  Slowly Josephine’s lips curled. “Funny.” Her gaze swept over him. “You sure are handsome. I’ll give you that much. Dead ringer for that actor.” She snapped her fingers as if trying to recall. “George something or another.”

  William forced a smile. “George Clooney,” he said. “I get that a lot.”

  “I bet you do.” Her smile brightened as her eyes twinkled.

  He felt nothing as he stared at her. Nothing at all. “I better get going. Someone is waiting for me.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Hayes,” Marcus said, smiling. “Have a nice vacation.”

  William nodded and turned toward the door.

  “Sure hope I see you around,” Josephine called after him. A hint of a Southern accent clung to her words.

  William glanced b
ack and failed to manage a smile. He didn’t know what the hell was going on, but he did know that this woman was not Josie.

  #

  “Y-yes. You know my name.” Tears splashed down Josie’s face as she grabbed Ecaterina in a bear hug.

  “Now, now, honey.” Ecaterina awkwardly patted her on the back. “There’s no reason to cry.”

  Josie squeezed tighter and sobbed uncontrollably.

  The older woman consoled her the best she could and even helped Josie back into bed.

  The crying session only worsened Josie’s headache, and she begged Ecaterina for relief. A half hour after she downed two Tylenol capsules, the room finally stopped spinning, but her head still felt as if it was going to explode at any moment. All the same, she wondered what was going on and how she came to be in that house.

  She was disturbed by the lack of control over her body. One minute she was burning up and in the next she was freezing. She needed something, wanted something, but had no idea what.

  Though she was grateful to the kindly, older woman who took care of her, she wasn’t sure whether she could trust her. She didn’t even know if she could trust herself…as silly as that sounded.

  Josie’s gaze slid to a photograph on the nightstand next to the bed, and out of curiosity, she reached for it.