Deadly Double

by Adrianne Byrd

  “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 again?” “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 back 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.

  “They’re a beautiful couple, aren’t they?” Ecaterina said, breezing into the room. “You and your cousin Sheila don’t, uh, share too many features.” She smiled awkwardly. “Are you two first or second cousins?”

  Josie stared at the blond woman in the picture. “Sheila?”

  “Yes. That’s your cousin Sheila.”

  Frowning, Josie concentrated on the stunning and photogenic woman, but only drew a blank. She couldn’t remember ever having a white cousin. “I don’t know.” She exhaled with disappointment. “I don’t remember her.”

  Slowly her gaze traveled to the man in the photograph and something sparked within her. “He looks sort of familiar,” she whispered.

  “Well, I should say so,” Ecaterina chuckled. “He’s married to your cousin.”

  Josie took in the man’s dark hair and blue eyes, but his features weren’t quite right. They seemed wrong somehow. She stared at his eyes. They were the right shade, but they, too, were wrong.

  When she realized she wasn’t making any sense, she lowered the picture and touched the bruise above her eye. It throbbed as she struggled to remember how she had gotten it. The harder she tried, the more frustrated she became. “Open up,” Ecaterina instructed. Josie obeyed and was rewarded by having a thermometer shoved under her tongue. “I was supposed to give you a shot a few hours ago,” Ecaterina commented as she looked over a list of some kind. “No shot,” Josie mumbled, shaking her head.

  “Oh, I’m sure it’s not going to hurt.” The older woman said. “William said it’s supposed to relax you.” She picked up a small vial.

  Josie kept shaking her head.

  Ecaterina ripped open a small packet and revealed a new hypodermic needle.

  Josie yanked the thermometer out of her mouth. “No!”

  Ecaterina jumped from the bed and stared into Josie’s combative gaze with incredulity. “Look. I am only trying to help.”

  “I didn’t ask for your help,” Josie snapped, and tossed back the covers. She struggled to get out of bed, but her show of defiance ended when her wobbly legs failed to support her.

  The next thing she knew, she hit the floor with a yelp and a loud thud.

  Once again, Ecaterina came to her aid. “Sweetheart, you’re going to end up killing yourself at this rate.”

  Embarrassed and humiliated, Josie accepted the woman’s offered help and after a few minutes managed to get back into bed. “No shot,” Josie declared stubbornly. “No drugs.”

  “You just took Tylenol,” Ecaterina reminded her. “Come now, William wouldn’t prescribe something that would harm you. But if you don’t want the shot, I’m not going to make you take it.” “Who’s William? I don’t know any William.” The moment she said it, she realized it wasn’t true. The older woman tsked under her breath and then placed her hand to Josie’s forehead. “What did we do with that thermometer?” “I don’t have a fever.”

  “You thought you could stand up, too,” Ecaterina countered. She searched around the bed and found what she was looking for. “Now say ah.”

  Josie relaxed a little bit and did what she was told. A minute later, she discovered she was wrong again. She did have a fever.

  “You’re sicker than you think. Why don’t you reconsider taking that shot?”

  “No.” She inched away from the woman and then rubbed at her head again. When she pulled her hand away, her gaze narrowed on the jagged welt across her wrist.

  Her heartbeat accelerated at the sight of it. Tears welled in her eyes as a memory struggled to surface. Despite her fever, Josie suddenly felt cold and scared, but she couldn’t think of a reason why.

  “Josie?”

  A strange haze swirled around a faded image in Josie’s mind. The next moment, her head exploded with pain. Josie reeled back, and then slumped against the pile of pillows behind her.

  In no time the pain consumed her.

  Ecaterina didn’t know what to make of the young woman’s strange behavior. One minute she seemed fine and in the next seemed to suffer from some type of epileptic fit. Her gaze darted to the small vial and hypodermic needle. Maybe she did need this shot.

  “Make it...stop,” Josie pleaded.

  That was all it took, and Ecaterina gave her the shot. Minutes later, Josie calmed down.

  For the first time, Ecaterina wondered about what type of flu bug this woman had. And what happened to her wrists? Ecaterina frowned, and then covered the woman while she slept.

  Josie, however, dreamed of another pair of blue eyes. A pair that deepened with concern, twinkled with laughter, and glowed with love. She knew those eyes well and had dreamed of them often.

  “William,” she murmured. Warmth radiated throughout her body. As the pain evaporated, she welcomed the memories of an old love…a forbidden love. It had been a time of freedom, exhilaration, and self-discovery. She had found the man of her dreams, her soul mate. However, her feeling of euphoria soon crashed beneath a tidal wave of heartbreak. “Shh. There’s no need for tears.” She wanted to cry. She had to cry. “Josie, it’s all right. I’m here now.” She drew comfort from the man’s gentle voice and quieted down. “Shh,” he said. “I’m going to take care of you,” the voice promised. Josie believed him. Something warm brushed against her face, and she sighed with contentment.

  Soon a question nagged at the back of her mind. Who was promising to take care of her and why should she trust him?

  You can never trust anyone again, she warned herself.

  She struggled to open her eyes. It was hard; her eyelids were so heavy. Her lashes flickered, and she was able to make out something in the blurry light.

  A shadowy figure hovered above her. Through sheer determination, she brought the image into focus. Within seconds, a familiar pair of deep blue eyes crystallized. Josie sucked in a startled gasp of surprise. “William?” A wide smile curved onto his handsome face. “Yes, Josi
e. It’s me.”

  Chapter 13

  Josie studied the man above her and struggled to make sense of this apparition. It couldn’t be, she reasoned, and squeezed her eyes shut. Her mind had to be playing tricks on her. It wouldn’t have been the first time, she reasoned, but this was too cruel to be true. The cold returned. She shivered and grasped for the covers though it was like grabbing a block of ice to keep warm. “It’s all right, Josie,” William said. “Your body is going through withdrawal. You’re going to be okay.” She clamped her jaws tight and trembled violently. “It’s going to come and go, but you’ll be all right.” Josie didn’t feel all right. In fact, she was nauseous. “You want to throw up?” he asked gently.

  She nodded and was instantly scooped out of the bed. Seconds later she was hanging over the toilet bowl and emptying her stomach. When she finished, her abdomen ached, and her head spun.

  As before, a cool compress was placed against her head and a geyser of gratitude erupted inside of her and flowed from her lips.

  “Calm down. It’s okay. It’s okay.” William cleaned her up.

  Josie desperately wanted to believe that, but wasn’t at all sure he was who he claimed. A lot had happened since the loss of her career: the death of her father, Michelle, and her emotional breakdown.

  In such a short time, she went from being a strong independent woman to someone who was afraid of her own shadow.

  And then there was the accident. She curled into a fetal position against the bathroom’s cold tile.

  Splashes of a memory teased her from behind her closed eyes. She was knee deep in water while trying to scrub blood from her hands. And there was laughter. Who was laughing? “What have you done, Michelle?” a woman’s voice had asked. Josie continued to scrub at her hands. “I didn’t do anything.” “How can you say that, Michelle? You just killed Daniel!” Josie shook her head. No, she didn’t. She couldn’t have. Quivering, she remembered a flood of lights blinding her. “I didn’t kill him,” she croaked. “I didn’t.”

  Josie clawed her way out of the gloomy memory, desperate to seek refuge from the heinous accusation and confusion. She woke with a start and found herself back in bed and surrounded by darkness. “William?” Josie sat up. “I’m still here.” His voice drifted from her right, and she swiveled toward it. Her eyes grew wide as she struggled to make out his outline. With a soft click, a low glow of light revealed the impossible. “This isn’t happening,” she whispered, and clutched a hand to her chest. Her gaze roamed over him. “I don’t understand.” He waited until their gazes locked before he took a deep breath, and replied, “That makes two of us.” She frowned and glanced around the room again. “Where’s Ecaterina, or did I imagine her?”