Double Take (29 page)

And that the fire was a trap.

A trap meant to kill.

But Kait tried the door anyway, to no avail. Smoke was infusing the air now, making it hard to breathe. Behind her, every single stall was engulfed in a raging inferno.

She glanced to her left, beginning to cough, where stairs led to Max Zara’s apartment and the other, unused one. As she did, she heard her sister’s name.

Kait froze. Had she imagined it?

“Lana!”

It was Trev. “Trev! Help! Trev!” she screamed. But the effort cost her dearly, and she had a fit of coughing. Kait tore off her T-shirt and used it to cover her mouth and nose. Sparks landed on the knee of her jeans.

Kait batted them out and dashed up the stairs. From the corner of her eye, she watched the fire overtake the door to the tack room. She burst into the unused apartment, going right to the window. And as she crossed its width, she could feel the heat of the fire under the soles of her shoes.

If she didn’t get out now, she would die.

Kait reached the window and jerked on it; to her relief, it flew open. Smoke billowed into the room behind her; Kait didn’t dare pause. She climbed over the ledge, releasing her T-shirt. The ground loomed up at her from one story below. “Trev!” she screamed. “Trev!”

She looked back. The fire had reached the landing in the hall and she saw the flames crackling along the floor there through the open doorway. There was only one way out.

Kait looked back down. She’d survive the jump, wouldn’t she? She’d break a leg or two, but surely not her neck. She hesitated.

The fire roared loudly in the room behind her.

“Lana!”

Kait glanced back and saw Trev and Max in the field below. “The fire’s in the apartment,” she cried.

“Lana! Can you move? The gutter’s about six feet to your left!” Trev called up to her. His tone was calm—his expression was not.

Kait glanced left and saw a gutter that ran down the side of the building. It seemed a zillion miles away.

“Lana, you can do it! But you have to hurry!” Trev said firmly.

She looked behind her. The fire was climbing along the door to the apartment and had crossed half the floor. Fortunately, the floor was oak, not a synthetic carpet, and there was only one area rug, which it hadn’t yet reached. “I don’t know,” she cried. Her mind was telling her to jump, her body was resisting in fear, and she was afraid to try to navigate the ledge to the gutter—she was afraid of falling.

“Go, now!” Trev cried, frustration creeping into his tone.

Kait looked down and seemed to meet his gaze. This was it, then. It was get to the gutter and slide down it—or jump. She inhaled, beginning to shake. And keeping her hands flat on the building at her back, pressed up against it as hard as she could, she started to shuffle along the narrow ledge toward the gutter.

“That’s it!” Trev cried.

Her foot shot out. Kait screamed and somehow shrank up against the building, her heart stopping with terror. She had almost fallen off the ledge.

“Lana—get going!” Trev shouted.

She blinked through sweat and tears. The wood siding had become so hot against her back that it felt as if it would burst into flames at any moment. Kait moved.

Recklessly, she dove at the gutter and the next thing she knew, it burned and tore at her hands and the flesh on her bare torso as she slid rapidly down it.

Seconds later, she felt Trev’s hands on her feet, and a moment later, as his hands reached her hips, she let go. He caught her and held her hard, in his arms.

She began to cough, wildly, uncontrollably, as the sirens sounded in the not so far distance. He turned her to face him and she melted into his arms, against the wall of his solid body. Kait buried her face against his chest. “It’s all right,” he said softly, stroking her hair.

And Zara spoke. “We had better get out of here,” he said. “And we had better get the horses out of the near paddocks.”

“How bad is it?” Kait coughed.

“A little smoke inhalation. You’ll be just fine,” Mitch said soothingly, his smile gentle.

“No.” She was hoarse. Her throat hurt. “The barn.”

“They managed to save the indoor arena and the offices,” Mitch said. “And the fire didn’t spread to any of the other barns—and not a single horse was lost.”

Kait nodded, and tears trickled down her cheeks.

Mitch took her hand. “Honey, it will be fine. Trev has this place insured, and he’s got enough stalls and he didn’t lose a single horse—and he didn’t lose you.”

Kait cried harder. “What’s wrong?”

“You would never understand,” she managed. “But it’s all my fault.”

Mitch looked taken aback. “How could you possibly think that?”

“It wasn’t an accident.” She took a tissue from the tissue box on her bedside table. “Someone locked me in. Someone wants me dead.”

Mitch stared.

Kait leaned back against the pillows. “Is Rafe Coleman here?”

“The entire sheriff ‘s department is here, and half the police department, not to mention the fire department and just about every one of your neighbors.”

Kait nodded.

“You’ll have a sore throat for a few days. Take some over-the-counter lozenges. But other than that, I’d say you are one lucky lady.”

Kait couldn’t smile.

“Chin up,” Mitch said. He kissed her cheek. “Call me if you need me.”

Kait watched him leave. The moment he was gone, she lifted the phone and dialed her cell phone, determined to confront her sister at long last. There was no answer, just her own voice mail.

Kait hung up, furious and frustrated. This had gone on long enough, and had she not had her wits about her, right now she might be dead. She tried to think, no easy task, as she was not just hurt but frightened and angry as well. The one person who might have an idea of where Lana was, was Farrell. Kait didn’t have Farrell’s number, but she intended to reach him next. Whatever he knew, he would spill, oh yes. Even if she had to go out, buy a gun, and use it. She was that fright-ened—and that mad.

Kait called information. Farrell was listed—she wrote down his address while she was at it—but he did not pick up the phone. Instead, she got his answering machine. Kait left a brief, terse message.

“We need to talk, Farrell. I need to find your partner. Call me at the house on her cell.” She hung up, trembling, but more with anger now than anything else.

How could she have agreed to this deception in the first place? Without knowing any details, any facts? Had she been so utterly desperate for her sister’s approval—and love? In hindsight, as incredible as it was, it certainly seemed that way.

And Lana had lied to her, Kait, as badly as she had to everyone else. She had used her, Kait, in the same deliberate and remorseless manner.
Had she known that by switching places she was putting her own twin sister in terrible danger?

Kait wanted to believe that the answer was no. She was afraid that it was yes.

An idea struck her. They had switched places. What if Lana was using her New York apartment? She was holed up somewhere—she was using Kait’s identity—or so Kait assumed—and suddenly it seemed possible that she might be at Kait’s condominium. Kait quickly lifted the receiver, dialing her own home breathlessly.

To her utter disbelief, no one answered the phone—and the machine did not pick up. Her telephone number was no longer in service.

What did that mean?

Kait leapt up from the bed, stunned. How could her telephone be out of service? She always paid her bills. She needed this like a hole in the head.

Kait dialed Verizon, her local carrier. After fifteen endless minutes, a customer-service representative came on the line and informed her that she, Kait London, had requested that her own service be terminated.

“What?” Kait gasped.

“Excuse me, ma’am, but you are Kait London?”

“I’m Kait London,” Kait cried, perspiring now, her heart racing like a drum. Only one person could have known her social security number and have done this. And that was Lana.

But why?

Kait hung up in shock.

For one moment, she simply sat on the edge of the bed, reeling. And when some of the shock abated, she became aware of real and comprehensive dread.

Lana was up to something, but what?

Was she in New York?

Kait decided to dial a neighbor. Mrs. Grubbman answered on the first ring. “Ellen, it’s me, Kait, how are you?” Kait cried.

“Kait? Kait London?” The older woman asked as if they hadn’t been neighbors for eight years.

“Yes, Kait London!” She knew her tone was hysterical, so she took a deep calming breath. “I need to reach my sister, but oddly my phone service seems to have been interrupted. Could you go over there and see if she’s in? And if she isn’t, leave a note asking her to call me?” Ellen Grubbman knew Kait had a twin. But she had never met Lana.

“Kait, are you sure that’s you?” Ellen Grubbman asked slowly, warily.

Kait stiffened. Slowly, she said, “Yes, Ellen, I am quite sure that this is me. Why?”

“Why? Because we spoke the other day, when you moved out.” Kait stiffened.
“What?!”

“
You told me that you were moving to the country and selling the apartment. In fact, that broker must have shown it a dozen times since we spoke. Is that where you are now? In some place in Virginia? Three Rivers?”

Kait had leapt to her feet; she sat down in shock.
“What? What are you talking about?”

“What am I talking about? You’ve moved out and your apartment is for sale. Kait...are you all right?”

Kait was reeling. “No,” she finally whispered, “no, I am not all right.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“And it’s Three Falls,” Kait whispered, absolutely stunned. “Not Three Rivers,
Three Falls.
”

Mrs. Grubbman began to speak—Kait couldn’t hear a word she said. She hung up.

Lana had disconnected her phone service. Lana put her apartment up for sale. Lana had told her neighbor that she was moving.

Lana was giving Kait’s life away.

But why?

And then Kait knew. In fact, suddenly it became terribly, frighteningly obvious.

Lana wasn’t coming back.

Which meant that Lana intended for Kait to remain at Fox Hollow—Lana intended for her to stay.

Kait could barely think. One man’s image came to mind—and it was Colin Farrell. She had to reach him, because if anyone had the answers, if anyone knew what Lana was up to, and where she was, it was he. Kait began to dial him again.

“What are you doing?”

She jerked, slamming the phone down at the sound of Trev’s voice. He stood in the doorway, smudges of soot on his face and polo shirt, appearing weary and grim. Marni was clinging anxiously to his hand. Kait hadn’t seen him since paramedics had begun attending her in the driveway outside of the barn, which was when he and Max had left to move the nearest horses farther from the fire. She hadn’t seen Marni since breakfast—apparently Elizabeth had kept her preoccupied since the fire. Her heart tightened and melted at all at once—Trev didn’t deserve this. And neither did Marni or Sam. Not the fire, not Lana’s scheme, not her lies... none of it. “I’m sorry,” she whispered unsteadily. She needed to be in his arms now. She managed a small smile. “Marni, sweetie, I’m all right. Really. Come here.”

Marni rushed forward, looking ready to cry. “Mommy, you got smoke from the fire! Daddy told me you got smoke in your lungs!”

Kait caught her in a huge bear hug as she leapt onto the bed. “That’s right, but I’m fine.”

Marni pulled back to search her face the way that children do when they are looking for the truth. Her pinched expression relaxed. “But your voice is all funny.”

Kait stroked her hair. “And it will be funny for a few days. That’s what smoke can do when you breathe too much of it in.”

Marni suddenly hugged her again. “Can I sleep here tonight? Please?”

Kait started, and her eyes lifted to meet Trev’s. He was staring at them both. “It would be all right with me,” she said, aware of her throat catching on a sob. “But it’s up to your father.”

Trev’s jaw flexed. “Mitch wants you to get a good night’s rest but...I don’t mind.”

Marni beamed. “I’m going to go get my pj’s,” she declared, even though it was early in the afternoon. She jumped off the bed and ran off.

Kait felt herself break down; she wiped tears away. Somehow, Marni had become her daughter—and it seemed to be what Lana wanted. Then Kait reminded herself that she had no idea what Lana wanted—or intended. She should not make any assumptions about her sister now. She cautiously met Trev’s gaze. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

“Letting her sleep here tonight.”

His jaw flexed again. He seemed to be conflicted over the subject—or over a different, nameless issue—which Kait bet she could name. “I’ll sleep in a guest room. What are you sorry about, Lana?”

She shook her head, suddenly speechless. The conversation she’d just had with Ellen Grubbman came to mind. Was this really happening? How could Lana think to simply give her life away? The answer became a glaringly easy one—because she was in trouble and about to go on the run. An image of Georgina Parker’s diamond ring came to mind. She had to return it before someone decided that she was the thief, which, in a way, she now was.

Kait looked up at Trev, aware of tears of fear and exhaustion forming in her eyes. It was as if her sister had thrown a gauntlet at her, daring to do what was wrong. The temptation loomed before her. Trev thought she was Lana, and they were on good terms now. Or at least, Kait hoped that he remained ignorant of her charade. And if that was the case, if Lana were giving her life away, she, Kait, could stay at Fox Hollow exactly like this—and never leave.

But could she live this terrible lie for the rest of her life? When it was so completely wrong and so morally reprehensible, when she hated it and herself for continuing it? Could she lie to the man she loved—forever?

But she would lose him forever if she told him the truth.

“It’s all my fault,” Kait said hoarsely. “Everything is my fault. The fire. Everything.”

“Why would you say that?” he asked gravely, moving forward but not sitting beside her on the bed. And he did not attempt to hold her, comfort her. It was almost as if they had suddenly become strangers.

She inhaled. “Don’t you get it?”

“No, frankly, I don’t.” His green gaze held hers. “But I wouldn’t mind some clarification.”

Was this doublespeak? Was he asking her for the truth about who she really was? “Someone wants to kill me. Trev, how can you think anything else right now? Someone shot at me, drove me off the road, and now this.”

He stared at her. It was hard to know what he was thinking and what he was feeling right then. He was impassive, calm, controlled. But Kait had a flashing image of his expression when he had stood in the pasture below the burning barn, when she had been ready to throw herself off the second-story ledge. He had been afraid for her. He had not been impassive then.
He had been there to save her life.

Which meant that he couldn’t know the truth—it meant he was really falling in love with her, his pretend wife.

“I’m beginning to think that you may be right. I’m beginning to think that a crazy killer is out there,” Trev finally said.

Kait tensed impossibly. “Who could it be?”

“I don’t know.”

“Everyone hates me—and with good reason! Every woman at Parker’s gala hates me, Trev, I saw it in their eyes. Then there are the men.” Kait rushed on. “Elizabeth hates me. Your brother even hates me!” Her tone had turned bitter.

“I don’t think anyone that you mentioned would set fire to my barn in order to kill you,” he said sharply. “And Rafe has only been looking out for what he thinks are my best interests. And it’s the same with Elizabeth, who I consider family.”

“Someone set fire to the barn. Someone is out there, Trev, hunting me.”
And Lana wanted to trade places forever.

Which meant that if she stayed at Fox Hollow now, posing as her sister, she would remain a killer’s target.

And Kait was struck with an even more brutal realization.

Rafe Coleman was after Lana, who was a professional thief. If she remained in her sister’s place, she might very well hang for her sister’s crimes.

Kait was frozen with disbelief, with comprehension, with the inkling of what the future might be.

Trev covered her hand with his. “Look, Rafe and I were already discussing exactly what you and I have just been discussing. There will be a preliminary investigation, and if this was arson, it will turn into a full-fledged criminal investigation. Whoever is out there, he will be caught.”

“Before or after he strikes again?” Kait heard herself ask.

He hesitated. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

She could not look away. And even as she did, tears finally came. Trev had fallen in love with her, Kait, even if he believed her to be Lana. How could she walk away from him now? How could she not?

“Trev? Let’s go away, far away, just you and me, maybe to some Caribbean island, just the two of us, as soon as possible, even tomorrow.” She gripped his hand hard. She was aware of the note of hysteria that had crept into her tone.

He started. It was a moment before he spoke. “Is that what you want to do? Run away?” he asked, his eyes holding hers.

Not trusting herself to speak, she nodded.

Suddenly he seemed grim, and he did not meet her eyes. “When this is over, that’s what we’ll do. I have to get back to the barn. Get some rest.”

Kait watched him walk out.

She stared, disbelieving, because she knew a pretense when she saw and heard one.

They weren’t going anywhere. In spite of how it seemed, Kait had the worst and most certain feeling that Trev knew everything now, and that their days together were numbered.

The moment Marni had been dropped at school the following Monday morning, Kait was poring over a local map, looking for Park Lane, where Colin Farrell lived. When she had found it, she set the Jaguar in motion, and ten minutes later she was entering a gated and very new suburban community set just outside of town. The freshly engraved sign hanging over the open front gates impressively labeled the community
GREENHILL EQUESTRIAN ESTATES
.

Farrell’s address was 201 Park Lane. Kait drove by a half a dozen brand-new beautiful million-and multimillion-dollar homes, each set gracefully back from the road behind iron gates and manicured lawns, boasting newly planted trees and perfectly groomed shrubs. She found it hard to imagine the suave and nearly single Farrell living in such a place. He seemed the urbane sort, but clearly he rode horses—she had passed a sign for Greenhill Stables, which she assumed to be a community facility—and it did not seem likely that he and Lana would have chosen Three Falls as their stomping grounds if he could not enter the horsy set as well. Still, she could imagine him with an apartment in D.C. or a home in Georgetown, but not there, on a dignified, stately, and horsy estate. But he was there and for a reason—he was there to be close to Lana and his daughter, Marni. If Marni really was his daughter. How well he and Lana must do, for him to have his elegant colonial-style home. Kait was more than angry, she was bitter now.

His gates were open and Kait drove up to the house, grimacing with determination. She had to make him talk and she had to make him take back the ring. She did not fool herself—this man was out of her league. He was a professional thief and con—she was now an amateur in both areas.

The garage door was closed and she saw no car in sight. But it was only nine—surely he was in. Kait got out of the Jag, more nervous than she wanted to be, imagining him in a silk bathrobe and monogrammed slippers, reading the
Wall Street Journal
and the
New York Times
while sipping a cup of French roast coffee. She started up the front walk. She would not leave without learning where Lana was. By now, Farrell had to know.

She rang the doorbell, but there was no response.

Kait tried it again—and again. She rang it four times with no result.

He wasn’t home—and neither was a maid or housekeeper.

Meanwhile, the diamond ring was burning a hole in her handbag.

There was no way she could risk trying to return it to the Parkers. Kait didn’t hesitate. Maybe the fact that Farrell was not home was for the best. She’d placed the ring in one of Lana’s jeweler’s boxes before leaving Fox Hollow. Now she took the box and set it in a potted plant just off to the side of the front door. Instantly she was flooded with relief.

After she drove away, it occurred to her that she could have peeked into the garage to see if his Mercedes sedan was there. But why wouldn’t he have answered the door? She debated turning back and decided against it, but just as she was at the end of his driveway, she glanced in her rearview mirror.

And for one moment, she thought she saw a woman standing on Farrell’s porch, gazing after her—a woman identical to herself.

Kait cried out, as the Jaguar swerved dangerously close to an elm tree. She corrected the motion, steering the car back onto the driveway, this time halting it. She turned around and looked back at the house.

The front porch was empty.

Kait walked into the kitchen and found Elizabeth and Trev in a hushed and urgent conversation. Trev was speaking when Kait walked in. They both looked at her, Trev halting in midsentence, causing Kait to stop awkwardly in her tracks. What were they whispering about? Clearly, she was interrupting. Were they discussing her?

Elizabeth straightened—she had been leaning on the center island, facing Trev. “As you seem to have such a hearty appetite these days, there are roast beef sandwiches in the refrigerator.”

Kait looked from her stiff and pained expression to Trev’s equally grave one. “My hearty appetite is gone,” she said tersely. She suddenly realized she was barking up the wrong tree as far as Elizabeth Dorentz was concerned. This woman loved Trev Coleman. She might hate Kait enough to kill her, but she’d never burn down his barn and jeopardize his horses in order to do so. “Am I interrupting?” she asked, unable to even smile.

“No,” Trev said abruptly. His gaze swept over her. “You look better today. How are you feeling?”

“Better.”

He nodded, remaining grim. “Good.”

Kait stared. Last night she hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him. Yes, Marni had been sleeping in her bed, but he had made himself awfully scarce. And last night she had wanted nothing more than to cuddle in his arms.

“Brent Black called,” Trev said. “He’s the fire inspector. The number’s on the fridge—he wants to speak with you ASAP. I’ll see you later.” He walked out.

Kait trembled. It wasn’t her imagination, but Trev had become a bit distant since the fire. But why?

Kait’s gut feeling that he knew she wasn’t Lana remained, even though rationally she doubted that he did, because of his concern for her welfare. But there was simply no way to understand why he was distancing himself from her now—when she needed him, even if only briefly, more than ever.

“Alicia called,” Elizabeth said coolly.

Kait turned to face her.

“Your dear friend seemed terribly worried about you. She wants you to call her back.”

Kait nodded, having no intention of doing so. While Alicia seemed sweet, every time Kait thought of her now, she thought of Lana betraying her friend with John. She automatically retrieved the note placed on the refrigerator with a magnetic horseshoe, then she halted in her tracks.

Alicia was so nice to her, Kait. Everyone else despised Lana, but not her best friend.

Yet Lana was having an affair with her husband.

How could Alicia not know?

Kait knew she was a terrible actress in normal times. Yet in the current crisis, she had become worthy of an Oscar.

What if Alicia were as worthy?

Kait realized that Alicia Davison should be as high up on her list of suspects as anyone.

The phone rang. Kait was closest to it and she picked it up. “Hello?”

“Lana!” Sam screamed. “Gabe’s been shot! Help!”

The closest hospital was Middleburg Memorial, which was where they went. Kait, Trev, and Elizabeth dashed into Emergency. Kait saw Sam instantly, sitting in a blue plastic chair, huddled over, and crying. They rushed to her.