Double Take (32 page)

“No! We’re completely different people!” Kait cried. Fear and panic washed over her with the force of a tidal wave. But this was what she had expected. She had expected nothing less. Still, her heart had hoped for understanding, for forgiveness and a future of love.

“And I have another question for you,” he said, his face creased in lines of loathing. “How many times did the two of you switch places? How often have you done this?”

“Never!” she cried. “I mean, when we were really little kids we’d swap places.... This was the only time—I didn’t even know that Lana was married until she went to New York City to see me last week!”

“Really?” He was trembling now, mockery inflaming his tone. “Like hell. Because I remember your name. Kait London. It has a ring. A nice sound.
Kait London.
We had a meeting years ago, and you didn’t show up—you had Lana show up instead!”

“No! Lana set me up, Trev, just the way she set you up,” Kait cried, very close to tears.

“I think the two of you are a team,” Trev said furiously. Kait shook her head wildly. “Please listen to me! Lana and I were never close, not even growing up! She was always the wild one, the popular one! She was the extrovert and the thrill-seeker, she had all the boys, while I was always at home studying or at the stables hiding behind horses. We weren’t even friends as children, and I hadn’t seen her in six or seven years until last week! I had no idea she’d married you and I had no idea she had a child—none! Her call came out of the blue,” Kait cried.

“If you are such an honest person, then you would have never agreed to walk into her life, pretending to be her, duping not just me, but my children!”

Kait jumped back—away from him. “She said she was in trouble, that she needed help! I was so happy to see her again, I was so happy to have my twin sister back that I would have jumped off the roof of the Empire State Building if she had asked.”

He had become still. For one moment, Kait thought she had some-how, miraculously, gotten through to him, until he spoke. And when he spoke, she knew her fate was sealed. “Fuck with me,” he said softly, “but never with my children.” And before she could blink, in an act of rage, he flung his glass of scotch across the room.

Kait jumped as the glass shattered behind her, scotch spraying her back and shoulders.

And then he was looming over her. His hands closed over her throat. Kait gasped, meeting the most livid gaze she had ever imagined. And she realized the one thing she hadn’t thought of was that he might wish to kill her—or that he might be so enraged that he would actually do so. Their eyes met and locked.

But his hands did not tighten on her neck. He released her, but did not move his body away, blocking her against the wall.

“You walked into my life—Sam’s life—Marni’s life!” He gritted. “Pretending to be my wife! Don’t you dare tell me you are different from her!” He shook her once. “She’s a whore, Kait, and so are you. A lousy, lying whore.”

How his words hurt.
Kait heard herself whimper, but the pain was in her heart, not from his grasp on her shoulders.

He paled, leaving two bright splotches of pink on his cheeks, and he pushed her away. Then he clasped his head, turning away, and she thought she heard him moan.

She fell hard against the wall. She somehow wound up on the floor, a crumpled heap. “I was trying to help my twin sister,” she begged. “She told me she owed all this money to a loan shark and stupidly I believed her. She said he’d kill her, or Marni, and I believed her. She said I only had to cover for her for a few days, and I believed her. I had no idea she was setting me up to take her place here.”

He whirled. “For all I know, you knew the whole game, and decided it was your turn to help yourself to the cushy life I could give you!”

“No! I came to help Lana, and then I fell in love with Marni, and Sam....”
And you,
she wanted to add. But she didn’t dare. She felt tears streaking down her face.

“You love yourself!” he shouted at her. “Don’t you dare, ever, tell me that you love Marni or Sam.”

“I do love Marni!” she managed to shout back.

He grabbed her and dragged her to her feet before she could continue. “Stop it!” he roared, shaking her. “Shut up, before I lose what little control I do have! You don’t love us! You’ve used us, just like that bitch of a sister of yours! That’s what the two of you are, a pair of beautiful manipulating bitches.”

Kait clung to him. “I only told you one lie,” she whispered hoarsely, “and that one lie was who I am. Everything else was the truth.”

“I don’t want to hear any more,” he cried, and he threw her away. He started for the door.

She crashed against the wall, caught herself somehow, and hung on. “Trev, wait, please!”

He didn’t pause, and he didn’t stop.

Kait watched him disappear, and she slid down the wall, hugging herself, weeping. How quickly, then, she had lost him.

Except she had never had him. He had known the truth from the moment they’d made love.

She wept harder.

“Here.”

At the sound of Max Zara’s voice, Kait froze. She looked up to see him offering her a tissue. His blue eyes were soft and kind. “I really love him,” she said.

“I know you do.”

Kait hadn’t been able to sleep. She had spent most of the night tossing and turning, her heart broken, wrapping her body around her pillow. Trev’s side of the bed had remained empty.

Now the raucous cries of blue jays awoke her and she realized she had managed, at long last, to doze off for an hour or so. An unfocused glance across the bedroom showed her that dawn had grayed the morning sky but that the sun wasn’t up yet. She didn’t move, images of Trev, Marni, and Sam assailing her. How every single memory hurt.

She also thought about her sister and her heart lurched with dread. Where was she now? There had been no phone call in the middle of the night from the police, so Kait knew they hadn’t caught her. Kait thought about all that she had done and she closed her eyes tightly, against more tears, more pain. She hugged her pillow more closely, then felt a soft downy limb against the back of her hand.

Kait moved the pillow and saw Marni sleeping peacefully beside her, a squishy teddy bear in her arms. Tears fell. She tossed the pillow onto the floor and pulled Lana’s daughter into her arms.

She had the strength to leave Fox Hollow, to leave Trev. But how would she find the strength to leave Marni?

Marni’s eyes fluttered open. She smiled beatifically and yawned. Kait stroked her hair. “I see I had a little visitor last night,” she whispered unsteadily.

“I had a bad dream,” Marni said, snuggling closer. “I dreamed you went away!”

Kait couldn’t speak. She stared into her niece’s eyes and thought about how Lana wanted her to stay and take care of her daughter. Of course, Lana had never counted on Kait’s need to turn her sister in or the fact that Trev might be a step ahead of them both.

“I’m here,” she said hoarsely. “Go back to sleep. It’s only six. I’ll wake you at seven, sweetie.”

Marni nodded, hugging her teddy bear more tightly, her eyes drifting closed. Kait stroked her hair for a moment, until she was soundly asleep. Then she got up.

It crossed her mind to call Rafe Coleman, but she decided against it.

Kait washed up and slipped on her Levi’s and T-shirt. But autumn had taken a turn for the worse; it was a cold morning. She grabbed Trev’s old gray sweatshirt and donned that, then went into the hall in a pair of fleece-lined leather slippers.

At Sam’s door, she paused. Concern filled her and it was a godsend, briefly chasing away her own worries. Kait carefully opened the door, not wanting to awaken her if she was still sleeping. Sam hadn’t even changed position from the night before; she remained dead to the world, on her back, the covers pulled up under her chin and tucked in tightly around her body like a straitjacket.

Kait backed out. Sam was exhausted, and with good cause. She continued downstairs. On the threshold of the kitchen she faltered. She had expected to be alone at this early hour and she was very wrong.

Trev and Elizabeth sat at the kitchen table with mugs of coffee. Trev looked as if he had had a sleepless night as well. He was unshaved, with circles under his eyes, his hair finger-combed. From Elizabeth’s long and concerned expression, and the way she had been leaning toward him, Kait had no doubt that they had been up for hours and that Elizabeth now knew the full extent of Kait’s treachery.

She looked up first. Anger, horror, and outrage mingled; it was hard to tell which emotion was predominant.

“Good morning,” Kait managed, and then ignored her. She was looking directly at Trev.

He shifted and raised his eyes to hers. He didn’t speak.

Elizabeth stood. “You’ve done enough here. You’re not wanted here. When are you leaving?”

Kait squared her shoulders. “I’ll pack after breakfast,” she said, trying to hide her own emotions now. But her tone had sounded hoarse and broken to her own ears. She glanced at Trev again. Their gazes locked this time, very carefully.

It was Kait who quickly looked away, her heart racing. She wondered if he knew more than he had let on last night.

“I’ll see if the papers arrived.” Elizabeth stood, anger in her rigid shoulders and abrupt motions.

Kait poured herself a cup of coffee, aware of the way her hands trembled and that she was helpless to control it. She could not bear Trev’s hatred. Yet this was what she had expected. She had known that if he ever learned the truth about her deception, he would reject her out of hand.

But her heart clearly had harbored such foolish hopes and dreams, and somehow, still did.

How could she have done what she had?

Could she ever forgive herself?

Kait looked at Trev again. He was staring at his coffee as if it were a vile poison, and as if she were not even in the room. She didn’t dare sit down at the table, so she stood with her mug in hand, her hip against the counter. There was no mistaking that she was an intruder now.

Suddenly he stood up. “Where is she?”

Kait froze. She did not have to ask whom he referred to. “I don’t know. But she said she’s not coming back.”

He stared at her. “That,” he finally said, “is good riddance in my book.” His eyes blazed as he grabbed his fleece-lined windbreaker.

A siren sounded once, twice, cut off abruptly, a warning blast.

Kait stiffened at the sound, trepidation filling her. Everything she had done since yesterday slammed over her like a runaway train. And she couldn’t help it—her game was a dangerous one and she was scared.

The siren sounded again—and this time it was one short staccato blast.

Was this what she thought it was? She had meant it when she had told Rafe to arrest her. Once Kait was in jail and everyone believed that Lana had been caught, Lana would think her setup had worked, and she would let her guard down. She would become careless, reckless, and eventually she would be caught. Or so Kait hoped. It was, Kait thought, their only chance to catch her before she vanished without a trace into another wealthy community.

Trev glanced out the window. “It’s Rafe,” he said tersely, “and two other cars.” He gave Kait a puzzled look and hurried from the room.

Kait remained in the kitchen, not moving. She now understood what fight or flight meant. Her body had become as taut as a bowstring, as if she somehow knew that nothing was going to go the way she had planned and that she should make a run for it.

But that was her nerves talking. She was not running. She had survived all of her sister’s lies, and now it was Lana’s turn to do the running.

Footsteps sounded. Kait somehow moved cautiously, warily, forward, reminding herself to be brave, reminding herself that she had told the truth, and that she was innocent, that Farrell had stolen the ring, and as she stepped into the hall, the front door flew open. Rafe entered. He was in full uniform, including his western-style hat and his dark, impenetrable sunglasses. He had never looked more intimidating. “Morning, Trev, Elizabeth,” he said. Two officers stood behind him, as menacing in appearance and intent.

“What’s going on, Rafe?” Trev demanded darkly.

“Lookin’ for a thief.” Rafe removed his sunglasses and turned his green stare on Kait. “Parker was hit recently. Maybe even the night of the fall ball. Took a Harry Winston diamond ring. I’d say it was an inside job. Wouldn’t you?”

She began to tremble. She was innocent, but she wished now that Rafe were not so intimidating. “You didn’t find her?”

“You mean, did I find your twin? Nope. We had the D.C. police on it, and we checked every flight bound for Paris, and every possible connection out of Reagan last night. Afraid your little tip didn’t work,
sister
.” He reached into the interior pocket of his bomber jacket and withdrew a folded document as Kait shrank with growing dread. This was an act on his part—wasn’t it?

“Gotta warrant to search the house,” he said, his regard unwavering on Kait.

Kait did not move. She had one coherent thought.
Rafe wasn’t really arresting her—was he? This was all a part of Kait’s plan!

“A warrant?” Trev echoed as if he did not understand English.

Rafe didn’t look away from Kait, but he nodded at his men. They took off toward the stairs. “Try the master bedroom first,” he said. He added, “Inside tip.” He looked at Kait directly again.

“I told you she wouldn’t be on that flight,” Kait managed.

“Yeah, guess you did. An’ I got another warrant, signed about a half an hour ago.” Rafe almost smiled. “This one’s a warrant for your arrest.”

Kait felt her knees buckle. This was it, then.
But this was her plan, wasn’t it?

Except that Rafe Coleman seemed to be truly enjoying himself.

“You have the right to remain silent,” Rafe said, coming toward her. He jerked her hands behind her. “Anything you say can and will be held against you.”

For one moment, Kait closed her eyes, steadying herself. Everything was going to be all right, she told herself. The papers would broadcast the news of Lana’s arrest, and her sister would think she had a free pass to go anywhere in the world. She’d be careless. She’d be caught.

Kait’s eyes flew open as Rafe snapped one handcuff closed. The cold metal gleamed on her wrist. Panic consumed Kait.

She struggled against it and failed. She turned desperately to Trev.

He was staring, eyes horrified—mesmerized.

The other cuff snapped closed. “You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you.”

There were other deputies present. Kait wanted to scream that she wasn’t Lana. That Lana and Farrell stole that ring, that they’d been stealing together for years. She said, “This is a mistake. I’m innocent. I didn’t steal anything.” She was perspiring—she told herself to stay calm no matter what it cost.

Rafe Coleman smirked at her.

“Hey, boss, look at this!”

Kait twisted so she could see one of the officers pounding downstairs, holding up a plastic bag. The movement caused the manacles to chafe her wrists, but she ignored it. Then she saw what the bag contained.

Kait cried out.

It was impossible.

It contained Georgina Parker’s yellow diamond ring.

“You are under arrest,” Rafe Coleman said.

Kait did not see Rafe Coleman again until they had arrived at the county jail. It was a long brick building, one story high, set behind the separate redbrick building that housed the sheriff ‘s offices and the county recorder. Along paved walkway was between them. The entire compound was new, neat and clean, with manicured lawns surrounding the buildings and tall, stately trees lining the parking lot.

An officer unlocked the back door of his SUV and reached in for Kait. Kait let him pull her out, as she did not have the use of her hands, her eyes on Rafe as he approached from his own police car. He was wearing his sunglasses again. The lenses were reflective so she couldn’t see past the silver coating on them. He had planted Georgina Parker’s stolen diamond ring in her bedroom, the oldest trick in the book. But surely he had only done so to make her phony arrest look real. Hadn’t he?

“Rafe. We have to talk.”

“It’s Sheriff to you and unless you intend to make a full confession, I suggest you wait to speak to your lawyer,” he said. He jerked his head and the officer pulled Kait toward the walkway.

She tripped on the curb and the officer helped her to recover her balance. She tried to grab Rafe’s arm but he easily moved out of the way of her manacled hands. If this was theatrics on his part, then he deserved an Academy Award. “I’m Kait London and you know it! You even told me that you knew Lana had a twin. What is this? What is going on?”

“You have the right to make a single call and I’d call that lawyer if I were you,” Rafe remarked, not looking back at her as he led the way toward the front door of the second building. Engraved in the concrete stone above the door were the ominous words skerrit county jail. “I’d also shut up for now. Anything you say can and will be held against you. I’d save it for your lawyer, Lana.”

Panic claimed her all over again.
This could not be happening
.... She wet her lips. “Kait. The name is Kait. We have to talk! Privately? Please,” she added with desperation.

This time he didn’t even bother to answer her.

Kait was aghast. Had she made the mistake of her life trusting him? Surely he was not going to pin Lana’s rap on her? After all, he had spent all of last night looking for her sister—Kait had overheard a deputy talking about it. Apparently the Washington, D.C., police had also been involved.

But he hadn’t found Lana. And now there was only Kait.

Kait’s fear escalated. “Rafe, stop! Just for a minute. I’m not Lana. I’m not Trev’s wife! We switched places—she’s the thief,” Kait pleaded to his broad back.

“Yeah, right. You’re her twin. How convenient.” He finally looked back at her as he pushed open the door. “Hey, fellas. Looks like we got ourselves a little cat burglar here. Jimbo, get the DA on the line.”

Kait swallowed hard and reminded herself to stay calm. She reminded herself that she was not going to prison for her sister’s crimes because she was not Lana and she had told Rafe and Trev the truth. But she was becoming afraid. The police hadn’t found Lana. Why should they believe anything she said?