Page 45 of Double Take

Unable to shut off the chilling scenarios, she opened the car door and climbed out, shut the door with a soft click, then hurried to the nearest open window. If she could just make sure everyone was okay, then she’d get back in the car with no one the wiser.

“...and I told you it’s possible someone may have seen him.” Adam’s mother’s voice filtered to Lainie through the window screen. “He’s not dead.”

JAMES WASN’T SUREwhat to think. Of course, he didn’t tell the woman Lainie was the one who’d seen Adam, just that someone had reported spotting him at the hospital. And now, Adam’s mother was simply verifying Lainie’s sightings of the man. Which was impossible becausethe man was dead.

Wasn’t he?

James was starting to wonder. Faking one’s death was rare, but not unheard of. Although, it sounded more like a situation of taking advantage of the opportunity tostaydead rather than planning tobedead. He had no doubt Adam didn’t intend for Lainie to survive his attack.

“But ... the funeral...” James spread his hands. “To go to all that trouble.”

“It was a small service. Just family. We didn’t want to make a big production of it so if Adam ever decided he could come home...” She shrugged. “We didn’t even bother with an obituary. We just needed it to be enough so she—Lainie—would believe he was dead”—Mrs. Williams spoke quietly, enunciating each word—“andthat’swhat we want her to continue to think.”

“So, who was in the coffin?”

“It was empty.”

James frowned. “But someone would have discovered that.”

“No, they wouldn’t,” another voice to his left said. A young man in his early thirties stepped into the room. Nick Williams, Adam’s brother. They looked very similar, and it was obvious they were brothers, but there were definitely differences, and they wouldn’t pass for twins even from a distance. Nick walked over to his mother and rested a hand on her shoulder.

“What do you mean?” Cole asked. “Of course they would have. It would have been too light.”

The man shrugged. “I don’t know about that. Coffins are heavy. No one’s going to notice if it’s minus a body.”

Maybe. “Well, what about the people at the hospital who worked on him? The paramedics?”

Nick shrugged. “If anyone asked, they would be told he died later. I’m not aware of anyone who asked. Honestly, I would be surprised if anyone remembered him. How many paramedics actually check up on the patients they bring in?”

James exchanged a look with Cole, then swung his gaze back to Nick. “But, why go to all that trouble? Why does he want everyone to believe he is dead?”

“Not everyone, just Lainie. But that results in everyone else needing to believe it too. He said he was afraid that she would hunt him down and finish the job.”

It took all of James’ self-control not to scoff. This was the biggest bunch of—“What doyouthink? You know her. You think she’s capable of something like that?”

“Who knows what people are capable of?” Mrs. Williams answered before Nick could. “She seemed okay when we first met her, but it soon became obvious she wasn’t good enough for my Adam.”

Again, James kept the professional face mask in place. “I just want to know how he survived. He was pronounced dead at the scene, correct?”

“No, no. They revived him in the ambulance, and he managed to communicate that he was in danger. He was put into protective custody with the marshals, I believe. Like I said, they were afraid she’d come back and finish him off.”

James frowned. The woman’s narrative was total fabrication. None of that was in the file. Then again, if the marshals were involved, it wouldn’t be. He made a note to check with a marshal buddy who would be able to find out for him.

“I’d had heart surgery the morning of the incident,” Mrs. Williams said, “then multiple complications after, so I never even got to see him before he went into hiding. Neither did my husband. He was with me, of course.”

“Ma’am—”

“Mom,” Nick said, “why don’t you grab the tea from the fridge and pour us some drinks while I talk with the officers.”

“Detectives,” Cole said.

“Right. Detectives.”

Mrs. Williams crossed her arms and raised her brow at her son. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“Of course not. I’m just thirsty. You were getting me some tea when they knocked, remember? And besides, if we’re going to have an extended conversation, I’d like to do it seated in the den.”

She sighed. “Fine. I’ll be there shortly. I’ll have to brew more tea.”