Adrianne Byrd: Deadly Double

“I highly doubt that.” Josephine headed toward the door. “I’ll be back with my lawyers and your damn power of attorney.” She jerked opened the office door and promptly collided with a tall Asian woman. “Excuse you,” Josephine snapped. “Ms. Andrews?” Ming asked astounded, and then cut a questioning look across the room at Marcus Hines. “What?” Josephine stepped back and rubbed her hand along her temple.

“Detective Delaney.” Hines cleared his throat as he came around his desk. “This is Ms. Josephine Ferrell. She’s Michelle Andrew’s sister.”

Ming’s gaze returned to the woman before her. Remembering the photograph taken from Thornton’s wallet, she asked, “Are you and Michelle twins?”

Josephine smiled tightly. “As a matter-of-fact, we are.”

Chapter 6

“Josephine is a beautiful name.” The twenty-one-year old William said, accepting Josie’s hand and lifting it to his lips to place a kiss against her knuckles.

Her cheeks darkened prettily as she smiled. “Something tells me you’re a dangerous man, Mr. Hayes.”

“William or Will, if you prefer.”

She said her hand from his. “Not Billy or Bill?” She turned and maneuvered through the tight space between the cable’s table and patrons. “My father is Bill,” he answered, and followed close behind her. “So you’re a junior?” “Actually, I’m the fourth. William Charles Hayes IV.” She stopped and turned back toward him with a glowing smile. “My father’s name is Charles.” “Really?” Pleased that he’d said something to capture her attention, he relaxed and smiled. “I hope that’s a good thing.” “It’s not bad.” She gave him a quick wink. “Would you like to join me and my friends?” He followed the wave of her hand to a crowded table of women. “Well, actually, no,” he said, mustering a straight face. Disappointment crept into her features. “Oh? Are you here with someone?”

Until that moment, William had forgotten about his table of friends and turned to see them watching him from across the room. “Yes and no,” he answered, returning his gaze to hers. “What I would like to do is either grab our own table or go somewhere where we can be alone.”

Josie lifted a quizzical brow. “I hardly know you.”

“That’s the whole point,” he said. “It is a chance for us to get to know each other.”

She held his serious gaze while the band struck up a smooth instrumental number. “I’m curious, William. Is this charm or cockiness?”

“It’s definitely not cockiness. I’m terrified you’re going to say no.”

“You should be.” Her smile was slow to return as she made a casual glance around. “Where would you like to sit?”

Relief and excitement swelled in his chest. “How about we grab something toward the back? I want to make sure we’re not disturbed.” When her eyes sparkled up at him, his heart muscles tightened. “All right,” she said. A few minutes later, William and Josie sat opposite one another at a small round table and grinned like a couple of teenagers. “Okay, you’ve got my attention.” She crossed her legs and settled her hand in her laps. “Now I don’t know where to begin,” he admitted. “I’m not usually tongue-tied around women.”

Again her right brow lifted quizzically, and he concluded the act was a habit. “Picking up women in smoky jazz clubs is something you done this before.”

“So where do you usually meet woman?”

Cornered, a rush of heat crept up William’s face and enflamed his ears. “Is there any possible way I can rewind the clock so I can take my foot out of my mouth?”

“Afraid not.”

Her melodious laugh had the same effect on his heart as her smile. Not to mention that something in his stomach was performing acrobatic somersaults each time his gaze levels with hers. “Okay. Fair enough. I tend to meet women at school or at the hospital.” Another smile. “You scope out hospitals?” It was his turned to laugh. “I work at one.” “Oh? What do you do?” “I’m a first-year medical student.” Josie feature colored with surprise. “Ooh, a doctor. I’m impressed.” “Well, not yet. But that’s the plan.” “Bonsoir. Vous désirez?” William glanced up to see the same petite blond waitress from earlier.

“ J’aurai un verre de votre meilleur Chardonnay, ” Josie answered.

William was impressed with how she shifted from English to perfect French. “I’ll have the same,” William informed the waitress before returning his attention to the woman across from him. “It’s your turn. How do you usually pick up men?” “I don’t.” She lifted her right hand to flash a diamond ring. “You’re engaged?” “I’m afraid so.” Her smile widened.

The waitress returned, set down their drinks, and scurried back to the bar. “Then way are you here with me?” William asked, picked up his glass.

“That’s a good question.” She took a sip from her glass. “I don’t know. Maybe I find you charming?”

“That’s not it,” he said. He was determined not to cash and burn.

She took another sip of her drink, but kept her gaze glued to his over the rim of her glass. “I like you,” she said finally. “You have an honest face. You even remind me of someone.”

He nodded. “Yeah, yeah. George Clooney on the Roseanne show.” She frowned. “That what show?” “Roseanne…Roseanne Barr.” “We don’t get a lot of American television over here,” she said. “Sorry.” He frowned. “You live in Paris?” “Yes. I’m studying music at Sorbonne.” “Ah. I assumed that you were vacationing like me.” He shrugged with a smile. “All right, you got me. Bet you are American. Where are you from?” “Actually, I’ve lived all over, but I was born in Georgia.” William’s eyes rounded. “That’s where I’m from Atlanta?” “You’re looking at a Grady baby.” “Well, I’ll be damned. I had to travel halfway around the world to find the girl next door.” “God has a sense of humor sometimes.” “And a master plan,” he added. Josie chuckled. “You chuckled. “You sound like a hopeless romantic.”

“Guilty.” He leaned back in chair. “So where is this fiancé of yours? I can’t imagine anyone being crazy enough to let you out of his sight.” “He’s doing some work in Johannesburg for the summer.” “South Africa?” “Yes.”

“Good.” His confidence grew. “Now all I have to do is get you to fall deeply, madly, and completely in love with me before he gets back.” He held out his glass.

“I highly doubt that.”

“I’m going to take that as a challenge.” He winked, then clinked their glasses together...

Ming crossed her arms and blocked the exit from Hines’s office. “Twins. Growing up I wished I had a twin.”

“It has its benefits.” Josephine mimicked her stance. “Are you the one investigating my sister’s disappearance?”

Ming was taken aback by the obvious hostility in the woman’s narrowed gaze. “Yes, ma’am. I am.” She glanced at Hines again, the addressed Josephine. “I would’ve come up sooner had I known you were here. Do you mind answering a few questions?”

“Do I have a choice?”

The response further confused Ming. Here was a woman whose sister had either wandered off or been taken from the institution, and she was acting like answering question was going to interfere with a manicure appointment. “It shouldn’t take long,” Ming said. Josephine’s gaze meticulously swept over Ming. “Okay. Shoot,” she said, holding her ground. “Mr. Hines,” Ming said, but didn’t pull her faze away from Josephine, “may we borrow your office for a few minutes?” “By all means.” He joined them at the door. “Please take all the time that you need.”