*Are you sure there's not a thing I can do to make you stay?*
No one can make the pleading voice better than Amanda, she could melt an iceberg with the lost puppy eyes and baby voice. She learned very early in life how to convince people to do anything for her.
She gets everything she wants, whenever she wants, and throws away, moving for a new toy as soon as she gets bored.
*You know nothing could make me happier Mandie, but I need to be there for the fundraising. I'm doing this for us, baby.*
*I can't believe you prefer to be with those boring stupid people than spend time with me. You don't love me anymore*
*Mandie... you know this is not true. Since you refuse to come back I have to finish the job*
*You said we would be free one month ago, now you tell me is not done yet.*
*I promise you, baby. After the fundraising, I'll take you wherever you want*
*Swear to me.*
*I swear, baby*
------
"Could you just tell me if you know this man?"
The detective shows me a picture and I instantly recognize the man.
(It's the man from the pictures I found inside the hidden box.)
"Did you hear what I said? I'm not Amanda Redgrave."
"Is this some kind of joke?"
"Do I look like someone who tells jokes to detectives?"
"I'm sorry, can you repeat that?"
"I'm Amanda's sister, Candice Austen."
"Wow... I could never tell."
"I suppose you should work on your detective skills then."
"That's fair. Could you tell me where I can find your sister?"
"I'd love to know. Good luck with that."
"Hey! Wait. You came from her house, right?"
"Yes."
"But you don't know where she is? That's weird."
"Well... that's exactly how I'd describe my sister."
"I think I'll probably have to ask her husband."
(That's the moment I was afraid, Jackson will know Amanda left weeks ago.)
"I hope you find the answers you're looking for Mr. West."
You can call me just Lucas."
"Fine, have a nice day, Lucas."
"Are you sure we can't talk just for a few minutes? I'm wondering what else I don't know about your sister."
"I thought you were interested on talk about her husband."
"Yes, but now I'm having a feeling about her. I swear to take only 10 min of your time."
"Fine."
We follow together to a coffee place near. I can't deny I'm curious too.
We find a table and sit together, for the first time I take a real look at defective Lucas West. He looks very young, tall and I'd say he's good-looking too.
"So, let me see if I understand correctly. You were at your sister's house?"
"Yes."
"You visit often?"
"No, it was the first time since she got married and moved on."
"When was the last time you saw her?"
"Around one month ago, we met at my work for lunch, then we visited our grandfather. I left, she told me they would spend the weekend together."
"Did you talk after that?"
"Twice, actually once on the phone then she sent a message saying she would be out for a while but I don't know where or how long."
"What did your brother-in-law say?"
"I didn't ask him."
I'm not good to hide my feelings, he probably senses I'm not telling all the truth but I need to know if I can trust him first.
"What do you have to talk about with her?"
"We're investigating some suspicious activity in her husband's business."
(Is that the reason Jackson was so stressed?)
"What kind of suspicious activity?"
"Misappropriation of funds."
"Is he involved?"
I'm afraid of the answer but I need to ask.
"Who?"
(Why do I have the feeling he's testing me now?)
"Jackson Redgrave."
"We're still trying to find out."
"What about Amanda?"
"We're still trying to find out that too."
"What exactly you know so far, how do you know there's something wrong about Jackson's business?"
"That man from the picture, do you know him or your sister ever talked about him?"
"Not exactly, I saw pictures of them together but I don't know him personally and she never told me anything."
"What kind of pictures?"
"I saw a couple of pictures of them together, they look close, maybe intimate."
"You still have the pictures?"
"No."
"Where did you see them?"
"I'd like to help you more defective, but..."
"Lucas, please."
"Right... I'd like to help you Lucas but I don't know much about my sister's life. We were not exactly close the last couple of years."
"I see... Can I ask why you visited her today?"
"I came just after she left my grandfather's house, my nephew was sick in the hospital. His nanny couldn't find his parents, I was the only relative she could find."
"But you said you didn't see your sister since your grandfather's house."
"Yes, she never came back home."
"Not even when her son was sick?"
"No, that was when she sent the last message. Do you think she's in danger?
"I couldn't know, but I don't think so."
"There's something else I need to tell you."
I think is time to tell him the truth.
"I think I have more questions for you too."
"You first."
"You was all this time at her house taking care of your nephew but you didn't ask her husband about her?"
I take a deep breath, I look at the cup in my hands. I know I have to tell him, he's a detective.
"I didn't."
"I can't understand."
"He doesn't know she's gone."
Lucas frowns his brows, I suppose this is confusing indeed.
"Was he out too?"
"No."
"I'm lost here, Candice. Please enlighten me."
"He was at home but he didn't know she left because he thought I was Amanda."
"Oh!..."
I'm looking down at my hands again waiting for him to say something.
"You're pretending to be your sister?"
I look up to him, I'm not able to answer that.
"I can tell is almost impossible to know the difference but even her husband...?"
He stops in the middle of his sentence.
"They were not close, and I suppose she never told him about me."
"But you were living like his wife in the same house with him!"
I know what is his point.
"I told you they were not close, most of the time he barely even talk to me."
"I see... but I don't know how someone could be indifferent to someone like you."
Lucas is looking straight at me making me blush.
"They didn't share the same room, I never questioned. I was there only for my nephew."
"That's kind of you but you know you could be charged for a fake ID, right?"
"No, I couldn't. I never officially signed anything as Amanda, I was only living in her house and she knew about it."
"I can see you're smart too."
"Why do you want to know about the man from the pictures?"
"I think he's involved, but now you tell me he and your sister may be intimate. This is relevant."
"I found the pictures hidden in her room."
"When Are you going back? Could you show me the pictures?"
"I'm afraid not, when you found me I was leaving for good."
"Oh! Why now?"
"I couldn't keep doing this, I thought she would come back soon but she never did."
"You told her husband?"
I remember Jackson's face this morning, his smile before he left for work. The way we kissed last night.
"No, I never told him. It's time for him to know she left, their son is healthy now. They don't need me anymore."
The words rip my heart like a sword.
"But I do need you, I need you a lot, Candice. Can you help me?"
"Now I'm finally free from this mess I don't want to get back, especially now with the cops involved."
(But I want to know what's happening with Jackson, is he involved in the crimes? If he's not I don't want him to be arrested.)
"I don't know how I could help you, Lucas. I told you I don't know much about what's going on with my sister and her husband's business."
"You said no one knows your sister left, not even her husband."
"Yes."
"I need you to get back to her house to find more information."
"What? I just told you I'm leaving, I can't do this anymore."
"You don't want to help me to find your sister?"
"I'm pretty sure Amanda doesn't want me to find her. I'm done covering her ass."
"I know, then think about your nephew."
"Don't try to blackmail me. My nephew has his father."
"I'm sorry, I know I'm asking too much but I need your help."
"I have only one more thing to tell you, When I had Amanda's phone I got a couple of messages from a hidden id."
"What did it say?"
"First I thought someone found out I was pretending to be her because the message said "I know you, we should be friends" then I got a second one saying "Don't ignore me"."
"How can you tell it was threatening or if it was not for you?"
"Because the only person that could tell I'm not Amanda it's Amanda herself. I think it was not just a joke."
(How can I tell Lucas I can't live with Jackson again?)
"Please, Candice."
"The fundraising event is in two weeks, that's the time you have. Then I'm leaving."
"Thank you, Candice. Your help means a lot to me."
Lucas takes my hand and squeezes, with his eyes fixed on me. I can feel my face getting warmer, I take my hand back.
"One last question, how could I recognize you two?"
"You probably couldn't without putting us side by side."
"There's any difference?"
"A lot but unless you know both of us pretty well, you couldn't notice. We're mirrored twins, we're identical like someone looking into a mirror. Everything is the same but on the opposite side."
"So, she's a mirror copy of you."
"Technically I'm her copy, she was the first to be born."
"You're the upgrade, then."
I look down at my hands, I feel shy with compliments.
"Also Amanda has gray eyes, mine are blue."
"Thanks again Candice, see you soon."
Lucas leaves the coffee shop, I'm feeling anxious. it's like I'll never be able to get away from this mess.
When I get back to Amanda's house Jackson is waiting for me.
"Hey, where have you been? I was trying to talk to you the whole morning."
"I'm sorry I forgot my phone at home."
"Are you ok? You look pale."
"I'm just tired, I'll be better after some rest."
(...This and I never thought I'd come back to this house or see you again.)
"You'll have to rest later, doctor Fox made an exception. He will be able to see you in 30 min."
"Today?! But I was out all morning, I can't leave Jax alone in the afternoon too."
"Don't worry, he'll be fine with Josie and I'm sure we'll be back soon. Also, it's necessary."
(Will this day ever end?)
"Ok, I'll ask Samuel to drive me to the clinic."
"No, I'm taking you to the clinic."
"That's not necessary, you should be at work. I can perfectly see the doctor on my own."
"Amanda, please stop arguing. We should get going or we'll be late."
"Fine."
We get to the clinic, I have no idea how to get away from this now. When the assistant calls me I feel all my body shiver.
"Mrs. Redgrave, Doctor Fox is ready to see you now."
Jackson stands up from his place to follow me inside.
"Jackson, I'd rather do this alone."
"If there's anything wrong I need to know, Mandie."
(Please just let me go alone, please, please)
"Jackson, I appreciate your support, but I need to do this alone. Please..."
"Ok, I'll wait for you here."
"Thank you."
Inside the room, a middle-aged man greets me warmly.
"Mrs. Redgrave, it's nice to see you again. For the urgency of your husband's phone call, I suppose you must be worried about something with your pregnancy. Please tell me how can I help you?"