Dead Ringer

Middle East. Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia.”

Wow. “Fighting?”

David smiled. “Combat, yes.”

“Jeez. And in all those places. I’ve been to Pennsauken. It’s nice, in summer.” This would be in the category of saying anything, even dumb stuff. Bennie knew next to nothing about the military, from a lifetime of being philosophically opposed, and also a big chicken besides. And all she knew about SEALs she had learned from Hollywood. “I mean, wasn’t Demi Moore-”

“There are no female SEALs.”

“How nice for you.”

“Tell me more about your twin.”

“Oh, is this the enough-about-me part?” Bennie set down her coffee. It was kind of frustrating. “You don’t like to talk about yourself, do you, David?”

“No.”

“But you’re kind of intense.”

“Very.”

“So, why? Would you elaborate?”

David burst into laughter, a deep, rich masculine sound. “I don’t think I’ve elaborated in my life. If I were the kind of man who elaborated, I’d be the kind of man who liked talking about himself, wouldn’t I?”

“Okay, maybe.” Bennie couldn’t help but smile. At least he could laugh at himself. David was like an action figure, with bendable arms. And what arms.

“Now tell me about your twin. Alice. What did she serve time for?”

“Drug dealing, which she did, and murder, which she didn’t.”

“Wonder how she knew you’d be at the river.”

Bennie thought about it. “I used to row on a very regular schedule, but it was interrupted three weeks ago by this trial.”

“So she’s been following you for a month, at least, to know your schedule.”

Hearing it out loud gave Bennie the creeps. She sipped her coffee but the creeps were still there. Creeps are the only thing that coffee doesn’t cure.

“So what are you going to do, to protect yourself?”

“Protect myself?” Bennie hadn’t thought of it that way.

“Yes. You’re under attack. How will you counter it?”

“Well, I changed my clothes so she couldn’t dress like me. To make it harder for her to pose as me.”

“You changed your clothes?” David mock-shuddered. “Tough tactics. Watch out.”

“It’s just the first step,” Bennie said defensively. You try losing an identical twin. “I’ll do whatever I have to. I’ll figure it out. I always do.”

“Do you need help?”

“No, I don’t. Thanks, but I don’t need help.” Bennie knew it sounded like she needed help. She didn’t think she needed help, but she didn’t know how to make it sound better.

“I can help you. I’d be happy to.”

Bennie flushed red, with the three thousand emotions she was feeling at once. Gratitude. Embarrassment. Sheer schoolgirl crushiness. But his tone was so matter-of-fact that it didn’t sound like a come-on. His tone simply matched his words. It was an offer of help, straight up. Damn.

“Is this a hard one?” David asked, cocking his head. “A choice. Yes or no.”

“How can you help me with Alice?”

“I know stuff, as you put it. And I have the time.”

Bennie thought about it. He was a SEAL, but still, would that help? All he could do was raise the Titanic, save golden retrievers, and defend our democratic way of life. Still, he was a complete and total stranger. And it was confusing, letting him into her life in such a personal way. Plus he was way too hot and it distracted her. “You don’t have to help. Thanks, but no. I’m sure I can hire someone. A private detective, or a security guy.”

“Fine.” David nodded. “Though before I go, I am kind of curious how Alice got in here. Aren’t you?”

“Yes, of course. Obviously it wasn’t through the front door, since the cops had already broken in and nailed it shut.”

“Maybe we can find out.”

“But you’re not trained in stuff like that, are you?”

“No, but I’ll figure it out. I always do.”

Bennie smiled, against her better judgment. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted him involved even to that extent, but he had saved Bear, the cops were no help, and her investigator had prostate problems. She doubted that David had prostate problems. His prostate was probably pink and spongy and in perfect shape. She banished the thought. Definitely, on the make. “I can’t see how she got in. No forced entry, and it’s not like she pretended she was me.”

“Let’s get to work.” David went over to the sink with his empty coffee mug, rinsed it under the faucet, then opened the skinny KitchenAid dishwasher and placed it upside down on the white plastic rack. That clinched it:

If David Holland wasn’t Superman, he was basically the same thing.

Fifteen minutes later, he was kneeling in front of her backdoor in his silly sweatpants, running his fingertips between the glass panes like a surgeon. Beside him, Bennie petted Bear’s thick glossy fur, scratching the flyaway crimps behind his ear, more for her comfort than for his. Her head throbbed. Her eyelids dropped. Her arms ached from the swim, and her shins had been scratched by the sea monsters. Bennie tried to think about what to do next, but she was fried. And she appreciated David’s trying to help, but she was starting to feel guilty about it.

“David, do Navy SEALs ever give up?”

“What do you think?”

“Guessed as much.” Bennie thought about calling the associates and updating them, but she was too tired. She rubbed her forehead irritably and leaned on the glass of the backdoor. “David, I appreciate it, but-” Suddenly, she felt the windowpane give way under her hand. It popped out of the window and fell outside the door to the flagstone, where it shattered with a tinkling sound. Bennie looked over, astonished. “Jeez.”

“Way to go.” David rose to his feet, rising up on powerful thighs, and unlocked the door with the old-fashioned key in the lock. “You always keep this key in the lock?”

“Yes.”

“Then that’s what happened. She cut the glass, unlocked the door, and replaced the pane.” David ran a fingertip along the inside of the pane and his finger came away with white gunk on it. “She puttied it back in place. It would have stayed that way if you hadn’t leaned on it so hard.”

Bennie’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious? That’s kind of professional, isn’t it?”

“If she’s the one who did it. She could have had an accomplice, or she could simply be that professional, as you put it.”

Bennie considered the possibilities, with a shudder. “But she’s not that smart, is she?”

“Are you? She’s your twin.”

“Right, of course. I forgot I was very smart.” Bennie was about to remark on his powers of perception when the telephone rang. She went to the kitchen, set down her empty mug, and picked up the receiver. “Hello?” she asked, her eyes on the broken glass.

“Bennie?” The voice on the line was one she didn’t recognize, a man’s. “Is this Bennie Rosato?”

“Who is this?” Bennie asked coldly. She didn’t like strange men using her first name. Unless they wore Capri pants and trained commandos.

“This is Jim Mattuck with the Philly News, and I was wondering if you would care to comment-”

“Excuse me, Jim. You’re calling my home late at night, and I have no further comment on my arrest. All charges against me will be dropped after the preliminary hearing, I guarantee it.”

“I wasn’t calling for comment on your arrest, Ms. Rosato.” The reporter paused, suddenly uncertain. “Haven’t you… seen the news? On TV?”