by Jet MacLeod
“You say that every time, Monica.”
“This time I mean it,” Monica responded, as they walked back to the front door.
“Good night, Monica,” Tabitha told her, with a slight laugh.
“Good night, Darling. I’ll see you on Monday. Don’t forget,” she told Tabitha, leaving.
“I never do,” Tabitha replied and shut the door.
Tabitha went back into her studio. She decided that it was time to take down the sketches and drawings of Catie, Reagan and the progressions into Jonah. She was holding the sketches when an idea came to her. She would make a family portrait for Grace as a wedding present. She shifted the sketches until she found the two sketches of both Reagan and Catie that she liked. She grabbed a large canvas and started her charcoal outline. It was then that she realized that she didn’t have a sketch of Grace to work from. It was only a minor setback until she realized that she did have some sketches of Grace.
Tabitha ran back into her storage room. She dug through some of her old canvasses. She finally found the portrait of Grace that she had done in Atlanta. It was of Grace in her Dress Blues. It wasn’t ideal, but Tabitha didn’t care about the uniform. She wasn’t going to use it. She just wanted Grace’s face, for that it was perfect.
Tabitha grabbed the portrait. Before she went back into the studio, she saw the portraits of Cort and Ryder. She said a silent prayer for them both. It had been years, but Tabitha knew she should call Laney to see how things were going. She would do it another day, she told herself. Their portraits gave Tabitha another idea. It, too, would keep.
When she got back into the studio, she set up the portrait near the canvas. She adjusted Reagan and Catie’s sketches before she jotted down her idea for a series, “Home Town Heroes.” She settled back on her stool. She carefully added Grace to the portrait. She was pleased with her assembly. She plotted out her lighting and tried to decide on their clothing. She knew that both Gracie and Reagan would be surprised and love it at the same time.
When Tabitha was done with her sketch on the canvas, she dumped her paints out on the table. Inspiration was ruling her, now. She grabbed a palette and began to squeeze paints on it. She rummaged through her jar or brushes before selecting one. She spun around on the stool and faced the canvas. She was prepared, ready and armed to start painting when the doorbell rang.
“Bloody fucking Hell!” she screamed.
She placed the palette and brush on the table and stormed to her front door. She was more than annoyed. She was pissed. She hated it when someone interrupted her flow.
She jerked the door open to find Penelope on her door step. She smiled, slightly, at her sister and motioned her inside. At least with Penny, she could work and talk at the same time.
“Hi, Penny,” Tabitha said, welcoming her in and motioning her to follow as Tabitha shut the door and went back to her studio.
“Did I disturb you?”
“Yes, but it doesn’t matter. The opening is next Friday. Will that be okay with you? I know that you want to get home to England and William.”
“I do want to go home. I don’t understand why you choose to live here, but it is always nice to visit. Besides, Liam is bringing the boys for a holiday. So, Friday will be fine. They won’t be here until the next week.”
“What about the University? Won’t they miss you, Penny? What about your paper? When are you going to publish this time?” Tabitha questioned her sister.
“Well, the University paid for the conference. The semester is over and I needed a holiday, myself. As for the paper, it should be done after next Friday, I’m sure. Doctor Hume has offered to publish it in ‘American Psychiatry’ once it is done. He finds my preliminary work fascinating. He can’t wait for my conclusions,” Penny answered.
“I’m sure.”
“Don’t be angry with me, Tabby. You can’t blame me for using your agoraphobia and shyness to help me in my field. You are getting something from it, too.”
“I know.”
“You know it wouldn’t be possible if we weren’t twins, either.”
“I know,” Tabitha replied, getting her palette and brush again.
“Are you still upset about Atlanta?”
“No, I’m over that. It taught me a lot, about myself and how others see me. I’m just not sure I like the fact that you use us anonymously as your control group.”
“I don’t. I can’t do that objectively. However, I do use our interactions and our ‘experiments.’ How could I not? It not only helps define the psychology of twins but also how they are treated as individuals in society.”
“Fascinating, I’m sure.”
“It would be if you read it,” Penny quipped.
“I would read it if I thought it was interesting.”
“All you want is your art,” Penny scolded.
“It makes me happy.”
“Well, my twin studies make me happy.”
“I know, Penny. I support you in your endeavor. I just don’t want to read about it. Forgive me, but I don’t want to read your psychoanalysis of me or us. Sorry.”
“No worries, Tabby. I deal with it. I understand it from your perspective but I wish you could understand it from mine. I think you do more than you want me to know.”
Tabitha sat back on her stool. She started at Penelope. Neither of them said anything. They just stared at each other like looking into a mirror.
“It doesn’t matter anymore, Tabby. I’m done with my research. I think ten years is enough. If someone else wants to continue my work, they can. I’m done.”
“But, twin studies has been your life’s work. What is changing your mind now? What are you telling me, Penelope? What’s wrong?” Tabitha questioned.
“Nothing is wrong, Tabitha. I’ve just come to realize there are more important things in life than research. I know most in my field would disagree, but I’ve decided to open a clinic and just do therapy now. It will be better for my family. I’ll still do your shows, of course. That part will never get old. But, then again, that isn’t research. It’s twin humor on a social level.”
“I’m sure,” Tabitha responded.
“Look, I could go home now and tell you you’re on your own, but I’m here. I’m here for you, Tabby, not my research. I’ve never once told anyone who my case subjects were. I will not divulge that information, later, either.”
“Why is that, Penny?”
“Because I like my privacy, too. I don’t want people coming to me trying to get me to be their subject, let alone asking the boys. Plus, I want family time. I want to be with them instead of going to all these conferences.”
“Wow, Penny, life finally get to you?”
“No, Liam did,” Penny answered with a giggle.
“What does that mean?”
“You’re going to be an aunt, again.”
“You’re pregnant?” Tabitha asked, floored by the news.
“Yes.”
“When? How? Wait, never mind the how. When are you due?”
“If I can carry to term it will be early summer,” Penny answered.
“Wow, that’s great. Just…wow. Do you know if its twins again?”
“It’s still early. It’ll probably be another month or so. Either way, we don’t care. Liam wants a girl, though. He’s proud of the lads, but wants a lass as well,” Penelope told her with a huge smile on her face.
“A girl? Really? Well, that’s great. Promise to let me know as soon as you find out. I have some more spoiling to do.”
“Oh, no, you don’t. You’ve done quite enough with Robert and Ian. I don’t want you making her into a diva or a princess. One is enough in our family,” Penny stated.
“Talking about yourself, again, are we, little sister?”
“Two minutes does not count and no, I was talking about you.”
“Funny.”
“Who is the portrait for? She looks familiar. Don’t I know her from one of the gallery shows or something?”
&n
bsp; “Yes, she should considering we were dating, if you could call it that, at the time when you met her. It’s Grace O’Shea. This is her new family.”
“Beautiful as always. Ah, yes, Gracie Lynn. Wasn’t she hiding in the Army or something? She was very unhappy with her job. I remember that.”
“You would. Do you remember her calling you out at the gallery? She pulled you aside, threatened you, and made you confess all because she knew you weren’t me. I never heard the end of it.”
“That was her? Wow, that was so long ago, I forgot. She is amazing, though. Three years we had been doing the switch and she was the only one who knew. So, what’s her story now?”
“Left the Army, long string of bad relationships, came home to lick her wounds and start over, fell madly in love and nowt, they’re getting married,” Tabitha explained.
“Good for them. I’m guessing the portrait is a wedding present of some sort. I am sure you’re going to make it a surprise. Don’t tell me you want to unveil it at the gallery opening?”
“No, I’m going to wait to give it to them. Besides we both know that internationally known and revered artist Tabitha Grey doesn’t make public gestures, just donations to worthy causes. When I do give it to Grace and Reagan, it will be at a private event. Besides, I need to catch you up on Grace, anyhow.”
“She’ll be at the opening?”
“Of course, as well her finance Reagan. I need to tell you about her as well. I don’t know if Grace will warn her about our ruse. I know that she has mentioned you to Samantha, but to what extent, I’m not sure,” Tabitha added.
“Who is Samantha, Tabitha?”
“She is my…lover and best model.”
“Well, you must tell me more. But, first we need to learn about your works. You need to teach me about your paintings and such so I’ll be able to pass as you. I don’t even know what you’ve painted this time. Are you including sculptures, too?”
“Yes, I am and yes, we do. Come over here, further into the studio. I’ll show you the works. It is going to take some acting on your part this time.”
“Well, let’s go. I only have my evenings to learn all this, your gossip and such. This may prove to be an interesting outing this go round,” Penny stated.
“I hope not,” Tabitha replied, “I remember what happened last time it was ‘interesting.’ I don’t want that to happen, again. It wasn’t pretty last time. This time will be worse.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Reagan looked up from her desk and giggled slightly. Cormack was asleep, sitting upright on Reagan’s leather couch. Reagan guessed that the tediousness or the boredom of sitting there finally got to Cormack.
Reagan closed out the files on her desktop. She rearranged the files on her desk into different piles, again, for tomorrow. She laughed again, as she thought about Cormack asleep on her office couch, again, tomorrow. She cleaned her desk up enough to make herself happy with what she had actually accomplished today.
Reagan crossed the room to the couch. She silently picked up the tablet she’d given Cormack hours before. It was still logged into the Wi-Fi and running a Google Chrome browser. It was logged into the LSO intra-website. Reagan knew she shouldn’t look but curiosity got the best of her. She skimmed the page, but couldn’t find anything she didn’t already know.
Cormack woke up and found her reading the tablet. She winced because she knew had fallen asleep before she exited the website. She looked at Reagan’s big hazel eyes and worried about the gruesomeness she would find in the files.
“I’m sorry,” they both said to each other.
“I shouldn’t have been snooping,” Reagan stated.
“I should have logged out. I know better. Did you find anything interesting?”
“No.”
“Really?” Cormack questioned.
“I’m just amazed at the amount of rage he has. I would have never suspected him in college. There were no warning signs, you know?”
“There may have been, but you didn’t know what to look for. Most people don’t. Don’t worry about it. It isn’t your fault. Some people are just wired funny,” Cormack explained.
“Don’t I know it.”
“You done?” Cormack asked.
“Yeah, I am done for the day. I have to remember not to play hooky so much next time I’m a victim. It creates a huge backlog of work for me to catch up on,” Reagan stated with a laugh.
“Well with Gracie around, I don’t think that’ll be a problem.”
“No, I suspect not. Thanks for being my knight-in-shiny-armor tonight. I don’t think I could have handled anyone else, especially Gracie.”
“Why? Cause she’d be up your ass the whole time?”
“Yes!” Reagan exclaimed as they both laughed.
“If you’re ready, we can go. Where do you want to go now? Home?” Cormack asked her.
“Home sounds wonderful right now. It is after midnight. What time is y’all’s shift change? Soon right?” Reagan asked concerned.
“I have no idea. I think Frenchy and Sam came up with a rotation, where I fall into that I have no idea. Gracie and Sam picked me personally for you. I don’t think they thought past one shift.”
“I’m sure Danica has her hands full then.”
“Well, I’m sure she and Frenchy are taking turns. Smith maybe helping, but that is only if the Cap cleared him for duty. So they’re covered. The patrols will go with their normal shifts. Probably so will DNR, with more overlap for more coverage. The only wild cards in this are Sam, Grace and me,” Cormack explained.
“So, I guess you’ll just have to stay with me, then,” Reagan stated.
“I’ve had worse assignments,” Cormack teased.
“Oh, come on. Take me home. I’m tired.”
The drive to Rainbow Cove was uneventful. There was hardly any traffic from downtown that lake section of Lexington. It was a typical Tuesday night in the Columbia Metro area, known as the Midlands. All seemed well. No one would know the dangers that the LSO was hunting, but that was because they were doing their jobs. It was a Tuesday night. It was not a time to panic.
As Reagan and Cormack made their way towards Grace’s house on the lake, Reagan asked, “Can you take me to my house?”
“Your house?”
“Yeah, it’s just past Grace’s. It is the smaller one next door. I need to get a few things for Catie and myself,” Reagan explained.
“I just thought that you lived with Grace.”
“I do, but I still own my house. I have a crazy sense of independence. But, I guess, you’re right. Since Grace and I are getting married, I should move it all over to her place. I did make her ask me to move in, again, anyways”
Cormack laughed.
“What?”
“Is there anything that she doesn’t do for you?”
“Stop it. It’s not like that. I won’t let her.”
“I’m just kidding. So, which one is yours? And, what are you going to do with it once you and Gracie are married?” Cormack asked.
“That one there,” Reagan said, pointing, “And, I dunno. Rent it out, I guess. I don’t want to sell it, just yet.”
Cormack pulled the cruiser into the drive. The house was dark. Cormack looked at Reagan and drew her side arm. Regan saw the worried look on Cormack’s face. She turned off the car and called in their position.
“I don’t like this,” Cormack stated.
“It’s my house. Relax. I don’t own a boat. I have no dock. He has no reason to suspect my place,” Reagan reasoned.
“I still don’t like it, Reagan. The house is pitch black. Cant’ this wait until morning?”
“Are your ‘spidey-senses’ tingling? Come on, Cormack. Wouldn’t we have seen something suspicious as we pulled up?” Reagan asked.
“I dunno.”
“How about I let you go in first? You could clear the house for me. Would that make you feel better?”
“Yes, it would, but I’m calling Grace first
.”
Cormack pulled out her cell and dialed Grace’s cell number. While it was ringing she checked her Glock once again, making sure a round was chambered. She wasn’t taking any chances with Reagan, not tonight. Once she was finished checking hers, she reached in to Reagan’s purse, much to Reagan’s dismay, and fished out Tabitha’s Colt 1911. She chambered a round in it as well. She handed it back to Reagan and Gracie finally answered her cell. Reagan took it but Cormack an unhappy look.
“O’Shea,” Grace said.
“Hey, Lieutenant, it’s Cormack,” she answered making Reagan take the pistol.
“Did something happen?”
“No, nothing happened. I was just calling to let you know that I was taking Reagan home, to her house. She’s tired,” Cormack explained.
“Her house?”
“Yup.”
“Why?” Grace asked.
“She needs something from it.”
“Can it not wait until morning?” Grace asked, with an edge in her voice.
“Apparently not.”
“Damn it, Reagan. I guess I should be happy you’re still with her. You are still with her, right?”
“Yes, Grace, she is with me. I wasn’t about to let her out of my sight, let alone my reach. I even made her ride in the cruiser you got me,” Cormack stated.
“Good. Good. We’ll be there soon. We’re patrolling the area.”
“I don’t think she’s gonna wait for you,” Cormack said, watching Reagan shake her head.
“Damn her. Well, fine, be careful. Don’t hang up and put me on speaker. I want to be able to hear y’all until we get there,” Grace commanded.
“No sirens and keep quiet,” Cormack demanded.
“Of course, we should be there in five.”
“Grace, slow down. I’ll see you when you get here. It’ll be okay,” Cormack answered, as she made it look like she hung up, but she put it on speaker and back into her cell’s holster.
“Come on, already,” Reagan demanded.
They exited the car and headed to the front door. Cormack had her flashlight in one hand, her side arm in the other. She kept Reagan a body length behind her. She only let Reagan near enough to unlock the door. Cormack entered the house first.
