Page 51 of Deception

Having the same birthday had left no doubt in Madison’s mind that they were twins, but that didn’t prepare her for the reality. Why hadn’t she sensed that she had a twin? Her breath caught in her chest. Could that be the feeling she got sometimes that something was missing?

Dani slowly opened her eyes. “Madison...”

She could barely hear Dani say her name, so she approached the bed.

“I didn’t mean for us to meet this way,” Dani said.

“I’m going to grab another chair,” Clayton said, “and I forgot to tell you—sometimes she even sounds like you.”

Since Madison didn’t have a clue how her voice sounded, she’d have to take his word for it. “I ... am afraid you have me at a disadvantage. How do you know more about me than I do you? I’m not even sure who you are.”

“Dani Parker ... now.” She breathed in deeply through the cannula and released it. “And according to Ancestry.com ... your identical twin sister.”

Twin sister. So it’s true.Madison’s knees turned to Jell-O, and she grabbed the chair beside the bed and plopped into it. It didn’t matter how many times the thought that theymightbe sisters had crossed her mind, the reality was still hard to take in.

Madison found her voice. “Ancestry. That’s the same DNA test I took, but it didn’t tell me anything about you. But that’s been years ago. Maybe you weren’t in the system yet.” She stopped her rattling when a tiny smile quirked the corners of Dani’s mouth. “I’m talking too much and too fast. Always do when I’m nervous.”

“Me too. And I only took the test recently,” Dani whispered, and then a coughing fit shook her body.

Madison shot a frantic look around for Clayton, but he hadn’t returned yet. She didn’t want to wear Dani out, but neither did she want to leave yet.

“Give me a minute,” Dani said. “Maybe a sip of water?”

Madison grabbed a cup and filled it. “Straw?”

“No. Let me sip it.” When she finished, she lay back on her pillow, her face white against the sheet. “Thanks.”

As much as Madison wanted to know more about their relationship, her primary concern needed to be solving the case of who shot her sister.My sister.The thought filled her with a desire to protect this fragile woman in the bed.

Madison leaned forward. “You’re getting tired, and I’m sureit’s showing up on your monitor. Before they run me out, could we talk about the shooting?”

“You don’t want to know—”

“Of course I do, but whoever did this to you might try again.” She took out her notebook and pen. “We can talk family after you’re safe ... and stronger, okay?”

“I’d rather talk ... about us now ... but, I guess you do need to know what happened last night.” Amusement twinkled in her blue eyes. “Just a thought—looks like you’re the practical one.”

“I’ve been called worse.” Madison’s mind jumped all over the place. Where was Clayton? She needed him here when she asked the questions.

Just then, he opened the door and brought in a chair. “Sorry it took so long, but I had to ‘borrow’ one from another room.” He scooted it next to Madison’s.

“We’re discussing the shooting,” she said, imploring him with her eyes to take over.

Clayton dipped his head, then shifted his gaze to Dani. “What do you remember?” he asked.

She stilled in the bed and closed her eyes again. No one said anything as the seconds ticked off, then she stirred. “I picked Bri up in New Orleans ... we left around three.”

Her voice was low, and Madison strained to hear it. “Who exactly is Bri, and why were you picking her up?”

“Briana Reed. I was taking her to the Jackson campus of Wings of Hope Wednesday ... Was that yesterday?” Dani coughed. “More water ...”

Madison jumped up and held the cup to her lips. “Yes—this is Thursday.”

“Good stuff ... where was I?”

“Briana Reed and Wings of Hope,” Clayton said. Madison picked up her pen again.

“We stopped in Natchez to eat. Since it was getting late, Inotified the rehab we’d be late. Didn’t make a pit stop at the restaurant ... that’s—”

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