Page 88 of Double Take

True. “And it’s one that your wife doesn’t know about.”

“Yep, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“There’s a draft on the account for an insurance policy. I just want to verify that?” He gave him the amount.

“It’s a life insurance policy for Victoria. Adam convinced me that I owed that to her at the very least. He didn’t approve of my having a mistress, but mostly because of the lack of security for her. He really liked her a lot.”

Adam concerned about someone other than himself? That sounded out of character. “So, Adam knew about her and he kept your secret from his mother?”

“He did.”

“What about Nick? Does he know too?”

The man made a pained face. “No. And I’d appreciate it if he didn’t find out. He’s close to his mother and this would just turn him against me. I’ve already lost one son—in a sense. I’d really rather not lose my remaining one.”

James had a few things he could suggest the man do to that end, but kept his mouth shut about that. “Mr. Williams, we have a court order in the works that’s going to allow us to exhume Adam’s body. Do you have any objections to that?”

Mr. Williams raised a brow. “Wow, that’s kind of taking things to the extreme, isn’t it?”

“Maybe, but we’re still doing it. For whatever reason, there’ssomeone who wants the world to believe he’s your son. We need to prove your son is the one in that coffin.”

“Help yourself. It’s not him.”

James had to admit the certainty in the man’s tone and words stopped him for a moment. “Then why isn’t he contacting his own family? The family who believes he’s alive.”

Mr. Williams swallowed and shook his head. “I don’t have an answer for that, but I’m sure he has a good reason.”

And Mr. Williams had an answer for everything. “All right. Then you’ll give us permission to exhume the body?”

He shrugged. “Sure.”

They didn’t need permission, but the fact that he gave it without hesitation made James pause. And once again, doubt crept in. Could Lainie be wrong after all? Could Adam Williams truly be alive?

Eighteen

Lainie bit her lip and pressed her palms to her eyes while she listened. Myles Williams sounded exactly the same. Arrogant. Cocky. Completely convinced he could do exactly as he pleased without consequence. She should have told his wife when he’d assaulted her with his suggestive words.

Regrets swirled. She should have done a lot of things differently back then, but dwelling on her lousy choices wasn’t going to do her—or anyone else—a bit of good.

“You okay, Lainie?” Jared asked.

The question almost made her smile. Everyone in her life, at some point over the past couple of days, had asked her that. At least they cared enough to ask. She looked up and nodded.

Jared shot her a doubtful look but returned to his monitors, then nudged her. “Hey, isn’t that the guy?”

She whipped her head up and stared at the screen. “That’s him.” James’ voice fell to the background, but she thought he was saying goodbye.

“He’s hanging around your workstation.” Jared stood. “Stay here.”

“No way.”

She stood too, but he scowled at her and slid a radio over to her. “I need you to watch the monitor and let me know which way he goes.”

“I don’t know how to work this!”

“Click on the arrows with the mouse to move to the next screen. It’s not rocket science.” And then he was out the door.

Lainie picked up the radio and listened while she watched the screens. Adam leaned against the wall near the nurses’ station outside a patient room while he appeared to scroll his phone’s screen. She picked up the radio. “He’s just standing there.” The words had no sooner left her lips than he looked up and started to move. “No, wait, Yasmine just stepped off the elevator and he spotted her. It spooked him and he’s heading for the exit.” Which was about ten steps from the room he was near. He’d chosen that spot very strategically. Near the exit, a view of the nurses’ station, and in sight of the elevator.

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