When they walked back in, Michael looked pissed and Simeon was smiling. “Michael thinks me being here may upset you a little.”
I had to agree on that front. “Well, you do look a lot like him.”
His face suddenly fell. “I’m sorry. I really don’t want to hurt you. Maybe I should go.”
“No, of course not. If you want to stay for a while, then stay.”
Having Michael with me was calming enough, but the two of them? Well, let’s just say it made the pain bearable. I felt like I was home.
“That’s settled then!” Simeon beamed, but I heard a voice inside my head tut-tutting away like some holier-than-thou schoolmarm.
“Michael, I need to ask you something.” I glanced away from Simeon as his smile was hard to take.
“What’s that?”
“What have you told the police? I assume they’ve come here and interviewed you.”
Michael scratched his head. “Yes. And I suppose I’d better tell you because they’ll probably be here shortly. Our stories have to collaborate with each other.” I nodded. “Kali had the gun, which means her fingerprints are all over it. Not only that, her body was on your floor so I had to tell them she was responsible. No point in lying about that.”
“They must have asked for a motive. She was supposed to be my best friend, then she—” I stopped for a moment. It was hard to take in everything that had happened and everything she had done.
“I know how you must be feeling, but I’m here for you.” Simeon gripped Michael’s shoulder, causing him to glance his way for a second. “We’re here for you,” he corrected, gazing back at me with a gentle smile.
“I appreciate that. I really do. Please—go on.”
“I told them Kali had an obsession with Stephen and she shot you. I just didn’t mention Stephen wasn’t there.”
I frowned a little. “So how do we explain Stephen not being around then?”
Simeon smiled. I looked from one brother to the other. “You’re going to pretend to be Stephen?”
“Only for a little while. Just until Michael can figure out a way to explain his disappearance. I’m going to hold the fort for my little brother.”
That was a little confusing. “What do you mean? You’re twins.”
“Ah, yes, but I was born first.”
“So you’re telling me you’re going to act like Stephen, be a police officer like Stephen, then you’re going to put in your resignation and leave?”
Straightening his back, Simeon grinned mischievously. “I suppose so—in a sense.”
I couldn’t believe the cheek of this man. I guess being twins meant more than just looking like one another. “Do you even know how to be a policeman?”
His smile faded a little as he looked indignant. “I’ve watched The Bill, you know.”
I didn’t know where it came from, but I suddenly found myself laughing. “Are you—?”
“Handsome? Dashing? Sexy? Smart? All of the above?”
He was so much like Stephen. “I was going to say are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
“Trust me, Twinkles.” He clucked his tongue and winked at me.
My heart ached. I clutched onto it as if I was having a heart attack. For the first time, the tears fell—and they just kept falling.
“Simeon, you arsehole. What have you done?” Michael was livid.
Suddenly the panic rose to Simeon’s face as he desperately waved his hands in front of him. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think. It just slipped out.”
I could see how sorry he was, but all I kept thinking was how did he know?
Michael’s glare was even more severe now as he looked at Simeon, who seemed to recoil a little. “Maybe I should go.”
“Maybe you should.” Michael huffed the words, but softened his features as he turned to stare back at me.
“I’m sorry. It was nice meeting you, Cassie. I suppose I shall see you soon.”
I offered him a weak smile and he walked out of the ward.
“You were doing so well up until that point. I’m sorry he upset you.”
“It’s okay, Michael. You don’t have to apologise.”
He stared at me for a moment, like he was searching for something. Finally, he spoke, “That telephone call you made to me before everything happened—”
“Cassie!”
I looked up to find Simon heading towards us, a great big bouquet of flowers in his hand. I didn’t know whether or not him coming at that precise moment was a good thing. I had to tell Michael how I felt at some point, and I wasn’t entirely sure how he would take it.