The Bad Twin by Shelia Goss Page A

going to bed, because otherwise, her head would be hurting along with her eyes.
    After taking a shower, she decided to eat a light breakfast on her balcony so she could enjoy the ocean view.   She looked up from reading the American paper and looked out across the beach. She saw the same couple that she had seen the day before a few doors down on their balcony. This time, she knew she recognized the man.  She did a double take, because she didn’t recognize the woman. She made it a point to count how many rooms down, so she could confirm it was indeed the man she thought it was.
    She finished her meal. She made sure she had her sun block, her sunglasses, and the rest of her beach gear.  While she walked down the hall, she counted the doors and knocked on the one she thought belonged to the couple. A maid opened up the door. She apologized to the maid as if she had the wrong room. “I’m sorry. Wrong room.”
     
    ***
    Maybe he just has a look a like. I hope I’m wrong.  I guess I’ll lounge around all day and just enjoy this good tropical weather.
    ***
     
    Rose headed to the beach and spent the entire day there. 
     

25
    VIOLET
     
    These numbers are not adding up. I’ve got to have this report to the board in less than a week and I can’t figure out where some of the funds have gone.   I know I haven’t used them. I need to get Janice in here to help me with this, because right now all of the numbers are running together. Looks like I’ll be putting in some overtime this weekend.  
    ***
     
    Violet dialed Janice’s extension. “Janice, can you come to my office for a minute?”
    “Sure. Be right over,” Janice kindly responded.
    She heard Janice as she walked up. “No. Don’t sit down there. Let’s go over to the table.  We’re going to need some elbow room. I need you to help me figure out something. The auditor the city uses has brought back a report and it shows some funds are missing from the community center. I need to have a counter report in the Board’s hands by next week. I’ve looked at it over and over, and honestly I can’t see where the money went.”
    Janice scanned over the report. “We keep our own records and we’ve been very thorough.”
     Violet tapped the head of the pen on the table. “I know. Our numbers don’t match their numbers at all. It’s as if the money went into a black hole.”
    “What do you need me to do?”
    “I hate to do this to you, because I know you’re supposed to have a long four day weekend. But can you come over Saturday and help me go through the files?”
    “Now you know I will. It’s entirely too much stuff for one person to go through. In fact, why don’t I just cancel my day off and we work on it tomorrow.”
    “You don’t have to do that. There is no sense in both of us stressing.”
    “I won’t be able to enjoy my day off anyway if I’m worried about you.”
    “Okay. Let’s come in a little earlier. The center’s children’s party is Friday afternoon and I don’t want to miss it.”
    “Cool. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Violet locked her office and went home.
     
    ***
    This is a Calgon night. I don’t want to see anything with a number on it. Dang it, there’s the phone. I can be home all night and my phone won’t ring, but as soon as I get in the tub, it wants to ring. Maybe who ever it is, will get tired and just hang up. Why isn’t my answering machine picking up?
    ***
     
    Violet exited the tub, wrapping a towel around her as she rushed to the phone. The caller ID box said unavailable, so she picked up. “Hello.”
    “Hi. Baby. You sound like you’ve been running.”
    “I was in the tub. How are you and your parents?”
    “Everything is fine. I needed this time with my family. Sometimes I hate being on the road. I’m enjoying this down period. I miss you.”
    “Marcus, I miss you too.”
    Marcus end sounded muffled. “I can’t wait to see you. I’ve been having some wild dreams about you.”
    “Oh