Chapter Seven
Basil came back early that evening. "The Colhart Manor is only three miles away from Paris," he said. "I had to dodge a bunch of his agents on my way back. They're posted everywhere."
I looked at my face in the mirror. I lightly touched the mask on my face, thinking that I could have passed off as Basil's identical twin. It was a scary thought.
I had explained to Basil in private about Rahle's meeting with Rafael. Basil had hardly seemed surprised at the fact that Landon was still alive. "Maybe Marcus isn't as cold-hearted as we gave him credit for," was all he had said.
When I told him about Ratigan's request for the wig, however, I got a completely different reaction. "Why would he want a wig that looked like your hair?" he had asked. "It doesn't make much sense unless he had kidnapped you again."
"How?"
"Never mind."
I paced the room deep in thought. Basil was behind a screen, putting on his disguise. He tried to explain the plan to me as Rahle assisted him.
"It presents the element of surprise," he said. "We break into the manor. You will be dressed as me. You are to distract them by getting them to come after you. They probably won't shoot."
"How do you know that?"
"I overheard one of them say today that we were to be taken alive," Basil said. "While you have them distracted, I find the evidence needed to bring Colhart to justice."
"And what's your disguise?"
"Come here and see."
I pulled back the screen. A woman with long brown hair stood before me. Everything, from her high cheekbones to the wedding ring on her finger had been accounted for. It was...
"Me?" I asked weakly.
He smiled at me. All I could recognize of the detective were his jade-colored eyes.
"Well, we can't have two Basils now, can we?"
Lizz: Why are they switching places?
Leigh: What, are you trying to follow some stupid twin theme or something?
Meg: I thought that you of all people would enjoy that type of theme!
JWJ: Sheesh Meg, even your own twin goes against you!
