Chapter Eight
At Harvard University Annie was walking through the hallway after leaving her class. She was a short distance from her classroom when her phone rang. Annie looked at who was calling before she answered.
"Hey Hal, what's up?" asked Annie.
"I'm just calling to see how things are going there," said Hallie.
"Things are going fine here." Annie then heard Angela and Helen. "Hal, are you with Angela, Helen and Tracey?"
"Yeah, I'm at the café with them." Hallie then got up and walked out short distance from the table.
"Hal, I have been friends with them for a long time and I would like to remain friends with them when I return; that includes Helen."
"Will you relax? Besides they know the truth about us."
"You told them?"
"I trust them and I figured you wouldn't mind."
"Did I just hear you say that you trust my friends?"
"I know I never actually showed that I have before, but they are good friends of yours. I trust them."
"Hal, speaking about trusting friends, last night I told Cindy and the others about us."
"You did what?"
"Hallie, certain circumstances came up and I needed them to know the truth."
"What circumstances?"
"I can't say right now."
"Annie, what is going on?"
"Hal, if I tell you what's going on you will be on the first plane to Harvard."
"By you telling me that I will be getting on a plane also."
"Hal, I promise I will tell you, but not right now. Hallie, please trust me about this and stay where you are."
"Fine, just don't take too long to tell me."
"I won't."
"Annie, when you told Cindy and the others about us, how did they react?"
"They understood why you kept quiet."
"So Cindy will be speaking to me when I return to Harvard?"
"You are still part of the black-eight-group."
"So I was scared to tell them when I didn't need to be?"
"Actually the circumstances that I can't tell you right now are what got you off the hook with them."
"Annie, if you're trying to put me in suspense, it's working."
"Oh sorry, I don't mean to do that."
"So is there anything going on that you can tell me?"
"No, everything else is fine. Hallie, Susan thought we should start keeping a daily journal, so when we switch back we won't be acting as if we have memory loss."
"That's a good idea."
"I thought so too. So how are things there?"
"Things are going good." Hallie saw Colby entering the café.
"That's good."
"Annie, I know that you don't allow your friends to talk about me when I'm not around and for that I want to thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Well I will let you get back to what you were doing."
"Hallie, before you hang up is Colby there?"
"Actually he just walked in. Do you want to talk to him?"
"Yes."
As Colby was sitting down Hallie walked up to him. As Hallie held out the phone she said, "Colby, Annie wants to talk to you."
Colby looked at Angela in a nervous manner and asked, "What?"
"Oh don't worry," said Hallie. "Everyone at the table knows I'm Hallie."
"You could have told me that first," said Colby. He then took the phone and spoke into it. "So how are things there?"
"Don't draw Hallie's attention by reacting to this, but things are complicated here," said Annie.
"Okay, tell me more."
"I don't want Hallie to know this yet or otherwise she will be on the next plane to Harvard, but Scott's death wasn't an accident. Scott was murdered. I also know who did it and why."
"I find that interesting."
"Yeah, well unfortunately I don't have proof to get the guy arrested; however, I believe there is a way to gather proof though. If Hallie was here I wouldn't be able to do that. Hallie would be too emotionally attached to the situation and would want to charge in. That is the reason why I don't want Hallie to know yet."
"Again I find that interesting." Colby noticed that Hallie looking at him in a curious manner.
"I just wanted you to know this."
"Okay, well I had better let you go now."
"I will talk to you later, bye." Annie noticed Todd approaching her as she was putting her cell phone away. "Hey Todd."
"Hey Annie, I got an address for Michael Bowman."
"That's great. I already typed up the letter I'm going to send him. Do you want to see it?"
"You got it with you?"
"I haven't printed it off yet, but it is on my laptop."
"I would like to look at it."
"Then follow me."
Minutes later in the dorm room Annie was logging on her computer.
After bringing up the letter Todd read aloud over Annie's shoulder. "Michael Bowman, you may refer to me as nighthawk. I have proof that you killed a man by tampering with his private plane. If you don't want me to take what I have to the police then you will meet me alone this Saturday at 9:00 p.m. at the same airport."
"So how does it sound?" asked Annie.
"It sounds as if you're going to be putting yourself in danger."
"I have a plan that will lower the risk. I will need a voice changing device though."
"I can get one for you; however, you're not giving Michael much time to show up at the airport."
"That's part of the plan. I don't want to give him much time to come up with a plan of his own. I will print this off and then overnight the letter to Michael. That should give him three days to get here from wherever he is coming from."
"That would be Bay City, Michigan. Annie, I hope you're not getting over your head."
"I added a few precautions in my plan; however, for my plan to work I need to buy a video camera, two sets of walkie-talkies with different frequencies and perhaps a listening device, so I can have someone listening to what is going on. I really think I can make this work."
"And if it doesn't work you can be seriously hurt or killed."
"If you can think of another way to get him to confess then speak up."
"I have no idea."
"Then I will move forward with my plan." Annie then hit the print button. "Todd, where is the closes FedEx or the UPS station?"
"I can take you there."
After placing the letter in her purse Annie turned off the computer. She and Todd then left the dormitory.
As Todd was driving Annie to overnight the letter, Annie saw a slightly beat up work van with a for sale sign on it. Annie then pointed and said, "We need a van like that for Saturday."
"Don't tell me you're thinking about buying that van?" asked Todd.
"I won't need to buy a van. I will just rent one. Seeing that van just gave me the idea."
"Were you going to rent the video equipment too or were you going to buy it?"
"I'll buy the camera. Colby and I have plans to spend this New Years in Australia, so I had planned to buy one anyway."
"Is Colby your boyfriend or your fiancé?"
"Right now, he's just my boyfriend. He hasn't asked me yet nor have we discussed marriage. I never even thought about how I would respond if he would ask me to marry him. I guess that something I need to think about."
"So how long have you two been dating?"
"We met almost three year ago at a Halloween party. We've have been dating since."
"So what does Colby do?"
"He's in Oxford University right now."
"Is he planning to be a lawyer also?"
"No. He's in premed."
"Annie, it's too bad that Hallie and Samantha never got along."
"Why is that?"
"Samantha has the perfect van for what you want a van for."
"I wonder how hard it would be to get in good with her."
"If you attempt to, do not tell her that you are not Hallie. She won't hesitate to turn you in."
"I wasn't planning to tell her. Todd, what went on between Hallie and Samantha for them not to like each other?"
"That's part of a long story that should be told from the beginning."
"I would like to hear it."
"Well, it was the night the eight of us got caught playing poker on campus. Scott met and made a date with Samantha. They were supposed to have met at a restaurant. As Scott was getting ready for his date, Julian had invited Scott to play poker with him, Becky and myself. Julian and I are roommates and we were playing in our dorm. Well as Julian and Scott were talking Julian had told Scott about Amanda. Once Scott learned that Samantha was a twin, Scott stood Samantha up and went with Julian to the poker game. Cindy and Samantha met that same day also and exchanged numbers. Samantha even knew Cindy was Scott's cousin. When Scott didn't show up at the restaurant Samantha called Cindy to find out what happen. Well Hallie and Cindy were studying together and when Cindy went to find Scott, Hallie tagged along. Well before Cindy and Hallie found us Susan and Craig had join the game. Cindy and Hallie finally found us an hour after they started searching. Hallie had briefly met Scott once before and she never realized to who she and Cindy were looking for until they found him playing poker. Julian and I noticed an attraction between Hallie and Scott as soon as Hallie walked in. Hallie had a big grin on her face when she found out that Scott was her roommate's cousin. When Cindy enquired as to why he stood up Samantha, he told us what he did about a dating twin. Hallie quickly lost her smile and had an expression on her face as if she was holding onto a secret about the world coming to an end. As the night progressed Hallie and Cindy joined the game. Well we were all playing for about an hour when security found us playing on campus. We were apprehended and the dean was called in. As we were waiting to speak to the dean, Samantha found out about us being taken to the dean's office. The dean was a minute behind Samantha as Samantha was walking up to us. At first the dean thought that Samantha was apart of our poker gang, but when he found out different he told Samantha to leave. That was also when he referred to us as the black-eight-group. Apparently black-eight is the dean's lucky number on the roulette table. Anyway after we were threaten of being expelled if we are found playing poker on campus again, we were dismissed. After we got outside Scott asked Hallie on a date. Hallie hesitated at first, but eventually said yes. Samantha was walking up and heard Scott and Hallie making the date. Samantha immediately jumped to the conclusion that Hallie was the reason that Scott stood her up. The days that followed Hallie tried several times to convince Samantha that she wasn't the reason, but Samantha would listen. Samantha thought that Hallie was making up the story about Scott's fear of twins. As the days turned into weeks Samantha tried all she could to sabotage Hallie's relationship with Scott. Hallie eventually gave up trying to make friends with Samantha and just kept her distance. Cindy also started disliking Samantha around that time as well."
"Trying to make peace with Samantha might be more difficult than I first thought. Todd, do you know of a way to tell Samantha and Amanda apart?"
"Actually it was Hallie who noticed that Samantha would wear purple even if it is just the thing that women use when they have their hair in a ponytail. I don't know if Amanda dislike the color purple or she just doesn't wear purple."
"That will come in helpful when I walk up to one of them."
An hour later, Annie and Todd were walking into the coffee shop. Cindy, Craig and Becky were sitting at their usual table. Annie saw Samantha sitting at another table with Eric Morgan. Annie then asked, "Todd, who's the guy that Samantha is sitting with?"
"That's Eric Morgan. He had the hots for Samantha last year, but Samantha kept blowing him off. I guess Samantha reconsidered."
"Did Hallie know him?"
"She did."
"Todd, I will join you at the table in a few minutes. I want to talk to Samantha."
"Good luck."
"Thanks." Annie then walked towards Samantha.
Seconds later Annie was taking a seat at Samantha's table.
Samantha looked at Annie as if she had lost her mind and asked in a sarcastic tone, "May I help you?"
Annie looked at Eric and said, "Eric, I'm not trying to intrude or be rude, but I would like to talk to Samantha alone for a minute."
"Have you lost your mind, Hallie?" asked Samantha.
"Perhaps," said Annie.
Eric stood up and said, "Sam, I need to use the restroom anyway."
"Well, hurry back," said Samantha. "This won't take that long." Eric walked away. Samantha turned towards Annie. "So what do you want?"
"Samantha, yesterday you showed me compassion for my loss."
"Don't make me regret doing that."
"I won't, but me and my friends found evidence that Scott's death wasn't an accident."
"Hallie, what are you talking about?"
"I have my reasons to believe that Michael Bowman killed Scott. This Saturday I will be going after the proof I need to get him arrested."
"And why are you telling me this?"
"For my plan to work as good as I want I need a surveillance van."
"Oh no, you are not using my van."
"Okay, you know why I'm telling you this; however, I know you liked Scott. I was thinking that you may want to help me to catch Scott's killer."
"Hallie, I agree that you need help, but the help you need I can't help you. Perhaps you should go to the hospital. I'm sure they would be more than happy to help you with your delusions."
"Or I can tell you why I suspect Michael as being Scott's killer."
"I doubt that you will be able to convince me that Scott was murdered, but tell me this evidence you have."
"Well first of all, Michael injuries weren't an accident. It was done deliberately when Harvard won the last game that Michael was in."
"You have a few conspiracy theories."
"Samantha, Scott's death and Michael's injuries are linked."
"Please continue."
"Michael was being paid off to lose games and that last game he was in Scott made a miraculous play to win the game. Because Michael was paid off to lose that game the guy that paid him off took revenge. When Michael's injuries healed he took revenge against Scott and tampered with Scott's plane two weeks before his death."
"Wow, I think you actually believe what you are saying. If I knew you were this nuts when Scott was alive I would have had what I needed to break you two up."
"Samantha, someone at the airport saw Michael as he was tampering with Scott's plane."
"I don't believe what you are saying for once second, but I am curious as to why you want my van."
"An hour ago I sent Michael an overnight letter telling him I had proof that he killed Scott. In the letter I told him to meet me this Saturday at the same airport where Scott was killed or I will be taking my proof to the police."
"You told me that you are going after the proof against him."
"Michael won't know that I don't have proof."
"Ah, so you are planning to set him up into confessing and you want to use my van as a base of operation."
"Exactly."
As Eric was walking up to the table, Annie and Samantha turned and looked at him. Eric then asked, "Should I go for a short walk?"
"No. Hallie has wasted enough of my time. Now I'm afraid she's leaving disappointed."
Annie stood up and said, "Samantha, just in case you change your mind I will wait until Friday to rent a van."
"I seriously doubt I will change my mind."
Annie walked away. As second later she was joining Cindy and the others.
As Annie was sitting down Todd asked, "So, will Samantha help?"
"Not only will she not help me, but she thinks I lost my mind," said Annie.
"So what now?" asked Todd. "Will you rent a van?"
"It doesn't look like I have a choice. I told Samantha I would wait until Friday to rent the van just in case she changes her mind."
"If you're serious about renting a van, you might want to at least reserve one in advance," said Cindy. "You don't want to find out at the last possible minute you couldn't get one."
"That's a good idea," said Annie.
At Oxford University Hallie had just left her last class for the day when her cell phone sounded. Hallie looked at the number before answering.
"Mother, so how bad was the damages to the vineyard?" asked Hallie.
"It wasn't too serious," said Elizabeth. "The insurance will reimburse us for the damages. Annie, I'm calling to tell you that we are having a business dinner here tonight at 8:00 and I want you here."
"Yes, Mother," said Hallie. Spencer was walking up behind Hallie. "So, who are you entertaining?"
"Luis Lavoe, his wife Jocelyn and his daughter, Joella. Joella is getting married and they want me to design the wedding dress."
"I will be there. Bye." Hallie then hung up her phone. "I'm in major trouble."
"Why are you in trouble?" asked Spencer.
Hallie was slightly startled by Spencer. She then faced Spencer and asked, "Do you always sneak up on people?"
"I wasn't sneaking."
"In that case I will get you a cowbell for you to wear."
"Hallie, why are you in major trouble?"
"My mother wants me to join her in a business dinner."
"That doesn't sound too bad."
"The people that will be at dinner are French. They know very little English."
"Let me guess. Annie knows French and you don't."
"I was taught French a few years ago."
"Then what is the problem?"
"Annie speaks French as if she is from France. My French is as good as Ricky Ricardo's English. Once my mom hears me say three words in French she is going to know I'm Hallie."
"It sounds as though you are coming down with a terrible cold."
"What are you talking about? I feel fine."
"Are you certain that you're fine? You are not sounding at all like yourself."
Hallie looked at Spencer in a curious manner for a second. "Oh, I get it." Spencer grinned. Hallie then talked as if she had a cold. "You're right. I do feel as though I'm getting a terrible cold."
"So when do you need to be home?"
Hallie looked at her watch and said, "I have an hour to study before I have to leave."
"Do you mind if we study together?"
"We can. Let's go to the library."
7:40 P.M. Hallie was walking in the front entrance of her house.
Elizabeth saw Hallie as she was walking in and walked up to her. Elizabeth then said, "Annie, good you're here. Luis, Jocelyn and Joella will be here any minute."
Hallie spoke as if she had a cold, "Mother, I'm going upstairs to change clothes."
"Annie, you don't sound too good," said Elizabeth as Chessy was walking through and heard Hallie.
"I got a cold."
Elizabeth looked at Hallie in a curious manner and said, "Annie, you didn't sound like you had a cold earlier."
"I did, but it got worse all of a sudden." Hallie noticed that Chessy was looking at her in a curious manner. "I'm going to change clothes now."
"Of course," said Elizabeth.
As Hallie was going upstairs Chessy walked up to Elizabeth and said, "Annie didn't act as though she had a cold this morning."
"When I talked with her earlier she sounded fine as well," said Elizabeth.
"Anyway Boss, the chicken will be ready to be served in fifteen minutes."
"Thanks, Chessy." Just before Elizabeth was able to walk away from the front door the doorbell rang. Elizabeth was opening the door as Chessy was walking back into the kitchen. Elizabeth spoke French. "Welcome. Please come in."
"Thank you," said Luis.
Upstairs Nick was leaving his bedroom and saw Hallie entering her bedroom. He called out, "Annie, wait."
Hallie stuck her head out into the hallway. She then asked in a manner as if she had a cold, "Yes, Dad?"
"Annie, are you sick?"
"I have a cold. Dad, was there anything you wanted?'
"How do I look in these clothes?"
"You look real sharp, Dad."
"Great. I will see you downstairs."
Hallie walked back into the bedroom to change cloths.
Minutes later everyone sat down at the table to eat. Martin, Chessy and Hallie's grandfather Charles were at the table as well.
As Elizabeth and the other engaged in a conversation while they were eating Hallie just listened.
Charles noticed Hallie being too quiet. He then asked, "Annie, why are you so quiet?"
Hallie rubbed her throat as if it was hurting and said, "I have a cold."
"Ah," said Charles.
Hallie took a bite of food.
After everyone was finished eating Hallie helped Chessy to clear the table. Hallie walked behind Chessy as Chessy walked into the kitchen with the dirty plates. Seconds later Chessy was leaving the Kitchen to get more dishes. Leftover chicken and a few other food items were on the stove, and just before Hallie left the Kitchen she pinched off a bite of leftover chicken. Elizabeth had walked in and saw Hallie as she stuck the bite in her mouth.
When Hallie faced Elizabeth, Elizabeth looked at Hallie in a puzzled manner. Hallie looked at Elizabeth in a curious manner.
"Hallie, what are you and Annie up to?" asked Elizabeth.
Hallie continued to talk as if she had a cold and said, "Mother, what are talking about? I'm Annie." Elizabeth just looked at Hallie with the expression as if she wasn't believing what she was hearing. "Mother, I am Annie. Why do you think I'm Hallie?"
"Didn't you just take a bite of chicken from the stove?"
Hallie looked at Elizabeth in a confused manner and said, "You think I'm Hallie because I took a bite of Chicken. Mother, we both do that."
"True, but Annie always uses a fork; not her fingers like you. Oh and you can drop the act that you have a cold."
Hallie asked in her normal voice, "Mom, who would notice as to how someone takes a bite of chicken off the stove?"
"I had to find a way to tell you two apart somehow." Chessy walked into the Kitchen with the remaining dishes. "Oh and I have more ways similar to that to tell you two apart, so I'm not as you and Annie would put it, showing my whole hand. Now what are you and Annie up to?"
Chessy stopped and looked at Hallie. She then asked, "You're, Hallie?"
Hallie nodded. She then said, "Annie felt that I would feel better if we switch places for a semester."
Nick walked into the kitchen and said, "Liz, Luis is asking about you."
"My father can keep him and his family company for a few more minute," said Elizabeth. "Meanwhile our daughters are up to something."
"Annie, what's going on?"
"Dad, I'm Hallie." Nick had an expression on his face as if he didn't know how to respond. "Dad, I was telling mom that Annie and I switch places because Annie felt I would feel better at Oxford. Mom; Dad, I do feel more like myself than I have since Scott's death."
"Hallie, did you and Annie even stop to think of how you two can ruin your future careers by doing this."
"Dad, at Harvard they don't even know I'm a twin. We were going to switch back next semester anyway."
"And you thought you could fool us a whole semester?" asked Elizabeth.
"The idea was to keep my distance from you as much as possible. This business dinner kind of caught me off guard."
"Hallie, since you and Annie are weeks away from being nineteen, obviously I can't correct this. I would like to say that you two are not showing good sense. Both of you are wanting to be lawyers and that can come to an end if you get caught."
"Dad, I will talk to Annie about switching back."
"Hallie, I also like to be part of that conversation," said Elizabeth. "We will put Annie on the speakerphone in the study after Luis and his family leave. Right now we need to get back out there before Luis thinks we had abandoned him and his family."
An hour later at Harvard Annie was at the library studying with Cindy, Becky and Craig. Annie had her purse hanging off her chair.
While they were studying Craig noticed Annie's purse vibrating. He then said, "Annie, either I'm extremely tired and seeing things or your cell phone is vibrating."
The phone stopped vibrating before Annie had a chance to answer it. Annie noticed that the number was from her house in London and called the number back.
Hallie and Elizabeth were talking in the study as the phone rang. Elizabeth looked at who was calling and clicked the button for the speakerphone.
"Hi, I just tried to call you," said Elizabeth.
"I wasn't able to answer the phone quickly enough," said Annie. "So Mom, how are things there?"
"My daughters are not where they should be is how things are going, Annie," said Elizabeth.
Annie quickly got up and walked towards the exit.
Cindy and Becky looked at one another with a curious expression on their faces as Annie was walking away.
"Mom, I can explain," said Annie.
"Annie, I have already explained things to mom," said Hallie.
"Mom, take me off speakerphone for a minute," said Annie.
Hallie had a puzzled expression on her face as Elizabeth picked up the phone.
"Okay, why did you want me to take you off the speakerphone?" asked Elizabeth.
Hallie watched Elizabeth's facial expressions as Elizabeth was learning about Scott's murder.
After a few minutes of being quiet Elizabeth said, "Annie, I can't say too much about what you are doing right now for obvious reasons, but I will get back to you on that. As for you and Hallie switching back I'm not going to press the issue right now, so I will talk to you later. Bye."
As Elizabeth was hanging up Hallie asked, "What is going on?"
"I would love to tell you about what is going on, but I can't," said Elizabeth. "Annie wants to be the one to tell you when the time is right."
"This suspense is worse than the suspense book I'm reading."
"Well until Annie tells you what is going on, I'm not going to say another word about you switching back with Annie."
"Okay, something is definitely going on. If Annie doesn't tell me soon I will be on a plane to Boston."
"Hallie, before you do something rash like showing up at Harvard, just give Annie a chance to tell you when she is ready."
"Okay. Well I've better do my homework. I have to keep Annie's grade point average up."
In the foyer Chessy saw Hallie and Elizabeth leaving the study. As Hallie went upstairs, Chessy walked up to Elizabeth and said, "Boss, I'm not trying to condone what Hallie and Annie are doing, but I wonder if we should leave things alone for the time being."
"Why do you say that?" asked Elizabeth.
"I saw Hallie out with a guy last night at the theater and it looked like she was having a good time. Of course at the time I thought I was seeing Annie. I've even questioned her about what was happening between her and Colby. But the bottom-line is she seemed to be more herself since Scott's accident."
"Chessy, I have already decided to leave things as they are for now, but it has to do with what Annie is doing."
"May I ask what that is without stepping over my place?"
"Yes, but I don't want Hallie to know; not right now anyway." Elizabeth then said in a quiet manner. "Scott's death wasn't an accident. He was murdered. Annie also thinks she knows who did it and why. This Saturday she is going after the proof she needs against the man."
"If Hallie knew this she would be on the first plane bound for Harvard."
"Exactly why Hallie must not find out until things are settled."
"Boss, are you okay with Annie trying to catch a murderer?"
"I'm scared to death, but I couldn't speak my mind with Hallie in the room. Chessy, who is the guy who was out with Hallie?"
"His name is Spencer. According to Hallie he is her study partner; however, from what I saw last night I think Hallie is into Spencer, but she is trying not to be."
"Scott's death really effected Hallie; however, from what you have just told me perhaps the healing process had begun. So maybe it's just a matter of time before she's willing to get into another relationship. Well I'm going to call it a night."
"Goodnight, boss."
"Goodnight." Elizabeth then walked away.