Sitting in a chair patiently waiting for Nick to appear was Jackie herself, but it wasn't Jackie, her hair was dyed a light shade of red, and her hair was shorter than Jackie's, but other than that she was an exact replica of his wife.
Nick blinked a couple of times thinking he was seeing things, but when he focused his eyes nothing had changed.
"Hi you must be Nick." She said as she got up and shook his hand.
Judy stood there and watched what was going on. "She doesn't recognize her own husband, is she drunk?" Judy thought to herself.
"Jackie cut it out, I love the wig though, it's very cute, nice prop." He said, thinking that his wife was playing a practical joke on him.
"Excuse me? I think there has been a misunderstanding. My name is Carissa, we spoke on the phone, you found my ring, we set up a meeting for this morning so I could pick it up." The woman said with just a hint of a Minnesotan accent.
"The accent is a nice touch Jackie but I'm not falling for it." He said.
"Sir I don't know who Jackie is. Is this some sort of horrible prank? I lost my engagement ring, my wedding is in two weeks, I just want it back, you gave me hope that some incredibly nice person found it and was honest and kind enough to give it back to me but I see now that you just put a cruel ad in the paper just to get people's hopes up."
Nick was shocked, this woman had tears in her eyes, Jackie should have gone into acting because she was great at it.
"Ma'am, can I see your driver's license?" He asked.
"I got you now Jackie. I am going to pull the best revenge prank on her." Nick thought to himself with satisfaction.
"Sure." The lady said as she pulled out her driver's license.
Nick looked at it, Carissa Newling it read.
"This looks authentic." Nick blurted out.
"It is." The woman said exasperated.
Nick needed to find out what the hell was going on, he no longer believed this was a prank and it was freaking him out.
"Ma'am I have to go make a phone call, excuse me for a moment." He said.
He turned his attention to Judy who was watching this whole spectacle in shock and disbelief.
"Judy would you grab her some coffee?" Nick asked before disappearing into the locker room to make a phone call.
He sat down in front of his locker and grabbed his phone out of his pocket. He hurriedly dialed his wife's cell phone number.
"Hello?" Jackie answered cheerfully.
"Jackie where are you?" He asked.
"At home, it's 9 in the morning where else would I be?" Jackie said.
"Um, Jackie I need you to come down to the crime lab as fast as you can." He told her.
"Why, what's wrong? Are you alright?" She asked.
By the complete panic in her voice he knew that whatever was going on she had nothing to do with it.
"Yes I'm fine and so is everyone else, but I need you down here."
"Ok, I'll be right there." She promised as she hung up, not asking anymore questions.
While waiting for Jackie to arrive Nick returned Carissa's ring, she was so thankful, she even wept with tears of joy. Nick had convinced her to stay, he hadn't told her why, but he just asked that as a favor, and she had been so grateful for getting her ring back that she didn't even question Nick's request. Nick wanted her to stay until Jackie got down there.
Nick's head was spinning, Jackie was an only child, she'd always said that the one thing in life she's always wanted was a sibling.
As soon as Jackie could get all four kids ready she was out the door and speeding to the lab.
Nick met her and the kids at the lab door.
"What's going on?" Jackie said the second she stepped in the doorway and saw Nick standing there.
"Honey, I'm not quite sure how to tell you this exactly." Nick said as he rubbed his eyes.
"Oh my god someone died, didn't they?" Jackie asked.
"No, not exactly." He mumbled.
"Then what is it?" she asked.
"Um, do you remember how that lady was supposed to come in and get her ring back this morning, the one that you found?" He asked.
"Yes did she show up?"
"Yeah."
"Oh good, I bet she was so happy she got it back." Jackie said, happy that the rightful owner had gotten it back.
"Yeah, she was thrilled. Um sweetie, about the woman, um, how do I say this?" Nick said fumbling for the right words.
"She looks so much like you…" He began but stopped.
"Oh was she short too?" Jackie quipped, clearly not understanding.
"No, well yes, but Jacks when I say she looks like you, I mean exactly, I think she might be your twin." He told her and then waited for her reaction.
"Well just don't, you know, sleep with her." Jackie whispered with a grin, clearly thinking Nick was exaggerating.
"No honey, I mean seriously, I swear to you, I think you have a twin sister."
Jackie looked at him and burst out laughing.
"What sort of chemicals did you get in to at work last night Nicky?"
"Here come see for yourself." Nick said as he grabbed Karlie's car seat out of her hand, just in case she was so shocked she accidently dropped her.
He led Jackie and the kids over to where Carissa still sat patiently on a chair. When the two women saw each other their mouths dropped open…..