Undercover Twin

He tried not to laugh but feared a smirk was evident. “I don’t believe so, no.”

She yawned and looked adorable as she covered her mouth up a second too late. He blinked hard. Maybe it was being woken in the middle of the night, but he’d never once thought of Kendra as adorable so why was he thinking of Audrey that way? Audrey eyed him as her cheeks flushed, clearly wondering why he was studying her so intensely. “I’m finding that you’re very unique,” he said.

“As someone trying to get used to the idea of having an identical twin, I don’t feel unique right now.” Her shoulders sagged. “I hope I can go back to sleep.”

He stepped through the connecting threshold into his room and turned to face her.

“I have a wake-up call set for 7:00 a.m. I’ll make a few calls regarding the investigation at the campus and, after ensuring we’re still a go, we’ll leave.”

“Fine.” Another yawn escaped as she moved to close the connecting door on him.

He placed his foot to stop it. Her eyes widened and he regretted the aggressiveness of the move. “Sorry. Please don’t let it latch. I need to be able to get to you fast if there’s a threat.”

She blinked slowly and nodded. He removed his foot and she resumed closing the door, stopping right at the door frame. Lee flipped his light off, slipped his gun underneath the pillow next to him and stretched out on the bed. He wondered if Kendra had woken yet. The hospital said they would notify him, but he’d given them the number of their bureau handler instead. A call from the hospital once the mission began would jeopardize their cover.

He closed his eyes, but the image of Audrey’s trusting eyes filled his mind. They affected him in a way that alarmed him but pinpointing why would take a lot more brain cells than he had in the middle of the night. He moved to the chair in the room. He wouldn’t sleep now that there was a potential threat in the hotel.

A few hours later the phone rang and he sat up straight, his hand automatically reaching for his gun before he picked up the handset. The automated voice declared the time. The moment he hung up, it rang again, only this time he heard the ring echoing in Audrey’s room, as well. He answered and listened as a prerecorded voice proclaimed the shelter-in-place to be lifted.

A knock sounded at the connecting door.

He rushed to open it. Dressed in a light blue chiffon blouse, white linen pants and tan high-heels, Audrey stood ready for the day with a closed suitcase behind her. When Kendra had worn the same outfit, she’d seemed ready to walk into a boardroom to lay down the law, but Audrey looked ready to go on a luxury vacation. Lee couldn’t understand how they could look exactly the same in every other way except—“Your hair,” he said.

She fingered the sleek, straight brown hair self-consciously. “Did I do it right? I don’t usually straighten it, but I noticed Kendra did.”

He nodded despite an irrational disappointment that the waves no longer framed her face. “Yes. I’m not too worried about your hair being the same as Kendra’s photo. It’s my experience women can change their hair at a moment’s notice.”

Audrey’s eyes sparkled. “Jealous?”

He laughed despite himself. “I admit it would be useful in my line of work.”

“Did you hear? The message said the threat has been lifted.”

That was not how he interpreted the message. “They also said that officers would remain on site for the remainder of the day to ensure the safety of guests.” In his mind, that meant the gunman had escaped, but he didn’t want to worry Audrey. “But yes, we will go ahead as planned.” He tapped his wrist as if wearing an invisible watch. He still had a few calls to make. “Give me fifteen minutes.”

“I think I should know our cover names before we leave. The more time I can get used to it, the better.”

A sensible request. “We are Lee and Andrea Kimmet. It shouldn’t be too big of a stretch for you to remember since your real name also starts with A.”

“They sound completely different, so I wouldn’t make assumptions if I were you. You’re still going as Lee? Isn’t that your real name?”

“Keeps it simple. It’s my prerogative. Kendra prefers different names.” He shrugged. “Either way.”

“And your real last name?”

He stiffened. “It’s best you only think of me as Lee Kimmet.”

“I know Kendra’s real last name.”

“I actually think it’s safer for both of us if you don’t know mine.” She was already in danger no matter what choice he made, and he didn’t want anything else to put a target on her back. Since Kendra hadn’t given her real name on campus, there was only one way Audrey knew. “I’m going to need her badge from you before we leave.”

“Okay, but I’m not going anywhere without seeing your badge. What if something happens to you? I need to be able to tell the authorities your real name.”

Lee didn’t have the patience to point out that the FBI already knew who she was so it wouldn’t be an issue. He supposed in her position he wouldn’t budge without seeing an ID, either. He bent over and slipped it out of the compartment of his gun case and handed it to her.

She flipped it open and her gaze bounced between the photo and him, a smile creasing her lips. The back of his neck heated. “What? What’s so funny?” He reached out to take his badge back.

“Nothing, Lee Benson. It’s just you are so clean-shaven and young in your badge photo. How long ago was that taken?”

“I’m pretty sure we’re the same age.” He grabbed the badge back but couldn’t help but mirror her smile. He rubbed his jaw. “I like to grow a beard before meetings like we’re about to do. Making me seem older can be a good thing.” He hadn’t crossed thirty-five yet, but he couldn’t deny he felt his aging accelerate over the past few years of high stress.

A knock at the door prompted Audrey’s wide eyes. Lee rushed forward into her room and peeked through the hole to see a bellhop with rolling luggage. He exhaled. “I think your missing luggage is here.”

He stepped aside for Audrey to retrieve it. She closed the door and beamed. “Oh, I’m so glad. I worried it’d arrive after we left.”

“You won’t be able to take it with us. I’ll have to leave it in a bus station locker along with the FBI badges and anything identifying you as Audrey Clark. You don’t have any medication or anything, do you?”

She blushed. “No, nothing like that. It’s just I would prefer my own clothes for some of the time.”

“Of course. Just nothing with your name on it.” He tried not to laugh as he turned back to his own room to get ready. To be fair, he wouldn’t want to wear his brother’s clothes all the time, either.

Fourteen minutes and thirty seconds later he grabbed his gear. Today was the day he’d fulfill the reason he became an FBI agent in the first place. Energy coursed through his veins at the thought of taking down the Network. He strode with Audrey through the hallway.

“What if the gunman from last night was wanting to lure us out? Watching and waiting for us to get into the van?”

Thankfully, he’d already taken precautions before the gunman entered the picture. They stepped into the elevator as he pressed the button for the lobby. “Then we’ll be one step ahead of him. While you were getting your blood drawn at the hospital, I arranged for a rental car to be delivered at the hotel this morning. We should have a silver Lexus waiting underneath the portico. Mr. and Mrs. Kimmet would never be caught dead arriving in a van.”

“See? That’s exactly why I said I wouldn’t do this unless you shared all the details.”

Lee tried to keep his frustration from showing. “I wasn’t trying to keep anything from you. When have we had any time to discuss anything?” He wasn’t used to sharing details, even with Kendra. They may have been partners, but in many ways they did their own thing, like two coworkers with their own priorities on a project.

“I understand that, but I’d like to be let in on the plan from here on out so I don’t feel like I’m playing the part of a poor, helpless spy.”

“Again, special agent, not spy.” Lee doubted anyone would categorize Audrey as helpless. He caught his reflection in the elevator doors and immediately remedied his grin.

“Will your operation involve any secret collecting, any gathering of information covertly?”

In other words, she wanted to know if there would be any spying. She had him there, but he wasn’t about to admit it. “I’ll tell you everything, as promised, in the car. I’m afraid we have a long journey ahead so breakfast will be drive-through.”

“Any word on Kendra?” She asked so softly he almost didn’t hear her.

His back tensed. “I’m afraid not.” Her head dipped and he reached out to give her arm a squeeze. “She’s a fighter. She’s going to come through.”

Audrey squared her shoulders and looked forward. “Of course.”

It was the first time he questioned whether she meant what she’d said. “They did identify the shooter Kendra took out. As suspected, it was the missing man due for initiation. We’re still waiting on your DNA test, but your blood type is the same. So we’re headed for the meet as planned.”

Audrey bit her lip and nodded, her eyes taking on a glossy sheen. “Wow. Okay.”