Take Two

CHAPTER 72

Richards heard the shower kick into life and he rolled out of bed and padded over to the bathroom. The woman in his shower turned to smile at him. It was Carolyn. ‘Good morning,’ she said, water cascading over her back.

Richards frowned but didn’t say anything. What the hell was she doing in his shower?

‘Why don’t you join me?’ she said, then turned away and reached for the soap.

Richards pulled off his boxer shorts, dropped them onto the tiled floor and pulled open the glass door to the shower. Steam billowed in it. She looked over her shoulder again and giggled, then took a half step backwards so that she was pressing against him. He ran his hands down her hips and she twisted around and put her arms around his neck. Her lips found his and they kissed as the water cascaded around them. Richards felt himself grow hard and he gripped her tightly. The water was blasting out of the shower heads, battering against his head with such force that it pushed him backwards. He fell against the glass wall of the shower but Carolyn kept her mouth against his.

He found it hard to move his legs and realised the shower stall was filling with water. It was already up to his groin. Carolyn lifted her right leg and entwined it around his, pulling him closer. He was finding it hard to breathe and tried to pull away but her lips stayed glued to his. Her tongue forced its way into his mouth and he tasted salt.

The water was up to his neck now and was so cold his body was growing numb and, still, her tongue probed between his teeth, the taste of salt so strong that his stomach began to heave. He pushed her but she stuck to him like a limpet and now the water was above his head and his eyes were stinging and he could hear the pounding of his heart.

Richards woke up with a gasp, bathed in sweat. He lay on his back for a minute or so, gasping, his heart racing. When his heart had returned to normal he rolled over and grabbed his mobile. He had Halpin’s number on speed dial.

‘Morning, boss,’ said Halpin.

‘Mick, mate, I need you to do something for me. Can you check out Jenny Castle for me?’

‘In what way?’

‘That she is who she says she is.’

‘You said she was Carolyn’s twin.’

‘She is. The spitting image. But I want you to dig up a birth certificate or something.’

‘That’s easy enough. Carolyn was forty-four, you said.’

‘Yeah.’

‘I should be able to get it done on line.’

‘I didn’t know you were a computer whizz?’

Halpin laughed. ‘I’m not, but I know a man who is. Do you still want me to take you to the club this evening?’

‘Sure. Pick me up at seven.’ Richards ended the call and tossed the phone onto the bed. He rolled over and stared at the bathroom door, half expecting to hear the shower kick into life.