Dead Ringers Read Online Free PDF Page A

start to wonder.”
    Splitting fish with her fork, Tess glanced up at her. “It’s a little creepy, right?”
    Lili gave a half shrug. “Actually, I thought it was sort of cool until you told me your story. Now it’s definitely on the freaky-deaky side. I was going to swing by the gallery this weekend, but—”
    â€œLet’s go tonight,” Tess said, lifting a hand to hide the fact that she was talking with her mouth full.
    â€œTonight?”
    â€œI’ve got the sitter till midnight. Is the place open Thursdays, do you think?”
    Lili pulled out her cell. “Plenty of foot traffic on Newbury Street in September, so I’d guess yes, but it’s easy enough to find out,” she said, typing away at the phone. “Problem is, it’ll be at least eight thirty before we can get there, maybe closer to nine even if we skip coffee.…” She hesitated, reading something off the little screen. “Okay, they’re open until nine o’clock on Thursdays and Fridays.”
    Tess had just forked another bite of blackened mahi into her mouth. She washed it down with a gulp of Newcastle, enjoying the burn of the spices and the cool earthiness of the ale. Now she raised a hand to wave Alonso over.
    â€œLet’s try to make it. I’m intrigued. And my back is stiff as hell. I need to walk more.”
    â€œWhy not?” Lili said good-naturedly. “We haven’t been on an adventure in a while.”
    Alonso came over and put his hands on his hips. “Another round, ladies?”
    â€œActually, can we get the check?” Tess asked. “Turns out we have to be somewhere.”
    â€œOh, sure,” Alonso replied. “I’ll get you squared away.”
    He frowned a moment, then returned to his cash register to print up their bill.
    â€œThat was pretty adorable,” Lili said quietly, rooting in her purse for something.
    â€œWhat was?”
    Lili pulled out a pen and a business card and began scribbling on the back. “You really didn’t notice? Handsome Alonso is very disappointed that you’re in a rush to leave.”
    Tess shushed her as Alonso came back with the bill. She’d already slipped out her American Express card and she handed it to him without looking at the total.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Lili asked.
    â€œFinishing my dinner,” Tess replied, digging into what remained of her dinner.
    â€œI’m pretty sure it’s my turn to pay,” Lili argued.
    â€œYou’re paying for the cab over to the gallery. We don’t have time to take the T and you know I never have cash for anything more than coffee.”
    Lili raised her eyebrows. “True enough,” she said, and went back to her black bean burger. She would never have eaten more than two-thirds of it anyway, so Tess didn’t feel too badly about hurrying things along.
    Alonso brought back her Amex card and the receipt for her signature. She smiled at him but while she was signing, Lili held out a business card to him.
    â€œHer number’s on the back,” Lili said. “You should call her.”
    Alonso blinked in surprise and his brilliant smile returned. “That’s not how this usually works … getting a woman’s phone number, I mean.”
    â€œCall it divine intervention,” Lili replied, lifting her chin. “You didn’t look like you were going to ask and she’s too preoccupied to offer. You’d both regret it later, and that would be a shame, don’t you think?”
    Tess had gone rigid on the barstool as the blood drained from her face. Caught between horror and amusement, she could only stare at Lili and then at Alonso, and then she laughed softly, shaking her head.
    â€œIt would be a shame,” Alonso said. “But I guess that depends on what Tess thinks.”
    Tess thought about her scars and how they looked when she studied them in the bathroom mirror,