I don’t often publish excerpts from back to back chapters, but it HAS been a while and I think you’re going to need this one! Whoa! Check out that word count! Enjoy!
Duncan Frost, Darin’s twin brother was one of the most upbeat people that you could ever know. Anyone who knew him would be incomplete agreement about that. So…when Darin started getting into one of his down moods, the first and only thing Toni knew to do for an immediate remedy was to call Duncan to see if he could cheer his brother up.
“Hey Dunc, its Toni. How are you?”
“Fine, Sis, just fine. What’s up? Is my brother misbehaving again. You kind of have to that tone in your voice.” said Duncan.
“I guess I’m not too good at hiding it huh?” Toni asked.
“Well, lets just say that you could do better in that area, Sis. So whats the problem this time?”
“Not much really, Dunc, just a little setback that the Dr. had to tell Darin about but he also told him that it was insignificant and it would not impede progress. Well, you know Darin–”
“Dwelling on the negative again, huh?” asked Duncan
“Exactly,” said Toni.
“Well, I’ll be over in a few, I have an idea. What is he wearing?” Darin and Duncan had exactly the same taste in clothing and had bought many of the same things without even discussing it with each other.”
“He’s wearing blue jeans and the blue, short sleeve polo shirt he likes.”
“Oh, the one with the thin white stripe on the sleeves and the dove on the left front?”
“Yes, that’s the one….don’t tell me…”
“Yeah, I have one too! Amazing, isn’t it? Look for me real soon.
They shared a small before hanging up the telephone. Duncan changed his clothes and hopped into his navy blue Jeep Cherokee, that, of course, resembled his brother’s to the letter, and drove the 7.5 miles across the county to the Frost home. THIS was something that Duncan did not have that his brother did. Duncan was an inventor, primarily and most of his inventions didn’t make a whole lot of money, but they kept him fed! Others made him income year round and helped to finance his continued work. Darin on the other hand had been a very successful police officer and was a shrewd financial wizard. He even helped Duncan with investments so that he would have some money down the line. Duncan was more that happy to let his brother manage his financial portfolio.
The door to the Frost home was locked, as usual, and, since Toni knew he was coming, Duncan just used the key that he was provided, after entering the correct passwords into the security system, in order to gain entrance. He found Toni in the kitchen preparing dinner and noticed that she already had an extra place set.
“Expecting somebody for dinner, Sis?” he said as he entered the kitchen.
“Only if he can do the job he came to do, otherwise, I’ve got five dollars in my wallet that will get you whatever you want on the dollar menu.”
“McDonald’s! Dollar menu?” gasped Duncan in mock amazement, “Well I better get hopping. McDonald’s can’t hold a candle to your cooking.” said Duncan as he smiled.
As often was the case, Toni had to do a double take. Not only did Duncan looks just like Darin, but they sounded exactly alike and then there was that killer smile. Toni knew that this was her brother-in-law and not her husband, but sometimes they fooled even her. She always thought that it was a good thing that they never tried to to that on purpose. She found out later that Darin had always wanted to pull that prank, but Duncan would have none of it. He knew that he didn’t want Toni Frost on his bad side–Ever!
“He’s in the Den. Moping and staring out of the window.” said Toni
“Well then, I guess I’m off to the Den.” said Duncan. With that he was gone.
Duncan had done his best to sneak in undetected so that he could surprise his brother. He knocked at the door of the den and so as not to intrude on his brother’s privacy. Darin stood there staring out of the window.
Without even turning around, Darin said in a rather downcast voice… “Come on in Dunc, Toni call you?”
“How did you know it was me?” Duncan asked. “Not only have you not turned around, but I didn’t say a word.”
“Well now, lets see,” said Darin, “I have any number of security devices here around the estate. Any of which would have detected you as you drove in and fed the information automatically to my computer. Not much gets in and out without my knowing it. Did you happen to notice that you weren’t greeted by Max? He’s out patrolling the grounds but I told him you were clear so he just ignored you. Of course I’m not facing my desk and did not have the advantage of any of those systems, but it sure would have been helpful.” Darin said , still his back to his brother.
“Then how in the world did you—” Duncan began to ask, but Darin was already ready with his answer
“Elementary my dear Duncan.” Darin said in his Sherlock Holmes voice that he like to use just before making a revelation to people that really wa no revelation at all, just something that they did not think about. “In the absence being able to use all of those resources, its not hard to determine who’s knocking at the door when the reflection I see in the window looks just like me. Either I’m in two places at once, or my twin brother is around and about.”
Now Darin turned around because he had to see what he knew would be one of his brother’s dumbfounded looks. That in itself was enough to cheer Darin up…and it did. After they chatted for a while and talked about the old times and Darin was able to get over the latest setback, which really WAS insignificant it was time for dinner.
After dinner when the dishes were done and the whole family was cutting up with their favorite uncle Duncan, who had of course, brought over inventions for each of the kids, like he always did, Toni asked Darin to take out the trash…..
“Honey you didn’t forget that it was trash night did you?” asked Toni
“No I didn’t forget, its just that taking out the trash when you only have one good arm is not the most exciting job in the world so I save it for last.” said Darin.
“Really?” said Duncan, interjecting himself into the husband/wife conversation. He took out a sling from his pocket, identical to Darin’s sling and put it on, stabilizing his arm and said, “I’ll have to see about this myself. And if I can do it, I guess you’ll have to stop using that one as an excuse.” Duncan had been trying to get his brother to lay off of using his arm as a crutch and had been waiting for an opportunity for this demonstration.
Duncan proceeded to drag to trash with his one hand, stopping long enough to hit the garage door opener, and then dragging it out to the trashcan.
“Would you mind taking the trash can to the curb, too?” Toni asked.
“Not at all Mademoiselle,” said Duncan as Toni gave him a mock peck on the cheek to thank him.
She saw Darin scowling with his jealous look and said, “Oh cut it out Frost, you know I’m head over heels in love you, 100% YOURS and not even a brother who looks just like you is going to be able to do anything to change that. Next time YOU take the trash out and I guarantee you won’t just get a little peck on the cheek!” Then she smiled that smile that just melted Darin and had no choice but to cave and smile back.
Outside, Duncan was still playing the part of the one armed bandit and had just gotten the trash to the end of the driveway when Lenny Cartelli came up from behind him….
“Don’t move and don’t make a noise! I don’t want to have to take out the whole family to cover up my mess. I just wanted you to know who offed you before it happened. You’ve been making me look really bad and Mikey said that I needed to take care of you myself. Well that’s what I should have done in the first place, but I really thought you’d make it a little harder for me! THIS was too easy, but none the less, the deed will be done. So much for your nine lives! Been nice knowin’ ya.”
Duncan thought about screaming out a warning, but he really didn’t want this Lenny Cartelli character to know that he had the right man. Duncan was ready to give his life for his brother and his brother’s family. He knew he was going to heaven and if it was his time, ordained by the Lord, there would be no avoiding it any way. But, just like good old Duncan, he did have to add, “Hey look, Lenny, its not too late for you. You can still know Jesus as your Lord and savior. If I don’t get to show you how, make sure somebody does! There’s a tract in my back pocket. Take it!”
Lenny didn’t even know why, but he took the tract, put it in his pocket and pulled the trigger three times! Then he was gone like a flash.
When Darin heard the gun shots, he immediately knew! Nobody else was sure about what was going on. “Toni call and ambulance. Call and ambulance now! Max go! Darin reached into the drawer and pulled out his gun and followed behind Max through the open door leading to the garage. As Darin got to the end of the driveway he could see his brother crumpled and to the ground and gasping for breath and a car speeding off down the the street. Too far away for him to get a license plate or capture the image on one of his cameras.
Darin held Duncan’s head, blood pouring out and knew that his brother had not chance. None at all. But he saw Duncan smile and listened as he gasped his last words….”Lenny Cartelli. I gave him a tract.” And with that all of the life left Duncan Frost and he went home to be with the Lord. Darin sobbed uncontrollably for his brother…it should not have been him! Why hadn’t he taken out the trash himself? he wondered.
So, Mikey Campinieri had sent his #1 man to the job for him. Darin’s resolve to put Mikey away had just faded into a vendetta. Lenny Cartelli might have been the trigger man, but Mikey Campinieri was going to pay!
