As I stand waiting, I think my life flashes before my eyes. I always knew I would be standing here one day. In my heart, I’ve always known because even from an early age I knew we were so different, despite looking identical.
The police officer pulls back the sheet and I see him. Cold, lifeless, and unfeeling. In death, as he was in life. My twin brother.
I nod and the officer says sympathetically, “Do you need more time?”
Shaking my head, I turn away. “No - thank you.”
The officer replaces the sheet and I follow him out of the mortuary. I don’t look back and any feelings I may ever have had for that man lying dead on the slab died that night.
The officer takes me to a room and pushes a Styrofoam cup of tea in my direction and says sympathetically, “I’m sorry for your loss.”
As I sample the hot tea, I just nod. “Thank you.”
He sits awkwardly and pushes a box towards me. “These are all the possessions we found of his. We thought you would want them.”
As I look at the box, I shake my head and say sadly, “Not much to show for a life, is it?”
“No, I don’t suppose it is.”
The officer clears his throat. “I expect you have many questions.”
Reaching out, I draw the box towards me and say dully, “What was the cause of death?”
“Drowning. He left a note and the items of clothes that are in the box before you. His wallet gave us his identity, enabling us to trace you, although it took a little time to find him after he was reported missing.”
I look at him in surprise. “Who reported it?”
“An Isabel Rawlins, his fiancée.”
I feel the anger flooding through me as I think of my brother with Isabel. He was a bastard to the end, and it’s no wonder she came looking for him.
The officer shakes his head. “Maybe I shouldn’t say it but it appears as if she had a lucky escape.”
As I raise my eyes to his, he says nervously, “I’m sorry, but it appears your brother was into all sorts of dodgy dealings. He rented a flat that he hardly ever stayed in. We think he just used it to secure credit cards and loans because he is leaving a shitload of debt behind him. I’m not surprised he killed himself when you think about who he owed money to.”
“Who?”
“Known criminals who run illegal gambling syndicates. They’re into all kinds, prostitution, pornography and illegal trafficking, not to mention drugs. If your brother owed them money, he didn’t have long to live.”
I say gruffly, “Do you think they had a hand in his death?”
The officer shakes his head. “No. I doubt it because he’s better off to them alive. They won’t get anything now he’s dead, it’s not their style. No, it’s more likely he took the easy way out rather than be drafted into their world. Maybe he did it to protect his girlfriend, although why he never went to her family for help, I’ll never know.”
I stare at him in surprise. “Her family? Why, what could they have done to help him?”
Leaning forward, the officer whispers, “The Rawlins family is just as corrupt, if not more so. No other crime family would go against them. It wouldn’t be worth the trouble. If your brother had gone to them with his problems, they would have protected him because to them, family is everything.”
His words surprise me because I never thought of Isabel being some sort of mafia princess. She just doesn’t look the type.
I turn to the officer and say dully, “May I leave now, shall I arrange for the undertakers to collect his body?”
The officer nods. “Of course. We aren’t treating his death as suspicious, so you are free to bury him, the poor soul.”
As I shake his hand, I smile gratefully. “Thank you. We’ll be in touch when I’ve arranged an undertaker.”
The officer accompanies me to the door and shakes his head. “You know, despite your beard, you’re the spitting image of each other. Uncanny really.”
I smile. “That’s twins for you, especially identical ones. However, we are very different in personality, one good, one not so.”
I walk away with the officer’s laughter ringing in my ears. Yes, Tom Mahoney was a very different man to Edward Mahoney, which is why he asked for my help on that fateful night.
I get a cab back from the station and think about the last time I saw my brother. I had just returned from a long trip overseas and was desperate for some sleep in a comfortable bed. I just didn’t expect to find my brother in it with some woman he picked up from the Internet. As I close my eyes, it all comes flooding back.