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“She knows. Don’t you, Charlie? This is not Will’s idea. It’s mine. I’d like to know if you’d be willing to fill in for me. Kinda like old times.”
“I never really liked filling in for you growing up. I never told you that. But I hated it. I was always the one stuck with the raw end of the deal.”
“See?” Will said. “It’s settled. She won’t do it.”
“Hang on. I didn’t say that. I just said I didn’t like it back then. But that was because it usually meant Maddy getting out of something she didn’t want to do. If this will help you guys, then I’d like to hear what it is you propose.”
Will sighed and stalked across the room, leaning on the wall. “I can’t bring a civilian in on this job.”
“Wait,” Charlotte moved closer to the bed, “you want me to fill in on your undercover operation? I thought you mentioned that as a joke and I agreed. It’s completely unrealistic. Maddy, you were being sarcastic—or possibly mocking—remember?”
“I changed my mind,” she said. “I think it’s a great idea.”
“What would I have to do?”
“Look like me. You’re a natural. You might need to cut an inch or two off your hair and maybe add a little color. But other than that, you don’t even have to talk. You just have to be there.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
“It’s not,” Will said. “And I’d be responsible for your safety.”
“Exactly. Oof.” Maddy winced and tried to shift herself on the bed.
Charlotte went to her. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just get these shooting pains now and then.”
“Is that normal? Should I get the doctor?”
“No. It’s passed. It’s fine. Now where were we?”
“Will said it could be dangerous.”
“It could be. It probably won’t be. Either way, with Will, you’re safe. He’s the best. In fact, he’s the only one I’d trust to pull this off.”
“But she has no experience,” Will said.
“Sure she does. She stopped a human trafficking operation, remember?”
“You said that was bogus.”
“Hey, it wasn’t bogus,” Charlotte said. “And I have acting skills, too. Not that I would need them. It’s a piece of cake pretending to be you.”
“You’re not pretending to be Maddy. You’re pretending to be Maddison, the powerful businesswoman.”
“Still. I could do it.”
“There, see?” Maddy said. “She’d be perfect.”
“Acting skills?” Will said.
“I work as a voiceover artist.”
“Great.” He dropped his head. “Charlotte, would you excuse us for a minute, please?”
She looked at Maddy, who nodded. “Fine. But I’m confident I could do it.”
“I’m sure you could.” Will waited until she left the room before sitting next to the bed with his elbows on his knees. “What are you doing?”
