"I'm already working on it". He said, reassuring her.
"Do you think I have a twin out there and never knew?" She asked, bewildered.
"I could speak to your father in the mean time. Try to find out as much as I can from him". He said.
"If that's the case, I don't think he would know". She said skeptically.
"If he doesn't, we'll have to do a DNA test, just to be sure".
She zoned out.
"Are you even listening? What are you thinking about?" He asked.
She looked up at him.
"I was just wondering how someone I had loved for five years could so easily mistake me for someone else. If we could prove to him that the woman in that picture is not me, he might not have to go to jail". She said, her eyes bright with hope.
"We can't leave someone like him out in the open. It would be too risky. He could hurt someone else".
She began to see his point.
"What were you saying about a DNA test?" She asked.
"I was saying that we would need to know for sure if she is related to you". He repeated.
"For something like that, we would need a DNA sample, like blood or a strand of hair. Where are you going to get that?" She asked.
"I have my ways, Cassandra". He said cunningly.
"I hope that does not involve meeting her at a hotel?" She asked.
He grrinned.
"And if it does, would it bother you?" He teased.
"Not at all. I just feel you may be at the risk of infection, that's all". She said, averting her eyes.
"Infection? Who said we were gonna do all that?" He asked.
"Well, what do two adults do in a hotel room?" She asked sarcastically.
"They talk".
"You plan on talking to her? How does talking get us a hair sample?"
"We could fumble around for a bit until I get it".
"That's smart, but you should not do that yourself. It could ruin your reputation to be seen with her publicly." She said.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there. We don't even know anything about her yet". He said.
"You're right. I'm just freaking out".
He looked at her with concern.
"There's no need to freak out".
"What if it's like in the movies? What if someone is wearing my face and pretending to be me?" Cassandra asked,
"Don't let your mind wander too far. And if that is the case, we'll get the M16 and the IMF involved". He teased.
"They save the world from real problems, not finding out if I have a twin or not". She said.
"When will you be discharged? Did the doctors mention anything to you?"
"They have only said that I'm improving faster than they'd hoped. Apart from that, nothing". She said.
"Would you like to continue your law practice in Portugal?" He asked.
His question took her by surprise.
"No, I would rather not. I can get too attached to cases sometimes, and since I'm not staying there for long, it would be best for me not to start something I can't finish".
"But, you could just hand over whatever case you are handling to another attorney when you have to leave". He suggested.
"Like I said, I get too attached. That's how dedicated I am to this profession. Once the DA hands me a case file, I only return to his office when justice is served".
"I wish every attorney were like you. I didn't know that about you". He said.
"Your little piece of paper about me was not going to contain the itty bitty details about me, Mr. Jack Pole".
"If I wanted to, I could even find out the colour of underwear you have on". He almost whispered.
She laughed, not knowing he was serious.
"FYI, I don't have any underwear on beneath this hospital gown. Your information would still be wrong". She said, teasing him.
"I can't take your word for it." He said and smirked.
How did the conversation switch to talk of underwear? He remembered that he had started the discussion, so he would have to be the one to put an end to it.
"I want to get you a house in Portugal, I hope you're not sea sick".
"A house? A house by the sea? Are you kidding me? I've always loved the view at my grandma's home. I've always wanted to have a house just like hers".
"It's yours. You are welcome to stay as long as you like". He said.
Her expression suddenly changed.
"I hope this is not an incentive on your part to keep me in Portugal".
"I just got you a house. I didn't even know you liked the sea until a minute ago. Forgive me if it's too tempting". He said sarcastically.
"It is tempting. Maybe I might even decide to never come back if I give it a chance". She said, mostly to herself.
He touched her hand.
"There's no rush. I know this is a big step for you. Just take it one at a time". He said.
She laughed after hearing his words.
"What's so funny, Cassandra?" He asked, annoyed that she would be laughing when he was serious.
"You sound just like the motivational speaker I had back at college. He said the same words during his pep talk to the freshers".
"It's that what made you laugh?" He asked, still not getting the joke.
"You don't look the part. Maybe you could wear a head band and hang a whistle on your neck".
"I have no intention of mimicking your college Sky Andrews. I was just trying to offer some advice".
"Are you upset? Look, I'm sorry. I just wanted to spark the atmosphere in the room".
"I was just annoyed a bit, but it's fine".
"Did you know that Frederick was sent to a psychiatric home when he was fifteen?" He asked after a while.
"He used to say that he had some very dark days during high school, but he didn't want to talk about it. I didn't ask. We just always understood each other".
"So you understand why he wants to kill you?"
"The only thing he kept saying that night I came home to find him in my apartment was that I betrayed him. He kept repeating it and breaking stuff around my house. I tried to get him to calm down and talk. That's when he pulled out a knife".