Whats going on? I asked.
If I was a Summerland, why was I coming in tomorrow?
The man looked puzzled, buTHE played along in whatever game he thought we were playing. Your bachelor party, of course. Youre getting married at the end of the week. Your brother arrived yesterday with his fiance.
Look, I am a distant cousin of the Summerlands. I got mistaken for the twins all through school. My name really is Jason Schuyler. This is my friend Anita Blake. Im here to visit my family.
Of course you are. It was clear he didnt believe Jason, but at the same time very clear thaTHE would repeat whatever lie Jason spouted, and swear to it in court afterward.
I take it the Summerlands are big shots around here? I said.
The biggest, Jason said.
The man with the clipboard looked from one to the other of us. The bride-to-be is already in town. Her bachelorette party is tonight.
You invited? I said.
He looked flustered. Of course not.
Then how do you know so much?
Ive been helping get the guests settled, he said, and sounded indignant.
Fine, but we are not guests.
Of course not, and if asked, I havent seen Keith Summerland. He will arrive tomorrow as planned. The man seemed pleased with himself as if hed said a smart thing. Then he walked away with another wink.
I looked at Jason. We are speaking English, right? I mean he does understand what were saying, doesnt he?
You have to know Keith to understand the mans problem. It would be like him to come in a day early with another woman. Hed probably bring the stripper in personally.
A wild child? I asked.
He thoughTHE was. I just thoughTHE was a dick.
Do you really look that much like him?
Yes. He said it flat and unhappy. I look enough like them both to make this visit even harder. The media will be all over this wedding.
But theyre like local celebrities, not national, right? I mean, it wont be that bad.
Do you know who Governor Summerland is?
I stared at him. Youre joking.
I wish.
The governor that theyre thinking about running for president is this Summerland?
Yep, Jason said.
I dont watch TV or read newspapers much, but even I know who he is.
If his eldest son is getting married this week, the media are going to be everywhere, and I look like his twin. We were always getting confused for each other in high school.
You cant look that much alike.
He pretended to be me on a date with my girlfriend. She caught on, eventually. He took a beating for me once from some of the guys at school. Id smarted off, and they found him first. He was hitting on a girlfriend of mine again. Pretending to be me.