Mistaken Malice

Constance looked terribly defeated and Alice was surprised, from a guessing game to seeing her sister look alarmed and now down, this was not a good sign. She wanted to get to the bottom of things before they got any messier than they had. Killing a cop, even an ex-cop was not her style, even if he had deserved it, but had he?

Constance sighed deeply and led Alice over to a bench and looked around carefully to see if anyone was nearby and could be hearing what she had to share with her sister. "I met Ken at one of those high faluting parties where they invite anyone with money. He assumed I had a lot and then I realized he thought I was you, you know many people still make that mistake?"

Alice nodded, anyone who saw them side by side would see the differences but if they hadn't met them really or didn't know them well they could still assume one was the other.

"I didn't correct him; after all he was calling me Ms. Weaver which is still legally my name..."

"Oh this month?" Alice couldn't help but put in and then smirked at the look her sister gave her.

"It's not my fault I can't find a man that can keep up with me" Constance whined mockingly.

Alice laughed "yeah, those sixty something year olds and older are a little hard on the ticker when it comes to long lasting love."

Constance laughed "it's a gift" she said sardonically.

"Ok, back to your point...you met Ken..." she prodded.

"Yeah, he was like oh Mr. Charming and on and on. Since wifey was there I figured what the hell, she must know the score, she's that Senator too, you know the big news, Mr. and Mrs. Senator?"

Alice nodded, she knew more about this than Constance knew and wouldn't let on, she wanted details though, why had she had to kill this cop?

"Well that all started things, one thing led to another and I thought I'd try something other than the geriatric generation."

That was what this was all about? An affair? Shyte, shyte, shyte, why couldn't her sister stay playing in the pool, one not owned by Mrs. Senator? Alice wasn't pleased, it made sense now. Mrs. Charming had set the ex-cop on her because she thought that Alice was Constance! She smiled sweetly "what happened?"

"Well, he wasn't great in the sheets if you know what I mean, hell a few of the men of the geriatric set could have taught him a thing or two..." she went to go on but Alice was getting impatient and held up her hand.

"Yeah, yeah, I know" she was bored with hearing about good old fashioned hetero sex from her sister. "Mr. Charming was a dud, but what happened?"

"Well, I think wifey caught on because he started acting a little weird, I don't know, but we haven't seen much of each other lately" she sighed dramatically "and his gifts haven't been quite as stunning as they were at first."

Alice looked at her sister and her eyes narrowed slightly, selling yourself for gifts that you could sell later was a form of prostitution that she just wouldn't lower herself to. "You know, you have enough money that you don't need those 'gifts'" she told her, she knew how much money her sister had, she invested it for her!

"Oh, I don't do that anymore, but they should show their appreciation now and then shouldn't they?" she said airily.

Alice knew her sister wasn't the bubble headed bleach blonde that people stereotyped out here in Southern California. She was crafty, she was intelligent, she could do anything she put her mind to, but when she talked like this, like she deserved gifts from her gentlemen callers it really drove Alice crazy. "What planet are you from? They don't have to give you anything but their time, besides don't you feel like their whore if they pay you for their affections?"

"That's mean Alice!" she said with a whine "I don't get paid for going out with them, if they want to give me a gift now and then that's our business."

Alice mentally rolled her eyes and sighed, there was no convincing her sister that she wasn't entitled to these gifts; they had had this conversation many times before. "So, when am I going to meet this Mr. Charming?" she asked to change the subject.

"Meet him?" her sister faltered, Alice rarely met her boyfriends, only her husbands and not always then...

Alice shrugged as though she didn't care one way or the other "well, if he's becoming laggard in his affections and he met both of us, you know how men think..." she let the innuendo hang out there.

Constance grasped it immediately. Many men over the years when they found out she was a twin had asked to meet Alice thinking that if one twin was fun, two would be fantastic, they made assumptions that were never proven. Alice and she were as different as night as day, she for instance liked the company of men. Rich, old, and generous men.... "Well, there is a fundraiser I'm invited to on Friday if you'd like to go with me" she told her sister.

Alice smiled "maybe we should shop for something to wear...."

Alice did her homework. Senator Ken Edwards and his wife Senator Cecilia Edwards were national news. The fact that they were both senators and had a successful marriage too made for interesting news, calling him Mr. Charming wasn't so far beyond what he was, he oozed charm and his wife and he looked like a beautiful couple. Alice knew that looks could be deceiving. Theirs was a marriage made in Washington, not heaven. It was all for political gain and power. That power meant a lot of money and they both worshipped at the Federal Reserve. The more she looked into them the more she realized that Mrs. Charming must have thought that Alice was Constance and that she needed investigating, that was why the ex-cop was on her tail. She wondered why his death hadn't made the papers yet and then thought perhaps that Mr. and Mrs. Charming Senators might have something to do with it. Perhaps Mrs. Edwards wasn't so pure and charming; maybe she had been bopping with the cop...she thought about the picture she has seen of Cecilia Edwards with Richard Haggard, that certainly wasn't a 'fan' shot.

As she dressed for the fundraiser she looked at her invitation that Constance had managed to obtain for her. It was embossed and expensive looking. They would save a hell of a lot of money if they didn't print to impress. Her phone rang. "Hello?" she said seeing that her sister was calling.

"Do you want to go in one car or two?" Constance asked.

"Let's take two, that way, if either of us gets lucky, the other isn't trapped" she joked, but it was a double edged joke. Lucky could have a myriad of meanings.

Constance laughed delightedly "okay, but let's enter together, sound cool?" she sounded so high school, excited at the prospect of them looking similar. Their dresses that they had found in the high end boutique were very similar but not identical. Alice wouldn't allow that, she found it so...gay.

"I'm leaving in 15, where do you want to meet" Alice told her.

They made arrangements to meet on a corner that had a gas station before driving up to the Beverly Hills Hotel where the banquet was being held. Alice followed Constance's Porsche under the portico and the valet's ran out to take their keys. Alice smiled as she saw the confusion on the two men's faces as nearly identical blondes got out of nearly identical Porsche's. Constance looked over at Alice and smiled delightedly, she had been the one all through school who loved trying to trick people with their nearly identical looks.

Alice's pale brown eyes, almost yellow were fastened on Ken Edwards and his wife Cecilia when they were announced. She saw the widening of their eyes as the two nearly identical women made their way into the banquet. Already waiters were walking about seeing to the guest's needs, serving dinners and drinks. Alice and Constance made their way to the area where the Senators were holding court.

"Well hello Ms. Weaver" Ken Edwards greeted them unsure which one was which and his puzzled look held a little lust that both women recognized, one with anticipation and one with disgust.

Constance took the lead "Mr. Edwards, Mrs. Edwards, I would like to introduce my sister Alice to you." She smiled at the startled looks of both of them; they had thought they had already met Alice Weaver.

"And this" Alice's voice held a sarcastic note "is my sister Constance whom I believe you have already met?" She noted that both Senators were startled but something about the way that Cecilia's expression altered held her attention a moment longer. The lust she could see in Ken Edwards's eyes told its own story.

"Well, well, well, this is a surprise" Ken said charmingly "I had no idea there were two such lovely women in the Weaver family" he looked at Constance, realizing that he had charmed and he thought seduced the wrong sister.

"Yes" piped up Cecilia Edwards "this is a surprise, how wonderful for you two, twins!" as if they didn't realize it "you must have had great fun fooling people when you were growing up."

"Not really" the two sisters said at the exact same time, exchanged nearly identical looks, and then started laughing. The other people with them joined in on the laughter.

Alice and Constance found themselves seated at a table not that far from the dais where the two Senators were holding court, everyone was now sitting and eating before the speeches would begin. Alice would have given her eye teeth to hear what the Senators were whispering about, it seemed a heated exchange.

"Do you think she's angry with him?" Constance asked with amusement.

Alice looked back at her sister as she took a sip of her rather excellent wine "yes, I think she is, but she hides it well."

"You didn't realize there were two of them?" Cecilia was whispering to Ken.

He smiled so no one would realize they were arguing, it was an art form you learned in Washington or you soon lost out when your enemies realized your weaknesses. "How the hell was I to know that there were two of them? She was introduced as Ms. Weaver. Naturally I thought it was the one with all the money and power!"

"You fool" she hissed with a smile as she took a bite to eat.

"You could have made the same mistake" he whispered back.

She shook her head and ignored him as the man on her right made some comment and she concentrated on her conversation with him.

During the course of the evening Alice silently studied the Senator's and those around them. It gave her an insight to what kind of people they were. After the long and boring speeches and polite applause everyone mingled. A band had been brought in and some couples were dancing. Constance had found an acquaintance and was chatting animatedly. Alice slowly made her way around the room observing people. She was observed as well. Cecilia Edwards was watching her covertly. Surreptitiously since every move that the senators made was watched by all, she couldn't help but wonder which sister was which as she watched one sitting and chatting and one move about the room. Something about the one walking around the room drew her attention though, it was like a feline the way she walked, it was attractive as she was attractive, but it was also xyz.

Cecilia was talking with several of her constituents when she realized that one the twins had joined the small group. After she was done making her point, rather brilliantly she thought too, she turned to the blonde and asked pointedly "wouldn't you agree Ms. Weaver?"

Alice looked at her thoughtfully for a moment and then said "no, I wouldn't" and left it hang there in the air. Several of the group gasped at her audacity in disagreeing with the senator.

Senator Edwards waited for her to continue, to explain herself and instead Alice waited and observed. Several of the group exchanged looks, from alarm to amusement. No one disagreed with a senator after all. The waiting seemed to stretch out over a long period of time.

Finally Cecilia could wait no longer without looking like a total fool, something she suspected that the blonde had intended. "Well then Ms. Weaver, what would you do instead?"

Alice waited a count of three seconds before looking the senator in the eye with a challenge and stated "I would make a mandatory test for ALL teachers that they had to take every year that would show that they knew not only the subjects they were teaching, but the level they were teaching at and if they failed it their license would be revoked. It is not the schools fault that they have inadequate teachers or the children's fault that they are not receiving the level of education they should be. It's up to the parents to fill in the gaps, not regulating it to death. One hundred and fifty years ago a teacher had to sit for exams each and every year to get their teaching certificate to prove they were able to teach, sometimes the old ways are the best."

Cecilia was astounded. Not only had Ms. Weaver totally made her point moot but she had put in about the testing in a manner in which was actually a good idea. Angry at first but unable to show it she looked at Alice.

Alice never turned a hair, she could see in the Senator's eyes that she was angry and then was amazed as they changed.

"That is a rather excellent point actually. We must look into that further" Cecilia conceded.

The group was rather amazed as well, Senator Edwards was well known for her beliefs and rarely if ever backed down, to hear her concede on any point was unheard of.

"Do you follow politics Ms. Weaver?" One of the men asked candidly.

Alice turned and smiled briefly "no, not really, however my sister has become interested recently and I thought I should see what all the hoopla was about."

"Ah yes, your sister has been to many of these functions" another man noted.

Alice saw out of the corner of her eye that Cecilia realized which sister she really was.

"Aren't you the Weaver who invests?" someone else asked.

Alice nodded, "yes, I handle a few private investments, family investments, but mostly I handle my own."

"Make quite a bit there I've heard" he tried to be a little friendlier.

Alice looked at him coolly "I hold my own" and she knew the double entendre was lost on him.

The conversation fortunately turned to other investments and the others didn't notice that Alice didn't contribute but then neither did the Senator. Alice watched her covertly and realized that the woman not only was interested because Alice had money that the woman would dearly like her to donate to her or her husband's joint campaigns but there was more than that kind of interest in her face, Alice could read a lot more than casual interest, this surprised her but she was certain that no one else noticed it.

Alice went to several fundraisers for the Senators. She was certain that Constance was only seeing Ken Edwards occasionally, he must be keeping her because he enjoyed the attention and the beautiful body, she certainly wasn't contributing anything other than a $5000 a plate presence otherwise, she didn't know anything about politics, or care.

Alice though was intrigued. Not by their politics which she couldn't have cared less about. It afforded her several opportunities to observe the Ken and Barbie couple. The Senators, both from California but from different and distinct districts ran their campaigns in a way that allowed their supporters to rally together and create a bigger presence and the money poured in. Everyone loved the idea of the two, the beautiful couple in Washington taking care of business for them. Alice was positive they did nothing but for themselves. It disgusted her to see them rake in the monies that people were convinced would help them get re-elected and ensure that their policies would be carried out.

It also afforded Alice the opportunity to get to know Cecilia Edwards better. She was an intriguing woman, brilliant, and if she hadn't strayed into politics she would have been endlessly fascinating to Alice, instead she began to bore her. Just when Alice thought there was nothing there, that the woman couldn't have covered up the death of the cop and shrugged it off the woman took a decided interest in one Ms. Alice Weaver and began inviting her to the more private 'ladies' only luncheons. When this graduated to a more private and intimate gathering between only three or four of her most 'valuable' constituents Alice began to be intrigued at the manipulations of the woman. No one thought it odd when she was invited to a private lunch with the woman to discuss things, after all, she had become part of the senator's inner circle, or at least that was what some might think.

"Alice, so lovely to see you" she was greeted informally by Cecilia Edwards.

"Senator..." Alice began.

The other woman interrupted "please, when we are alone call me Cecilia."

"Cecilia then" Alice agreed and was led to a tea set that sat between two couches. When she went to sit across from the senator she was surprised when Cecilia joined her on the same one. Her antennae went up.

"Would you like tea or coffee" Cecilia offered from the beautiful set before them.

They chatted idly for a while before dinner was announced. Sitting at the end Cecilia was every inch the lady of the manor and enjoyed chatting with Alice about countless topics. It showed her Stanford education very well how much she knew and her various interests. Alice was enjoying herself immensely; her new 'friend' seemed to make things cozy and intimate.

The servants cleared the table and they sat sipping wine in front of the fireplace as they chatted before Cecilia finally turned the conversation to her ultimate goal. As Alice had been waiting for weeks for this subject to come up she wasn't surprised.

"Alice, I feel you and I have become the best of friends, I hope I can confide in you?" she said with the right amount of almost hesitant embarrassment.

Alice wasn't fooled, she had studied this woman for weeks, she knew that the woman was calculating and would use every advantage but she played along "of course you can" she assured the woman.

"I hate to bring it up but..." she shyly looked down as though it were painful to bring up "I can't see this happening anymore, I don't want Ken to lose his career."

"Ken?" Alice asked convincingly as though she didn't know what was coming.

"Yes, you see he and your sister Constance..." she looked properly embarrassed, as though she shouldn't know about this.

"You mean their having an affair?" Alice gasped in outrage.

Cecilia looked up to study the blonde and convinced at her innocence she nodded in agreement waiting to watch her reactions.

"Oh my god, I had no idea!" Alice was a better actress than this Senator. "I'll speak to her immediately!" she said in her chagrin.

"Wait..." here Cecilia was hesitant, it was hard to tell if it was genuine or not "I just don't want it made public, he would never recover, neither would I."

"Oh, I'll make sure it's discrete" she answered in mock outrage.

Cecilia leaned over to put her hand over Alice's "thank you but that's not all" her eyes flicked up for a moment to meet Alice's as she held her hand, "perhaps you could emphasize to her to keep it quiet, I actually don't mind their involvement as long as it doesn't become public, it's just that..." here she looked down at their hands in mock innocence "I can see why he might be attracted to her, as different as you two are, you are both attractive women."

Alice smiled inside, she had known, seen the attraction weeks ago, it had just been a matter of making herself available, contributing to those countless boring dinners, willing to put herself out there for her to reel the woman in. She was endlessly patient if anything. Instead she looked at the other woman calmly and lifted her chin to look deeply into her eyes as she leaned in for their first shared kiss.

At first Cecilia didn't respond and then quickly she expertly helped herself to Alice's lips.