THE DOPPELGANGER DILEMMA

THE DOPPELGANGER DILEMMA

“IT’S Elizabeth, isn’t it? ? Or was it Liza? You were one of the Kellogg twins, weren’t you? You and Stephen. From Pittsburgh, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood? “

“Pittsburgh? Elizabeth? Stephen? Nope sorry, wrong on all three counts! My name is Madeleine Mallory. I’m from Portland, Maine. And I am neither a twin nor a sister to anyone named Stephen. Actually I was an only child. And I have never been to Pittsburgh. Why do you ask?”

“My apologies , Madeleine, I hope this didn’t raise your stranger danger hackles! I just have to tell you the resemblance between you two—I mean, you and Elizabeth-- is simply uncanny. The same curly brown hair, the friendly smiles and that little head tilt that both the Kellogg kids had. I was good friends with Stephen in high school. We played basketball together at the Miller Street Annex School. Elizabeth and Stephen weren’t identical twins but there was definitely a strong family resemblance! “

“It’s ok. Even if I don’t have the curly hair, I’m pretty friendly. Actually, I went to an all-girls school in Connecticut. I planned to be a fine arts teacher but then I got the wanderlust and took a year off to wander around Europe with bike and backpack. But I have never set foot in Pittsburgh. Never been to Pennsylvania actually. Been to Munich and Paris and Madrid, but never Pittsburgh! “

“Good for you! I spent six weeks in Germany in my senior year but that’s the extent of my adventuring. Getting back to coincidences. I had just about given up finding Elizabeth when you came along. Right in front of this coffee shop where we used to meet! She apparently turned her nose up at social media because there isn’t a sign of her anywhere online. In the case of Stephen, he just seems to have fallen off the face of the earth. He had an Instagram account right after college, but deleted it last year and it hasn’t popped up on any other platforms.”

“It is curious, isn’t it, how some people seem to vanish without a trace. Seemingly without a reason?”

“Do you mind if we sat down and had a coffee, if you aren’t in a hurry to get back to work or home. Madeleine? Oh, let me introduce myself. I’m an attorney at the law firm Hope Cantor and Goff. My name is Ellis, Ellis Simpson. Not a partner, just another worker bee. “

“Oh, well, why not? Thanks, Ellis. I could use a coffee to lift my spirits. Make it an extra foamy cappuccino. To be honest, I have no office to get back to. I am here in the windy city job hunting. My sister works for a big condo owners association. She might have a lead or two. I lost my last position through no fault of my own. I’m just another lowly administrative assistant trying to hang on in the real estate business. And the employment pickings seem slim everywhere. Slim is the word for my finances right now, too. But I love mysteries and mystery women! Tell me more about this missing Elizabeth person.”

“Oh, I hear you, Madeleine. I hope things will look up for you. Jobs are starting to look good in the real estate market, at least here in Chicago. Would you like anything with that coffee? Donut, bagel, English muffin? Elizabeth always had a toasted croissant.”

“It’s so funny you say that. That is just what I was going to say, too. Toasted with a smear of butter.”

“Another coincidence. Now you aren’t also going to tell me that you love the color purple, watch Seinfield reruns in the evening and never miss a Lakers game? “

“No cigar, Ellis! Purple makes me sad, I’ve never even seen a Seinfeld episode and I don’t follow sports. Well, I play Mah Jong, if that counts. But tell me more about this purple happy Lakers loving mystery woman.”

“Are you are not just being polite? I’m probably boring you. Anyway, here’s your croissant and coffee and ta da! here’s my business card. You could check with me from time to time to see if there are any openings, as long as you’re in town looking.”

“Oh, how thoughtful. Ellis. Like you say, we probably each of us has a doppelganger somewhere in the world. And now I know that mine is out there somewhere. Honesty, now I’d be super curious to meet this Elizabeth. We could have croissants together! Well, I should probably be on my way in a minute . You probably need to get back to the office, even if I don’t.”

“I’m fine with time. Wouldn’t that be funny, if you two lookalikes actually met.!”

“Stranger things have happened. Well, it was a treat meeting you, Ellis. It is so curious that our paths should cross like this. I hope you track your mystery woman down. Or vice versa. It sounds like maybe were you boyfriend/girlfriend at one time?”

“Oh, it’s nothing like that. The thing is, I guess there’s no harm in telling you, if I don’t find Elizabeth, I will be stuck with this inheritance money I am holding to pass along to this woman you look like but aren’t. She’s been pretty elusive so far. I hope nothing bad has happened to her. Isn’t it funny having a problem disposing of $100,000? The problem is usually hanging onto it, not trying to get rid of it! . Oh well, I’ll keep looking. Eventually, sadly, it will just wind up in an unclaimed property office. A shame. But it was such a pleasure meeting you, Madeline. Best of luck with your job search!”

“$100, 000? Oh, now wait a minute, Ellis. Hold on. How do you know I wasn’t just messing with you? You know you could have been anyone trying to strike up a conversation with me. A woman has to be cautious these days. Especially about disclosing her real identity. It’s a duplicitous world out there, isn’t it? And you know what; I do have a few more minutes to talk. Shall we get another coffee? This one’s on me. And, you know what? I was kidding back there, Ellis. I love lilacs, my prom dress was grape purple. And I really never miss a Lakers game, never! “