Jay reclined in the comfortable leather seat, his eyes gazing vacantly out of the aeroplane window. Despite late February, the sky outside was a tranquil expanse, clear and uninterrupted by clouds, with the sun casting a warm, gentle glow over the horizon.

The pleasant voice of a flight attendant drew his attention as she approached with a tray holding a crystal glass filled with amber liquid - a glass of aged whisky.

"Your drink, sir,"

He accepted it with a slight nod, bringing the glass to his lips and taking a measured sip. The sensation was like a slow, smouldering fire. The whisky caressed his palate, its complex flavours unfurling gradually, offering a momentary escape from the maelstrom of his racing thoughts.

Brown eyes shifted back to the horizon as his mind drifted to a rather disturbing phone call that had derailed his meticulously planned trip...

It was another late night at the office. He was busy tying up all loose ends before his upcoming trip. His fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard, finishing the last document related to the most recent case when an email from Art Thawin arrived. An email that left him bewildered.

Art Thawin introduced himself as Tay's close friend and insisted it was an emergency. Jay's initial reaction was one of guarded scepticism. The situation didn't add up. Why would someone claiming to be Tay's friend reach out to him, ignoring his mother in the process? It raised a proverbial red flag in his mind.

His connection with his identical twin had been severed abruptly over sixteen years ago when their parents separated them. At first, he missed him terribly, but as years passed, Tay had become a distant, almost forgotten figure from his past. Two lives, two worlds. They were now little more than strangers. Part of him wondered what became of his twin, but the other felt apprehensive about the possibility of being dragged into someone else's mess.

He couldn't help but question the motives behind this unexpected contact. Why hadn't Art contacted their father, who had custody of Tay, or even their mother if it was a real emergency? Jay felt an unfamiliar stirring in his chest – a blend of curiosity and a vague discomfort. He contemplated ignoring the message and continuing with his trip to Peru, but something stopped him. Perhaps it was a lingering sense of familial duty or a curiosity about the twin brother who had been absent from his life for so long.

Nevertheless, he couldn't ignore it and dialled the number in the email.

The line connected almost instantly as if the other person was waiting for their phone to ring. After exchanging standard greetings, Art made a borderline inappropriate joke about Rebecca's persistence in blocking him from contacting Jay and how glad he was that she finally came to her senses. Jay, however, remained unamused, and his tone of voice exuded a cold professionalism.

"I assume you have a valid reason for reaching out to me at my workplace," he inquired, steering the conversation in the right direction.

"Oh, yes," the voice on the other side replied hurriedly. "I'm sure you remember me, right? We were friends as kids in..."

"No, I don't," Jay cut him off, his voice indifferent yet tinged with slight irritation. This whole conversation began to feel like a waste of his time. "If you will excuse me, I'm busy."

"Wait! Tay is in the hospital!" Art exclaimed in panic. "He is in critical condition... doctors aren't sure if he will ever wake up."

After this frantic revelation about his brother's condition, Jay remained composed, his tone devoid of any immediate emotional reaction. It wasn't that he didn't care, but rather that the passage of time had created a gulf between them, reducing his identical twin to a vague memory.

"I need more information," he stated, as his analytical mind insisted on concrete evidence before accepting the gravity of the situation. "Medical reports, details of the incident, and the hospital where he's being treated. I'll need to verify this."

"You can trust me!" Art Thawin uttered, laughing awkwardly. "We are friends after all, right? I'm sure you would want to visit him."

"I really don't have time for this."

"I didn't want to talk about it on the phone," he paused as if collecting his thoughts. "Tay was ambushed and severely beaten up. I'm afraid his life is still in danger... Tay... he was involved with things he shouldn't have. I don't know what exactly happened, and doctors won't tell me anything since I'm not family. You were the only person that I could think of."

His desire for concrete information only deepened with Art's vague explanation. The situation, shrouded in ambiguity, only increased his suspicion. While he couldn't deny a certain unease upon hearing that Tay's life might still be in danger, it was an abstract concern, far removed from his typically composed and practical demeanour.

"If he is in critical condition, wouldn't it be easier to contact his father?"

A brief silence on the other side confirmed his suspicions that Art wasn't entirely honest with him.

"Ugh... impossible," he finally said. "They had a massive fallout a few years back and never spoke again."

"I'm confused. Are you saying that his condition is not severe enough to contact his parent but enough to chase someone on the other side of the globe? Not to mention, I'm sure you are aware of where I work, right? Why not speak with her?"

"T-that's... um... Tay hates her... I'm sure he wouldn't want her to know," Art stammered while trying to sound considerate. "Please, you need to come here and help him."

Jay's brow furrowed in evident perplexity. It defied common sense that in such a critical situation, one would bypass their parents, regardless of any estrangement. Art's inexplicable decision to go to great lengths to locate him rather than reach out to his mother deepened Jay's suspicion. What was even more perplexing was how Art Thawin had managed to find him in the first place, considering his relatively common name and the fact that his mother had reverted to her maiden surname after their divorce, changing his as well. Jay's instincts as a legal professional and a discerning individual couldn't help but question the motives behind this convoluted scenario.

"I can't make any promises," he replied coolly, careful not to reveal his growing scepticism. "But if you can provide me with the necessary details, I'll see what I can do."

In truth, Jay was in no rush to get involved, but he felt a begrudging sense of obligation, even if he couldn't pinpoint its origin. Perhaps it was the inherent bond of shared genetics or a lingering curiosity about his long-lost twin. Either way, he would play along with Art's story, for now, to see where it would lead.

All of this brought him here... to the leather seat on the plane to Bangkok, a place he barely remembered from childhood, with his eyes fixed on the horizon and the soft cadence of Thai lessons playing through his earbuds.

The plane touched down in Bangkok, the city of contrasts, as the watch on his wrist read well past midnight. Jay gathered his belongings and stepped out into the warm, humid night air, a vivid contrast to the chilly London weather he had left behind. The city was still alive, neon lights casting an ethereal glow over the bustling streets.

He hailed a taxi and settled into the comfortable leather seats, giving the driver his hotel address. The drive took him through the labyrinthine streets of Bangkok, with motorcycles darting in and out of traffic and street food vendors serving their late-night customers.

The hotel was nestled in the heart of the city's affluent area. Its grand entrance was a testament to opulence, with a doorman in a crisp uniform waiting to assist guests.

As Jay entered his elegant room, he took in the panoramic view of Bangkok's sparkling skyline from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Despite his tiredness, he pulled out his phone and snapped a quick photo.

Me

If I disappear, you know where to look for me.

Christina Charlotte Emilia

Noted.

Did PI come back to you with anything useful?

Me:

Yes and no

Art Thawin and Tay know each other but nothing more.

Seems like our father is out of the picture. He no longer lives here.

The assault was not reported, not even by the hospital.

Christina Charlotte Emilia

Now, that's interesting.

It's your expertise, but aren't situations like this reported to the police by default?

Me:

In the UK? Yes, it's obligatory.

Not sure about here, but I assume authorities should have been involved with this severity of injuries.

PI couldn't find much about Tay outside his University. Seems like my brother knows how to remain invisible.

It does make me curious what he got himself into.

Christina Charlotte Emilia

You know, I still can't get around the fact that you have an identical twin.

I get why you never mentioned him, but wow... utter shock.

Just be careful, okay?

It's so fishy I can smell it from here.

Me:

Don't worry, I can take care of myself.

Christina Chartlotte Emilia:

We cooperate with an excellent bodyguarding company

I could always arrange for them to follow you discreetly and keep you safe

Me:

I will be fine.

Before you notice, I will be in Peru.

Christina Charlotte Emilia:

If you say so...

But I'm sending a whole army there if you fail to contact me as we agreed.

Just so you know.

Me:

I will be counting on you!

The morning sun cast a warm glow over the bustling streets of Bangkok as Jay made his way to the hospital on the other side of the river. The city was slowly awakening, its energy palpable even in the early hours. Jay, however, felt the weight of his long journey and the persisting jetlag tugging at his senses.

As he entered Tay's room in the intensive care unit, Jay was greeted with a grim sight that he had witnessed in countless criminal cases he had been involved with. The person lying in the hospital bed, connected to medical equipment, was almost unrecognisable. His face was marred by extensive bruising, his eyes swollen shut, and his nose appeared to have borne the brunt of a brutal assault. Tubes and monitors were attached to his body, tracking vital signs, and his limbs were immobilised in casts.

His eyes then fell on the medical records at the foot of the bed, neatly organised and containing a comprehensive account of Tay's injuries. Thanks to his professional background, Jay could grasp key points and their nature. The fractures, contusions, and lacerations told a grim story, piecing together the sequence of events that had led to this tragic outcome.

His reaction was devoid of emotion, a reflection of the stoic composure that defined his approach to most aspects of life, including this unexpected reunion. As he studied the medical records, it was as if he were dissecting another case file, detached from the personal connection. Despite the shared blood and identical faces, their bond had been severed for so long that their reconnection felt akin to reopening a cold case. The injuries on Tay's battered body, while undeniable evidence of a violent assault, did little to rekindle the embers of familial warmth. If anything, they served as a stark reminder that they had become strangers, their lives diverging to the point of irreconcilable separation.

"How did you get here?!" a loud voice exclaimed, both angry and surprised.

Still holding reconds, Jay slowly turned around to face a young man. He recognised him from photos a private investigator sent him. The agency was still working on a full report, but they were able to share base information about Art Thawin they gathered in the last two days.

"Oh, sorry!" Art smiled awkwardly. "I didn't think you would come and look so different from Tay. I mean, you are identical twins, yet you...," he continued blabbering, clearly stressed by Jay's sudden visit. "But seriously, I thought you would be more alike."

Jay maintained his impassive facade, his brown eyes studying Art with an analytical composure. "What exactly happened to him?" he finally asked, ignoring his meaningless monologue.

"I'm not sure, but I suspect someone from his gang betrayed him."

"Gang?"

"Tay is involved with an activist group," Art started, stepping closer. "He recently mentioned an important job, then went silent. I was worried he got himself into trouble and started looking for him. I found him here like this," he added, looking at the bed.

If Jay had suspicions before, they now solidified into a conviction that Art Thawin harboured ulterior motives for reaching out to him. The timeline between Tay's admission to the hospital and Art's initial call to the law firm was too tight to collaborate on his story.

"I see," he replied, setting the medical report on the nearby table. "Well, there isn't much I can do about it besides transferring him to a better hospital and checking if the police made any progress on the investigation."

"I-Investigation?"

"Isn't it normal for police to open an investigation in case of assault with this degree of injuries? It seems he's lucky to be alive."

"R-right...," Art muttered, looking incredibly uncomfortable. "Ugh... the thing is... I didn't get the police involved since I was afraid Tay could also get in trouble. Things like this happen too often on this side of the river, and police wouldn't be much help anyway."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it's better to not get them involved."

Jay remained silent, his thoughts racing beneath the composed exterior. Art's discomfort and evasive answers only deepened his suspicion. He knew he had to tread carefully, as there was no clear starting point to unravel this intricate web of secrecy and half-truths. Finally, he spoke, his tone still unruffled, but his words carried a subtle undercurrent of challenge. "I see your point, but there is nothing else we can do. I will get him the best hospital possible and cover medical bills, but the rest is up to the police, I'm afraid."

"I was thinking that you could infiltrate his group and find out who did this to him."

"I'm sorry, what?!"

"Well, since you look identical, no one will notice if you will take his place."

Jay looked at him speechless, trying to comprehend this utterly ridiculous idea. Earlier, he suspected it was some elaborate plan or scam, but now it felt like Art was simply an idiot. "It's not a movie. I can't just turn around and act like someone I know nothing about."

"Don't identical twins have some kind of special bond that makes things like this easy?" Art questioned, his tone growing more insistent. "I remember it was impossible to tell you apart when you were kids."

"As I said before, I don't remember you... ironically, I barely remember him," Jay added, pointing at the bed. "Besides, wasn't the first thing you said that we don't look alike?"

"Well, I mean, yes," he agreed reluctantly. "Tay has this ragged look about him all the time, while you look like someone who stepped from the Vogue pages. I'm sure with few details and wardrobe change, no one will tell the difference."

"Let's entertain your idea for a moment," Jay said, wondering why he was so insisted on him taking Tay's place. "How do you expect me to pretend to be someone I know nothing about? We may look alike, but I'm sure our mannerisms and habits are entirely different. Anyone who knows him would be able to tell the difference. Plus, how do you expect me to sound like him?"

"Well, no one knows you exist, and you don't need to always sound so... British."

"That's what I normally sound like," Jay deadpanned. "Even if my Thai wasn't so rusty, I would still be unable to replicate his accent. The only reasonable solution is to report everything to the police and ensure he gets the best care possible. And if he is in danger here, I could arrange a transfer to the hospital in London."

The lawyer and future prosecutor in him thrived in a situation where pieces of the puzzle remained tantalisingly out of reach, waiting for him to find them. With practised ease, he dissected Art's behaviour. The subtle clenching of his jaw, indicating his discontent with the proposed course of action. The furrow in his brow, the tension in his shoulders – were they clues or simply the manifestations of his desperation? The question that now consumed Jay was, why would anyone be so adamant about convincing him to switch places with his estranged twin? What was the significance of this Tay's activist group? It was perplexing but also intriguing, and Jay's curiosity began to outweigh his initial reluctance, but he remained cautious. This was no ordinary case; looking at his twin's condition, it was risky.

"This will not solve the problem!" Art argued, sounding desperate. "How can you let a traitor walk free while Tay is like this! This is our only chance!"

The truth was that as suspicious as it sounded, Tay's group was the only lead, and Art was, unfortunately, the only person who could point him in the right direction. Besides, it was a pretty straightforward job, something he could do within minutes. Anyone involved in Tay's condition would be surprised to see him without injuries.

"Fine, I will do it," Jay replied, sounding like he had finally relented.