Act of Evil Read Online Free PDF Page A

okay, it would serve. He might be a sad old wreck, but he was here —and, by God, he was going to give the bastards the shock of their lives.
    The car stopped. Fitz came down the porch steps, closing in from behind. The driver’s door opened. A figure emerged, straightened, started to turn.
    The gun went off, the roar like a celebration.
    â€œGet off my land,” Fitz man croaked. “The next one won’t be a warning.”
    The intruder gave a gasp. After an involuntary step back he froze, silhouetted against the car lights.
    Damn! The old man thought, He’s calling my bluff. Scaring won’t do it. Ah, well . . .
    Slowly he brought the gun level, his finger reaching for the second trigger.
    The figure still was immobile. There was a slow intake of breath. Then a voice said, “Dad—Dad, for God’s sake—it’s me! Mattie!”

four
    The phone rang at 6:00 AM . Mattie hadn’t been even close to sleep, so it didn’t matter. Her first thought was that it must be the police, but that wasn’t logical: despite the horror of what had almost happened, no one could possibly know. Even if it was the law, surely they wouldn’t call at this time in the morning.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œHey, Ma—how are you doing?”
    Her daughter’s voice filled Mattie with relief. “Oh, it’s you , darling. What a nice surprise. I’m so glad.”
    â€œYou don’t sound so happy,” Jennifer said. “Is everything okay?”
    Mattie tried to pull herself together. “Everything’s fine. You just woke me, is all.”
    â€œWhoops. Of course—sorry, I forgot. What time is it there?” Her voice had a new flavor, almost a trace of a French accent.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter, dear. It’s lovely to hear your voice any time. How’s Toulouse?”
    â€œGreat. I’m so busy, time just seems to fly. Only a week and we start vacation.”
    Mattie was surprised, then realized she shouldn’t be. The French academic year would likely not be that different from Canada’s. Jennifer, who’d graduated from Simon Fraser University only two years before, was teaching English in France. Bright and meticulous like her father had been, she was probably already a better teacher than her mother, which made Mattie both proud and slightly ashamed. “Of course,” she said. “It’s almost summer break, isn’t it. Have you anything planned?”
    â€œI might do a bit of traveling—with a friend. We thought we’d explore southern Italy. Maybe even get as far as Greece.”
    Mattie might once have hoped Jennifer would come home for the holiday, but under the circumstances, she was relieved. “Sounds lovely. Who’s the friend? Someone from your school?”
    â€œNo, just a guy.” Jennifer chuckled, “I sort of picked him up, if you want to know. But he’s really cool.”
    â€œI’m sure he is, dear.” Mattie squelched the urge to ask more personal questions. “How are you going to travel?”
    â€œBy car—Hans has a Peugeot.”
    â€œHans? Is he Dutch?”
    â€œThat’s what I wondered when we met. But he’s just a regular French boy. I think the name comes from one of his grandparents. Speaking of which, how’s Grandpa?”
    The talk had diverted Mattie from the grim happenings that had left her still sleepless when the phone rang. She longed to blurt it all out, but of course that was out of the question. If you want to know, when I got home last night, your grandfather was waiting with a shotgun. It was only the sheerest luck that he didn’t kill me. No! The truth wouldn’t do at all, Jennifer, who adored her grandpa, would be horrified, and what would be the point? They would get through this. They had to. Until then, if one family member could remain untouched, that at least was something. “Your