Doppelgänger Read Online Free PDF

garret. No sign of any disturbance. It’s quite clear that he took his own life. On the table in the office we found a newspaper and some correspondence with a furniture company, both dated June third. Inspector Lewis believes it happened on that date, or shortly thereafter. I hired him on May thirtieth.”
    June third! Anine shuddered. “So he was hanging there for two and a half months?”
    Julian nodded. “It explains why nothing was done—I mean, hiring servants and seeing to the furnishings and all. I went to the Stein Company where we ordered some of the furniture. There was still a man there at the office. He confirmed they received the order we telegraphed from Europe and received payment from Chenowerth, but he told them to wait for Bradbury to contact them with delivery instructions, and he never did. The furniture’s still in their warehouse. It’s likely the same story with the others, but I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to make the rounds of their offices.”
    She shook her head. “Why? Why would he do this? And after only four days in the house?”
    â€œI’ve no idea. Lewis said he’s going to look into Bradbury’s background and interview some of his family just to be sure. He may have been mad. There were bottles in the kitchen; perhaps he was drunk. We may never know.”
    There was silence between them. The fire crackled. Anine said, “I’d like to send a note of condolence to his family.”
    â€œWe didn’t know him.” Julian shrugged.
    â€œI still want to send a letter. It’s the decent thing to do.”
    A particular fear had been gathering inside of her for much of the evening. Now that Julian had returned it was palpable; she dreaded asking him the question but guessed now she had little choice.
    â€œDarling, I must ask you something.”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œI’m not going to have to go back there, am I?”
    â€œBack where?” He seemed to catch on, but his expression was still one of puzzlement. “You mean to the house?”
    â€œOur first day—our first five minutes in that house—and we come home to that . I keep replaying it in my mind. It’s so horrible. I couldn’t imagine setting foot in the place again, much less living where such a thing happened.”
    Julian smiled. He reached forward and touched her hand. “That’s what you’re worried about, Anine? Having to live there after what happened today?”
    His tender touch melted her. She smiled too. Thank God he understands .
    â€œYou needn’t be concerned,” he said, still smiling. “You’ll feel much better after three weeks in Newport. While we’re gone I’ll hire a new caretaker and he’ll get all our furnishings settled. I’ll make sure they scrub and repaint the place from stem to stern. By the time we get back you won’t even recognize it as the same house. Don’t give it another thought.”
    He rose from the chair. She was still smiling but his words were beginning to sink in. What did he say? Oh, God, he doesn’t mean that, does he? “Julian—”
    â€œWe shouldn’t have come back in August anyway,” he said, as if this had been the cause of the whole thing. “The summer air in New York is so thick and disagreeable. Yes, Newport will make us both anew. I’m certain of it.”
    With that Julian Atherton stepped out of the guest room, without even looking back at his wife; thus he did not see the expression of shock on her face.
    The dreams began that very night.
    At first her dream was very pleasant. She was walking along the shore of Lake Vänern on a warm summer afternoon, wearing a white dress with flowers in her hair. She carried a parasol. Julian was with her. He looked as he did when she met him nearly three years ago. He was twenty then, a tall, thin-framed boy who had just barely gotten past an extended