The Castle on Deadman's Island Read Online Free PDF Page A

now, Tom – maybe later,” Crescent said. “You two know each other?”
    Neil forced a smile and stuck out his hand. “Neil Graves,” he said. “Good to meet you.”
    â€œTom Snyder,” the guy said, giving him the onceover. Ignoring Neil’s extended hand, he turned and strolled back to his boat.
    Neil burned. Tom Snyder had managed to make him feel like an awkward outsider.
You don’t belong here,
Tom’s look had said.
    â€œWe can talk later if you like,” Neil said to Crescent.
    â€œOh, Tom can wait. He’s always after me to race. His father bought that new dinghy this year because their old one wasn’t fast enough for him.”
    Suddenly the last name struck Neil –
Snyder.
“Is Tom’s father Carson Snyder?”
    â€œThat’s him. I met Tom last winter. He’s at Upper Canada, which isn’t far from Havergal.”
    Neil’s face fell. He pictured Tom and Crescent together at school dances, dancing cheek to cheek. Allhe wanted to do now was get away from this place, where he, unlike Crescent and Tom Snyder, didn’t belong.
    Crescent must have sensed his unease. “Stick around,” she said. “It’s all right, you’re my guest.”
    â€œI have to go,” he hedged. “How about tonight?”
    â€œSure, Neil,” Crescent said. “I’d love to. What time?”
    â€œAround seven?”
    She smiled up at him. “Okay. We could go for a walk while you tell me what this mysterious favor is all about.”
    â€œOnce around the course, Crescent,” Tom said, coming up behind them. “I’ll give you a thirty-second head start.”
    Neil walked away quickly, past the clubhouse and out the gate. Swinging shut behind him, the gate gave him a bump in the rear, as if sending him on his way. He almost turned around and kicked it.

NINE
_
    Neil and Crescent bicycled to Outlet Park and walked down to the water, but it was crowded with soldiers and their girlfriends, so they climbed a fence and took the path into the woods. Crescent wore a wooly sweater against the evening chill. The beige turtleneck Neil liked, the one she had on the first time he saw her.
    â€œThis park was empty before the army camp was built,” he said. “We often came here when I was with the Boy Scouts.” It was only a few years ago. How things change, Neil thought. His scout leader had joined the air force when the war broke out, and the troop had never been the same.
    â€œI know,” Crescent said. “I vaguely remember Dad bringing me here when I was four, or maybe five. There were only a few hoboes here then, trying to avoid the cops and find a place to sleep.”
    They came to a stream and crossed it with a leap. “This favor,” Neil began. He stopped and looked at her. “If it’s too much to ask, I’ll understand.”
    Crescent smiled. “Oh, Neil, you’d never make a salesman.”
    He blushed. “The thing is, Graham and I really need your help.”
    She shrugged. “Well, sure I’ll help, if I can. But don’t tell me you two are in the detective business again.”
    â€œYou guessed it. Not that we want to be. But let me tell you what happened to Graham. Because it’s left us no choice.”
    Crescent listened attentively while he told her about the major’s will. It was familiar to her from the accounts in the paper, but she looked startled when he described Graham’s two near “accidents.” “Is Mr. Grimsby that ruthless?” she asked dubiously.
    â€œHe sure tried to get rid of Graham. So how far would he go to have his aunt out of the way? And Mr. Snyder’s in cahoots with him. They’d take over her share of the castle.”
    â€œBut Mr. Grimsby and Mr. Snyder dislike each other as much as they dislike Henrietta Stone,” Crescentsaid. “You only have to read about one of the council