The Divided Child Read Online Free PDF Page A

  Instead, she
jerked her chin in my direction and said softly in Greek, "What will you
do about her?"
                "Nothing,"
he replied in the same language, "except apologize for your less than
hospitable behavior."
                She
made a derisive sound, but before she could say anything more, he took her arm
and led her to the door.   When she
had gone, he crossed to the bed and looked down at me with an earnest
expression.   "Miss Stewart --
Christine,” he began, switching once more to English, “please excuse my
sister.   Her husband died suddenly
two months ago, and I believe she has not yet recovered from the shock.   Michael's disappearance this morning
and then his return in such a state has only added to the strain, I fear."
                "But
Mr. Skouras --"
                "Please!   Call me Spiro."   His dark brown eyes were warm and
friendly.  
                "Spiro,
then.   I’m afraid I don't understand.   Even if your sister is
grieving and not herself, I don't see why that should make her so suspicious of
me.    While you were gone, she
practically accused me of kidnapping Michael."
                His
expression grew troubled.   "Christine, I am sorry.    She has had these irrational spells since her husband died.   I apologize for her hostility.   She mistrusts you because she believes
you are involved with her brother-in-law."
                "But
I'm not!"
                He
nodded.   "But Redfield is
trying to take custody of the boy from her, and she believes him responsible
for Michael's disappearance today.   Your arrival so unexpectedly with the boy has caused her to suspect that
you, too, might be involved."
                So
that was it.   I’d landed smack-dab
in the middle of a nasty custody battle.   "I see," I said heavily.
                "Please,
do not let my sister's suspicions trouble you.   I will soon make her see that your involvement in all this
is purely accidental."   He
reached out and placed his hand on mine.   "Now, you are tired.   I
will leave you to rest."
                "I am tired," I agreed.   “Could you find out what happened to my clothes?   I’d like to get dressed and head back
to my hotel."
                "Your
hotel?” he exclaimed.   “But you are
most welcome to remain here!”
                "Oh,
no.   I wouldn't   want to impose --"
                "Impose?   Nonsense!   We are in your debt.   Besides, the doctor recommended that you have rest."
                "I've
got a perfectly good hotel room to do that in," I assured him.
                "A
hotel is no place to rest!   Here
you can sleep, eat, swim -- we have a beautiful beach and it is completely
private."
                "It
sounds lovely, but really -- I don't think your sister would appreciate me as a
houseguest.   Now, about my clothes
. . ."
                "I
assure you, Christine, after I have spoken with Demetra, she will be most happy
to have you here.   And it will
please the boy as well.   He has
developed quite an attachment to you."
                "I
like him, too.   But I still want to
go back to my hotel."
                He
gave a reluctant shrug. "Very well.   In that case, I will escort you there."
     
    *                                   *                                   *
     
                The
Hotel Kerkyra was small and quaint and tucked away on a short, winding street
in Corfu's old town.   As I climbed
the three flights of stairs to my room, I was grateful for the strong arm
spotting my back, and glad that Spiro had insisted on seeing me up to my room.
                Once
there, however, I wanted to be alone.    The pills the doctor had prescribed were making me groggy,
but