The Scarlatti Inheritance Read Online Free PDF

Positive, sure, capable, fun and—what was the word his stepfather had used?—vulnerable.
    “You weren’t just protecting Mother, were you? You were protecting me. You did what you did to protect me, too.… If he ever came back, I’d be a freak for the rest of my life.”
    Canfield slowly turned and faced his stepson. “Not just you. There’d be a lot of freaks. I counted on that.”
    “But not the same for them.” Young Scarlett walked back to the briefcase.
    “I grant you. Not the same.” He followed the boy and stood behind him. “I’d have given anything not to have told you, I think you know that. I had no choice. By making you part of the final conditions, Kroeger—left me no choice but to tell you the truth. I couldn’t fake that.… He believes that once you know the truth you’ll be terrified, and I’ll do anything short of killing you—perhaps even that—to keep you from going into panic. There is information in this file which could destroy your mother. Send me to prison, probably for the rest of my life. Oh, Kroeger thought it all out. But he misjudged. He didn’t know you.”
    “Do I really have to see him? Talk to him?”
    “I’ll be in the room with you. That’s where the deal is made.”
    Andrew Scarlett looked startled. “Then you’re going to make a deal with him.” It was a distasteful statement of fact.
    “We have to know what he can deliver. Once he’s satisfied that I’ve carried out my end of the bargain, you, we’ll know what it is he’s offering. And for what.”
    “Then I don’t have to read this, do I.” It was not a question. “All I have to do is be there.… Okay, I’ll be there!”
    “You’ll read it because I’m ordering you to!”
    “All right. All right, Dad. I’ll read it.”
    “Thank you.… I’m sorry I had to speak that way.” He began to button his overcoat.
    “Sure.… I deserved it.… By the way, suppose Mother decides to call me at school? She does, you know.”
    “There’s a tap on your phone as of this morning. An intercept, to be exact. Works fine. You have a new friend named Tom Ahrens.”
    “Who’s he?”
    “A lieutenant in CIC. Stationed in Boston. He has your schedule and will cover the phone. He knows what to say. You went to Smith for a long weekend.”
    “Jesus, you think of everything.”
    “Most of the time.” Canfield had reached the door. “I may not be back tonight.”
    “Where are you going?”
    “I’ve got some work to do. I’d rather you didn’t go out but if you do, remember the cabinet. Put everything away.” He opened the door.
    “I won’t go anywhere.”
    “Good. And Andy … you’ve got one hell of a responsibility ahead of you. I hope we’ve brought you up so you can handle it. I think you can.” Canfield walked out the door and closed it behind him.
    The young man knew that his stepfather spoke the wrong words. He was trying to say something else. The boy stared at the door and suddenly he knew what that something else was.
    Matthew Canfield wasn’t coming back.
    What had he said? In the last extremity, Janet had to be told. His mother had to be told the truth. And therewas no one else now who could tell her.
    Andrew Scarlett looked at the briefcase on the table.
    The son and the stepfather were going to Bern, but only the son would come back.
    Matthew Canfield was going to his death.
    Canfield closed the apartment door and leaned against the hallway wall. He was heavy with sweat, and the rhythmic pounding in his chest was so loud he thought it might be heard back in the apartment.
    He looked at his watch. It had taken him less than an hour, and he had remained remarkably calm. Now he wished to get as far away as possible. He knew that by any of the standards of courage or morality or responsibility, he should stay with the boy. But such demands could not be made on him now. One thing at a time or he’d go out of his mind. One item crossed off and then on to the next.
    What was the