Thief: The Scarab Beetle Series: #1 (The Academy) Read Online Free PDF Page A

complaints.”
    Not again. “What kind of complaints?” I asked, trying to make my voice light, like I had no idea.
    “The neighbors hear the shouting and the banging late at night. They say it sounds like people beating each other up. They were wanting to call the police.”
    I stared off at him, not wanting to confirm or deny anything, just wanting to listen. This was one of the reasons we got kicked out of the last apartment we lived in.
    He sighed, shoving his fingers through his thinning hair. “Well, just try to keep it down, okay?”
    “Okay.”
    He pursed his lips, as if my answer wasn’t enough for him. What did he want me to say?
    “By the way,” he said. “The weekly rates have gone up this week.”
    My mouth dropped open. “How much?”
    “A hundred dollars.”
    “A hundred?” I cried out. “Don’t we get the same rate because we’ve been here for a while.”
    “It doesn’t work like that,” he said. “This isn’t an apartment. It’s a hotel. The rates go up whenever the big guys tell us.”
    “Isn’t there something you could do? You’re the manager.”
    “I don’t control the rate. I’m giving you a head’s up. I’m sorry, but maybe you should be looking to live somewhere else.”
    I glared at the wall just so I didn’t have to look at him anymore. “Thanks,” I said, unable to prevent the slip of anger in my voice. I wanted to hit something, but was afraid he’d kick us out sooner, so I settled for stomping out and slamming the door behind me.

THE PRICE OF A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP
    ––––––––
    I woke up right around three in the morning and stared at the ceiling, waiting. Wil was in the bed next to me, curled up on his side and staring off at the opposite wall. There wasn’t much point to sleeping now. The bars had closed an hour ago. Jack would stumble in at any moment.
    I hadn’t told Wil about the rent increase. I could barely sleep as it was, and only went to bed because if I didn’t, Wil would ask questions. I’d have been up all night conspiring with him and it wouldn’t have done any good. He’d insist on not going to school, and I knew there were a few big tests he was preparing for. There was no need for both of us to have a sleepless night. Neither of us ever slept well as it was.
    Rattling echoed from the doorway. My teeth ground together. The door opened, and I held my breath, preparing.
    Jack left the door open, and lumbered inside. He swayed on his feet, the floor below creaking as he rocked. I didn’t need to watch. He did the same dance every night when he didn’t score a woman.
    He stumbled forward, hitting his shin on the corner of the low dresser. The television set rattled on top.
    “Go to bed, Jack,” I said, hoping my tone was strong enough to convince him to avoid a fight. Oddly enough, I felt I was mimicking pretzel boy’s tone from earlier.
    “Shut up, Kay,” he said. He felt for the side of the dresser, using it to steady himself as he slid his foot along the carpet. He made it to the corner of his bed, sitting up on it and staring off at the wall. “Wil, come help an old man out.”
    “No,” Wil said.
    “What’s this?” Jack’s voice boomed. “Listen, Son. When your father speaks to you, you ask how high.”
    “Keep it down,” I said.
    “And you, Miss Snooty. I’ll have you know, you’re not too old for me to take you over my knee ...”
    This was a critical point. I tried to keep calm. When he was drunk, he walked the line of about to pass out and ready for a fight. “Keep it down,” I said. “The neighbors are complaining.”
    “Fuck the neighbors!” he roared.
    There was a sliding of leather against pants, and I knew what was happening. I shot up, moving faster than Wil, practically rolling on top of him.
    The first whack of the belt against my back was padded by the blanket. The second hit caught me on the edge of my chin, and I had to bite my tongue to stop from crying out.
    Wil shoved me, launching me