Read Online Act of Evil by Ron Chudley - Free Book Online Page A

“Yes—what’s wrong with that?”
    â€œNothing. I’m just wondering what the fiancée of a millionaire is doing waiting tables?”
    She chuckled, raised her eyebrows. “So—he told you that tale, did he?”
    â€œWhat tale?”
    â€œThe oil futures tale.”
    â€œThat was a tale ?”
    Stephanie sighed. “Sorry you had to come all the way here to find that out. I’d have phoned, but I didn’t know your number.”
    â€œI gave it to Trent.”
    â€œI didn’t know that either. Anyway, even if I had, I could hardly have asked him for it,”
    â€œRight. So you’re saying—what?—that he didn’t make a fortune in the market”
    â€œJust the opposite, actually. Listen, Hal, though I haven’t known your brother all that long, I love him very much. And I really am his fiancée. But as for all the rest . . . I’m afraid the poor guy’s flat broke.”
    â€œBut, that house . . . ?”
    â€œThe property has a little cabin in back. That’s where Trent lives. When we first met today, that’s where I was coming from. I was looking for your brother—expecting to find him working.”
    â€œWorking?”
    â€œSweetie—Trent’s the caretaker !”
    Hal gaped. He began to speak, then stopped, as a whole lot of things began to fit together.
    Stephanie, her expression at once wry and tender, continued. “In fact, the house is owned by a millionaire, but not Trent. It’s Terry Bathgate, an old buddy from Toronto days, who moved out here at about the same time and took pity on him.”
    â€œJesus!”
    â€œI believe Trent did have a lot of money, but he lost it in the crash.”
    â€œBut . . . what about that trip he’s making to India?”
    Stephanie laughed. “That’s just another fib! Hal, Trent’s not going anywhere.”
    â€œBut why . . . ?”
    â€œHe told you that so he could cut short your visit and you wouldn’t find out what’s really going down.”
    â€œBut this is all . . . preposterous.”
    â€œOf course it is. When I arrived, I couldn’t even give Trent away till I found out what was happening. After you left, know what he told me? It had all started as a joke. Caused by embarrassment, I think, at what had happened to his life. He swears he meant to tell the truth eventually, after he’d had some fun for a while. But it got out of hand and he didn’t know how to stop. Then he got this idea of pretending to have to fly off, so that by the time he did see you, hopefully, he’d be rich again and it wouldn’t matter.”
    â€œBut why would the idiot go to such lengths . . . just to impress me ?”
    Stephanie laughed. “Oh, come on , Hal!”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou’re Trent’s big brother: successful actor, famous Canadian star. That may not be Trent’s world, but he admires the hell out of you. And I think there really is part of him that might have liked to have done the same thing. So to have to admit he messed up big in his own career is very hard. That’s no excuse for what he did. I told him that. But I can certainly understand it.”
    Hal whistled softly through his teeth. “Wow—I had no idea.”
    A couple entered the restaurant and Stephanie rose to attend to them, returning after a moment. “Listen,” she said, “I hope this nonsense isn’t going to make you think your brother is a complete flake. When he’s not down, Trent is charming and brilliant and he’s really a very loving and caring guy. That’s why when we met, which is less than a year ago—and he was really messed up then, I can tell you—I took to him at once. Since then we’ve come a long way. Also, I believe that sooner or later he’s going to get back on top again. Whether