A Chill Rain in January by LR Wright Read Free Book Online Page B

for a long time, until he was compelled to burst from the chair, crouched and cornered, panting like an animal.
    She had underestimated him, she thought, noting that perspiration had appeared on his forehead, gleaming.
    More information was required.
    â€œImagine that,” she said aloud. “You’ve had them all this time,” said Zoe, “and you never said a word.”
    â€œI was saving it.” Benjamin cleared his throat.
    â€œI guess it’s your last card.” She studied him thoughtfully. “You must need money very badly.”
    â€œAll I want from you is the Great North stock,” said Benjamin doggedly. “Which is rightfully mine anyway.”
    Zoe shook her head. “Not anymore it isn’t. I paid you for it. More than it was worth, as a matter of fact.”
    â€œBut I was right, wasn’t I,” said Benjamin quickly. “It’s tripled in value. Just like I told you it would. You owe me something for that, surely.”
    â€œNo.” Zoe looked away from him, out the window. She couldn’t see the horizon. Too much rain was falling into the ocean. Everything was gray and blurry. “No,” she said. “I don’t owe you anything at all.”
    â€œI’d only sell half,” said Benjamin. He was begging, Zoe noticed with interest. That was pleasant. “I’d keep the other half,” he said. “It would stay in the family, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
    Zoe laughed. “I want it to stay with me, Benjamin. That’s what I want.”
    â€œI get the shares,” he said, “and you get your diaries. It’s a fair exchange.”
    â€œThey aren’t diaries,” said Zoe. “They’re scribblers. Books I scribbled in from time to time. That’s all they are.”
    Benjamin leaned toward her. “But you know what’s in them. In one of them.”
    She didn’t answer.
    â€œIt’s all down there,” he said in a low voice.
    â€œDon’t be melodramatic,” said Zoe.
    â€œEvery detail,” said Benjamin, in a whisper.
    He sounded almost excited, thought Zoe. Probably because he had the notion he was about to be rich again.
    â€œI am certainly annoyed that you have my scribblers,” she said. “But I am not nearly annoyed enough to hand over to you half a million dollars’ worth of stock. I’m amazed that you thought I’d even consider doing such a thing.” She stood up, exasperated, tired of sitting still. Hands on her hips, she stared out the window. “What do you think you can do to me? It’s such a waste of time, listening to your twaddle.”
    â€œI can take your diary to the police. It’s the RCMP, in Sechelt, isn’t it? I’ll take it to the Mounties.”
    Zoe whirled on him, and he flinched. She became still then, trying to control herself. “It is not a diary.” She was still angry; she could hear it in her voice. She longed to change her clothes and go for a run in the rain. She took a deep breath and squeezed her left hand with her right, five times. “They wouldn’t do anything with it,” she went on, more calmly. “They would simply think you were mad, trying to peddle such a thing.”
    â€œNot peddling it,” he said. “I’d be giving it to them.”
    â€œThey’d be awfully curious to know why you’d decided to take this action now,” said Zoe, “after hanging on to the silly thing for so many years.” She squeezed her right hand with her left, five times.
    â€œI’ll tell them I just found it,” he said. “In a trunk in the basement. While clearing away some old stuff.”
    â€œThey’d think you were disgusting to want to humiliate your own sister.” Zoe turned her back on him and looked out the window. “I was a mere child when it happened, for God’s sake.”
    â€œZoe. You wouldn’t