Devil's Pass by Sigmund Brouwer Read Free Book Online

Webb said, “call him Elliott. Hard not to puke when I’m reminded that he married my mother.” It wasn’t the cop’s business that he didn’t live on the street anymore.
    â€œElliott likes to talk. Says you have a first name too. Jim. Where’s your guitar, Jim?”
    â€œHotel.”
    â€œStay with George tonight. It will be better for you.”
    â€œNot for George.”
    â€œThen I guess I’ll keep following you,” Sylvain continued. “Just so you know.”
    â€œThat changes things,” Webb said. “A lot. Can I jump in the back of your truck and catch a ride back to the Northern?”
    Sylvain nodded and Webb jumped in.
    When Sylvain slowed for the next corner—like Webb knew he would because Webb had walked this stretch three times already, Sylvain right behind him—Webb threw his backpack out, then jumped out after it. It took a lot of effort to hoist the backpack and run, but he made it into the trees and disappeared from sight before Sylvain could stop the truck and get back to the spot where Webb had bailed.
    If Brent was looking for a fight, Webb thought, it would be better to deal with it now when he could see it coming.

TEN
    THEN
    In Toronto, in the lawyer’s high-rise office, three days before Webb’s arrival in Norman Wells, Mr. Devine addressed all six grandsons in the vacuum after all the adults had left the room.
    â€œWell, gentlemen,” he said, “I’m assuming that nobody saw this coming.”
    â€œGrandpa was always full of surprises,” Bunny said.
    â€œSo I guess because of that we’re not that surprised,” Steve added.
    â€œInteresting perspective,” the lawyer said. “The only way you would have been surprised is if he didn’t do something to surprise you.”
    â€œPretty much,” Steve said.
    â€œSo if he’d done nothing, then you would have actually been surprised, which wouldn’t have been a surprise. Sort of a Catch-22, don’t you think?”
    â€œDo you think, sir, that we could go on?” DJ said. “I believe we’re all anxious to hear what you’re going to tell us.”
    Webb was happy to simply watch. Whatever was going to happen was going to happen, regardless of what he did or said.
    â€œI’m sure you are,” Devine answered DJ. “But actually, I’m not going to tell you anything.” He paused. “Your grandfather is. I’m going to play a video your grandfather made.”
    The lawyer walked over to a television in a big cabinet. He turned to face the six grandsons. “I was in the room when your grandfather recorded this. I think all of you will be at least a little surprised by what he has to say.”
    He turned the TV on and there was Webb’s grandpa.
    â€œI’m not sure why I have to be wearing makeup,” David McLean said, turning to face somebody off camera. “This is my will, not some late-night talk show…and it’s certainly not a live taping.”
    Someone in the room with his grandpa laughed.
    â€œGood morning…or afternoon, boys,” he began. “If you are watching this, I must be dead, although on this fine afternoon I feel very much alive. I want to start off by saying that I don’t want you to be too sad. I had a good life and I wouldn’t change a minute of it. That said, I still hope that you are at least a little sad and that you miss having me around. After all, I was one spectacular grandpa!”
    His cousins started laughing, and Webb joined in. It felt good. He didn’t laugh much anymore.
    â€œAnd you were simply the best grandsons a man could ever have. I want you to know that of all the joys in my life, you were among my greatest. From the first time I met each of you to the last moments I spent with you—and of course I don’t know what those last moments were, but I know they were wonderful—I want to thank you all