Phantom: An Alex Hawke Novel by Ted Bell Read Free Book Online Page A

. . .”
    “It wasn’t me, dear Alex. It was Katerina. Katerina Arnborg, my father’s Swedish housekeeper. She came into my room and found me on the stretcher, waiting for the airship to depart. I was drugged, couldn’t move or speak. He did that to me. My own father. When I woke up, I was in a linen closet, hidden under the dirty linen. The stretcher was gone. The airship was gone. Everyone was gone, everything. Except the red-stained snow below when I looked out my window.”
    “This Katerina, she took your place on the stretcher? Under the blanket.”
    Anastasia nodded. “It’s the only possible explanation.”
    “But why? Why did she do it?”
    “She’d heard things in that terrible house. Over the years. She knew things. Evil things. Terrible secrets.”
    “Tell me.”
    “No. It is not for you. Not anymore. The past is dead and buried. Katerina was a good woman. I think in the end she wanted to save me from him. And in the end she gave her life for me.”
    “She saved you. For me.”
    “And who saved you?”
    “No one. I just wasn’t ready to die. It was only afterward, after I killed your father, that I wanted to die. In the worst way.”
    “Because you thought you had killed me, too.”
    “Yes. I was sure of it.”
    “Alex. Please. End this. For both of us. It’s unbearable, really, these horrible memories. We should be happy. We are both alive, as you said. And we have a child together. The most beautiful little boy in all the world. He looks exactly like you, my darling. He even smiles like you, which will of course get him into no end of trouble when he learns how to use it.”
    Hawke lifted his head and smiled, really smiled, for the first time in memory. “What did you call him?”
    “Alexei.”
    “Alexei. It’s perfect.”
    “I thought so, too.” She looked down, gazing at him with her perfect smile, and for a moment he lived once more in the bright green worlds of her eyes.
    “How old is he now?”
    “Almost three. His birthday is tomorrow. We’ll have a little birthday party.”
    “Where is he? May I see him?”
    “Of course. He is up in the nursery playing with his toy soldiers. I’ve told him that his father was here to see him. He’s very excited. He asked me what a father was and I told him.”
    “What did you say?”
    “I said a father is a tall, handsome man. Very strong and very brave. A good man, true and full of life and beauty.”
    Hawke got to his feet and held out his hand. “It’s all a miracle. Let’s go and see him now.”
    “He’s coming here. Nurse is bringing him. I’ve only to call.”
    Hawke smiled as she picked up the receiver next to the divan and spoke a few brief words in Russian.
    A lexei and his English nurse appeared at the library door a few minutes later. When the door swung open, the little dark-haired boy peeked out from behind his nurse’s skirts and stared wide-eyed at Alex for a few long moments, then ran to his mother’s arms, hiding his face in the folds of her skirt. He was dressed like a little prince, which, in some respects, he was. The late Tsar’s grandson wore a suit of dark blue velvet, with a ruffled white collar at the neck. His shoes were black patent leather with small black satin bows.
    “Good morning, sir,” the attractive young nurse said, with a slight curtsy and a very proper British accent.
    Anastasia gestured at Hawke as she said to the child, “Alexei, that is your father standing over there beside the fire. He’s come a very long way just to see you. You must be on your very best behavior. Show him what good manners you have. Can you say hello?”
    The child peeked out at Hawke for a second or two, then hid his face once more in the folds on his mother’s skirts. Hawke went to him and dropped to a knee on the floor beside his son.
    “Alexei?” he said softly, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Alexei?”
    The boy responded to the voice and touch and turned to stare silently at Hawke, seemingly