The Betrayal by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

“I believe I can persuade my brother to change the verdict. Your wife and daughter need not burn tomorrow evening.”
    â€œOh, thank you! Thank you, Matthew!” William cried joyfully. He dropped to his knees and bowed his head in a silent prayer.
    When he raised his eyes, he saw that Matthew still had a strange smile on his lips. A wave of doubt swept over William as he climbed heavily to his feet. “You really can sway your brother?” he asked hopefully. “Your brother will listen to you?”
    Matthew nodded. Sweeping his cloak around him, he lowered himself into the tall-backed wooden chair. “I can persuade Benjamin,” he repeated. He narrowed his dark eyes. “But it will be costly.”
    â€œWhat?” William wasn’t certain he had heard correctly. Was Matthew Fier asking for payment? For a bribe?
    â€œIt will be costly, William,” Matthew repeated, his smile fading. “My services in this matter must be well rewarded.”
    William Goode swallowed hard. “I have little money,”he choked out. “But I will spend every shilling I have to save Martha and Susannah.”
    â€œThe price is one hundred pounds,” Matthew announced flatly, staring hard at William.
    â€œOne hundred pounds?” William cried, unable to conceal his surprise. “But, Matthew, I beg you!”
    â€œOne hundred pounds is a small price to pay,” Matthew said, rising and walking over to the hearth. The fresh log had just caught flame. Matthew held out his hands to warm them.
    William gaped at him in disbelief.
    He is willing to spare Martha and Susannah in exchange for a bribe, William thought. I knew the Fier brothers were ambitious. I knew their characters were weakened by the sin of greed. But I never dreamed they were so corrupt. I never dreamed they would try to increase their wealth by threatening the lives of an innocent woman and girl.
    â€œMatthew, I have only eighty pounds,” William protested. “Eighty pounds is all that I brought from England, all that I possess in the world. If you take it, I will have nothing.”
    Matthew’s dark eyes lit up, reflecting the leaping flames in the hearth. “You will have your wife and daughter,” he said flatly.
    William lowered his head, knowing he would pay the huge sum to Matthew Fier. Knowing he would pay
anything
to rescue Martha and Susannah from the flames.
    When he looked up, Matthew was examining a long-handled pan hanging on the wall beside the hearth. “Very nice warming pan,” he said, taking itdown and turning it over in his hands, admiring it. “Is it brass?”
    â€œIt is of the finest brass,” William replied. “It was craned by my father.”
    â€œI will take it as part of the payment,” Matthew announced, still examining it. “Since you do not have the full one hundred pounds to pay me.”
    â€œTake it,” William replied with a wave of his hand. “Take everything I own, Matthew. Just return my family to me safely.”
    Matthew lowered the warming pan and gazed around the small room. “Speaking of your family, where is little George?” he asked.
    â€œMary Halsey next door has taken the baby,” William replied unhappily. “He needed a nurse. And I could not bear to look upon him, to see his innocent face and know that he would grow up without ever knowing his mother or sister.”
    A loud sob escaped William’s throat. He wiped tears from his eyes. “I will get you your payment, Matthew,” he said in a voice trembling with emotion. “Then will you speak to Benjamin tonight?”
    Matthew nodded solemnly. “Your family will be released tomorrow at sunset. Your troubled heart may rest easy, William.”
    His head still spinning, William eagerly made his way to the back of the house, where his life savings were hidden. As he pulled the heavy cloth bag up from under a loose floorboard, he felt