The Boy Who Knew Everything Read Online Free

deep sadness inside of her and had never guessed she was hiding it from him and the rest of his family. Less than a minute later his father and sister had returned home and his mother resumed washing the dishes as though nothing at all was the matter. J.’s mother was a revelation to him. She was keeping secrets from those she loved most, and it soon became clear to J. that everyone was keeping secrets. Most of the secrets were small, inconsequential things, but some of the secrets were big and important.
    From that day forward J. watched from the shadows, collecting information and looking for hidden truths. The older he got, the more he watched and the deeper the truths he followed. Just recently he had realized that Piper and Conrad were connected in some way to a mystery, and he made it his mission to find out how and why.
    With a deep sigh, J. decided to tell Conrad none of this and answered his angry question with a shrug.
    â€œSpying is a strong word,” J. said.
    â€œThat’s not an answer!” Conrad pressed.
    â€œIt was me,” Piper confessed quickly before things escalated further. “I was worried about you because of the election. All you do is work in your lab and listen to the election coverage, and I asked J. if he knew anything about it.”
    â€œYou?” Conrad was dismayed. “The election?”
    A new president was about to be elected, and for the last year Senator Harrington had been mounting an impressive presidential bid. The closer the election came the more Conrad had watched and listened to the things his father did and said. Seeing the way Conrad watched his father had made Piper worried for some reason she couldn’t exactly pinpoint.
    â€œI saw the way you were looking at your father on the television and so I asked J. to find out about him.” Piper swallowed hard. “And I guess I thought that if he became president you’d want to go home, and I didn’t want you to go.”
    â€œYou make no sense, Piper. This is my home now.”
    â€œReally? You mean it?”
    â€œReally. Unless, of course, you drive me crazy, which at this moment presents itself as a distinct possibility.”
    Piper’s relief turned into a smile and she slugged Conrad’s shoulder good-naturedly. “C’mon, who doesn’t like a birthday party? It’s fun!”
    â€œIf you say so.” Conrad allowed himself a half-smile.
    As the tension dispersed J. pulled a file from his backpack. “This is for you.” He offered Conrad the file.
    Conrad made no move to take it. “What is it?”
    â€œConsider it a birthday gift. It’s the information Piper asked me to get on your father. You need to read it.” J. stood with the file outstretched.
    â€œNo, thanks.”
    â€œYour father is not who he says he is,” J. said quietly, as though he might be overheard.
    â€œMy father’s secrets don’t concern me anymore.”
    â€œIf you say so.” J.’s tone plainly communicated the opposite message.
    â€œBut Conrad,” Piper pleaded, taking the file out of J.’s hand and offering it to him, “take it. It might be important.”
    â€œDo you even know his name?” Conrad pointed at J.
    Piper shrugged. “His name is J.”
    â€œJ. is not a name; ‘J’ is a letter .” Conrad spoke to Piper but glared at J. “And we know nothing about him or where he’s from or what he does or knows. Because he won’t tell us. How do we know he’s not hiding something from us?”
    â€œBecause … because,” Piper stuttered, “because he’s J.”
    â€œThat’s not good enough for me,” Conrad snapped. “And this is my birthday party and I’m supposed to be eating cake and acting happy. So if you’ll excuse me—” Conrad turned on his heel and marched out of the barn, leaving J. and Piper in the wake of the awkwardness of the