The Devil Will Come Read Online Free Page A

his head. “I don’t get it. How’s he supposed to know—”
    There was a soft knock on the door of the study.
    The two men looked at the door, then back at each other. Finally, Hinman took in a big breath, let it out, and said, “Get that, will you?”
    Kendall went to the study door and opened it to admit a tall, thin man dressed in a beautifully cut gray suit. His dark hair and goatee were in stark contrast to the pale skin of his face.
    Hinman remained behind his desk, staring at his visitor. “How did you get in here?” he said, his voice mixing annoyance with puzzlement. “This house is protected by state of the art security.”
    The man smiled slightly and shrugged bony shoulders. “I have a knack for getting into the places where I’m wanted.” His raised his eyebrows inquiringly. “I take it that I am wanted?”
    After a long moment Hinman nodded. “Yes. Yes, I believe you are.” He looked at Kendall, who was still standing near the open door. “Would you mind terribly waiting in the outer room while this… gentleman and I talk? I’ll have your check for you when we’re finished — plus a sizeable bonus, by the way.”
    Kendall seemed almost relieved to be dismissed. “Yes, all right. I’ll see you when you’re done here.” He went out, closing the door softly behind him.
    Without waiting to be asked, the visitor lowered himself into the chair that Kendall had just vacated. He moved lithely, almost without effort, as if gravity itself had little effect on him.
    “How do you want me to call you?” Hinman asked. “Kendall and I have been referring to you for some time as ‘Mister X,’ but now that you’re here….”
    “Names,” the man said, with a deprecating gesture. “I have been known by so many that I scarcely have a preference.”
    “Would one of those names be ‘Mephistopheles’”?
    “Ah, a scholar!” The man gave a bark of laughter. “Yes, I have answered to that on a few occasions. If it pleases you to use it, then feel free.”
    “All right. But before we get down to cases, there’s something that concerns me a little.”
    “Indeed. Would your concern involve the young man currently cooling his heels in the adjoining chamber?”
    “Yes, exactly. He’s served me well, I can’t deny it — but the downside is that he now knows a great deal about this business. Too much, really.”
    The man gave a contented smile. “I understand completely. And, if I may, I can offer you a simple way to deal with the concern that Dr. Kendall is causing you.”
    “Can you?”
    “It would be simplicity itself for me to summon, um, something to provide what one of my former clients might call a final solution to the Dr. Kendall problem.”
    Hinman nodded thoughtfully. “That would be much appreciated — but what will it cost me?”
    The man’s smile broadened, and became something quite terrible. “Let’s just consider it a free sample, shall we?” He raised his head a little, like a hound sniffing the wind. “I sense that there is no one in the house but we three, is that correct?”
    “Yes, my wife’s across town visiting her sister, and she took the kids with her.”
    “Very good. We wouldn’t want any collateral damage to occur.” The man leaned forward in the chair a little, placing his fingers against his temples, which he proceeded to rub gently, in a circular motion. He began to mutter something, so softly that Hinman could not make out the words.
    From the next room there came a high-pitched scream that seemed to go on and on before being abruptly cut off. It was followed by a loud thud as something heavy hit the wall separating the anteroom from the study. Then there were other sounds that Hinman tried not to listen to but could not tune out, sounds that resembled nothing so much as feeding time at the zoo.
    Finally, there was silence. The visitor nodded, as if to himself. “So much for that.”
    “Am I going to find a bloody ruin next door?” Hinman might