Read Imposter for Free Online Page B

door and smiles widely at us.
    “Socrates! You’re back!” He shuffles forward, pumping his arms and legs as fast as he can, and embraces me.
    I awkwardly pat his back, my gaze searching Eliot’s.
    “Arturo,” she mouths.
    I nod at her over the man’s shoulder as he releases me. “Arturo, I’m so glad to see you.” I clasp his hands in mine.
    “I’m not the only one.” Arturo laughs and whistles a short staccato burst of song over his shoulder.
    From a wide crack in the front doors, a brown and black blur races toward us. I barely have time to stop before the animal jumps up on me, its thick, heavy paws digging into my pale blue shirt. Ben.
    Then the dog stops. His body stills so quickly it’s almost as if he’s not real anymore, and he’s one of those old photographs from a museum. Slowly, he drops back to the ground, and his tail stiffens. His ears fold back against his head, and he sniffs around my legs. Then he backs up a step, unsure, and whines. He stares beyond me, searching for something (or more likely, someone), and whimpers when he doesn’t see him.
    “Ben.” I crouch down in front of the rangy shepherd mix and hold out my hand for him to sniff, just like I used to do with the dogs at the farm.
    He settles back on his haunches, studies me, but doesn’t approach. He knows something is different but can’t identify what it is. A lump fills my throat. He was just as close to Socrates as Eliot was, especially in those last few days.
    My heart sinks. He knows I’m not Socrates. My panicked gaze begs Eliot for help, but she’s talking to Arturo. Fine. Will stands by the door, our bags by his feet, staring at us, at me. I gulp again. Ben sighs before forcing himself to his feet and turning away from me, dragging his feet as he returns to the house.
    Fresh tears burn my eyes as a heavy hand rests on my shoulder and squeezes it. I look up, hoping it’s Will, praying that maybe it wasn’t cold hatred I’d seen in him earlier. But it’s not him. It’s Arturo.
    “Just give it time,” he says. “I figured Ben wouldn’t recognize you at first.”
    I bite my bottom lip. “You’re right, of course.”
    “Trust me. He will know you in a couple of days and everything will be normal again.”
    “I know.” I rest my hands on my knees to push myself up. “It’s difficult, that’s all. I guess I forgot that he wouldn’t know who I am.”
    “Change is always difficult. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re human or an animal.” He smiles again as he leads me to the front of the house.
    In my head, the real Socrates chuckles at Eliot, so I do the same. “You’re right, as always.” I hear his voice echoing in my words.
    As soon as I pass through the front door, I freeze. With rich, vibrant blues and purples on the walls and huge red Saltillo tiles, this house is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Dark leather furniture surrounds windows big enough to offer enough ambient lighting to illuminate the entire room. This must be the dining room, because a long table covered in a cream-colored cloth stretches down most of it. Three glittering glass chandeliers hang from the ceiling. They must be amazing when they’re lit up.
    Eliot turns to Will. “Our rooms are through the second door to the right. Would you please take our bags there?”
    Will nods without replying. He spins on his heel and stalks down the hall, the clip of his boot heels echoing against the stone tile.
    “That was awkward,” I murmur.
    Eliot chuckles. “Get used to it. I don’t suppose Will is happy to be here any more than you want him here.” But before I can reply, she takes a deep breath and gives herself a soft shake. “Enough of that. Here, let me show you around.”
    “Can we talk freely here?”
    She spreads out her arms and gestures all around her. “Of course, this is your home. You never let much technology in except for the most basic of computers and AVIS systems. Just be careful not to let