Madeleine & the Mind Read Online Free PDF

into a small lawn with a shady grape arbor.
    There were several benches arranged beneath the arbor, and Steven ducked under the dark foliage.
    "This is a maze, isn't it? How beautiful...and so cool. I can see why you like it." He dropped to the grass at her feet, and she sat on the bench. "Here. I know you just had a drink, but I want you to take another sip. Then I'll let you lie there for a while."
    He obediently took a drink of water then stretched out on the grass.
    Madeleine leaned on the bench, staring upward. "I see the tiniest, little, pale green grapes growing amongst those leaves. I wonder if anyone ever picks them or if it's just here for fun."
    She turned her head to look out at the clouds. What a clear blue sky! Like Steven's eyes.
    She looked down at him, but he had closed his eyes. "You know, this is not what I had in mind when I said I wanted to exercise and play."
    She yawned. As she listened to the faint drone of bees somewhere in the distance, a siesta sounded better.
    Madeleine opened her eyes. Her neck and back ached. She sat up. Where was she?
    Not again. She'd fallen asleep when she was supposed to be watching Steven. She jumped up and ran around the arbor. He was gone!
    They sky looked dusky. If she didn't find her way out of that maze before dark, there was no telling how long she'd be trapped in there.
    Had he tricked her again? That little boy in a man's body was beginning to annoy her.
    She picked up the bag of water bottles and ran through the maze. She reached a dead end. She retraced her steps until she found the arbor. Then she tried to remember how they'd come. She got lost again. Now, she could barely see. She was ready to cry when she heard a voice.
    "Madeleine!"
    A sob rose in her throat. "Here I am."
    "Madeleine!" Footsteps sounded closer. "Keep talking so I can find you."
    "I'm here. I'm here. I'm here. Mike, hurry. I'm here."
    He lumbered up, huffing for breath. Definitely not a specimen of physical perfection. "You weren't there…when I went…up. Steven was just…sitting at that…window."
    "I suppose he's done this before, too. You might have warned me."
    "He looked so…normal, when he was with you. I thought maybe…"
    "You should have told me."
    She stalked past him. Sweat dripped in her eyes and trailed between her shoulder blades. She'd need a shower before she could possibly spend any more time with Steven.
    When she reached her room, she unlocked the door, and Mike followed her in. She jabbed a finger in his chest. "You...go check on your genius. I don't see him. I'm taking a shower, and he better be there when I get out."
    "Yes, Ma'am."
    Madeleine gaped at the dripping clothes she'd worn into the pool then pulled them out of the shower. She held up the grimy scrubs she'd worn into the maze. Ugh. What could she do?
    After checking the size of the remaining scrubs, she grabbed the smallest set and slammed the bathroom door behind her.
    Under the soothing jets of the shower, she imagined all the scathing things she'd like to say to Dr. Steven Faraday. Then she pictured those vacant eyes.
    Someone had tried to kill him, and now he was afraid. He might not be able to voice it. He might not even be able to recognize the thought, but hidden somewhere in his mind was the knowledge that someone wanted him dead. Could she blame him for being suspicious of anyone who showed up to 'help' him?
    What Steven needed was someone he knew. Someone who would stay around while Madeleine worked with him.
    It was time for that conversation with Mike.
    She crawled out of the tub and dressed. Tomorrow…new clothes. And make-up. She pulled the drawstring of the pants as tight as she could. One shoulder of the blousy shirt fell off no matter what she tried.
    Too bad. It would just have to sag.
    She knocked on the dividing door to Steven's room and waited until Mike's voice called back. "Come in."
    Madeleine entered and considered Steven. He sat on the bed with a chessboard laid out before him.
    Mike