Madeleine & the Mind Read Online Free PDF Page B

stood beside him. "Feel better?"
    "Yes. Please, finish your game."
    "There's no sense," he laughed. "He beats me every time."
    "Would now be a good time to have our little discussion?"
    "I'm at your leisure." He walked to the table and pulled out two chairs before sitting. "Madeleine, aren't you angry? Don't you want to say…something?"
    "Of course, I'm upset, but not at Steven. He can't really help it, you know. Someone tried to kill him. Whether he can articulate it or not, it's in the back of his mind. It makes perfect sense for him to dislike strangers. No, I'm upset that he's still afraid. He may never get his voice back until we find out who's trying to kill him."
    "You do realize what you're saying. If you get involved with this, someone could kill you. This concerns international security."
    "Makes you wonder how in the world I got in this place. If Steven had any sense at all, and I'm beginning to think he does, he'd be terrified I was planted here…a spy...to find his secret." She tipped her head. "That's what this is about, isn't it? Steven knows something, and he must have written it down somewhere or they wouldn't try to kill him. You don't kill the golden goose until after it's laid the golden egg."
    "Remarkable. No one else, not the doctors or the previous therapists, said anything like that or asked any questions, either. You're very bright."
    "Thank you. I've got a plan. Obviously, he trusts you, so you didn't try to kill him. Does Dr. Faraday have a wife or a girlfriend?"
    "I believe he's engaged. A lovely girl."
    "Get her here as fast as possible. He doesn't trust me, so we're going to keep him surrounded with people he does trust."
    Mike listened with a look of wonder on his face.
    Steven pushed aside his chess set and moved to sit in the window. The black vista before him did nothing but reflect his image. And that provided no encouragement. He didn't appear to care that he couldn't see anything outside.
    Madeleine turned back to Mike. "How dangerous is your lab? Familiar things will wake him up. It might even help him remember who hit him. Perhaps, he saw it."
    "It's not dangerous at all…for Dr. Faraday. I'm not sure it would be such a good idea for you…"
    "I can take care of myself, and I'm not letting him out of my sight. Now, the last two things…I notice that physically, he's well-built. If he keeps sitting in that window, he's going to lose all his musculature, and that would be a dreadful shame. Is there a gym on the premises…and a library? I need to read to him."
    Mike shook his head and grinned. "I was waiting for you to take a breath. Yes, on both counts. I'll show you the way tomorrow."
    "Oh, definitely not tonight. I'm exhausted. He's led me a merry chase all day. The stinker."
    She turned to wrinkle her nose at Steven's back.
    "You're an unusual girl. The other therapists were ranting and raving by now."
    "I can see why. I almost did. But, then I remembered why I'm here."
    "Why's that?"
    "I'm a tourist…on holiday in sunny Spain. I was running to meet up with my tour bus when someone konked me on the head and stole everything I have. My suitcase flew home to Texas, and I was laid up in a hospital bed with a concussion. When I woke, it was frightening to realize I had no one to fight for me, to take care of me. If Steven feels anything like I did, I have to help him." She laughed. "Besides, I do have to help him. If I cure Dr. Faraday, I go home. The Institute will pay for my flight to the States, otherwise, I'm stuck here indefinitely."
    "They didn't tell us."
    She shrugged. "The American consulate found me the job. I don't know how. Probably because it concerned a notable scientist. And perhaps that's why they trusted me. Everything that happened was easily proven, including the bump on my head. Which reminds me…" She stood and walked to the window.
    Steven smiled at her with wide eyes. She wanted to pinch him on the cheek he looked so cute. "Where was that bump on his