Madness Read Online Free PDF Page A

once in a battle by the ocean.” She stood and looked in the mirror as though she’d forgotten the question. “Do you like my new body? I’ve worked hard at tightening my stomach and using cream on my stretch marks.”
    Pendleton bit his lip. He’d have to ask the questions and see what recollection she had. “Do you remember meeting me in Athens?”
    She didn’t look at him, only herself in the mirror. “You gave me a blue garnet engagement ring.” She turned toward him and showed him her hand. “I wear it still, along with the band.”
    He almost asked her if she’d been faithful, but thought better of it.
    “Tell me about me. Who am I?” she asked.
    The question seemed absurd coming from anyone else.
    “Eighteen people were incinerated on a Virginia highway.”
    Her eyes were as blank as one possessed. “Yes. I’ve been told everyone died but me. My whole family disappeared in a flash. What else?”
    “I’ve seen you kill. I’d say you could best five of my best agents without breaking a sweat.”
    “I already have, Darling. I remember my kills.” Her face showed a devilish grin . “I can recall the faces of the dead.”
    “You called me, Darling,” Pendleton ’s throat choked up. “The night you saved my life, you told me you loved me as much as you could ever really love anyone. You have a bogus estate worth seven billion dollars. You’re a damn genius with an I.Q. over 150. Should I go on?”
    Peacock flashed a faint recognition, put her hand to her head, and then reached for the pad and paper.
    As you talk to me, I recall things in pictures—where I was when I learned of my IQ. Things like that. My controllers modify my responses, so I react only intellectually.
    Pendleton grabbed the papers she’d written earlier and held them up. She studied them and shook her head. He wrote,
    You wrote these no more than ten minutes ago.
    I don’t remember.
    He placed her hand in his and mouthed. “Do you believe the notes?”
    She nodded.
    He let go her hand and wrote. Until my dying breath, I’m going to find a way to free you.
    “Please do.”
    Chills coursed through him. She’d reached out for help.
    “I’ve been faithful to you, Arthur,” she said. “But I can’t promise anything in the future.”
    “Ursa has his own plans.”
    “Kolb . . .”
    “Who?”
    “Nothing.”
    “I’m available to have as many children as I’m allowed with you, but only when instructed to stop the medication.”
    The warmth faded again from her face , but he’d received the affirmation he needed. Trapped inside lived the woman he loved and he must save her.
    #
    Several hours passed, but Peacock only remembered what was happening in the present. She talked. She answered and asked questions. Each time she struggled to recall pleasant things, uncomfortable pains flooded her head.
    Finally , she stopped struggling. Her programming told her to satisfy this man. The moment he showed interest, her body shot into action, no reason to fight allowed pleasure. She’d deal with the confusion afterward.
    #
    Arthur Pendleton hurried out to his limousine, slid into the back seat, and dialed Levi. “Did the technology work?”
    “ The technology worked surprisingly well. The question is how are you? With the physical and emotional workout you endured, I wonder how you can still move about.”
    “When can we get together to plot out a solution?” Pendleton asked , ignoring the personal comment.
    “Give my people a week. She revealed a great deal without knowing she was. Let’s analyze before we celebrate.”
    #
    Beatrice Kolb hooked on her tiger-stripe bra and headed into Ursa Major’s bathroom. Sleeping with the boss gained her privileges and access others in Hercules didn’t have. Creating Peacock, the ultimate warrior, with government funding topped her list of successes and wiped out the list of failures from past attempts. What were a few unfortunate human guinea pigs? Peacock was her crowning success.
    She