Shadow Touch Read Online Free PDF Page B

since Gran died. Why bother? It was just herself and her worse self.
    Dr. Kalamos gestured toward the bedroom. “I believe there’s a change of clothes and basic toiletries in there. Dinner will be brought up on a tray.” He held out a necklace, which she regarded with suspicion. “It’s a panic button. Press and help will come. But you’ve got guards right outside as well.”
    Ellie took the necklace, a silver bauble with a red button on the front, strung on a black cord. Okay. But she doubted she would need a panic button. It was the staff of Segue that would want one when her shadow roamed. As much as Ellie wanted her seclusion, curiosity often drove her dark half.
    Dr. Kalamos clapped his hands and rubbed them together. It was a weird, hurrying gesture. “You all set, then?”
    No, she wasn’t. “The aide you mentioned. I’d like to know more.”
    “Hiding something,” her shadow repeated.
    Oh. Something to do with the aide then.
    Dr. Kalamos’s expression relaxed into a natural worry. “I don’t know anything about him. I’ve never even heard of the organization. But then, I’m pretty new here, and as I’m sure you can tell, Segue is not completely up and running. It will be fine.”
    Ellie’s stomach pitched. Fine was not reassuring. “What are they going to do with me?”
    He sighed audibly. “All I know is that you’re here for the night.”
    One night? She felt cold.
    “Please don’t worry. Obviously we’ve deemed you safe enough to move into the main building. That’s got to mean something.”
    Not much if she had only one night. Why couldn’t she breathe right?
    Dr. Kalamos’s green eyes grew serious, and he lost the insincere smile. “I’ll be there with you. I won’t let anything bad happen. You came to the right place.”
    Ellie wasn’t sure of anything anymore, but she wanted very much to believe him. And he sounded as if he were making a promise, albeit one she couldn’t trust.
    “Now get some rest, if you can.” Dr. Kalamos walked to the open door and nodded to the soldiers. Were they here to protect her, or protect others from her? The latter. She was sealed inside.
    Ellie stood helpless in the middle of the room. Couch, chair, TV. All very nice, and useless. She was imprisoned again. She’d wanted to be alone, but now it just seemed to emphasize how different she was from everyone else, how powerless.
    She looked to her dark half for company, the very being she’d hoped to cast away on this venture.
    But she was shifting through the impediment of a wall. Before she disappeared entirely into Segue, she looked back to smirk, a wicked gleam alight in her black eyes. And then she was gone.
     
     
    Cam waited in the hallway outside Ms. Russo’s door for the shadow, guilt gnawing at his guts. He was an asshole, leaving Eleanor like that. She’d come to him for help, and he was going to turn her over to the mysterious aide, who could do whatever the hell he wanted with her. It felt wrong. He’d like to see her at ease. Put her at ease, if he could. She’d been through so much and hadn’t received the reception or assistance she’d hoped for.
    Aide. What the hell was that? He had half a mind to call Adam Thorne and demand some answers. The Order sounded medieval, like The Inquisition.
    Two soldiers guarded her door. A third operator, Jose, the one who’d given him the mouse under his eye during martial arts training, was assigned to Cam personally. Training at Segue was mandatory for everyone. Jose took position opposite the door. The three appeared unafraid. But then, so had the soldier who had fired on the shadow.
    Ms. Russo’s shadow wasn’t scary. She was cool. Very cool. And not dangerous. No aide or Order necessary.
    In fact, Cam was certain she’d follow him out of the apartment, considering her recent attachment. She’d probably try to seduce him again, which he would ignore as professionalism required. He wasn’t interested in sexual congress with the