The Devil's Eye Read Online Free PDF Page A

have something, Jacob." I looked across at Alex. "Okay?" "Very good." The AI needed about three seconds. "He's in the Townsend." "Ah." Alex glowed. "Give us a channel." "Open," said Jacob. A young woman appeared in front of the Kaska gun case. She looked artificial. A construct. But these days you can never be sure. "How may I help you, sir?" "Would you put me through to Cory Greene, please? He's a guest." "One moment." She vanished. I pushed my chair back so I wouldn't be visible during the exchange. The construct reappeared. "Mr. Greene wishes to know who you are and why you wish to speak with him."
    "Alex Benedict," he said. "Please tell him it concerns his sister."
    Cory Greene had the same dazed look Vicki had worn. He was a young, good-looking guy, except maybe his ears were a bit large. He wore a green pullover with a white collar. His hair was as black as hers, and he had the same intelligent deep-set eyes. Vicki gave nothing away to other women, but she looked tough-minded and not the sort of person you'd want for an enemy. The same was true of Cory. "I got a call from Vicki a few days ago," Alex said. "I was away and couldn't respond. Is she okay?" "Not really," he said. "She's gone." "What do you mean gone ?" Alex leaned forward. "Where is she?" "She's had a mnemonic extraction."
    A mind wipe. All conscious memory removed. Permanently. I heard the wind whispering in the trees. "When?" "Several days ago." Cory bit his lip and looked off into the distance. "What did she say when she
    called you?"
    "Just that she needed help. She said, 'They're all dead.' Do you have any idea what she might have been talking about?" "No. None. There's nobody dead that I know of. Except her." He was right about that. A mind wipe took you away and left the body alive. "Do you have any idea why she did it?" Alex frowned. "None. I was hoping you could tell me." Cory's eyes slid shut. "It makes no sense. She was having a wildly successful career. She had all the money she'd ever need. She had an army of guys to pick from." His eyes opened and grew wide as if he'd just become aware of Alex. "Who are you exactly?" He sounded resentful. "I'm an antiquities dealer."
    "An antiquities dealer."
    "I've no idea why she contacted me."
    "Did she tell you anything at all? Give you any idea what the problem was?"
    "No," he said. They sat there, looking helplessly at each other. Finally, Cory threw up his hands. "Well, Mr. Benedict, I don't know why she involved you, or what she expected you to do. And I don't guess we're going to get to ask her."
    "Mr. Greene, I take it you didn't know in advance she was going to do this?" "Of course not. I'd never have allowed it." His voice trembled. "I didn't even know anything was wrong."
    "Had you seen her since she got back from Salud Afar?"
    "You know about that?"
    "It's public knowledge."
    "She called to let me know she was home. That was all."
    "How'd she seem?"
    "I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary."
    Alex fell silent. He was staring out the window at a sky that was threatening more snow. "How did you find out?" he asked at last. "About the mind wipe?"
    "I got a message from her. Recorded before-" "What did she say? She must have offered some kind of explanation." "I already told you I don't know why. She said that her situation had become intolerable. But that was all. She said she couldn't live with it."
    "Was she in any kind of trouble that you know of?"
    "No. Not that I know about."
    I was wondering whether her publisher had been informed. They weren't going to be happy. "Have they let you see her?" asked Alex. "Since the procedure?"
    "No. They won't let anyone near her."
    I was trying to remember what they did with people after a mind wipe. She'd be given a new identity and a new set of memories. And she'd be cared for until she reacquired basic skills. Learned the language. Learned to walk. Her estate would be liquidated and the funds made available to her. And when she was ready, she'd be moved