Madeleine opened the Bible and turned to Psalms. "I'm feeling a little low today, so I'm going to read from Psalms. It's a collection of songs, many of them written by the second king of Israel. His life became one turmoil after another, and yet he always remembered God was his source, his strength, and the reason he should get up, praising every day. I figure if he can do it, so can I."
She flipped through several chapters before she found the one she wanted.
"I think you'll like this one." She read from chapter one hundred and two. "Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.'" She looked up. "That sounds like you, Steven."
He didn't look at her.
She kept reading but stopped as she got to verse eight. "Listen to this, 'All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse.' I feel sure someone feels that way about you. You've discovered something they want, and you won't let them have it.
"'But you, O Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through generations…He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord: The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death. So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem.'"
She sighed. "That gives me hope when I have none. Did you like it? The next one is so moving, it makes me want to sing at the top of my lungs. There's no way I can feel low after I've read it. 'Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.'
"Can you say that, Steven? Can you say that all the things you've achieved brought you satisfaction? Has there been anyone to tell you that your sins can be forgiven, that your diseases can be healed?"
His eyes were closed, and she wasn't sure he listened. But God's Word encouraged her, so she continued.
"'The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.'
"I think that's one of the most beautiful psalms in the Bible. He knows who you are, he formed you, and he wants to get rid of every wrong you've ever done. I don't know about you, but I've made my share of mistakes. I'm glad he wiped the slate clean."
Steven seemed to be resting, so Madeleine went to her room and collapsed on the bed. She needed to think about the day. So many events had occurred; she didn't feel she'd been able to process them all.
Father, I know all these circumstances are leading me somewhere. I'm asking you to make sure my path is straight. Make the enemy fall into his own traps. Anoint the works of my hand, and grant me success according to your Word. And Lord, give me inspiration in working with Dr. Faraday. There has to be a reason for what he experienced. Reveal the truth and protect us all from evildoers. Thank you for saving my life today. I know your hand sent deliverance just in time. And Lord, if Dr. Faraday doesn't know you, show me how to make you real to him, more real than anything he's ever known.
Who would want her dead? Dr. Faraday was the only person in clear sight at the time of the attack. But, he would hardly try to kill himself. She was safe with him.
Mike? A difficult question. He had argued with someone about her. But it sounded like he was on her side. And his hair had been dry when he found her at the pool. Still, he was hiding something.
Dr. Giliteau. Something about him always made her feel apprehensive. He watched her too closely. And that annoyance in his face when she praised Israel. Perhaps, he was a Muslim.
She'd read recently that a large percentage of the French population was now Muslim and that France, as a whole, was antagonistic towards Israel. No Muslim terrorist would want Israel to gain such a military advantage.
If she accepted Dr. Giliteau's offer to show her around on her day off, she could keep her ears and eyes open.
What about her job in the United States, her apartment, her parents? She could be home where she was safe. No one had ever tried to kill her or knock her out and steal her things.
Lord, Lord, why can't I just go home?
A picture of Steven's childlike smile floated across her mind. That's why she couldn't go home. Steven Faraday was surrounded by evil, and he needed her. Madeleine drifted off to sleep.
When she woke, Steven sat in a chair beside her bed, watching her.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep. I was just thinking. You know, you're the only person here I can trust. I heard Mike talking to someone in your room the other night. I'm not sure what they were talking about, but I'm not convinced he's on my side. And then there's Dr. Giliteau…The only way I can find out what he's up to is to let him take me shopping like he said. Maybe he'll say something that will tell me whether he's good or bad."
Steven shifted in his chair. His hands clenched and unclenched.
"Don't worry, I can take care of myself. But you're still my hero."
Steven's brows drew together, and he plucked at his shirt with one finger as if worried.
"Come on. I want to go for a walk in that maze. And don't you run off and leave me."
She took his hand and they rode downstairs in the elevator. Then she led him out to the maze. As they passed the flowerbeds, the heady scent of roses wafted past and she reached out to grab a rose. "Here. Smell this."
She held the crimson blossom to his nose. He took it and slid it behind her ear.
"Why, thank you, kind sir. But you were supposed to sniff it."
Madeleine walked very slowly through the maze. Steven didn't seem to be in a hurry this time, and she hoped that meant he wasn't going to try and lose her. "So far, we've gone twice to the right and twice to the left. Now we're going right again…"
He pulled her to the left then froze. Muffled voices came from the other side of the hedge.
"Why did you try to kill her? Don't you think that will look suspicious?"
"She's getting in the way. If he gets his memory back before we find those plans…"
The voices moved off. Steven bounded away from her like a sprinter.
The men had been too far away for Madeleine to recognize them, but perhaps Steven did. She raced after him, but he was too fast for her. By the time she came out of the maze, no trace of Steven or the men remained. Her stomach sank. What if he'd caught them? He couldn't hope to take down two grown men.
Madeleine ran around the end of the maze and bumped into Steven. He held out his arms to steady her.
She looked up. "Did you find them? Do you know who they are?"
He shook his head.
Tears sprang to her eyes. "Oh, Steven, you understood me. Somebody wants to kill us."
She took his hand, and they walked back through the maze. When they got to the arbor, Madeleine lay down in the grass beside Steven and stared up at the sky.
"You know if I could forget everything that's happening here, this would be a perfect sunny afternoon in Spain." She reached for his hand. "With you. Look up at those puffy, white clouds. Which one is a rabbit?"
She waited for a few seconds to see if he would respond. He held up his arm and pointed at t
he cloud she indicated.
She laughed. "That's right. Now I see a birthday cake with one candle on the top."
That one took him a little longer, but he eventually pointed.
"Very good." She rolled over to look down at him. "Do you think if we stayed out here forever they would come looking for us?"
The rose tumbled from her hair, and he picked it up and put it behind her ear, letting his finger trail the line of her jaw.
She shivered and looked at him in surprise. "I…I think we better go back. It will be time for dinner soon."
Immediately, his eyes faded to that empty, dull look she hated.
She stood and pulled him to his feet. She didn't take his hand as they walked back. She didn't say anything.
At the elevator, she had a sudden thought. "Let's go back to the lab. We can sit there, and you can watch your buddies until Mike is finished for the day."
She didn't look at Steven to see if this plan was acceptable as she punched the button for the correct floor.
When they reached the lab, no one seemed surprised to see them. Mike let them in and took Steven to see what he'd been working on. He spouted off a lot of technical terms that held no meaning for Madeleine, so she walked to a far corner of the lab and sat down on a high stool, letting her mind drift.
What a tremendous undertaking this lab was. Whoever owned the Institute had some major money. How could she find the answers to the questions no one else would answer?
Inspector Banderas. She still had his card. He would probably find her little problem fascinating. At her earliest convenience, she'd contact him.
Dr. Giliteau wandered over and leaned against the counter. "Well, Madeleine, have you given any thought to my proposal?"
"Uh, you mean to take me into town? Yes, I'd appreciate that."
Steven appeared at her side and stood slightly in front of her, hands on his hips and chin jutting out.
Dr. Giliteau pondered Steven's face then raised his voice as if Steven were hard of hearing. "And how is our boy wonder?" He shook his head. "What a waste."
Madeleine's ire rose. How she'd like to say something insulting. She swallowed the bile and smiled. "Perhaps you could find out when I'll have a day off…and a paycheck."
"An excellent idea. I'll let you know in the morning."
"Thank you."
Mike joined the little group, and Madeleine looked up at him. "Are we ready for dinner, Mike?"
"Yes, if you can tear yourself away from your admirer."
Madeleine frowned as a blush rose up her neck. "Whatever."
She rushed out of the lab and waited at the elevator for them. When Steven passed the library, he paused. Madeleine would have gone back, but Mike called Steven, and he joined them at the elevator.
Dinner was a stilted affair. Steven stared out the window the whole time, and Madeleine felt he was pouting. Mike gazed into space, sometimes talking to himself, and made no effort to socialize.
When Madeleine finished her tray, she stood and set it outside. "If you'll excuse me, I'd like to make a call."
She walked into her room and shut the door. She pulled the rose from her hair and put it beside her bed. Then she got out the inspector's card, a little worn around the edges and a trifle faded but not bad after an unexpected swim in the pool.
She dialed the number. While she waited for someone to answer, she doodled on a sheet of paper.
Who owns the Institute? What is Dr. Giliteau's background? Could he be an Islamic terrorist? What about Dr. Hanover? For whom is Dr. Faraday designing his laser?
A gruff voice answered the phone, and Madeleine found herself attempting to converse with someone who didn't understand English.
"Inglais. Inglais," she said.
"No."
The dividing door opened, and Steven walked in and sat beside her.
She glared at him. She should have locked the door.
He reached for the paper she'd been writing on, and she slapped at his hand. "Behave."
"Inspector Banderas. May I speak with Inspector Banderas?"
"Inspector Banderas? Si. Si. Una momento, por favor."
Madeleine waited. She hoped that meant the Inspector was coming.
"Inspector Banderas here, may I help you?"
"Inspector, this is Madeleine Price. You said I could call if I had any problems."
"Ah, Senorita Price. Don't tell me you are in trouble again."
"I'm afraid so. Someone tried to kill me today."
There was silence a few moments.
"Inspector? I'm serious. I don't know what to do."
"When you say someone tried to kill you, are you saying someone tried to rob you again?"
"No, no. Not like that at all. Someone purposely tried to kill me. Look, can you come and see me? It's very difficult to explain on the phone."
"Where are you?"
"The Institute of Resources and Technology. Do you know it?"
"Si. I'll be there in an hour."
"I'll be waiting out front."
Madeleine hung up.
Steven was now holding the list of questions.
She took it from his hands. "Where's your keeper? Dr. Hanover?"
Mike stepped through the door.
"I told you I needed to use the phone. What is Dr. Faraday doing in here?"
He didn't look the least bit guilty. "Sorry. He was through the door before I knew where he was going. I figured you'd throw him out if he got on your nerves."
"I have an appointment in an hour. Could you please keep an eye on him?"
"Of course."
Madeleine looked back at Steven. He grinned at her with the innocence of a child, and she ruffled his hair. "Please go sit with Mike like a good boy."
Madeleine was waiting, without her shadow, at the entrance to the Institute when Inspector Banderas arrived. Steven had tried to follow her out of her room, but she pushed him back and told him no.
The Inspector greeted her warily. "What have you got yourself into, Senorita Price?"
"It was a good idea not to come in a police car. Let's walk through the grounds. This place has too many ears."
He followed her around the side of the building. They ambled along as if they had no specific direction in mind. When they passed the pool, Madeleine paused. Many bathers frolicked in the waters. After work hours, it was a popular place.
"This is where it happened. Look at the building. There are very few windows on this side because this is where the scientists have their lab."
He nodded, although he couldn't possibly have understood what she was getting at. Thank goodness for a man who let a woman tell a tale at her own speed.
She led him away from the pool to a secluded bench.
"You see, the attacker could be fairly confident no one would see him. If someone happened to come out to the pool, he could have said it was an accident...that he didn't realize I was drowning."
His eyes widened, but other than that, he made no response.
"I'll have to tell you everything."
She started at the beginning with Dr.Faraday's accident and ended with the conversation she'd heard at the maze.
He listened patiently. When she finished, he sighed. "May I see your leg?"
Madeleine pulled up her pants leg.
"You say no one but you and the mute heard this conversation."
"True, but Dr. Faraday isn't really a mute. Physically, he's very fit."
She handed him the list of questions. "Do you think you could investigate these?"
He read the questions on the list. "Have you considered what connection the American consulate might have with this? There was no reason for them to know about the needs of Dr. Faraday unless someone at the embassy is involved."
"That's another thing. Since I've been here, no one besides those scientists have communicated with me at all. The physician didn't show up until today, and he had very little to say. Wouldn't you think in a high security facility such as this that s
omeone in a managerial role would be checking on me?"
He scratched his chin. "This is all very strange. Would it be possible for me to meet your Dr. Faraday?"
If they walked through like they owned the place, she didn't think anyone would stop them.
"Probably. But I've got another problem. Dr. Giliteau has offered to take me shopping for some personal items. I don't really trust him. If he was the one who tried to kill me in broad daylight at the pool…"
"It would be most unwise to accompany him on an outing…unless you were followed. I could have someone tail you."
"That's what I hoped. Do you think I should draw attention to being followed so he won't try anything, or should I let nature take its course? Leave myself out there as a target."
The Inspector's mouth twitched then he smiled. "Let me think about it. I'll let you know after I find the answer to some of these questions." He stood. "And now…Dr. Faraday."
Madeleine took the Inspector through the side door. She didn't recognize any of the people in the pool. Presumably, she had conducted her meeting without the surveillance of those plotting against her.
She unlocked her room and went to the dividing door. It was shut. She knocked, waited a few seconds then called out. "Dr. Hanover…Dr. Faraday?"
There was no answer, so she opened the door. Steven was parked at the window. He didn't look up when they entered.
"Steven. I've brought someone to meet you."
She walked across the room.
When he didn't respond, she took his chin and turned his head around. He looked worse than usual. Glazed eyes, and he was completely unresponsive to her questions.
"I'm sorry, Inspector. He has his moments, but sometimes he just completely fades out."
"And you think you can help this man, Senorita Price? He looks beyond human assistance."
"I have to try. If he can remember…Dr. Hanover said it's a surety the plans are hidden somewhere. Before the fire, Dr. Faraday told them he'd found a solution to some problem. They have to be hidden at the Institute because Dr. Faraday never left here."
"Have you searched this room?"
"No. I assumed Dr. Hanover would have done that. He said they listened to all of Dr. Faraday's dictation tapes. I'll search it tonight. I can't imagine where Dr. Hanover is. I asked him to keep an eye on Steven. He wanders off sometimes."
Madeleine & the Mind Page 6
