Edge of Midnight (McClouds & Friends #4)(133)

“Lies,” Osterman protested. “The McClouds have made me a scapegoat for their brother’s death, and they are trying to ruin my—”

“I don’t want to know the sordid details.”

The connection broke.

Osterman slammed the phone down. How dare Parrish speak to him like this? If Helix was worth billions, it was due to Osterman. The cutting edge treatments for paralysis, spinal cord and brain damage, the immensely profitable weapons applications, all of it was fruit of Osterman’s tremendous effort and sacrifice. He alone was strong enough to take the necessary ethical burdens upon his conscience, for the greater good of humanity. To create a legacy for future generations.

And the man had scolded him!

So it gave Parrish the shivers that his precious daughter had participated in Osterman’s progam? He remembered Edie. Thin, big wary eyes. Artistic. A psychic component that made her family nervous.

Oh, how he’d longed to see what an interface with Edie might yield. But she was Parrish’s baby girl. Her brain was off-limits.

Still, as it often happened, his fascination with Edie had launched a new avenue of research. He’d begun experimenting with artistically gifted geniuses, not just math and science types, which had widened the scope of test subjects nicely. The results were tantalizing, though not yet in shape to publish or patent. He’d found many talented Edie clones without rich fathers to protect them. In fact, the Edie experience had marked the beginning of his preference for working with girls.

And Gordon had been so happy about the girls. Keeping Gordon happy was a very important consideration. In fact, he was intrigued by the thought of playing with Cynthia, once Gordon finally reeled her in. She was quite gifted, if the online music reviews were to be trusted. He’d never tried an X-Cog interface with a musical talent before.

He had a vivid spontaneous fantasy, of putting the X-Cog crown onto Edie Parrish. Compelling her to kneel before him, open his pants and perform oral sex upon him, obedient and docile as a lamb.

While Charles Parrish watched, of course. Tied and gagged.

He had conducted similar experiments, although he usually compelled the subjects to service Gordon, not himself. Using the X-Cog master crown required concentration. Sexual pleasure was distracting. The few times he’d tried it, he’d found it more irritating than exciting.

But for Parrish, he would exert himself. Oh, indeed he would.



Cindy huddled in the plush marble bathroom stall, and punched in a text message to Miles. The Haven had proved to be a luxurious complex set way back on a wooded hill in a little town named Arcadia.

She pulled the beacon out of her pocket, followed the printed instructions to start transmission. It had two days of battery juice.

No way could she keep up this charade for two days, but hey. Nobody had asked her to do this. If they felt like it, they could come for her. If not, tough luck for her. They might be too busy hunting down all the other bad guys, and she didn’t blame them if they were.

And with that stern pep talk, she punched the beacon code into her SMS, and pushed send. She had no excuse, other than a nervous pee which produced about two drippy drops, not to go face Jared.

The common room was lined with books, couches and computers. Jared grinned when he saw her, and flagged down a handsome older guy in a flapping white lab coat who was striding across the room.

“Hey! Dr. O! Let me introduce you to—”

“Not now, Jared. I’m busy.”

“But it’s the new recruit I was telling you about,” Jared persisted. “You told me you wanted to meet her as soon as I brought her in!”

Doctor O turned with a scowl, like he was going to bite Jared’s head off—until he saw her. His face went blank. Then he smiled.

Cindy’s neck prickled. She was used to attention from guys, but this felt different. And that toothy grin as he strode across the room did not reassure her one bit. Oh, my, what big teeth you have.

“And this lovely young lady’s name is…?” he asked.

She shook his hand. A warm, strong grip. A nice, manly man handshake, and yet, she suddenly wanted to pee again. “Um…Mina.”

“Wonderful to meet you, Mina. I hope Jared’s treating you well.”

“Oh, he’s been great,” she assured him.

“I’ve been explaining the testing phase,” Jared told him. “I figured, since it’s so late, we’ll have dinner and get started tomorrow.”

“No, Jared. I need her today,” Dr. O said.

Jared looked bewildered. “But she hasn’t done any of the—”

“No need for pretesting,” Dr. O said. “She specializes in acoustic physics, right? Give your cell phone to Jared, please, Mina.”

She blinked at him. “Huh?”

His smile was stern, but charming. “House policy. It helps us all concentrate. You will have one half hour period every day to answer messages and phone calls. Don’t worry. Jared will keep it safe for you.”

She passed it over, with fingers that shook. Last hope lost.

“Come along, Mina. I’ll show you the rest of the facility. We’ll see you at dinner, Jared,” Dr. O said.

Jared blinked at the dismissal, turned, and hurried out. Cindy was crushed to see him go. With her cell phone, too. Her last two allies.

Dr. O led her down a long breezeway, down a path through towering trees towards another building complex. Down several flights of stairs, into an underground building that had been cut right into the slope of the hill. They went in. The corridor seemed incredibly long.