Out of Sight Out of Mind (3 page)

Touched by something she couldn’t identify, she put a finger to his bruised cheek.

‘What the hell happened to you? Who hit you?’

‘Before you, you mean?’

‘I thought we’d settled that. I apologise.’

‘Me, too.’ He shrugged himself up, wearily. ‘I scared you.’

‘We scared each other. You were expecting them back, weren’t you? Who was it?’

‘Dunno. Couple of kids with boots and sticks. They’d had a few beers and were looking for some fun. It wasn’t anything personal. I was just there … wrong place, wrong time.’

She felt anger rising inside her. She knew it happened. It didn’t make it easier to hear. ‘That’s evil.’

‘Fact of life on the street.’

‘How can you choose to live like that? You don’t seem to have an abuse problem, you’re educated, articulate—’

‘Hey now, lady, don’t go using those big words on a dumb slob like me.’

‘Don’t play the fool.’

‘And don’t you pass judgement.’ There was ice in his eyes. ‘You don’t know anything about me. All I am to you is a piece of meat – raw material for your experiments.’

‘No!’ She reacted indignantly. ‘A subject, yes, but never less than a human being. A person, doing a job, for a fee.’

She let her eyes challenge him.

He was the one who looked away.

‘What d’you want me to do then, to earn my money?’

‘Shower and food first, then we’ll talk. Bathroom is that way.’ She scooped up the clothes and shoved them at him. He fumbled with his left hand and wedged them against his chest with the right. She reached out to stop them falling.

‘Look, how badly are you hurt?’ She remembered the pain she’d felt in him. ‘Do you need a doctor?’

‘Nah. It’s bruises, mostly, and I think my collarbone is busted. That’s why the problem with the arm. Everything will heal, but—’ He stopped.

Madison waited.

‘I think you’ll have to give me a hand with the coat.’ Clearly he hated asking for help. Alpha male, cornered. ‘I don’t think I can get it off by myself.’

The material felt slippery under her fingers. She tried not to think about where he’d been sleeping lately and concentrated on getting him out of it, with a minimum of pain. There was one of Neil’s top coats at the back of the cupboard. He could have that, too. Then she could burn this one.

They were both panting by the time they had stripped the coat off him.

‘Can you manage the rest?’

‘Yeah.’ He nodded – convincing her, or himself? ‘Just give me a minute.’ He sucked in air. ‘Where was the bathroom again?’

‘That door. There’s soap and shampoo. Towels on the shelf.’

‘Thanks.’ He peeled himself off the wall. ‘You … you’ve been great. Shame about the dress, by the way.’

Madison looked down at herself, regretfully. Even her favourite dry cleaners – specialist and expensive – weren’t going to be able to rescue this.

‘Great shoes, though.’ He stumbled into the bathroom.

Madison stared at the closed door. Neil had been a shoe man. She had a whole closet full. Seduction slippers.

‘Oh
shit.
’ She wiped a tear off her face with the back of a grimy hand. She didn’t have time for this. She had things to do.

Out of the ravaged dress and bundled into jeans and a sweatshirt, with her hair tied back, she nudged the thermostat on the heating up a notch. She could hear the shower running.

Satisfied, she padded into the kitchen. If she could get in a short session tonight, tomorrow she would take him to the lab and throw everything she had at him. She chewed her lip. Physically, he was a mess, which might be why he was so susceptible to her. She’d be as ruthless as she could stomach, but it was going to take a while. He hadn’t specified a time limit for earning his hundred pounds.
Not so smart there, buster.

She filled the kettle and flicked the switch. She needed coffee. It would probably work for him, too. Plus some sandwiches. Maybe soup?

She had the fridge door open, looking for cheese, when the phone rang.

‘Madison? Where did you get to? I’ve been ringing your mobile all night.’

‘Hi, Jonathan.’ One handed, she poured hot water on instant coffee. ‘Mobile is ever so slightly FUBAR.’ She glanced over at the dismembered mobile phone sitting on the counter, well beyond any of her engineering skills, and sighed. ‘Long story.’

‘Hmm.’ Jonathan didn’t sound impressed. ‘Don’t you know it’s not polite to run out on your escort before the end of the evening? You go with him, you leave with him. I thought all nice girls knew that?’

If I was one of
those
I wouldn’t be planning to do what I’m going to do to the man currently in my shower.

‘I’m a scientist. It sort of cancels out.’ She sipped coffee. ‘Anyway, I thought you’d pulled with that gorgeous waiter. I was trying to be tactful.’

‘Dalliance, mere dalliance.’ Jonathan waved away the idea of the waiter. ‘You know Ashley and I have an exclusivity agreement – but I don’t blame you, cutting out. Boredom doesn’t describe it. I wish I’d thought of it. I’m not cross really.’ His voice dropped and softened. ‘Just making sure you got home safe, sweet pea.’

‘I did.’

‘Good to know. I’ll see you in the morning, then.’

She hesitated. ‘Yes.’

Jonathan took about five seconds. ‘You don’t sound too sure – ah – Heaven be praised. You’ve got a
man
there.’

‘No!’ She heard the hiss. ‘All right! Yes.’

‘And you’re wasting time talking to
me
?’

‘He’s in the shower.’

‘All wet and waiting? God, you little minx. Who knew you could move so fast? You didn’t find him amongst the soggy canapés, so it had to be on the way home … oh no!’ Jonathan’s voice rose half an octave. ‘Please don’t tell me you’ve been trawling the back alleys,
after dark
! Mad, it’s not safe. And to take him home! You get that pretty boy from the reception desk right now, to help you throw him out. I’m going to stay on the phone until you do. I don’t care if he’s naked. Give him a fiver and tell him to come to the lab in the morning for the rest.’

Madison bit her lip to stop herself laughing, hearing the concern in her colleague’s voice. ‘That’s very sweet of you, Jon, and I do appreciate it, but it really is perfectly okay. He’s too beat up to do me any damage. In fact it was the other way round. I thumped him—’

‘You thumped him? Why? What did he do?’

‘Misunderstanding,’ Madison cut in quickly. ‘We straightened it out. It’s fine, honestly. He’s fine. Well, actually he’s not, and he won’t let me get him a doctor—’

‘Mad,’ Jonathan broke in ominously. ‘Tell me this man is not going to die on you? Go into a coma? Something permanent
and difficult to cover up
.’

‘We’re spooks, we can cover up
anything
.’

‘You watch too much television. Or maybe not enough. Look, sweet pea, I love you, but Mad is not just a fond nickname. Get rid of him. You do not need this in your home. He’ll come to the lab for money. They all do.’

‘Cynic.’

‘Realist. Turn him loose, please.’

‘If I do that, I’m afraid I’ll never see him again. He’s … resistant.’

And yet she’d felt, somehow, as if he was searching.

Wishful thinking.

‘He’s something special, Jonny. Power like I’ve never experienced. And he can feel me. He knows when I’m inside his head.’

‘Oh God. How many glasses of paint stripper did you have at that bloody do?’

This time she did laugh. ‘One, and that was one too many. Look, it’s okay, Jon, I know what I’m doing. I’ll bring him to work in the morning and you can see for yourself.’

She heard Jonathan exhale. ‘Well – if you’re dead set on keeping him, do you want me and Ash to come over? Act as bodyguards?’

‘It’s a lovely offer, but no. It really isn’t necessary. I
will
call you if I need you.’

‘Promise?’ Jonathan was weakening. ‘Uh – I still think you’re crazy, and I won’t sleep a wink with worry, but if you’re sure …’

‘I am. I’m a big, bad scientist. I can do this. Goodnight, Jonny. And don’t fret. I’m quite safe.’

She replaced the receiver, smiling. She did feel safe. It was the captive who needed to watch out for himself.
You really have to find out what his name is.

She looked at the clock, frowning. He’d been in the shower over half an hour, which ought to be long enough to wash off the grime, even the ingrained stuff. Thorough was good, but enough was enough.

The bathroom door was still shut.

‘Hello?’ She knocked. ‘I made coffee.’

No response. No sound of running water. No sound at all.

She turned the handle. The door wasn’t locked.

He was lying on the floor, naked except for the shorts.

‘Blast!’ For the second time in less than two hours she crouched beside him, heart thumping, Jonathan’s scare scenarios lurid in her head.

When he moved – a small nestling gesture that tugged at her overworked heart – she could have broken into song. She leaned closer and was rewarded by a faint but audible snore. She leaned back, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He’d neatly sidestepped her plan to begin experiments tonight.

He wasn’t unconscious.

He was fast asleep.

Balked of her objective, Madison sat on the floor beside him. She was going to have to get him up sometime soon, and into the guest bedroom, but she might as well take the chance of a quick physical appraisal. Not as if she had anything else to do, and she was pretty sure he wasn’t going to volunteer her a look at his injuries. She brushed off a flicker of conscience. She really did need to get an idea of what sort of mess he was in.

The face, shrouded in beard, eyes closed, was still an unknown quantity. His hair, newly washed, was dark and springy. She caught her fingers in the act of stretching out to touch, and pulled back sharply. His body, and she could see virtually all of it, was a complete surprise. Hard, toned, muscled. Way too lean for his height, but otherwise breathtakingly perfect. She’d expected signs of privation, but there was nothing. He was strong and fit. Ripped, even. Who knew?

And much younger than she’d thought. The silver in the hair had thrown her off. Early thirties, at a guess. Lying on his uninjured side, his left shoulder was swollen, the flesh discoloured by bruises, confirming his diagnosis of something broken. Somehow she had to get him medical attention. There were healing cuts and more old bruises in other places, souvenirs from the kids with boots and sticks. Nausea grumbled in her stomach. All that hurt, for a sick thrill.

And aren’t you planning to do the same thing to his mind? Work him over, for your own pleasure?

Not pleasure! This is my job. This is science.

And you don’t enjoy your work?

‘I won’t leave him damaged and in pain, and he’ll be paid.’

And that makes it all right, does it? But of course, he’s only a down-and-out. Something you found in the gutter.

‘That’s not true, but if he chooses to degrade himself—’

Sometimes it’s not a choice. You know that.

Madison let out an exasperated snort. She was talking,
out loud
, to a voice in her head!

She leaned against the bath and focused on a spot where the wall tiles joined, clearing her mind.

Why guilt? Why now? The lab had to have subjects. She worked with residents from a number of homeless shelters. No one was harassed. They were all volunteers and they were treated with respect. Hell, she even had a few who were regulars. They were good material and they didn’t talk afterwards.
Or if they do, no one much listens
. She shook her head. Why was this one different?

Because you more or less dragged him in here, and you’re not planning on letting him go in a hurry. And he has power. Of his own. You want to teach him to use it.

She snapped back, feeling dizzy. Apprehension tugged at her stomach. Did she really—

She shook her head again, gritting her teeth. Enough with the self-examination. She was tired and hungry and off balance. Right now she had to get six-foot plus of inert, naked male off the floor and into a bed.

She scrambled up, considering the problem. A wet towel? Ice? Both?
Each!
Should she just get a blanket? He looked very peaceful, but the floor was chilly and hard. Probably no worse than where he’d been sleeping, but even so—

She put her hand on his arm. His skin was smooth. Besides the bruises there were scars. A jagged, newly healed slash along his side that had probably come from a knife. And then something older. And more puzzling. A slight puckering of the skin in the crook of his elbow. Plastic surgery?

Curious, she traced it with a finger. There was definitely something. A skin graft, to cover a birthmark or a tattoo?

Shrugging, she shifted position, watching his ribs rise and fall.

Clean, warm and in a secure place, his system had simply sandbagged him, taking what he’d been fighting not to give. No wonder he’d fallen asleep, even on so inhospitable a location as the bathroom floor. Her hand drifted over his chest. His stomach was flat, with an intriguing line of soft hair disappearing into the top of the boxers.

With a gasp she pulled her hand away, horrified at herself. Checking out his injuries was one thing, ogling and pawing him, when he wasn’t awake to know about it—

Face flaming, she got to her feet. Filling a glass of water, she splashed a few drops on his face.

He came awake quicker than she expected, propping himself on his good arm and blinking at her. After a second of blankness, his eyes focused. Recognition.

‘Mmm.’ He yawned hugely. ‘Did I go under again?’

‘You were asleep. Come on.’ She’d become quite adept at sliding an arm under his, to get him on his feet. She tried not to think about smooth, exposed skin. He pulled against her, half-heartedly. ‘There’s a perfectly good bed, on the other side of the hall. Just a few steps.’

A mix of coaxing, bullying and threats got him into the bedroom and sitting on the edge of the bed.

‘Feet up.’

He resisted at first. He was strong, even two-thirds asleep. She’d almost given up when he lost interest and let her scoop him on to the bed and roll him away from the injured shoulder. She wrapped the duvet around him. On an impulse she couldn’t identify, she bent and dropped a soft, fleeting kiss on his forehead. His eyes flickered open, muzzy.