Madeleine & the Mind (12 page)

"Dr. Giliteau, when is the last time you and the other scientists were out and about?"

He shrugged. "I don't recall. Dr. Faraday was removed to a hospital at the time of his accident, but other than that…who knows?"

Miss Reynolds monopolized the conversation from that point, asking Dr. Giliteau about life in France, reiterating her fascination with Paris haute couture, and generally making it impossible for Madeleine to join the conversation.

From time to time, she patted Steven on the hand, but mostly they both stared out the window.

Not surprisingly, Madeleine wasn't in the least interested by the type of establishment Miss Reynolds wanted to visit. They drove through an elite area of town, stopping at shops that reminded Madeleine of Beverly Hills. By lunchtime, she hadn't even managed to get a purse.

"Dr. Giliteau, would it be possible to visit the market where they sell Spanish tooled leather?"

"Of course, but it would be difficult to take Dr. Faraday along."

Madeleine glanced at Steven. He'd sat quietly in the wheelchair all day. Even now, as they waited for their food at a curbside café, he stared into space with not a spark of recognition in his eyes.

"I'll take him with me. He can walk a short distance."

The food arrived, but Madeleine was concerned about Steven. He barely touched the plate.

She picked up his bottle of water and held it to his mouth. "Drink something for me."

He obediently took a few sips.

Dr. Giliteau watched the scene with amusement. "Must you tell him everything to do?"

Miss Reynolds laughed. "She babies him constantly. And he can't possibly understand what she says. Look at him."

He stared intently at Steven.

Madeleine had the desire to take Steven and hide from those penetrating eyes, but she played it down. "That's not really true. He understands a few things. He has good days and bad days."

It was better if Dr. Giliteau thought Steven completely inept. Steven would live longer.

After lunch, they drove to the marketplace where they found an assortment of wares displayed in the close-knit stalls. Madeleine wrapped her arm through Steven's. "Don't you dare run off and leave me."

Miss Reynolds complained incessantly about the noise, the heat, and the dirt, but she followed along, regardless.

One of the items stolen from Madeleine was a brightly colored peasant dress. She returned to the stall where she'd made her first selection. The little old lady recognized her and smiled beatifically at Madeleine and Steven, obviously thinking Madeleine had acquired a beau.

Madeleine shook her head. "It's not what you think. He's a patient of mine."

But the elderly lady spoke little English, just enough to barter her goods.

Madeleine held out two dresses, one an emerald green with lovely embroidery on the neck and sleeves, and another, a deep russet color.

Steven took out his wallet and handed both of the dresses to the elderly woman.

Madeleine tried to reach past him. "No, Steven. I can't. I have to earn the money for my flight home."

He shook his head and handed Madeleine her envelope. Then he paid for the two dresses himself.

"Thank you."

He took her money from her and put it back in his wallet.

Thankfully, Miss Reynolds kept Dr. Giliteau occupied at a table of silk scarves. Madeleine didn't think it wise for him to see Steven capable of a financial transaction.

She took Steven's arm and led him to the aisle of leather goods, looking for a large tote-bag and a smaller purse. She wandered from stall to stall, searching for just the right thing.

Miss Reynolds came up behind her. "Why are you wasting time here? Let's go to the mall."

"Miss Reynolds, I appreciate the fact that you agreed to accompany me today, but it is my shopping expedition because I have lost everything I owned. I can purchase something from a mall in the US. I want something that will evoke a memory as I may never come to Spain again."

"There is a souvenir shop at the corner."

"Then perhaps you should wait there." Madeleine turned her back, pulling Steven along. "Honestly, I don't know what you see in that woman."

Steven picked up a soft, brown leather bag and held it out to her. It had a braided strap with an embossed flap that closed over the top of the purse.

Madeleine studied it with interest. Soft, with plenty of room inside. Even a small compartment on the outside to hold sunglasses or a cell phone.

She smiled at Steven. "I'll take it, and every time I look at it, I'll think of you."

He smiled and patted the bag containing her dresses.

She laughed. "I'll think of you when I wear those, too."

She paid for the purse. He tried, but she wouldn't let him. "No, people will think I took advantage of the simple-minded professor. I'll pay for my own things, but I appreciate the thought."

She finally found a large satchel to hold everything she'd purchased. With a flourish, she packed it all inside and smiled up at Steven.

Dr. Giliteau and Miss Reynolds had wandered off again, so she looked around for them.

Her loud gasp made Steven's arm tighten around her protectively. She pointed.

"That's the man that hit me and stole my things!"

Steven ran before she had a chance to stop him, but the other man had already sighted Madeleine and made a run for it. Madeleine screamed then she ran after both of them.

Steven caught the thief on the outskirts of the market. He leaped over a table of sunglasses, coming down on the man's feet. The thief's face landed in the dust.

Steven jumped up then swung the man around, narrowly missing a kick in the face. He brought his fist against the thief's stomach, and the man doubled over.

Madeleine caught up with them as the thief came up to swing at Steven.

She glanced around frantically until a severe-looking man with a dark mustache gripped the arm of the thief.

He rattled off something in very rapid Spanish and held up a gun. The thief lay prostrate.

"Policia," said the mustached man to Madeleine.

The police! Was this the man following her? She'd completely forgotten to watch for him.

In stilted English, he asked for an explanation of the disturbance.

Madeleine explained slowly. "This man attacked me and stole my purse. Inspector Banderas is looking for him." She took out the inspector's card and showed it to the policeman.

He nodded his head. "Come with me."

Now, what would they do? Another gentleman strode over to the policeman. He carried on a discreet conversation with the officer then disappeared in the crowd.

The policeman pulled the suspect to his feet. "You may go, Senorita. The Inspector will likely contact you later."

She pulled at Steven. "Let's go before he changes his mind."

They got a few yards away, and she stopped to look at him.

"Are you all right? You might have been killed. What made you do such a thing?" She shook her head. "You really are my dragon slayer."

Her nervous chatter covered deep concern. For one moment, Steven had come out of his cocoon and reacted with all his senses. Except speech. He'd never spoken.

He gave her a lop-sided smile, and she reached up and touched his cheek. "I think you're wonderful."

Dr. Giliteau and Miss Reynolds stalked up. "Where have you been? We've been looking everywhere for you."

Steven leaned at an alarming angle, and Madeleine put her shoulder underneath him. She squeezed his arm, so he'd know not to get upset by her next statement. "He got lost. I just found him. I…I was paying for my purse, and I turned around…and he was gone."

Dr. Giliteau threw his hands in the air. "Look at him. He can barely walk. It is time we returned to more civilized shopping, Miss Price. Dr. Faraday will have to remain in his chair."

"I think you're right. I'm ready."

With ponderous movements, they made their way to the car. Steven's slow progress irritated the other two, but Madeleine let him move along at his own pace.

When they reached the car, she got out a water bottle and made him drink. Miss Reynolds sat in the front seat and huffed her displeasure at another delay, and they achieved the short ride to the mall in silence.

When they arrived, Dr. Giliteau pulled the wheelchair out of the back then left with Miss Reynolds.

"I'll meet you at the center fountain in one hour," she called back.

"No, Miss Reynolds, we should all stay together."

"I'm not waiting for that wretched wheelchair. You brought him; you take care of him."

They walked into the mall, and Madeleine gave Steven a worried look. "Serve her right, if she did get kidnapped." She shook her head. "I didn't mean it. Lord, please keep her safe."

Madeleine found what she wanted at the first department store. They didn't have all the cosmetics she used, but she was happy with the selection she did find. "Now, I can look like a real person."

Steven smiled.

"What?"

He shook his head, and they left the store.

"Is there somewhere you want to go? We've plenty of time."

He nodded his head and used the controls on the wheelchair to lead the way. He stopped at a jewelry store.

Madeleine shook her head. "If you think I'm going in there while you buy that atrocious woman jewelry, you're…wrong."

She'd almost said it again…crazy. Appalling how often that word found its way in her everyday speech. That was going to change.

He stuck out his lower lip like a pouty child, pulling at her hand.

She followed him inside. He went straight to the rings and pointed. Madeleine sighed. "Yes, that's very pretty. Someday, I'm going to have a ring like that and a man to go with it."

The salesman walked to the counter and asked Madeleine if she'd like to try anything on.

"No, we're just looking."

But Steven nodded at the salesperson. He was certainly precise in his thoughts and movements. The haphazard weakness he'd exhibited before was gone.

The jeweler sized Madeleine's finger then pulled out a tray of rings.

Her eyes bugged, and she went right to the one that sparkled like no other she'd ever seen. A large emerald-cut diamond in the center with a row of baguettes on either side. It caught the light no matter which way she turned her hand.

"The ring was made for the Senorita's hand. When is your wedding?"

It was too difficult to explain.

"I'm not sure. We're just looking. Thank you."

He quickly wrote the specifics of the ring down on the back of a card and handed it to Steven. Steven nodded his head, and they left.

"Why did you take that? That poor man thinks we're getting married. Are you getting that ring for Miss Reynolds? Wouldn't that just beat all? I try it on, and she gets the prize."

Steven watched her with a bemused expression on his face.

She laughed. He would realize how much she cared if she wasn't careful. "I didn't mean the ring. You're the prize, sweetums. Let's go wait for Miss Beautiful."

They sat beside the fountain and watched the other shoppers go by for nearly ten minutes. Steven closed his eyes and put his head back. Had the day been too much for him? She'd make him lie down when they got back to the room.

The drive back was ruined by Miss Reynolds' detailed description of everything she'd bought for herself. But it did make Madeleine think.

Steven had been so nice to her. She resolved to find something he enjoyed.

When they reached the Institute, she was tired herself. Dr. Giliteau insisted that Dr. Faraday sit in the wheelchair when they got out. "He looks like he'll collapse any second."

"All right, but I'm not taking him through the front door. You two can go that way if you like. I'll take him by the pool to the side door."

Madeleine hung her purse on the back of his chair and pushed him down the sidewalk.

Miss Reynolds hesitated, but then she followed after them. She must have realized she'd been ignoring her fiancé all day and needed to put on some show of attention.

She caught up with them as they reached the pool. "Miss Price, if you don't mind, I'll push Steven now."

"Certainly."

Miss Reynolds stood in front of Steven, frowning down at him. "Why on earth did you insist on bringing him today? Look at him. This is embarrassing."

Madeleine felt her anger climbing again. She'd had about enough of that woman. "For whom, you or him?"

"Why for him, of course. You parade him around as if he's your pet imbecile."

Madeleine stepped closer to the woman. "Watch what you say, Miss Reynolds. If you jeopardize what I've been working on, you'll be very sorry. Dr. Faraday is not just your fiancée. He's a scientist working on something for the government. If he loses his mind because of your mistreatment, I'll do everything I can to have you prosecuted for treason."

"That is ludicrous! In case you haven't noticed, he's already lost his mind. He's nothing but a large, bumbling idiot savant!"

Madeleine's hand came up, and she very nearly slapped Miss Reynolds. "How could you speak of him that way! Why, he's brilliant, you…you self-centered…floosie!"

Before Miss Reynolds could react, the large man bumbled out of his chair, and Miss Reynolds went tumbling into the pool.

Madeleine stared after Steven as he opened the side door of the building and disappeared. Then she laughed. It was much funnier when he pushed someone else in the pool.

Miss Reynolds flailed her arms in the water, wailing for help.

"If you'll stop hollering…you can stand up and walk. You're in the shallow end."

Madeleine waited while the dripping woman lumbered out of the pool. She screamed obscenities, and Madeleine thought how unattractive and inelegant she really was.

When she reached Madeleine, she stabbed her in the chest. "I'll have you dismissed. How dare you poison his mind against me? You're absolutely worthless. He hasn't improved at all under your tutelage…"

Madeleine had heard enough. She walked off with Miss Reynolds yelling after her.

When she got to her room, she looked around. There was really nothing here that belonged to her. It would be best to say goodbye to Steven before she was sent away.