Madeleine & the Mind (3 page)

Why would she need a connecting door to the doctor's room?

"Steven." His voice grew louder as he stepped into the other room.

Madeleine trailed behind him, twisting her head to look behind her as they left her room. Double bed, same maroon and charcoal grey accents as the rest of the building.

In the next suite, a tall man sat in a long, low windowsill, staring out at the grounds. With his tight black T-shirt and jeans, he resembled no doctor Madeleine had ever seen. More like an athlete. His arms fairly bulged with muscular strength.

A dark tan accentuated the blonde wiry curls trimmed close to his scalp. His profile could have been that of a statue, unmoved and unaffected as Madeleine ventured forward. Long lashes, a straight nose, lips parted in a slight smile. What did he see outside that window that brought such an absorbed expression?

Madeleine found herself wanting the poster-boy of perfect manhood to look her way. He had to be the most attractive doctor in Spain.

Dr. Hanover walked closer and pulled at his arm. "Steven, look at me. I've brought someone to meet you."

The ideal specimen turned his head, revealing vacant eyes which never quite met Madeleine's.

Her hand flew to her mouth.
Oh no.

This grown man, Dr. Faraday, was her patient.

Dr. Hanover beckoned for Madeleine to join them.

She moved forward, almost in shock.

"Steven…this is Madeleine, pretty little Madeleine. Say hello to Madeleine."

The vacuous eyes turned on Madeleine, and the face smiled. The beautiful, angelic smile of a little boy.

Madeleine forced a smile and held out her hand. "How do you do…Dr. Faraday."

He stared, ignoring her hand as if it didn't exist then he knelt and pulled the laces on her tennis shoe.

She gaped at Dr. Hanover while Dr. Faraday attacked her other shoe.

Dr. Hanover shrugged. "He's rather like a small boy. A precocious boy with an IQ off the charts. Really, he's harmless, but he does like to play pranks. And you'd better call him Steven. He might ignore you if you call him Doctor." He took a step toward the door. "Oh, call me Mike. I'm Steven's assistant."

Madeleine looked back at Steven, once again seated at the window, staring out into space.

"Just a minute!" she called after Mike and took a step, but her foot slipped out of her shoe. She shoved it back in and bent to tie her shoelaces. "What's been tried with Dr. Faraday? I mean…what therapies?"

"I couldn't say. But the physician will doubtless make an appearance when he learns Steven has a new therapist. Just try to keep his attention. Lunch is at twelve-thirty. Would you like to eat up here with Steven or come down to the dining hall?"

Madeleine studied Steven's uncooperative expression. It might be better to watch him eat. She might discover something about his abilities. "Send a tray up if you don't mind."

"If you have any trouble with him, ring that buzzer by the door. He wanders off, so you better keep an eye on him." The door closed.

"Well, really." Madeleine put her hands on her hips. "I'll just have to make the best of it." She stepped closer to the window. "Why am I talking to myself?"

She sat beside Steven and looked out the window. Two people lazed beside a pool, but no one swam. Was that what absorbed his attention?

If she could watch him perform activities, she could ascertain the extent of his loss.

"Steven."

He didn't answer or turn his head.

"Steven." She gently grasped his clean-shaven jaw and turned his face toward her. His eyes were bottomless pits of dark blue, but he smelled amazing. Whatever his shortcomings, Steven Faraday knew how to look and smell like a man. "I'd like to help you, Doctor… I mean Steven. Can you hear me?" Nothing at all. "Do you know someone is sitting beside you, holding your chin?"

He gave her that brilliant, childlike smile and cupped her chin in his hand. His fingers were strong, but his grip remained gentle. Did he always mimic movements, or could he think for himself?

Madeleine dropped her hand from his chin and smiled at him. "Madeleine. I'm Madeleine. You're Dr. Faraday…Steven."

He dropped her chin, and the blank look took over his expression before he turned his face to the window.

Madeleine put her hand against his cheek. "Excuse me, Doctor, may I look in your mouth?"

She once again pulled his face around then opened his mouth. "Teeth…healthy and very white. At some point, you've been bleaching, dear doctor. Throat and gum tissue…undamaged."

She sighed, closing his mouth. "You look fine." She managed a small laugh. "Better than fine, actually. I'd watch you on a movie screen any day."

He rose and walked to the door.

"Where are you going? Are we allowed to go out?"

He disappeared down the hall. "Steven, wait."

She hurried after him, but he stepped on the elevator. It closed in her face. Her last sight of him showed him staring at the buttons on the panel. What if he pushed every one?

"Ooh." She banged her hand on the wall.

Down the hall, she sighted an emergency exit and ran. The stairs provided the only avenue of pursuit.

Would he head for the ground level? She certainly hoped so.

How embarrassing. There less than an hour, and she'd already managed to lose her patient.

Madeleine's breath came in gasps by the time she reached the bottom floor. She busted through the door and rounded on the elevator. Empty.

She peeped out the back window and saw Steven Faraday's tall figure walking toward the pool. What if he fell in?

She rushed outside and strode to the side of the pool where she reached for his arm. He jerked then whirled around, knocking Madeleine into the deep end. She floated for several seconds before she realized what he'd done.

Precocious boy? I don't think so.

She kicked to the surface and shook the hair from her eyes, spitting out pool water. "Steven," she coughed. "Don't…you…move."

His lifeless eyes stared past her then he turned away.

"Steven!"

As Madeleine struggled to pull herself over the side of the pool, someone reached down and hauled her from the water. "Allow me."

She saw nothing but a wide expanse of ordinary green scrubs as she shoved long strands of hair out of her eyes. This guy must be huge. She raised her eyes to thank the strong man, and her gaze became transfixed by a pair of intense black eyes in a hawkish face.

"Mademoiselle? Are you well?"

French. Very French.

"I'm fine. Did you notice where Dr. Faraday went?"

He smiled, shaking his head. "Wandered off again, has he?"

"Yes. I'm going to get fired before I even get to work on him." Water dripped in her eyes, and she blinked.

"You won't get fired. Dr. Faraday's therapists always quit. I'm Dr. Frank Geliteau."

"Let me guess. You aren't a physician, either. You're a scientist."

"Guilty. I'm an associate of Dr. Faraday's. At least, I was before the accident. And who might you be?"

"Madeleine. Lovely to meet you. If you'll excuse me, I've got to find my charge and change clothes."

"You might try the water fountain on the east side of the building. He sits there often."

"Thank you."

She stalked around the side of the building.

Sure enough. There sat Steven Faraday on the rim of a round fountain, staring into the gurgling water.

Her first inclination…to yank him up by the arm and give him a good spanking...dissipated as she got closer.

He smiled at her with wide-eyed innocence, and she melted, reaching for his hand.

"Come along, Steven. I can't leave you sitting here all alone, and I'm soaking wet. And now I reek of chlorine."

She pulled him up then held tightly to his hand. He wasn't getting away again.

They reached the elevator, and she pushed the button, still holding his hand. "That was very naughty, Steven. Why did you push Madeleine in the pool? And don't say it was an accident, because I won't believe you."

She turned his face to look at her, but his eyes never met hers. They were once again dull and unseeing.

She felt his forehead. "Have you got a fever? You don't look so good. Maybe you need a nap." The elevator opened. "Why don't you lie down while Madeleine gets cleaned up?"

She unlocked her room and pulled him through the connecting door to the bed. He sat down, and she pulled off his shoes.

"Lie down."

He leaned backward, and she ran her hand across his forehead again. Cool to the touch.

"Stay here while I change, and when I come back, I'll read you a story." She shook her head. "What does one read to a scientist?"

She walked back through to her closet and yanked at hangers until she found a pair of scrubs her size. Pink with purple flowers and little yellow polka dots. She pulled on the shirt and pants then wandered into the bathroom.

A new hairbrush waited on the counter. She grabbed it and went back into Steven's room. He was lying where she left him, eyes closed. Perhaps, he was truly resting.

Madeleine sat in the window and brushed at her hair. The reddish gold color looked ridiculous against the pink and purple but it was the best she could do. Later, she'd send down for some more clothes her size.

Her gaze traveled the grounds. A few people wandered to and fro. Where was everyone? Ah, lunch hour, and they were in Spain. Most everyone would eat then have siesta. Maybe she should have waited to make Steven lie down. But he looked so fragile.

She glanced at him again. He was like a big, beautiful male model. A shame his eyes were so empty of life.

They popped open as if he knew she watched him. For an instant, intelligence blazed then awareness faded, and he looked right through her.

A knock at the door brought Madeleine to her feet. "Come in."

The door opened, and Dr. Hanover entered with a tray in each hand. He gaped at her hair. "Did Steven push you in the pool?"

"He makes a habit of it?"

"Every therapist so far. I guess it's an initiation with him."

Madeleine looked quickly at Steven as Dr. Hanover set the trays on a table. "Then he can't have lost all his mind," she said. "I'll just have to find a way to open the rest of it."

"Madeleine, if you want to eat in your room, I'll stay with him."

Dr. Hanover sat down at the roll top desk.

"Thank you, but I have to watch him. It helps to see if he's having any trouble with hand-eye coordination." She turned to her patient, still lying on the bed. "Steven, it's time to eat. Sit up, please."

She leaned over and pulled at his hand.

He reached out and touched a purple flower on her shirt.

"I know. Hideous, isn't it? I'll find some other color that goes better with my hair, but it's all I've got for now."

Steven caught a handful of wet hair in his hand and looked at it.

Madeleine sat beside him. "You did that, you know. When you pushed me into the pool."

He rubbed the silky tresses between his fingers and looked up at her.

"I'm glad you like it, but it's time to eat."

She rose and took him by the hand. They sat together at the small table, and she waited. Would he remove the lids to eat his food or expect her to do it?

He sat there. She opened her own food and added sugar to her tea. Then she grasped his hand and said a blessing. "Thank you, Father, for this food and a place to stay. Bless Steven and heal his mind. Give him the answers he needs. Amen."

She dropped his hand and picked up her fork. She wanted to see how long it took him to get the idea that he should eat. "Dr. Hanover, why don't you come over here and talk to us while we eat?"

The chair squeaked as he rolled away from the desk.

"I asked you to call me Mike."

"Sorry...Mike. Does someone feed Steven, or will he eventually get tired of cold food and open the serving dishes for himself?"

He sat in the chair next to her. "He can feed himself." He picked up Steven's right hand and laid it on top of his tray.

Steven retrieved his napkin and placed it in his lap then began to open his serving dishes.

"Wow. That's amazing. He has such a variety of symptoms. I've never seen quite this combination. But that doesn't mean anything. Mental illness is not an exact science."

Mike looked at her in alarm. "Mental illness?"

He didn't know?

"Well, yes. If the doctor ruled out any physiological problems, then he's had some type of trauma that made him forget normal, everyday things."

"Oh, dear. How long might this take? We're in sort of a hurry."

"Really? No one told me. But it's not rocket science, you know."

Steven choked on his tea, and Madeleine reached over and took it from his hand.

"Are you all right? Take a deep breath for me." He breathed in and out. "That's good. Eat your food."

She set the tea down and picked up her fork.

"Miss Price…Madeleine. You don't seem to understand. Dr. Faraday is a rocket scientist."

Madeleine dropped her fork and whirled to look at Steven. Did he perceive more than they thought?

But the rocket scientist merely stared into space.

"Are you telling me Dr. Faraday is a real rocket scientist?"

"Absolutely. He's brilliant. There's no one like him, and he was on the verge of a break-through when he had his little accident."

Madeleine chewed her food thoughtfully. "Tell me more about this accident. I heard it was a bump...some smoke and fire. I thought a child had been playing with matches or some such nonsense. How in the world did Dr. Faraday…"

"No one knows. The fire alarm went off in his lab. He was found on the floor. He had a big bump on his head, and there was a fire on the experiment counters."

"So he fell and hit his head, but you don't know how the fire started?"

"No. Someone hit him and left him to die in the smoke."

She gasped and put her fork down, studying the silent man with such empty eyes. "You poor thing. Why would someone want to kill a nice-looking man like that? Is he hateful?"

"Not at all. I think he knows too much about our project. Several countries would give incredible sums of money to find out what's stored in his brain."