Immortal Games

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Hours later, throwing her light backpack over her shoulders, Madeline headed toward a small apartment on a back street in Knightsbridge. Rows of terrace houses that curved along a tree-lined street looked invitingly at her. The black gothic-styled light poles and street fences accentuated the beautiful blend of modern and classic London.

She normally adored and admired the architecture. But right now, Madeline was cursing the amount of money she had to pay to stay in Knightsbridge on such short notice.

There—she saw those blue dots again.

It had been a secret she’d only told Jo, and Jo called it her psychic ability. After the incident in the bush that both Madeline and Jo didn’t want to remember, Madeline had appeared to be able to see people’s minds—or at least she thought that’s what it was.

Sometimes it came from those she had been in contact with. That was how Jo speculated she was able to track down a missing person. Sometimes it randomly came from a stranger when they directed their thoughts at her. Other times, she had absolutely no explanation of where the dots came from. She wasn’t a mind reader—she didn’t know what the thoughts were about. She just saw them as the blue dots.

Ironically, her randomly found ability only worked when she didn’t need it, like when it had led her in front of a fast approaching bus.

The dots hovered in front of her and then moved toward the alley leading to Hyde Park. After the near-fatal encounter with the bus, Madeline didn’t think it was wise to follow the psychic specks anymore. She ignored them and headed home.

Her cell phone buzzed as soon as she entered her apartment. She picked up the phone and kicked the door closed.

“Madeline,” she answered while searching for the light switch on the wall.

At the other end of the line, a male voice croaked, “I miss you. It’s been a few days. What have you got for me?”

“Zen, I almost got hit by a bus trying to get to the door of LeBlanc Pharmaceuticals. Their premises are guarded like a military barracks. Seriously, I’d have a better chance of running through the gates of Buckingham Palace to the Queen’s private chamber than breaking into the front yard of that building.”

“That’s why I sent you there, honey. We can’t compete with the LeBlancs using weapons, money, or manpower. Your little gift is just what we need.”

Madeline finally found the light switch. She flicked it on and strode toward the fireplace. Her teeth were never going to stop chattering if she didn’t get a fire going.

“I don’t have any gift, Zen. You know I can barely operate a computer let alone hunt down a computer geek and ask him questions about an avatar.”

“I saw the games you played with Jo, Madeline. Don’t bluff with me.”

Madeline closed her eyes. Damn. Jo made her play guessing games just to prove that Madeline’s psychic ability was real. Jo believed in it more than she did. Since Jo was doing research on a new simulation game, Madeline thought it would be fun to help out. Now those games were biting her in the backside.

“Look, Zen, it’s been days, and I haven’t been able to get inside. You have to give me more information than just ‘look for a White Knight.’”

“But that’s all I have!” Zen screamed though the phone. She could hear his heavy breathing and his swallow to suppress his anger.

She lowered her voice. “If you let me talk to Jo, we could figure something out.”

“You want to talk to her? Okay.” Zen turned on the video phone. He grabbed Jo’s hair and smashed her face onto the screen of the phone. “Do you see her now? Talk away. You girls can figure things out, right?”

Madeline caught a glimpse of Zen’s face, which was burning red with fury. Jo’s eyes were dazed, and her forehead was bruised. Jo bit her lips and looked into the screen. Madeline knew Jo wouldn’t cry.

“You hurt her, you bastard. You told me you wouldn’t hurt her if I found your stupid avatar!” Madeline roared.

“But you found nothing!” Zen screamed.