44: Book Three (3 page)

CHAPTER 5

I resigned myself to the fact that even though Nathaniel had invited me to dinner, it wasn’t really an invitation. He was expecting me and was even sending one of his goons up to make sure that I would attend.

There was nothing to do but go.

I put in a movie and waited for someone to come and get me. About halfway through, I heard a faint knock on the door.

“Miss Craig?” a soft voice said.

I was glad it wasn’t Nathaniel and I opened the door slowly.

A man with light hair and friendly eyes was standing in the hallway. He looked to be in his early 30s and greeted me with a smile. I watched the gray energy circle around him quickly and I knew that he was nervous.

“I’m Simon,” he said. “I have been sent to escort you to dinner.”

No matter how repulsive the idea of having dinner with Nathaniel was, I had decided to take advantage of the opportunity. I had to learn everything I could about where I was being held. Plus, maybe he would let something slip during dinner. 

“Thanks, but no need,” I said. My voice cracked as I tried to shake off my nerves. “If you just point me in the direction I’ll be fine.”

“Well, that’s just it,” he said, turning and looking behind him. “It’s a rather large house and I fear that pointing it out won’t do. If you let me escort you, just this once, I’d be grateful. Actually, Dr. Mortimer insisted.”

It was strange hearing him call Nathaniel
Dr. Mortimer
. I usually had a good association with that name.

“Okay, I just need a minute.”

“I’ll be right here,” he said.

I closed the door over and thought about how ridiculous all the formality and politeness was. No one was going to let me wander around the house by myself, just like Nathaniel was not going to let me sit in the room and reject his invitation.

I went to the bathroom and threw water on my face. I could do this, I told myself, looking in the mirror. I took in a deep breath and headed back over to Simon, hoping to find an escape route out of this place.

“Well, okay,” I said.

I closed the door behind me, although I knew it probably wouldn’t do any good. They seemed to come and go any time they pleased.

I followed him down a long hallway to a railing and peeked over the edge as we walked alongside it. Down below was a large living room, with wood floors and rugs and expensive art. Huge glass windows made up most of the walls. Although it was dark again outside, I imagined it was an incredible view in the daylight.  

I saw the front door and made a mental note of where it was. Maybe in the morning I could make a run for it, find some neighbors, and get help.

As we walked through the downstairs area, I tried to pay attention to everything. The house was big and there were many windows and quite a few doors. I looked for phones, but didn’t see any. The people here probably just stuck to cells. I didn’t see any computers or tablets or anything that could be useful to get a message to Kate.

We walked down another long corridor before reaching the dining room. Simon had been right. It would have taken me a while to find it.

My heart pounded in my chest when I walked in and saw Nathaniel seated at a long table. He stood up quickly as I approached.

“Abby,” he said. “Nice of you to come.”

I didn’t look at him directly. Simon pulled out the chair and as I sat down, he grabbed my napkin, flung it open, and handed it to me.

I looked around. The table was made of cherry and was very ornate and situated in the center of the large room. Although there were eight chairs, the table was set for only two. Nathaniel was seated at the far end and I was at the other, with a lot of lit candles between us.

Opera music played softly in the background.

“Wine?” Simon asked me.

“No,” Nathaniel said, interrupting. “Better not. It’s too soon for that.”

He poured a glass for Nathaniel and handed it to him.

“Thank you.”

Simon placed the bottle on the table and left the room.

I forced myself to look over at Nathaniel. He was dressed in a suit, and was sitting back in the chair, completely relaxed and quiet.

“I don’t even drink wine,” I said. “So I guess you don’t know everything.”

He picked up a carafe of water that was on the table and stood up. He walked toward me. He always seemed to have those moves, sudden and unexpected.

“I know that you’re probably still pretty thirsty,” he said.

He filled my glass, placing it back down in front of me and wandered back to his seat.

I stared at the table. Everything looked very elegant and expensive. I fiddled with the napkin on my lap as I tried to gather my courage to look at him again.

Simon returned and placed a bowl of soup in front of me, along with a small basket of French bread. Then he served Nathaniel.

“Lobster bisque,” Simon said. “
Bon appetite
.”

I leaned in and tasted some. It was good. I kept my eyes down as I ate, mopping up the last drops with a piece of bread.

Nathaniel was quiet all through dinner. Over the next hour, we ate several courses, including dessert, in silence. Simon brought all the dishes out, announcing what each one was and how he had used fresh ingredients from the region. Lemon chicken with rosemary. A creamy potato gratin. Different slices of cheeses, paired with plum and fig jams, and then finally, a small slice of chocolate torte.

The thought had crossed my mind that they were trying to fatten me up like some sort of Thanksgiving turkey. But I didn’t care. I had been starving and everything was delicious.

Simon returned and started clearing the table.

“Would you care for anything else, Abby?” Nathaniel asked.

I shook my head.

I had noticed that he hadn’t eaten much. Just a bite here, a bite there. Mostly he slowly drank his wine and watched me eat. I was grateful that he had been quiet all through dinner, but I knew I wouldn’t get off so easily the rest of the evening.

“I’m glad to see you had the pleasure of eating a meal prepared by Simon. He really is quite the extraordinary chef.”

Simon smiled slightly and then left the room.

“And judging from your appetite, you must agree that the meal was excellent.”

I still didn’t say anything. What he was saying was true, but I would have traded it all for a cardboard anchovy pizza at home.

Nathaniel stood up and tossed his napkin on the table.

“I didn’t see the need to have a conversation while we were eating, but there are some matters I wish to discuss with you. Would you please join me in the library? Not for too long, I promise.”

“Sure,” I said.

I followed him through the doorway and down a hall. When we reached the library, he stopped, wanting me to go first. But I wouldn’t. I didn’t trust him behind me, not for a second. He smiled before going in, seeming to know my thoughts.

The room was mostly made up of windows. There was a huge fireplace, already lit and crackling.

I looked around. It was a nice room, with chairs and sofas arranged into small conversation areas, along with tables and lamps and rugs. There were bookshelves filled with shiny-rimmed volumes that all matched.

“Can I offer you a soda?” he asked.

“No,” I said, wandering over to the books. Classics mostly.

A crystal bar set was in the corner and Nathaniel poured himself a drink, and pushed a button on a remote. Violin music danced around the room and he sat down in one of two leather chairs that faced each other.

“Please, Abby, sit,” he said, motioning to the opposite chair.

I walked over and sat down.

“I want to go home,” I said. “Do you know how worried my sister must be?”

“I understand. You’ll have to trust me when I say you will be able to return. But you’re needed here for now.”

I looked over at the flames, thinking about Kate. Her torture must have been unimaginable. By now she probably put it together that it was Nathaniel who had kidnapped me. It must be killing her that she wasn’t able to protect me, that the security system and gun she had bought had done nothing to save me from him.

He stood up and took off his jacket, folding it neatly and placing it over a chair.

“If things go well in these next few days, I’ll let you speak to her,” he said.

Would it really be that easy?

“I’m not a heartless animal, Abby,” he said, smiling. “I realize that your sister is very important to you. It is not my intention to ruin your life. Quite the contrary. My intention is to give you the rich life you deserve. Full of everything you desire. You’re a very special girl and your happiness is very, very important to me.”

I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about, but quickly reminded myself that Nathaniel, for all his well-tailored suits and advanced degrees, was insane. And these words he was saying to me, that he cared about my happiness, were the words of a deranged mind. It’s what psychopaths did in the movies, twisting events, telling their victims that the evil they did was all in the name of good.

“I don’t believe you,” I said. “You don’t care about me. I wouldn’t be here if you cared about me. I’m here because you think I have something you want. And it doesn’t matter who gets hurt. It’s as simple as that. And the funny thing is that you’re wrong about all of it. You and your potion didn’t save me. Your brother did. He’s the hero, not you.”

It was true. His brother was the one who saved me and I wanted to remind him of that fact.

“Abby,” he said in an even voice. “I look forward to proving to you how mistaken you are in these coming days. I look forward to winning your trust. I am convinced you’ll come to share my vision. And it is my sincere hope that someday, someday soon, you’ll join me in creating a new world.”

Share his vision? Join him in creating a new world? He was more far gone than I thought. There was no use arguing.

He got up from the chair, sipped his drink, and walked slowly around the room.

“I wanted to meet with you tonight to discuss a few important matters. Housekeeping mostly, if you will.”

He went over to the window and looked out.

“We have a small staff here at the house and even though they all pitch in to cook and clean and do errands, all of them are here because they are highly trained researchers. Scientists. Doctors. Simon, for example, is a molecular biologist. And there are a few others that you may bump into now and again, but for the most part, they will stay out of your way.”

“You mean like Jack?” I said, the anger in my voice spilling out. “My old soccer buddy?”

“Ah, yes. Jack Martin. He’s a doctor and a biochemist who I’ve been working with for a few years. I am sorry that we had to do it that way. I know you feel betrayed.”

He came back and sat down again.

“Jack’s a world class loser,” I said.

“Like I said, I wish we could have done it differently. I know he feels terribly about how things turned out. He cares for you deeply as a friend and perhaps one day you will see that. But for now, everyone has to make sacrifices.”

I stood up. My head had started to hurt again and I had had enough. I was ready to return to my room.

“Please, just a few more minutes,” he said, extending his arm.

I sat back down at the edge of the chair.

“I’d like to go over just a few of the house rules. That way, you will know the expectations and we won’t have any problems. Because we’re on a private island, secluded and remote with just this one house, you may wander about freely, go anywhere you desire.”

My heart sank. There were no neighbors.

“You may explore around the house, outside, along the shore. This is your home away from home, Abby, and as long as you follow the rules, you are free to move around anywhere you choose. You are not bound by any chains or shackles.”

“Free?” I said in a loud voice.

He smiled briefly. Then continued.

“Of course, as your doctor I would advise against going in the water. I know you’ll be tempted. But you can’t swim to those distant islands that you see out the windows. The water is a chilly 46 degrees this time of year, which means that hypothermia would set in rather quickly. You wouldn’t want to be out in the middle of all that water and relive all… No, best to stay here where you’ll be warm and comfortable.”

He cleared his throat.

“Your room is completely private. You don’t have to worry about anyone watching you in there. It’s your sanctuary. I’m a man who needs much solitude to do my work and I can appreciate a need for privacy. It’s part of what makes us human, don’t you think?”

“What about all those people coming in and out while I was sleeping?” I said.

“Other than housekeeping, I can assure you, you will be left alone.”

Nathaniel finished the rest of his drink and put the glass on the table.

“If you could just put to rest any idea of escape, Abby, and settle in, I think you will find all this to be a very agreeable experience. I want you to be comfortable while we conduct our research and I’ve gone to great lengths to see to that. I’ve even had the staff set up a soccer field out back, behind the rose garden.”

I shook my head. He really was crazy if he thought I would act like I was on vacation here on my own private Alcatraz.

“As I said, the next few days are test free. Please explore the premises and try to enjoy yourself.”

I got up again and walked toward the door.

“Oh, and Abby,” he said. I turned around.

“I would appreciate immensely if we could continue these little chats at night. Just like this. I don’t ask that you dine with me, nothing so elaborate. Unless you would like to. But I do request these discussions. It’s part of the research. There are things I’m curious about.”

He seemed to read my face.

“If you are willing to do that, meet me down here every night, then I’ll allow you to contact your sister.”

He looked at me, his eyes reflecting the flames.

“But, it’s up to you. We’ll continue to collect the physical data, regardless. I would be grateful, though, if you would agree.”