Read Online Touching Darkness by Jaime Rush - Free Book Online

woman.”
    Darkwell sat at his massive desk. “The evidence was circumstantial at best. Besides, that has nothing to do with what I want him for. If he has murdered someone, at least he’s not squeamish.”
    Sam couldn’t get past that statement. “You know that Andrus is a cold-blooded psychopath.”
    â€œYes, I do.” Darkwell’s black eyes glittered. “But he’ll be our psychopath.”
    The truth hit Sam like a wave of ice-cold water: He’d been working for a psychopath all along. Instinct said to play along. “I suppose you have a point. But I thought Andrus wasn’t interested.”
    â€œI must have piqued his interest. He called to set up another meeting. He wants out of prison. I just got off the phone with a judge I know in Florida to find out what the process entails. I need permission from the court, and a judge authorizes the release. Should be easy enough. Andrus will work here with us for four months, and I’ll let him think it could go on longer. He’ll have to go back, of course. I’ll blame it on red tape, regulations, whatever. If he escapes, or if word gets out to the public that he’s been released, it’ll create a media frenzy.”
    Sam approached the desk. “Does the director know?”
    â€œI’m not involving him unless and until I have to. He’s very impressed with the information I’ve already given him. We just got word that the information Jerryl gave uslast week led to the capture of a terrorist cell hiding out in London. If I need to approach him, I don’t think it’ll be a problem.”
    Sam rubbed his balding head, nervous at the thought of that man here on the grounds. “Will he be kept secure?”
    â€œOf course. He’ll have a guard posted to him at all times.”
    â€œWhat is he capable of?”
    â€œYou know his heritage. There are several possibilities.” Darkwell smiled with satisfaction. “I’m going to give him a test assignment. Andrus is going to be the turning point in DARK MATTER. He’s going to get rid of the Rogues. That should make you happy.” His smile faded when he didn’t see agreement on Sam’s face. “Was there anything else?”
    Sam shook his head and returned to his office. Twenty-five years ago, he had been an idealistic CIA agent drawn into Darkwell’s vision of changing the world. Then things got ugly when he started giving the program’s participants something that enhanced their abilities but not telling them—or even him—what it was. They started showing signs of mental breakdown, but all Darkwell could see were their achievements. When Jack Stoker had gone on his shooting spree, the program was closed down and obliterated from all records.
    Then, several months ago, a CIA agent involved in the first program had contacted Darkwell with a concern: One of the subject’s grown daughters was showing signs of the same psychic abilities as her father. Would she also succumb to mental illness?
    Darkwell saw only the possibility of the subjects’ offspring inheriting those enhanced abilities. A search for the offspring revealed that they had. He revived the program and hid it under a cover program, even using his own money to fund some of the expenses. He’d dragged Sam back under his control.
    Four of their own had died, several injured. Offspringhad been killed, too. Lucas Vanderwyck and Eric Aruda were probably dead.
    It was all going to go bad, and Sam wasn’t going to get buried under the fallout this time. He remembered Darkwell’s subtle warning when Sam had wanted out before. Darkwell would no doubt eliminate him to protect his program. The man had had his own brother killed, for God’s sake, when he’d threatened to expose the true nature of the program to the director.
    He searched his computer for any relevant files and printed them. Sensitive, but not enough to