Charmed (Second Sight) Read Free Page A

how Mac had put one on, stretching it to its limits over his muscular frame. She quickly looked at the man’s hands and belt–no gun. Beyond him, only the furthest playgrounds were being used, those closest to the buildings.
    “I’m here to visit the commune,” Isabelle said, trying her best to smile and make eye contact.
    As was usually the case, the young man seemed to stare. But after a few moments, he cleared his throat and looked away.  
    “I’m afraid we’re not open for tours today,” he said.
    What? Every other time she’d been here–with Susan or Mac or by herself–she’d simply walked up the path to the group of buildings in the distance. Geoffrey had invariably appeared.  
    Something’s changed.  
    But it was no wonder.
    She gazed beyond him to the main house. There had to be a way there. Yolanda wouldn’t have let her borrow her car if there wasn’t. For a moment, she thought of Yolanda’s shocked reaction to what she’d read and Isabelle felt a jolt of fear. But she was here now and something at the commune was going to lead her to Daniel.
    “You can use the parking lot to turn around,” said the guard.
    Again Isabelle turned on her most winning smile, let her eyes drift to his and looked deeply into them.
    “I’m here to see Geoffrey,” she said.

CHAPTER THREE

    THOUGH HE COULDN’T wait to see Isabelle, Geoffrey paused at the wet bar. He’d splashed on a little extra cologne and checked himself in the mirror, satisfied as always with the perfection of his capped teeth, the straight nose from the plastic surgeon, and the taut and unwrinkled skin from the same guy, though different surgery. He’d kept himself incredibly fit, spending hour upon hour in the gym, plus the time in the tanning booth. But the end result was something that could have been the envy of male models everywhere, maybe even body builders.
    At the thought, his smile vanished. Though the guard had said Isabelle was by herself, Geoffrey couldn’t help but think of her boyfriend. He’d seemed to be able to carry her as though she weighed nothing.
    Geoffrey glanced at the pitcher of iced tea, staring at it.
    Maybe I ought to use it right away.
    Slowly, he pulled open the drawer just to his right. Inside, small, round white pills clinked quietly in a stoppered glass vial that Maurice had given to him–Rohypnol, more commonly known as roofies or the date rape drug. It had come in so very useful so many times. He imagined Isabelle barely conscious, the befuddled confusion that would set in, and how he would ‘help’ her. Warmth spread through his groin as he glanced at the door to his bedroom. He squinted at the pills.
    Yes. They’d already seen that Isabelle suffered from some type of fainting spell when Maurice had used the shock wand. It would seem entirely plausible.
    And with a roofie, they never remembered a thing. It often didn’t take a full dose to put them in the mood and then a full dose if the mood just wouldn’t take over. If he was lucky, he’d get her pregnant right away. She’d almost surely have to move to the commune then.  
    Yes. If she’s alone, now might be the time.

    •••••

    Maurice hung up the phone.
    So, Isabelle had returned.  
    Not exactly a surprise.
    He took a sip from the highball, filled with ice and vodka.  
    It had to have been her who helped Kayla leave. The timing was too much of a coincidence. And if there was one thing a scientist couldn’t tolerate, it was coincidence.  
    “Here’s to cause and effect,” he muttered, raising his glass to the lab.  
    He took another sip.
    Isabelle was the only one connected to them all: Kayla, Kayla’s mother, and the boyfriend. Maurice swallowed loudly. It had to have been the boyfriend who knocked the guard out. There’d been a lump on the back of the man’s head like a baseball.
    It’d be best if Isabelle just disappeared.
    Maurice grimaced and slowly shook his head.
    “Nope,” he said quietly.
    He knew better than