Catwalk: Messiah by Nick Kelly Read Free Book Online Page A

glance at the news feed sent him into another bout of uncontrollable laughter. When he finally regained composure, he wiped the tears from his eyes and stood upright. Reaching for a small airbrush, he painted a five-pointed star atop the forehead of a metallic skull resting on the workbench. He placed his hand under it, cupping it, and raising it until he was eye-to-vacant-eye with the inhuman face.
    “We want to ask you some questions regarding the disappearance of a local resident.” He furrowed his brow and gave the severed skull a tone of authority.
    Feigning surprise at the voice he’d given the skull, he replied, “I’m happy to assist, officer.”
    “Have you ever seen or met this man? His name is Hitch.”
    “Oh,” he mocked, almost spitting out a laugh. “I’m afraid we’ve never met, officer.”
    He tilted the skull as if it was lost in contemplation. “His limo was found burned almost beyond recognition out at the old airfield. You know anything about that?”
    “Oh, no, sir,” he swooned, “I’ve never even been there.”
    “Anything else you’d like to add then?”
    “Yes, officer, I believe you can rule out aneurism when determining cause of death.” The scientist fell on the floor, clutching his stomach as he laughed. The skull clattered to the floor, landing on its crown, facing him upside down like a disapproving metallic bat. It took almost a full minute for him to brace an arm against the workbench and rise to his feet. Even then, he doubled over, still breaking into fits of laughter.
    “Master, you called for me?”
    The words ripped through his glee like a scalpel. He turned, eyes still wet from tearing, cheeks hurting from smiling so wide. “Yes, my dear, indeed I did.”
    The figure who addressed him was a mix of natural and surgical perfection. Beautiful to the brink of description even before his expert hands had adjusted her, she now boasted a superhuman sensuality. Her dark hair was straight, barely touching her shoulder, centering a face with high cheekbones and full lips. Her bright eyes were permanently framed with dark lashes, designed to project temptation.
    She wore a leather sleeveless top, displaying her defined arms and tanned skin. Her full breasts filled the leather, which followed her hourglass curves over her slender waist and supple hips. Her long legs drove downward into heeled boots. Her lips pursed slightly before she continued. “You have need of my services?”
    He grinned at his magnificent creation. She wasn’t his first, but certainly one of his proudest accomplishments. “Yes, Angelyka, I do.”

CHAPTER NINE

    Cat reveled in the freedom the Honda-Suzuki provided on the highway, partaking once again in the open wasteland that had once been I-40. There were plenty of evils still afoot out in the desert sands, but he had driven this stretch dozens of times since his arrival in Nitro City. It was therapy. The ride was one sacred release he had from partnerships, caseload, and potential enemies. It was a perilous ride for the uninformed, but Cat’s growing reputation kept most threats at bay.
    The new armor felt strange. He’d been accustomed to a black leather jacket and pants with the armored fittings for his legs and hands, but Delambre had insisted on more. For a geneticist, he showed a knack for military engineering that simply didn’t jive with his background. The armor, similar but lighter and more composite, still required some breaking in. Cat’s first test was to see how it felt on the H-S. If it failed that, it wasn’t worth even walking in.
    The more he drove, the more he pondered. Delambre was strange, but instinct said he was reliable. His daughter, well, who really knew what made her tick, but Cat wouldn’t mind adjusting her gears to find out. Hitch was on a slab. Payment had been received for the job, and Midas hadn’t sent anyone after him yet. There was something seriously wrong with that part of the equation.
    As if on cue, the