Deadly Betrayal by Maria Hammarblad Read Free Book Online

holiday.
    It didn’t matter. Not even Santa could bring back the dead. I needed to stop thinking about it.
    John docked and we left the ship side by side, but I froze as soon as we entered the main corridor. There was no mistaking the tall figure leaning against a wall, waiting for us.
    “How the hell?” John muttered through his teeth.
    Adam was faster than I. He took my hand and I steeled myself for pain. The impostor had gotten hold of me and now I would be dragged off to whatever grim fate awaited. Maybe there was another Eve somewhere, still yearning for revenge. Adam’s evil sister would have been smart enough to build more androids, and she would get a kick out of toying with us.
    I had suffered through torture by android once. Not an experience I wanted to relive.
    The anticipated pain never came. The imposter held me gently, just like the real Adam would. “Please, just let me talk to you. Maybe we could have dinner?”
    Busted.
    “Androids don’t eat.”
    The smile that flashed over his face seemed genuine.
    “I know I don’t eat, but you need food. And since you’re going to eat anyway, a restaurant is neutral ground.”
    Say no. Just say no.
    “Okay.”
    Dammit. Why couldn’t I let my brain call the shots for once?
    He gave my fingers a slight squeeze. “Seven, station time. Right over there.”
    I nodded, captivated. At this moment I could have sworn he was my husband.
    “Adam, do you remember the first time you took me out on the Bell?”
    “Of course.”
    “What did I have?”
    “You asked for a pink drink with an umbrella. Arcturian voyage. Leonard from the club wanted to recruit you and I threatened to throw him out an airlock.”
    The real Adam would know this, but so would anyone with access to his memories. On the other hand, no one could have access to his memories, because they were destroyed along with the rest of him.
    He lifted my hand and pressed his lips against it. “Seven. I look forward to it.”
    Then, he was gone, swallowed by the crowd.
    John huffed. “Why did you agree to that?”
    “I have no idea.”
    “We need to get supplies, but after that we should leave.”
    “I have to meet him. I promised.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Fine, but I’ll be right there.”

Chapter Seven
     
    I hadn’t brought much from the Bell, but my room held some treasures. One rested in a box in the back of the closet. It was the first thing someone gave me when I first came to the Bell, with amnesia. Adam had bought me a dress, wanting me to feel pretty when he took me down to the promenade for dinner.
    The memory filled my eyes with tears. He had been so patient, waiting for me for all that time, hoping I would remember. I’d had time to fall in love with him all over again before my memories returned.
    It was a long time ago. The dress might not even fit anymore.
    Looks shouldn’t matter, it wasn’t like I was meeting the real him, and I could just as well wear a burlap sack. The impostor was good, but not good enough to fool me. Right?
    I still pulled it on and fluffed my hair, and when I entered the bridge, John whistled through his teeth.
    “You are gorgeous.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Do you think it’s him?”
    Straightforward question, but impossible to answer.
    “No. Yes. I don’t know. He’s dead, but this… whatever it is, he’s so much like him in some ways. And then not at all.”
    The sentence made no sense, but John understood. He always did.
    “I know. I don’t trust him.”
    “That is wise. We shouldn’t.”
    John escorted me off the ship, made sure I was comfortable at a table, and nodded towards the bar. He would be nearby, ready to interfere if needed, but far enough away to give an illusion of privacy.
    Dear, sweet John. Did I ever tell him how wonderful he was?
    I looked away from him and eyed the entrance. It had been a long time. Would Adam still find me pretty?
    I downed my drink and corrected myself. Whatever the impostor might think made no difference,