Species II by Yvonne Navarro Read Free Book Online Page B

order to survive.”
    Stung, Laura opened her mouth, then closed it. What could she say to that? In nature cruelty was a given, brutality accepted and even admired. But in the human race, were they not expected to be civilized? Or even kind?
    “You know,” Eve said when Laura remained quiet, “I watch all these programs on television and see the places I can’t go, the people I can’t meet—I bet you didn’t know that I’d give anything to visit the Pyramids, did you?” She gave a short, harsh laugh. “No, of course not. How could you?”
    “Eve—”
    “A lab rat,” Eve said suddenly, her eyes narrowing. “To be tested and poked and prodded. Tortured. Is that all I am to you? I wonder what your animal-rights people would say to this.”
    “Stop it,” Laura said, more sharply than she’d intended. Her face was heating up with exasperation and she hated that—if she didn’t put a stop to this now, the constant videotape would make her look like she’d painted rouge on her cheeks. “I’m doing the best I can under the circumstances.” With effort, she brought her tone back to the carefully measured level she always used when talking with Eve. “Part of the reason I took this job was to make sure these experiments were done with regard for the subject—”
    “Subject,” Eve said with a sneer. “Yeah. That would be me.” Gazes locked, for a long moment neither woman said anything. Then, feeling chastised, Laura broke the gaze and turned to go.
    “Tell me,” Eve said from behind her, “what was the rest of your reason? Curiosity, perhaps?”
    Laura stopped and turned back. “Aren’t we all curious?”
    Eve cocked her head. “Yes, I suppose that’s true.” Her expression relaxed a little and she looked thoughtful; then hesitantly she reached out and touched Laura on the arm. “I know you’ve been good to me, Laura. But remember one thing . . .
    “I’m human, too.”
    Laura gave her a small smile and briefly squeezed Eve’s hand before stepping out of the habitat and into the exit corridor.
    God help her, a big part of Laura wanted to believe that.

3
    “L ook at it,” Melissa said dreamily. “Have you ever seen anything like this?” She glanced at Patrick and he smiled and followed her gaze to where she was staring, out the best window at The Willows Steakhouse. The view from this prime corner booth was indeed spectacular: on the other side of the glass was a rare, clear night sky showing a faint sweep of crystalline stars overhead, their sparkle diminished only by the butter-yellow glow of the White House in the distance. Not many places in Washington, D.C. could boast a panoramic scene like this, and not many people rated the one table in the restaurant that offered it.
    “It’s very pretty,” Patrick agreed, and he meant it.
    “Oh, silly,” Melissa said. “I know you’re only indulging me—it’s probably nothing compared to what you saw while you were on the Excursion.”
    The smile he sent her was genuine, and the warmth in his dark eyes made Melissa’s breath quicken. “What it can’t compare with is how beautiful you look tonight. The dress suits you perfectly.”
    “A-hem,” Senator Ross said with mock seriousness.
    “No kidding,” Dennis Gamble put in. “The two of you could light the candle here without touching it.”
    Melissa blushed and made herself ignore the other two men, instinctively smoothing away a fold in the red-velvet fabric along the line of one hip, knowing that Patrick’s gaze would follow the movement appreciatively. She didn’t want to be rude, but she wished Senator Ross and Dennis would just go on home and let the two of them have the rest of the evening together. The dress was right, the mood was right—even if the quarantine wasn’t lifted yet, she could at least make sure Patrick was thinking only of her. God knew, the competition for his attention got harsher every day, especially now that his dark-haired, handsome features were