Ultimate Nyssa Glass by H. Burke (ebook reader browser txt) 📗

The realization that there was a human being behind that voice rising from the computer had been simultaneously horrible and wonderful. If I hadn’t been able to get him back into his body, what would I have done?

A longing for Ellis, for his voice, for his touch, swelled within her like the ache of starvation, and the world blurred. She held her breath, willing her tears away. No, I’m not doing this. I’m not crying. I’m going to get through this and see him again. I’m going to get through this for him.

They drove along a familiar brick wall then approached an iron gate which swung open before them. Nyssa craned her neck to look through the front window, and her mouth dropped open. It was the same mansion, five stories tall with turrets and balconies, but the gray peeling paint had been replaced with a pristine white coat. The broken windows were gone and the yard sported a trimmed hedge and a healthy green crop of grass.

Whatever they’ve done to the outside of this place, it’s still a whitewashed tomb … I wonder what they did with all the literal skeletons in the closets. I can’t exactly see Rivera giving them a good Christian burial.

The car stopped.

“Do you like the renovations I’ve had done?” Rivera asked.

“It seems a little bold, settling into your deceased partner’s home. I can’t imagine your name is on the deed.”

“It belonged to the estate until recently. The Dalharts are considered missing, not deceased.” Rivera shook his head. “In the meantime, their lawyer has maintained power of attorney over their assets. He didn’t want to sell to me at first, but I managed to convince him. Cost twice what I would’ve liked to pay, but worth it to be able to take the place apart and look for whatever the professor left behind.” His mouth twisted. “At least that was the thought. Dalhart’s madness went deeper than I originally anticipated. Most of his notes are incomplete or indecipherable. I know more exists on the main computer. To get to that, however, I need you.”

Nyssa chewed her bottom lip. I wonder what Ellis would think of his attorney selling off bits and pieces of his inheritance … though I doubt Ellis wanted to come back to this place, anyway.

Aito opened the door for them. Gripping her satchel, Nyssa followed Rivera up the steps to the broad wooden doors. Rivera leaned heavily on his cane.

Aito took the steps two at a time to reach the entry right before his employer. With another bow, he opened the door.

Inside, their footsteps on the marble floors echoed from the high ceiling. The windows had been cleaned, letting in light that sparkled on the chandelier. The space was spotless and empty. Still a tomb.

“What did you do with the bodies?” she asked.

Rivera raised his eyebrows. “Bodies?”

“The people Dalhart experimented on. He left their remains encased inside malfunctioning robots. They aren’t still here, are they?”

“Ah, the prototypes. I had them shipped to my labs and tried to reverse engineer them. Unfortunately, none were viable.”

“You certainly made the place pretty.” Everywhere she looked fresh paint and paneling greeted her. New artwork hung from the walls, and red silk curtains covered the windows.

“Renovations gave me the perfect excuse to tear into walls searching for anything useful Dalhart left behind.” A hint of frustration edged Rivera’s voice.

Nyssa suppressed a smile. Ellis had sworn crashing the computer would destroy his father’s work. Rivera’s irritation suggested he’d been right.

Aito opened a door beneath the stairs and led them into a narrow hall.

At the end of the hall waited metal doors Nyssa recognized as Dalhart’s elevator to his attic workshop. Aito pulled a lever, and the doors snapped open.

Once inside the metal box, Nyssa winced when the doors clanged shut behind her like a beast’s jaws. With a jerk, the elevator rose. Aito stood at the controls, staring straight ahead. Nyssa bit her bottom lip until she tasted blood.

“Easy.” Rivera touched her arm.

Nyssa’s muscles tightened.

“No need to be so tense,” he said. “If you get me what I want, you’ll be free before the end of the day.”

“I don’t even know that I can get you what you want.”

“I’m sure you can be quite convincing with your life on the line.”

The upward motion ceased, and Aito opened the door.

They were in Dalhart’s workshop, but unlike the last time she was there, it was empty. The tables lined with machine parts and tools were gone, replaced with a clean swept floor and a few crates. The metal door to Dalhart’s private office and lab stood open.

“I’ve had my best scientists working to pry the secrets from this computer system for months now. Hopefully you’ll have more luck.” They walked through the office, past Dalhart’s now empty desk and the crates of canned food he’d hoarded while living as a recluse. Ducking through a small door into the lab, they faced a large computer monitor glowing yellow/green. A massive, elaborate control panel rested before this, and a gentle buzz pervaded the room. Nyssa’s heart sank. In spite of Rivera’s assertions, part of her had hoped that Ellis’s crash codes would’ve made them impossible to fix.

“So we found her. I hope this changes your mind about cooperating with us.” Rivera pushed her into the center of the room.

Nyssa stared at Rivera. Who is he talking to?

“Nyss! You’re alive!” A mechanical voice, like deep bells vibrating to create words, rose from the monitor.

Her whole being went cold. She blinked at the screen. That voice … but that’s impossible. I imagined it.

“I thought you were dead!” the voice continued. “Are you all right? They didn’t hurt you?”

She stepped closer and laid her hands flat against the computer screen. “Hart?”

He laughed. “Of course. Who else would it be?”

A tremble cut through her. But you can’t be here … you’re Ellis.

Chapter Eight

Deep breaths. This has to be some sort of trick, Nyssa thought.

“I’m so sorry, Nyss. I didn’t