He took a step toward her, then froze as the cold steel of a gun pressed against the back of his neck.
55
Rachel had been standing behind the door, waiting for him to enter.
Pitt noticed too late that a monitor on Irene’s workstation carried video feeds from throughout the manor. They had watched his every move from the moment he had entered the building.
“I must have misplaced my invitation to the torture session,” he said.
“You were never invited,” McKee said. “And there is no torture taking place. At least not yet. Just a little psychological reeducation, as I like to call it.”
“I believe you know a thing or two about altered minds.”
The gun’s muzzle jabbed deeper into his neck.
“Your lovely wife is not being harmed,” McKee said. “Induced to a relaxed state, she is in a virtual world filled with peace, love, and trust among her sisterhood of women. I’m afraid you may find her less appreciative of men when she emerges. But of course, you won’t be with us long.”
“No men allowed?”
“Not in her world right now. Nor in our world tomorrow.”
“I always thought it took two to multiply.”
“Science has taken care of that, Mr. Pitt. Female conception without the need for men is already a scientific reality. It won’t be long before it’s a widespread practice.”
“I think there are many people who would disagree with your view of the world.” The pistol dug into his neck once more, and Rachel leaned close to Pitt’s ear. “Don’t speak to Mrs. McKee in that tone.”
“Your day is over, McKee.”
McKee nodded at Rachel, and the big woman shoved Pitt toward an empty massage table next to Loren. As Pitt staggered forward, Rachel plucked the flintlock pistol from his back. “Mustn’t be stealing the household goods either,” she said. Loosely aiming her pistol at Pitt, Rachel stepped to the tray table and set down the flintl
ock.
The instant her fingers released it, Pitt spun around, knocking her arm to the side. Before she could react, Pitt threw a left uppercut that landed clean on Rachel’s jaw.
Her head snapped back and her knees buckled as she weakly raised her free arm in defense.
Pitt ignored a rustle behind him and knocked her arm aside. He reached to pry the pistol from her other hand—and felt a prick on his back, followed by a nerve-shattering jolt of electricity.
From behind, Irene had thrust a stun gun against Pitt, sending a brief surge of ten million volts into his body. The shock sent muscle spasms through his limbs and intense pain through his entire body. He let go of Rachel and struggled to stay on his feet as Irene pulled the device out and prepared for a second strike.
Rachel recovered enough to step forward and shove him against the massage table. Pitt fell backward onto it as he tried to regain his senses. Irene and Rachel rushed forward and strapped down his arms and legs before he had the chance. Then Rachel slapped him hard across the face.
McKee smiled. “Your insensitive behavior has gone too far, Mr. Pitt. But we still have high hopes for your wife.”
Pitt said nothing as the feeling slowly returned to his limbs. He gazed at Loren and cursed himself for getting subdued.
McKee’s cell phone rang, and she stepped to a corner to take the call. Her face turned ashen as she listened silently, then hung up. She approached Pitt, eyeing him with hostility. “What happened to Audrey?” Her voice teetered just above a whisper.
“I believe she went for a swim with Nessie.”
McKee stared at him. She began to shake, and her cool sheen of invincibility vanished. Her eyes turned crazed, and she turned away from Pitt. Lurching over to Irene, she whispered in her ear, then motioned for Rachel, who came to her side. They left the room together, the large woman supporting the trembling McKee.
Irene stepped between Pitt and Loren. She selected a vial marked LSZ, a synthetic hallucinogen based on LSD, and filled a syringe. She turned and rolled up Loren’s sleeve and injected it into her arm.
“Leave her be!” Pitt struggled against the restraints as the numbness finally left his extremities.
“She belongs to us now.” Irene pulled a cell phone from her pocket and activated the camera. “Help her out with a big smile now,” she said, and snapped a photo of Pitt’s face.