Birth of Adam (Artificial Intelligence Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

together with him could get them both killed.
    A sharp slap to her head brought her attention back to her singing. Dr. Wilson had struck her with rolled-up sheet music as if she were a pup in need of discipline. He’d a reputation for doing that, but this was the first time she’d ever been the recipient of the rolled-paper slap.
    She stopped singing and stared at him in shock. What on earth had she done to deserve such an embarrassing reprimand?
    The other students were smirking, no doubt taking great pleasure in her call-out. She wasn’t certain whether it was professional jealousy or the age difference, but Claire remained her one and only friend in the music department. Everyone else kept their distance.
    Amanda hoped Dr. Wilson would tell her what she had done, but he ordered everyone to begin again and pay attention this time. Amanda focused on every detail, determined to avoid a second slap-down for whatever she had missed.
    When they reached the section where he’d thwacked her, Dr. Wilson dropped them down to a near-silent pianissimo. Amanda blushed at her error. She had sung it at full voice previously.
    When practice was over, she waited for the other students to leave so she could apologize. Unfortunately, several of the students wished to have long conversations about music grants for the European study. Amanda straightened up the chairs and retrieved the sheet music from the stands while she waited. Dr. Wilson answered their questions while he packed up his briefcase. The moment the briefcase closed, he interrupted them. “You may ask my secretary for time on my schedule to further discuss this.” He then looked at Amanda. “Carrington, thank you for straightening up. Walk with me, please.”
    As she passed one of the guys, she heard him mutter, “Kiss-ass.” She ignored the remark and followed Wilson.
    Once they were outside, Amanda apologized for screwing up in class.
    He glanced at her. “May I ask what had you otherwise occupied?”
    “Just some personal matters, but that’s no excuse and it won’t happen again.”
    Her answer seemed to annoy him, and he remained silent as she jogged beside him to keep up with his hurried pace. Suddenly, he stopped, and she almost ran past him.
    “I’m sorry, but your answer will not do. I have invested far too much time and effort in you, and if you’re easily distracted, then I wish to know it now!”
    “I’m not, sir, and I swear to you, it will not happen again.”
    “I wish to know the nature of your distraction.”
    She sighed. She wasn’t about to tell him she had been pondering over whether the football star Chad Tyler was happy or sad. That would probably get her kicked out of the program.
    “Someone was stalking me this last week.”
    Now her professor looked alarmed. “Did you notify security?”
    “Actually, I notified the FBI. I got the license plate of the stalker last night. This morning, right before class, I had a meeting with the agent handling the complaint, and he assured me they have resolved the matter. So everything should be fine now.”
    Dr. Wilson looked far from reassured, but at least he didn’t look angry anymore. He placed his hand on her arm, and they continued walking, at a slower pace this time.
    “What made you call the FBI instead of campus security?”
    “I have a friend in the FBI, so I called him,” Amanda replied, surprised he even had to ask the question. Campus security was a joke.
    “And he’s put a stop to this stalker?”
    She nodded.
    “I’m pleased you took this matter seriously. I’ve never mentioned it to you before, but I believe you had a stalker in New Zealand as well. He posed as a reporter, but he was only interested in you, not the choral group. I had security toss him off the site.”
    “Claire told me.”
    “Was this the same man?”
    “No. That man died while attempting to kill an FBI agent.”
    Dr. Wilson looked both shocked and concerned by her declaration.
    “That’s why I took