SexedUp by Sally Painter

nodded, even though she didn’t
like the idea of exhibiting her future husband like he was some kind of new sex
toy. “I know you don’t want him in the limelight, Randi, but you do understand
his importance, don’t you?” Ellen paused and looked down at her. “You have
feelings for him.”
    “We’re going to be married, Ellen. I love
him.”
    “I see. Then you can announce that as well.
It’ll make great press.”
    Randi frowned but nodded, knowing if she
didn’t make the nuptials known, Ellen certainly would.
    “Why don’t you go home and be with William
tonight. Dr. Lewis can watch over things here. Have Drs. Wiesenton and Fields
go home, too.
    Randi was so anxious to talk with William
that she didn’t argue with Ellen about parading him about in the media frenzy
that would surely follow tomorrow’s announcement. She’d deal with it then.
Right now she just wanted to cuddle up with William and be lost in his arms.
    It was after midnight when she finally
arrived home and was disappointed to find him asleep. Not at all the homecoming
she’d fantasized. She walked around the bed quietly, not wanting to startle him
awake and leaned down to touch his bare shoulder. Cold flesh assaulted her
fingertips. Ice cold.
    Her pulse pounded erratically.
    “No. No. No,” she sobbed and rolled him
over.
    A scream tore from her. His complexion was
blue and his eyes lifeless.
    The two guards rushed into the condo and
into her bedroom.
    “What’s wrong?” One of the female security
guards came over to her.
    Randi’s heart felt as though it was
breaking. How had this happened?
    “Oh, William,” she sobbed, wanting to die,
and sunk to her knees beside him.
    “Shit, call base. He’s dead.”
    “Come on, Dr. Mayers. You don’t want to be
in here.” The guard grabbed onto her arms and helped Randi from the floor. “Go
on into the den, ma’am. We’ll handle this for you. Get Ellen Forte on the
phone. We have an emergency,” the guard yelled into her mic.
    Randi didn’t remember anything that
preceded Ellen’s arrival. She was sitting on the balcony, recalling the evening
William had demonstrated how romantic he could be with the wine and rose petals
on the bed. Tears flowed down her cheeks. The pain was greater than anything
she’d ever known. She felt as though her heart had been ripped from her chest,
leaving a big hole of emptiness and longing. The ocean breeze battered against
her, tearing at her hair. Was this how her ancestors had felt when the men of
the world all died?
    “I’m so sorry, Randi,” Ellen’s voice
sounded behind her, but she continued to stare out across the ocean. “I’ll have
him taken to the lab and we’ll do—”
    “I don’t want to hear the details. He was
more than a project to me, Ellen. I loved him. He was a real man. Not a
machine.”
    “I know that, Randi.” Ellen clamped her
hand over Randi’s shoulder. “We have to find out what happened though. If it is
cellular degeneration—”
    “He was murdered.” Randi sniffed.
    “What?”
    “It’s the only explanation. He was perfect,
Ellen. Perfect.” Her voice quivered.
    “No one was allowed inside your penthouse,
Randi.”
    “Check your security guards, Ellen. One of
them did this.”
    “I just can’t believe it. We cleaned house
before you went into the secret lab. I hired all new security. The ones
stationed here were approved by your private investigator.”
    “I don’t care. Somehow they got to him and
killed him. Do the autopsy. You’ll see.”
    “Why don’t you come stay at my house for a
while. Until—”
    “I want to stay here. This is where I feel
closest to him,” Randi murmured between sobs.
    “Okay.”
    “Incoming call from security,” the house
computer interrupted them.
    “I’ll take it out here,” Randi said and the
holographic image opened in front of her.
    “Dr. Mayers, this is Captain Hanson.” The
officer was in a traditional security uniform but was wearing a