Part 2: Sons and Daughters
Part 2 summary: Miss Parker is sick and in need of comfort. Jarod obtains more information about the Centre's doings.
Tuesday
Miss Parker's residence
Blue Cove, DelawareMiss Parker woke up with a start. She had been dreaming of her mother. As Catherine was about to enter the elevator, Miss Parker ran to her only to be stopped by a man in a dark suit. The man turned around and she saw a face she did not recognize. But then it changed and became Jarod's.
She screamed and then found herself holding her pillow tightly. She got up and headed towards the bathroom, her feet stumbling on the half empty bottle of scotch by her bed. She was feeling very sick.
As she returned from the bathroom, her cell phone rang. She hesitated not answering. It was probably Jarod, back to taunt her with some half-truths. She couldn't bring herself to hear him. Not now.
She decided not to answer. Let him figure that one out.
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Jarod's lair
Seattle, WashingtonFive rings and no answer. Jarod was perplexed. Then he got the answering service and hung up. It wasn't like Parker not to answer. He wondered what she could be doing at 4 am right now. He ran several scenarios in his head. Suddenly he became agitated. She couldn't possibly be with someone. Could she?
Pushing that thought aside, he put the phone down. Why did it bother him? He did not want to deal with that right now. Instead he focused on the task at hand.
He checked the airline flight information on his computer. Odd. Surely by now Parker and the goons would have booked a flight to Florida. But no one matching their info had purchased tickets, let alone got on a flight. And the Centre plane was still in Blue Cove.
Something was going on. He had to reach Sydney.
He opened his email program and wrote his former mentor.
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Angelo's room
The Centre
Blue Cove, DelawareAngelo slowly opened the velvet box from Jarod. He could sense Miss Parker's annoyance when she had tried to opened it; and Jarod's intense desire for her to have it.
Inside the box was a gold locket. As soon as he touched it, he knew to whom it belonged. He could feel Catherine's tender care and soothing voice. "Timmy," she said in his head. The memory was too painful for Angelo. He still wished she was his mother.
Pushing his emotions aside, he took the locket out and examined it. It was in the shape of an oval with a picture of a Saint on the front piece. It was St. Michael. On the back it was engraved in an elegant script with "To Catherine, with love. Ben." Angelo could sense the love that Ben had bestowed upon this gift.
Carefully holding the locket from both sides, he opened it up to reveal the pictures inside. He was startled when he found a small computer chip instead.
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Broot's home
Blue Cove, DelawareHe was running late. Miss P. was going to kill him. "Debbie, honey, come on!" Broots yelled towards her room, "Time to go to school."
"Coming, Daddy," Debbie Broots said as she entered the kitchen.
"Here, have your breakfast and we'll be on our way in five minutes."
He was dreading going to work today. After seeing Miss Parker get so sick yesterday, he knew she was going to make his life miserable. Well, as long as she did not cancel his vacation plans. He was going to take Debbie to Paris!
The phone's ring woke him up from his thoughts. "I'll get it, honey," he told his daughter as he headed to the living room.
"Broots here," he said.
"Broots, it's Sydney. I need for you to meet me at Miss Parker's home in twenty minutes."
"At Miss Parker's? Do you think that's a good idea?"
"Relax, Broots. She has her moments, but she won't kill you. At least not today."
"But what if her aeon flux is bothering her still?" Broots said nervously.
"Acid reflux, Broots," Sydney lightly corrected him with a short laugh. Broots realized his mistake and laughed too.
"See you there, Sydney."
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Miss Parker's residence
Blue Cove, DelawareShe was running towards the lake. When she reached the shore, she saw her body floating in the water. She removed her raincoat and shoes before jumping into the water. It was cold and her bones ached. As she neared her, she noticed she was unconscious. She had to do something. That's when she noticed the boat.
And then a loud banging. "Miss Parker, Miss Parker. Are you there?"
"What?" She woke up. She must have been dreaming. The banging continued. But not about that. Who could it be? She turned to her night table to grab her gun and noticed that it was 9 am already! She had forgotten to set her alarm clock!
In a daze, she got up and put on a robe. She headed downstairs and opened the door for Sydney and Broots who were banging relentlessly.
"What?" She asked. She knew why they were there. She knew they were worried. But she couldn't allow herself to show emotion. She had to be the heartless and strong. Don't let them see you cry.
"Miss Parker, we were worried. I tried calling your cell phone several times, but it was off. And then when you did not arrive at your usual 8 am... I thought perhaps you were not feeling well," Sydney explained as he gently pushed her aside and came in. Broots in tow.
The site of the living room gave him reasons to worry. That and her state of dishevelment. She was holding her rob tightly around her body. Her eyes tainted by bags and wrinkles. Her hair everywhere. He noticed her hand was trembling. The living room smelled like she had smoked a whole pack of cigarettes and the table had several half empty bottles of alcohol.
"I thought you had quit," he said.
"I.. I don't have to explain myself. I am not your daughter. What do you want?" She said, hurt in her eyes. She did not want Sydney to see her like this. She didn't want this image of her in his mind.
"Oh, Miss Parker," Sydney said finally understanding what was happening. "Broots, do you mind leaving us alone?" He knew she did not want witnesses.
"Uhm, sure Sydney. Do you want me to wait in the car? Or should I just meet you at the Centre?" he said, each word becoming more self-assured. Sydney had told him Miss Parker was not well and that he needed to be firm with her. He brought Broots just in case something else was amidst. Now, that they knew she hadn't been kidnapped, he was no longer needed. Broots knew his shyness and occasional mumbling bothered her. But Sydney had told him that deep down (very deep down) Miss P. liked him.
"I'll see you at the Centre, Broots. Thank you for coming," Sydney said and added, "Please inform the Assistant Director that we need to reschedule our meeting."
"Okay, bye, Sydney, Miss P." He dared meeting her eyes as he left. She sure looked bad.
"Assistant Director? What does he think he rules the world? Are you two at his beck and call now? Do you have to kiss his ring or something?" Parker said as she sat down and lighted another cigarette. Her hands were still trembling.
"Parker, we need to talk. I know what's bothering you. Don't shut me out. I am your friend. I have always been here for you. Then and now. Especially now. You need to stop this senseless behavior. The doctor told you that you couldn't drink and smoke while on the medication. Stop torturing yourself, please."
"What do you know about torture, Sydney?" As soon as she said that, she regretted it. Of course Sydney knew about torture. He had been in a concentration camp. But he loved her, so he didn't snap at her. Instead he continued calming her down.
"Parker, please. I know you are in pain. I can see it in your eyes. I can see it in your hands. They are trembling." He grabbed her hands and removed the cigarette. "I am here for you."
She looked him in the eye and couldn't stop the pent up emotion from showing itself. Her eyes welled up in tears and she leaned on to him. He embraced her, wrapping his arms around her paternally.
"It will be okay, Miss Parker. It will be okay."
They stayed like that for hours. Parker crying softly. Sydney holding her.
"He promised," she finally murmured.
"I know. Sometimes fathers don't keep their promises, Miss Parker. But that doesn't mean they don't love them. I know your father has not been the father you want him to be. I know his giving Lyle the position of Assistant Director probably guarantees he will be your father's successor and you are afraid that you might never be able to escape then. And I know that Lyle having a child hurts you more than anything else."
"He promised," was all she could say.
"I know. I know."
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Jarod's liar
Seattle, WashingtonJarod was getting worried. He hadn't received a response from Sydney yet. He still couldn't reach Parker on the phone, and now Sydney's phone too was left unanswered. And no flights whatsoever had been reserved. He only had one more person to contact.
He picked up his phone and took a sip of his coffee. The speed dial on the phone sounded out the tones.
"Broots here," the voice at the end of the line answered with a faint lisp.
"Broots, it's Jarod," he could hear the man's gasp at the sound of his voice.
"Ah, Mr. St. Michael," the technician answered with as much calm and clarity as he could muster, "I was expecting your call about the trip. Unfortunately this is not a good time. I am in a meeting with the Assistant Director. I'll call you back in an hour or so."
And then he hung up on Jarod. Mr. St. Michael? Trip? Well, at least someone had gotten his message. But Assistant Director? What was going on? But now he had a lead. The opened his portable computer and began hacking into the Centre database.
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Mr. Lyle's office
The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware"Ah... Sorry for the interruption. It was my travel agent. I am taking Debbie to Paris for her birthday," Broots said as he fidgeted with his shirt.
"So, Sydney and Parker are not coming in? What is going on Broots?" Lyle asked, ignoring Broots monologue about his family.
"Well, you see, ah, Miss Parker, you know, she's not feeling well. And Sydney decided to stay and look after her."
"Don't they have people who do that? I can't have part of my team run every time she has a tissy fit."
"Well, she's really, really sick. She has aeon flux."
"What?" Lyle looked at Broots with confusion. "Oh, never mind. Get back to work."
Broots quickly gathered his things and ran out the door.
Once he got to Sydney's office, he let out a sigh. "Angelo, are you here?"
Angelo stepped out from under the desk.
"Gee, that was close, Angelo. I had to stuff the chip inside my mouth when Lyle pulled me to his office. And then Jarod called! I thought I was going to choke. Something important must be the matter with this locket and chip. Let's get to work."
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Miss Parker's residence
Blue Cove, DelawareThe tea pot 's whistle went off. Sydney turned off the stove and poured hot water into two cups. Then he opened the Chamomile tea package and took out two bags. This particular brand of tea reminded him of another day he had taken care of Miss Parker. It was after she had come back from her first year of college.
He remembered her pulling him into his office and breaking down in his arms. It took a lot of tea and cookies for her to open up and tell him what was the matter. Her gynecologist had just told her about the cancer. She had to have a hysterectomy immediately.
He still remembered his advise, "It's okay, Parker. It's okay. Your father loves you. He won't stop loving you just because you can't have children. There is nothing more important for a man than to see his child happy."
"But Daddy wants the Parker line to continue. I have failed him." She had told him crying.
"No, he only cares about your happiness. I assure you," he had answered while soothing her.
He had advised her to tell her father. She did. Mr. Parker had shrugged and said, "Well, it seems the Parkers end with you, Angel. It will be all right. I promise."
Promises. Mr. Parker had never kept a promise to his daughter. It had made Sydney angry for years, but there was nothing he could do. His role was to hold Parker when she occasionally broke down. And to run for cover the rest of the time. He wished he could calm her down. But only a father could do that. He thought about his own son, Nicholas. He wished to be able to have (at least) the same bond he had with Parker with him.
He put the cups in a tray and headed out towards the living room to continue his conversation with Parker. It was going to be a long night.
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Jarod's liar
Seattle, WashingtonThe pretender was easily frustated by situations beyond his control. That was one of the reasons he left the Centre in the first place. He had finally spoken to Broots again. He said Parker was not feeling well and that Sydney was with her. She hadn't seen the package yet. Angelo and Broots were looking into the chip.
He was concerned about Parker. Something terribly wrong must be going on. Yet, it couldn't come at a worst time. He had to catch a flight to Europe soon. But in good conscience, he couldn't leave before he knew she was going to be okay. He decided to catch a flight back East after his meeting.
He needed to make sure she was all right. Especially since it could be the last time he ever saw her. If everything went according to plan, he would expose the Centre leak and finally discover the answers to many of his questions. The key was in a deposit box in Switzerland. Then he would simply disappear...
That part of the plan always bothered him. Yes, he wanted his freedom. He wanted it very much. But, there was something else he wanted. Something he couldn't have, but couldn't stop wanting.
With a sigh, he grabbed his leather coat and headed out the door.
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Miss Parker's residence
Blue Cove, Delaware"Parker, maybe this is the time for you to leave the Centre. Leave it all behind. Let Lyle keep the Directorship. Let your father enjoy his grandchild," Sydney told her.
Miss Parker raised her eyes from the chicken soup Sydney had made her. He was being so paternal and for once, she didn't push him away. She needed him. But she also needed her father. Sometimes you can't have what you want.
Sydney was right. Yes, she wanted out of the Centre. But she also wanted Daddy to be proud of her. She wanted to be Daddy's only child. And now, she was just the barren daughter. Yes, sometimes you can't have what you want. But why did it have to be so painful?
"Perhaps this indeed could be your chance for leaving," Sydney said again.
"Always looking at the silver lining, Syd?" She said trying to sound cynical.
"It's all about survival, Miss Parker. Survival."
"Yes, and I guess we have done that all too well." She put her soup down in the kitchen table and got up. Sydney could see the harshness creep up slowly. The old Miss Parker was back. He should leave before she lashed out at him.
"Parker, why don't you take time off? Go to your friend's wedding. Go early. I'm sure she would appreciate it if you helped her out. The days before a wedding are always stressful. And need I remind you that you need your dress?"
"Syd, I have to get back to work. To..." She stopped. No, she did not need to catch Jarod. Lyle was in charge of that. Maybe she should take time off.
"I suggest this not only as your friend, but as your doctor. Please Parker. You need the time off."
"All right. All right." She said softly.
"Good. I'll inform Lyle and your father. I'll tell them it was a medical necessity. They will understand. I promise."
She winced at that word. And asked, "Why did you come see me? How did you know I needed ...?"
It was so hard for her to admit weakness. Sydney smiled softly, "Your guardian angel was worried about you. You turned off your phone last night and he thought that maybe you had been hurt."
"Guardian angel?" She asked arching her eyebrows. It couldn't... could it?
"I have to go, Parker. Sweet dreams," he kissed her cheek and left. Let her figure it out, he thought. It's about time they both figure it out.
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Cafe Noir
Seattle, WashingtonMaria was reading an old issue of "Details" featuring David Duchovny. She was an X-files fan who faithfully tuned in every week. She knew the truth was out there. Maybe that's why she liked Jarod so much. He seemed to live in an X-files episode. Ah, if only she could be his Scully. But she gathered that there was someone else. Someone he did not want to talk about. She was curious. Perhaps she could steer the conversation in that direction.
"Hi, Maria," she looked up and saw her work colleague Thomas carrying a cup of hot chocolate, "Can I join you?"
"Hi, Thomas! Ah... Uhm, I'm sort of waiting for someone... Maybe some other time?" She said as she scanned the room. She knew Jarod was ultra secretive and did not want to make him uncomfortable by introducing him to Thomas. For all she knew, Thomas could be part of the conspiracy Jarod was trying to uncover.
She hoped it wasn't so, though. She kinda liked Thomas. A lot.
Thomas got this look of curiosity and followed her gaze across the cafe. He noticed a tall, well built man wearing a black leather coat entering the establishment. Then he saw Maria jolt.
So this was the competition, he thought. The man looked familiar. He had seen him at the office. Maybe he was Maria's boyfriend. But he thought she was single. He had to stay and find out.
"Maria, hi," Jarod said as he approached his friend. He noticed she was looking uncomfortable at another man standing next to her. He was one of her co-workers.
"Jarod, ah... This is Jarod. I.." she was speechless.
Thomas picked up on her nervousness and extended his hand to Jarod. "Hi, I'm Thomas. I work with Maria. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Jarod." Jarod noticed that Thomas was eyeing him suspiciously. Was he perhaps aware of what Jarod was up to?
"Well, Thomas... Jarod and I need to talk. See you later, okay?" Maria managed to say as she turned every shade of red available. This was like a nightmare. Here was her gorgeous (and quite unavailable) friend meeting her office crush!
Thomas gave out a sigh and said as he left, "It was nice meeting you. See you around, Maria."
Maria just stared and nodded. Her eyes followed Thomas move to another table and sit by himself. He would occasionally glance up, at which point Maria would pretend not to be looking at him.
Jarod was amused by the scene. It took him a while to get it. Being so sheltered as a child in the Centre, he did not often understand the subtleties of interpersonal life. But, Maria and Thomas were quite transparent. Maybe he could do something for his friend after he was done with business.
"So, Maria. What do you have for me?"
Maria was relieved he was not going to tease her about Thomas. Well, at least not now. She breathed in and prepared herself to tell him what she had discovered. "I hacked into the mainframe as you asked me to and I discovered that our company had been paid a million dollars from outfit in Blue Cove, Delaware, for some consulting work in 1979. Something to do with reproductive technology," she said as she pulled some papers out of her backpack and gave them to Jarod. They were memos between the Centre and Maria's company, the DNA Research Group.
"I think the project was authorized by Mr. Kirkpatrick and Ms. Wendell, when they were both VPs. But I think it was the implementation of it that helped Mr. Kirkpatrick become CEO after the plane crash killed Ms. Wendell and the former CEO. I am not exactly sure what the project was about, but from what I could get my hands on, I think they were trying to inject some sort of DNA into unborn fetuses to cause a genetic mutation. I am not sure. It was all carried out a place called NuGenesis back East, but we manufactured the machinery. However, all attempts failed and in 1985, the project was canceled. And this is the really horrible part, they experimented on people who thought they were getting prenatal care. Most of the women that went through treatment were minorities and working class. They couldn't afford health care, so they thought this was a charity project. Many of them died in the process. None of the babies survived.
"Oh, and one more thing. This is really sick, Jarod. Well, it's all sick, but this one got me so riled up. The DNA they got was from the ova of a woman. All the same woman. Seems that they removed both her ovaries and experimented with her ova for years. I couldn't find out who she was, or if she knew. But judging from the way this project was handled, I don't think she knew. There was an ID number for her record, but I never found the file that matched that ID with a name. From the state of her ovaries, I would say she was probably in her 20's when they removed them. Only sick bastards would do that to a woman."
Maria noticed that Jarod too was very affected by all these findings. He was crushing his teeth and had a scary look in his eyes.
"Thanks, Maria. I need another favor from you?"
"Yes?"
"In this computer disk," he took it out from his coat pocket, "are DNA sequences that contain a special gene. I want you to compare them to the DNA from the experiments and see if they match. They might match to one of the DNA samples, or they might just contain the same gene. Let me know what you find out."
"Okay. You are going to have to give me some time. I don't have clearance, so I have to sneak in the middle of the night. All's under lock and key, so perhaps in a couple of weeks I can have the info."
"Thank you, Maria. You don't have to do this, you know."
"But I do, I didn't become a medical researcher to live in a vacuum. If our research involves these unethical and cruel experiments, I don't want any part of it. Jarod, you know, my father always told me that the worst thing he ever saw was when he was in the service back in W.W.II. It was those Nazi concentration camps. He was there when they liberated Auschwitz. He would still have nightmares about it when he died. I wouldn't want him to think I was working on something that emulated that type of inhumanity," she said with conviction and passion. Her eyes were shinning. When she got like this, Jarod found her very attractive. If only his heart did not belong to someone else.
"Your father would be proud of you, Maria," Jarod said and grabbed her hand. He gently squeezed it, "I have to go out of town. I'm going to see a friend back East and then on to Europe. You have my cell number. Let me know what you find out, okay?"
"Yes. And Jarod? What's her name?" Maria said, happy that Jarod had given her the opening to ask about this friend of his. She was sure it was that someone he was always thinking about in the back of his mind.
"Who?"
"You know who! Don't give me that innocent boy look, Jarod! I'm on to you. That special someone, that's who. What is her name?"
Jarod was caught by surprise. Maria seemed to be quite perceptive. "Uhm, her name is Marisa. And not another word of it, okay?"
Maria smiled. "Okay, you go get her!"
Jarod blushed slightly and got up to leave. Before heading out the door, he leaned into her ear and whispered, "Only if you go get Thomas too."
She gave out a short laugh and said, "Deal!"
The pretender stepped out of the cafe with a mission. He needed to find out whose DNA they had been using. It was probably one of the women in the Red Files. He suddenly stopped in his tracks. The last file... It couldn't be? Could it? He hoped not. If so, the Centre had a lot more to answer for.
But first, he needed to make sure Miss Parker was all right. He owed his childhood friend that.
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end of part 2
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sneak preview of part 3: Miss Parker goes on a little vacation to New York and Jarod follows. Broots makes a discovery about the new Mrs. Lyle.
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