Disclaimer : All the characters in this story belong to NBC. This story took
me almost a month to write (thanks to joys of High School!) Well, Enjoy!
Title - Deep Deception Part 1
Author - Ashlee
E-mail address - zyp959@hotmail.com
Rating - PG
Category - AV (Adventure)/ AU (Alternate Universe)
Series/Sequel - 1st of a three part story.
Spoilers - N/A
Summary - Miss Parker finally catches Jarod only find out that the one person
she thought she could trust is one of her most dangerous enemies.
"Deep Deception"
by Ashlee
The Centre, Blue Cove, Delaware
March 12th, 1999
Mr. Parker’s Office
Two men stood in Mr. Parker’s office in deep discussion. One was Mr. Parker himself wearing his usual gray suit that matched his gray hair and cold eyes. The other had never before been seen at the Centre. He was a tall man with dark hair and an unusually stiff face. He was well built, but still seemed a bit older than his appearance let on.
"Look," said the stranger, "I killed that woman for you. You owe me, that is unless you want someone to find out."
"I know what you did. It’s done and over. I owe you nothing. You needed her gone just as much as me. She knew too much about both of us."
There was a knock on the door and in walked Miss Parker. Wearing a black business suit that fit her slim body perfectly and showed off her long legs fitted with stiletto heels. Her dark hair rested perfectly, as always, on her slim shoulders. She gazed up at her father with her cold, blue eyes.
"Hello Daddy. I just came….. Oh, I’m interrupting. Sorry."
"No Angel it’s perfectly all right. Jeffery here was just leaving."
Jeffery was staring at Miss Parker as if he had just seen a ghost. Shaking himself out of it he made his way out of the room as if there was nothing wrong.
"Right. Good day Mr. Parker. Miss Parker." With a curt nod in her direction he left the room.
"Now what was it that you needed Princess?"
"I was just bringing you the latest on Jarod," replied Miss Parker in a distracted voice. "Daddy, why was that man really here, and why did he look at me that way?"
"Now Darling," came an annoyingly familiar voice from the doorway, "I’m sure that it’s just some old business. Right, pumpkin woomkin." There stood Brigette. With her bleached, short hair and slim self. She walked over to her new husband and in a childish, lovey-dovey voice said ‘pumpkin wumpkin’.
"God, don’t make me sick. Here are the reports Daddy. Bye."
Miss Parker hurried out of the room and headed for SL-4 were Broots and Sydney were trying to locate Jarod.
***
Jerry Hanson’s Mansion
Las Cruses, New Mexico
Jarod, a tall, handsome, well built man with jet black hair and brown puppy dog eyes, sat across from a man in a dark suit. The strange man was wearing a tuxedo and was quite handsome in a thin kind of way. He had blond hair and blue eyes. All and all a typical all-American beach bum. Jarod had a gun on him though. They stood in a large dining room with expensive trinkets all around.
"So how much did you make off of killing him?" asked Jarod determinedly, pushing the gun into the man’s face.
"Well if you must know, four thousand" replied the man as if the question annoyed him. Not that he was in any position to be annoyed.
"Four thousand? That’s it! Is that all a man’s life is worth to you? He had children! A wife! Doesn’t any of that matter to you?"
"Jarod, this is a competitive world. It’s survival of the fittest. I need money so I kill those that I get paid to kill. When you add up all the four thousand dollar contracts it comes to an exceedingly high amount." He replied calmly to Jarod’s outburst of rage and confusion.
"Well, maybe it’s time that you get a taste of your own medicine. You see I’m being paid forty thousand to kill you."
With that Jarod shot the man in each leg. He fell to the ground as the blood gushed out. Jerry screamed in pain. With that Jarod turned to leave.
"What are you, crazy? You can’t leave me here! I’ll bleed to death!" The man was panicking and pleading for all that he was worth, but none of it seemed to touch Jarod.
"Well, you dying is the plan. How else will I get my money? Oh by the way everything is on tape." A look of horror came over the man’s face as Jarod continued to leave.
"Everything? Oh God, help me! This can’t be happening." The man was whispering to himself now in disbelief. He had controlled the destiny of so many people, and now it was his life that lay in another’s hands.
"Please," he begged, "don’t kill me."
"Oh, but Jerry, remember? It’s survival of the fittest." With those final words Jarod left Jerry to think about the situation. He knew that an ambulance was on the way. And there for the police to find on the front table would be the recording of Jerry’s confession. Everything was going great.
***
Miss Parker’s House
Dover, Delaware
(Sorry if it’s wrong. I’m guessing)
That night Miss Parker sat alone in here house waiting for Thomas to call. The phone rang. She picked up the phone.
"Thomas?" she asked.
"No, Miss Parker. It’s me." Jarod’s all too familiar voice came over the line. "But I would like to know how the dinner went the other night. You know the one with your brother Lyle.."
"Jarod, you don’t need to remind me. So, what do you want? To torture me a little more about Daddy’s marriage to that bimbo? Or perhaps taunt me with mind games?"
"No. I was calling to ask why it is you think that Brigitte is the only one with alternative motives in your family."
"She is not part of the family."
"Sorry. Daddy also has quite a few secrets that he hasn’t shared with you. Have you seen you mother’s coroners report? It’s quit intriguing actually. However, I’d like to know how a woman could commit suicide when the gun powder residue shows that the kill shot was fired from at least five feet away and why she would shoot herself in the chest." The other end of the line had gone silent. Although Jarod couldn’t see it he knew that the strong and composed Miss Parker was crying. In a sincere voice he apologized.
"I’m sorry Miss Parker. I just wanted you to realize that your father is not all you make him out to be."
"Well," Came Miss Parker’s calm, cold voice over the line, "Perhaps you should ask your father how my mother died. According to Fenigor he’s the one who killed her." Miss Parker slammed down the phone in disgust. Why must he always do that to her? Bring up the past in such a harsh way. She wanted to know what happened to her mother, but not this way. She just wished that she could bring Jarod in and be done with him and the Centre. So she could move on with her life and with Thomas. The only question left was how to capture Jarod. She had it! She picked up the phone and called Broots.
***
Motel 6
Thief River Falls, Minnesota
Jarod decided that perhaps this would be an appropriate place to stay the night. He was after all looking to send a thief down the river to take a fall. It was a Motel 6 room in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. It was a small town in the northern part of the state. There was no one there that he needed to be punished. He just needed to be somewhere desolate. Somewhere where he could regroup and find some other person that was taking advantage of the weak and abused. He had just finished talking to Miss Parker and was regretting being so harsh. Despite everything he still cared about her. He had just wanted to get the point across. Well, she hated him anyway, Jarod thought, I really shouldn’t dwell on it. After stacking up a wide assortment of papers from all around the country and taking a shower Jarod checked the bed, crawled in after everything was safe, and settled in for a sleep full of dreams.
***
The Centre Sl-4
March 13, 1999
Blue Cove, Delaware
Miss Parker came sauntering into SL-4 at 9:00 the next morning. She walked over to where Broots and Sydney were standing looking timidly down at a computer screen.
"So, did you find out were Frankenboy is?" Miss Parker asked in a tone that demanded a yes.
"Give me fifteen more seconds..," said Broots in a low tone. "YES! Ha! Here it is! I’ve triangulated the signal to a small town in northern Minnesota called..um..here it is. The town is Thief River Falls. Talk about your irony!"
Sydney smiled when he heard the name, but there was also a look of deep concern in his eyes. He wanted both that Jarod be found, but deep down he also hoped for Jarod’s freedom.
"This is great! This is perfect! I’ve finally got that freak right ware I want him! I’m going to go and get him right now. Broots, call the airfield and arrange for a plane to leave immediately." Miss Parker seemed full of energy, delight and pure triumph. As though she had just beat Goliath.
"Miss Parker," inquired Sydney, "Don’t you want us to accompany you?"
"No. I’m going to bring in Ratboy alone. This is my key to freedom. You two stay here and keep this quiet. I don’t want the tower or any of their little spies to get wind of this, understand?" With that she stormed out of the room leaving behind an open mouthed and stunned Broots and a worried Sydney.
"Man, I hope she doesn’t fall for any of Jarod’s mind games," said Broots in a worried and shocked voice.
***
Motel 6
Thief River Fall, Minnesota
Jarod sat in his room with his newly discovered food, kung pow chicken, and browsing through some newspapers. He had already been through half of them. Nothing had popped up yet, but it was only a little after 11:30 a.m. and he was sure that there would be one eventually. He was shocked by the number of corrupt people in the world and what they were willing to do for money. It was hard to believe that one human being would kill another for only a few thousand. He looked over at the clock and noticed that it was after 7:00 in the evening. He decided that going to a new place might be a good idea. He quickly threw his pez dispensers, Mr. Potato Head, slinky and all his other trinkets and what few clothes he had into a bag and left the room abandoned. All that was left was a note to Miss Parker.
Just as Jarod was leaving Miss Parker pulled up and spotted him getting into a car. Quickly she pulled up beside the building so that he wouldn’t see her. When she spotted the bag she knew that someone had tipped him off. The first person to come to mind was Sydney. Damn it! Thought Miss Parker in a tone of disgust. Then she thought, well, he doesn’t know I’m here so I could follow him and give him the surprise of his life. She watched Jarod in his car. He was driving away unaware of her presence. Miss Parker quickly pulled out and started to follow at a safe distance.
After five hours of driving eastward Miss Parker was beginning to worry that she might have to stop for gas and would loose him. With the heavy traffic flow Jarod was totally oblivious to her presence, but that only made it harder for her stay close enough to him and if she stopped for gas all her chances would be blown away. Thankfully, at that moment, Jarod pulled into a hotel in Ironwood, Wisconsin. This time it was a Great Western Hotel. It was a small, average hotel. Not the kind that she preferred, but she wasn’t planning on staying long.
***
Great Western Motel
Ironwood, Wisconsin
Jarod walked up to the check-in counter unaware that Miss Parker was outside in her car waiting to follow him to his room. He got his room, the one furthest away from the rest of the guests as possible, and paid in cash. He thanked the clerk and went up to his room on the fifth floor. A couple minutes later Miss Parker walked in and approached the young, male clerk.
"Can I help you Miss?" Asked the clerk.
"Yes you can. I’m looking for a man that just checked in. I’m supposed to meet him at his room. I don’t suppose you can tell me the number." She batted her eyes and watched the poor clerk fall under her control.
The clerk seemed to find no problem with releasing the information and gave it up without a problem. As she walked away the clerk looked on in awe.
Jarod was just finishing arranging his toys. He had taken off his shirt and was heading towards the shower when he heard a knock at the door. Expecting it to be a cleaning lady with fresh towels he opened the door without looking out the peephole. When he opened the door a gun was stuck into his face. When he looked behind the gun he spotted the all too familiar face of Miss Parker.
"Step back into the room and don’t say a word," Said Miss Parker in a menacing voice. Slowly Jarod reentered the room and sat down on the bed.
"It’s so nice that you dropped in Miss Parker. Where are Sydney and Broots?"
"They’re not here. They’re back at the Centre arranging a Welcome Home Party for you. Well, it looks as though your coming home after all Jarod. Such a pity that because of your capture, I gain my freedom." At that statement Jarod started to laugh. Not an outright laugh, but more of an ‘I can’t believe that you think that’s true’ snort.
"What is so funny about that?" Miss Parker demanded in a menacing tone.
"You honestly think that just because you bring me in that you are going to be free of the Centre? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that’ll never happen. Once you’re part of the Centre you’re stuck with them the rest of your life, no matter who you know." Jarod replied in a regretful voice.
"What makes you so sure of this, Boy Wonder? Another one of your premonitions?"
"No, you’re father is one of the people who run the place. No matter what you are still going to have some connection to that hellhole, and there’s always going to be someone watching. There is no escaping them."
"Shut up. Now put your shirt on and handcuff yourself to one of the bedposts." Jarod reluctantly obeyed. As he did Miss Parker, with the gun still trained on him, pulled out her cell phone and hit a speed dial button. She put the phone to her ear and waited. As she did so she checked the handcuffs. They were combination handcuffs to which only she knew the code. She felt secure that unless he had the patience to sit and try all 498 different combinations of numbers, that he wasn’t going to get away.
"Hello?" Boots’ voice came over the phone.
"Broots, this is Parker. I’ve got FreakBoy right here. He’s secure. I want you to call the pilot and tell him that we’re in some town called Ironwood in Wisconsin."
"Yes, of course Miss Parker. Just give me a second. All right he knows. The plane should be there in two hours." Broots voice was shaky with intimidation
"All right. Tell Sydney that I caught his little experiment. I guess that Boy Genius isn’t as smart as he thought."
"Sure thing Miss Parker." Than the phone went dead in her hands.
"Damn it!"
"Having problems Miss Parker?" Asked Jarod innocently as Miss Parker threw her phone on the floor in disgust.
"Wow, what intuition you have. No wonder you’re a Pretender." Miss Parker’s voice dripped with sarcasm. Slowly she walked across the room and gazed out the window. The room was silent for five minutes. Neither wanted to talk. They had nothing to say. Jarod couldn’t figure out how she had found him. All his plans had been spontaneous. No one could have found him, especially not the Centre. It had him flabbergasted.
Miss Parker stared out the window in deep thought of what her life was going to be like without the Centre. But, she also couldn’t help but think that Jarod might be right. She knew too much about the goings on at the Centre. Maybe she would never get away, but if that were to happen she would make the Centre pay.
"So," began Jarod who was getting tired of the silence, "how did you find me? I think since now that you’ve caught me that it won’t hurt to share."
"Actually," Miss Parker started in a somewhat nice voice, "I guess you’re right. There’s nothing else to do. After you called the time before last I remembered something that I had saw the forest service use to track down a lost ranger who had called them on his cell phone. So, I called Broots and asked him to set up a system that would automatically triangulate the signal from your cell phone the next time you felt the urge to torture me. It worked and I flew to Thief River Fall, followed you here and the rest is history." With the last part of the sentence Miss Parker let out an evil snort.
"You know, I really shouldn’t have drank all that Dr. Pepper. If it isn’t too big a deal, could you uncuff me to go to the bathroom? That is unless you would like to change the sheets."
"Yeah, fine, but try and pull a fast one and I’ll make sure that you can’t walk." With that Miss Parker checked the bathroom. After discovering that there was no way for him to escape she put the combination into the cuffs in order to release him.
"Thanks," Jarod said as he went into the bathroom. About 5 minutes later he came strolling back out but didn’t see Miss Parker.
"What the….." Just then Miss Parker walked back in with ice, cups and a couple sodas from the machine down the hall.
"All the luxuries of home I see," replied Jarod in a cheery tone.
"You’re hilarious. Ever pretend to be a comedian? God, I could use a shot of scotch right about now."
"You know that alcohol isn’t good for your ulcer Miss Parker." Jarod said with deep and genuine concern in his voice and eyes.
"Yeah? Well, you don’t help a whole lot either, but that has yet to bug you." She replied with an icy tone as she re-handcuffed Jarod to the bed
Suddenly the bedside phone rang and Jarod picked it up. "Jarod here."
"Uh, yeah hi, is Miss Parker there?" Broots’ confused and nervous voice inquired.
"Yeah, hold on. She’s right here. Oh Miss Parker!" he called for her in a happy tone, "It’s for you!’
"Give me that to me you moron! What is it?"
"Uh, Miss Parker? I, um, have some bad news."
"Well, spit it out all ready. I don’t have all night!"
"Uh, actually you do. That’s the bad news. A storm has held up the plane. It can’t get there until the storm clears, and that might not be for at least two days."
"You have to be kidding! This can’t be happening to me! What If we drive?"
"You won’t make it. There are white out conditions."
"Wait a second. Rat Boy here is a pilot. Have the Centre rent a plane at the North Ironwood airport in Michigan. Genius here is going to fly us home. Bye." As she hung up and patted Jarod on the cheek. "Congratulations. You have earned the privilege of flying your sorry ass back to the Centre."
***
The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
It was 6:00 a.m. and once again Mr. Parker was in his office with Jeffery, but now there was a third party present, Mr. Reins. They were standing around Mr. Parker's desk listening to a tape of the telephone conversation between Miss Parker and Broots. They had taped the whole conversation and were just listening to the end.
"Wait a second. Rat Boy here is a pilot. Have the Centre rent a plane at the North Ironwood airport in Michigan. Genius here is going to fly us home. Bye."
"She..has Jarod…and has failed…to inf..orm us. We must…get rid..of them..both. She…cannot…leave the…Centre alive." Mr. Reins said in his raspy voice. "Jeffrey..you must…get that plane…to experience an…accident."
"Wait, isn’t there another way? That’s my daughter damn it! We can’t kill her!" Mr. Parker said in an almost desperate tone.
Mr. Reins lifted his head as if it were to heavy and looked Mr. Parker in the eye. "No there isn’t. For the Centre’s.. safety we can’t have… loose cannons running… around. Your daughter is to… much like her mother… to be kept… alive. They are both… going to have to die." Mr. Parker kept silent after that. He knew that Reins was right and that he had no choice in this matter, just like he had had no choice in the matter with Katherine. Just then Jeffery, who had been using Mr. Parker’s phone, hung up.
"It’s all been set. I sent an operative in the local area to cause an accident. They will never know what hit them."
"That..is…perfect" replied Mr. Rains He gave one last pointed look that also carried a threat if his orders were not carried out.
***
Great Western Hotel
Ironwood, Wisconsin
"I hope you’re up on your flying hours, because you are flying us home." Miss Parker told him in a taunting tone. She knew that it would bug him. He would realize the irony of him flying himself back to the place he dreaded most. She quickly went around the room stuffing Jarod’s belongings back into his bag. She then un-cuffed him from the bed only to recuff his hands behind his back. She grabbed the bag and they started to leave.
"Well, I’m glad that you trust my flying abilities. In case you are forgetting, I crashed a plane just a few weeks ago. But your confidence in me is flattering."
"Shut up. Take the back stairs I don’t want anyone to see us."
"All right. You know I read some were that a lady is never in a rush. Oh, wait. I guess that wouldn’t apply to you, now would it." He said with a little laugh and headed out the door.
They descended the five flights of stairs into the back parking lot. They walked around the building to Jarod’s rented car. She shoved Jarod into the front seat and grabbed the keys out of the ignition. First she checked the back seat and when she came up with nothing she headed for the trunk. When she opened it she found what she had been looking for. There right in front of her were the fruits of her three-year search. The DSA’s in their portable case. She grabbed the case and retrieved Jarod. Then they walked over to Miss Parker’s rented cherry red Chevy Beretta. She pulled out onto US 51 and they started their two-hour trek through the night.
After a half-hour into their drive Jarod finally broke the silence. "I don’t suppose that you could find it in you to cuff my hands in front of me instead, and, if it’s not any trouble, stop at a wayside. I really have to use the mens’ room."
"How much Dr. Pepper did you drink?"
"Three 20 oz. bottles."
"Wow, that was real intelligent."
"Well, I wasn’t exactly planning on being kidnapped and dragged out of my hotel room."
They drove in silence for another five minutes before Miss Parker whipped the car into a wayside. She went over to the passenger side and opened the door. After Jarod got out she cuffed his hands in front of him and followed him to the mens’ outhouse. "All right get in there. I’ll be guarding the door."
"Why, Miss Parker. Don’t you need too use the facilities?" Jarod asked in an innocent voice.
"That was almost cute. I’m not blonde Jarod. Now go before I change my mind."
After waiting for three minutes in the cold Jarod finally reappeared. "Feeling better?" Asked Miss Parker.
"Much. Thanks for stopping."
"Yeah, well I didn’t want you peeing all over my car." She replied, knowing full well that Jarod wasn’t fooled by her tough attitude. They headed for the car, entered it a resumed their trip. On the way Jarod had fallen asleep. Miss Parker couldn’t help but hear him mumbling in his sleep. He tossed and turned in the seat. Just as she started to block out his rambling he yelled. "Noooo!"
Jarod sat up with a start. He was dripping with sweat. Miss Parker regained control of the car and looked over at him and he seemed a bit embarrassed. Trying to take attention away from his sudden outburst he broke the silence. "Do you think that we could get something to eat before we, or should I say I, have to fly back to Blue Cove. Think of it as a last meal."
Miss Parker looked over at him annoyed but in the end agreed. She didn’t like making these stops because it required her to release Jarod from his handcuffs, but she was hungry too. They stopped at a truck stop 20 minutes from the airport. She unlocked Jarod’s hands before they left the car.
"Look," said Miss Parker pulling Jarod back into the car. "If you start to run away I will shoot you in the knees."
With that she exited the car and waited while Jarod did the same. She followed Jarod into Gary’s Roadside Grill. They took a seat in a dark corner and Miss Parker light a cigarette. Inhaling deeply she looked over across the booth at Jarod. He had a stained menu up to his face. She exhaled the smoke and took a disgusted look around the truck stop. Across the room to big, burly, greasy truck drivers were staring at her and obviously making lude comments.
"Well, Miss Parker this is a new one for you. I didn’t think that this was your kind of place."
"It’s not. This place is a dump. Any health inspector with a pea sized brain would close this rat infestation down in two seconds."
The waitress walked up to them and asked for their orders. Jarod got a cheeseburger with fries and a Dr. Pepper while Miss Parker ordered a salad and a double scotch on the rocks. The waitress walked off to get their order, although she wasn’t pleased with Miss Parker's ‘holier than thou’ attitude.
"If you’re going to drive you really shouldn’t drink. You know, I could always drive," offered Jarod.
"Ha, that was funny." Miss Parker retorted in a disgusted tone.
"You know you really have to lighten up. I was joking. Like you would really let me drive."
Suddenly the waitress appeared with their food. Miss Parker took a sip of the scotch and seemed to saver it. "You know," said Jarod staring at her, "I thought that you would have stopped drinking after that close call at the hospital."
"I did. I only have one drink a night now." They left it at that and both ate in silence. After fifteen minutes the waitress returned. "Is there anything else I can get you folks?"
"Well, now that you mention it could you get me a refill?" asked Jarod. Before the waitress could get the cup Miss Parker broke in.
"Forget the order. I am not stopping every five minutes so you can relieve yourself."
"All right," said the waitress not knowing what to do until Jarod nodded his head at her, "well, here’s your bill. Have a nice evening." She walked off towards the bar to tend to the other customers.
As they were leaving the two burly truck drivers walked up and stepped between Miss Parker and Jarod.
"Hey there. Were do you think you’re going pretty lady." Asked the biggest of the two. Jarod turned around to see what was going on. When he heard the first one speak he knew exactly what was going to happen. He walked back around the two men to stand beside Miss Parker.
"Look you big incompetent bastard, if you do not move right now you’ll be a dickless wonder. El Comprehenda?" Asked Miss Parker in a stone cold, menacing way.
"Ooh, looks like we got one of them feisty ones here." Said the big one to his smaller companion.
"Yeah, I heard them feisty ones are real fun." The smaller one said looking hungrily at Miss Parker.
"Look. You boys might really want to back off. She packs one mean punch. Trust me." Spoke up Jarod. He hoped the men would listen. Otherwise they would both see what she was really made of.
"Oh, are you her boyfriend? Look, Bobby, I think that little lady’s man wants a piece of us." Said the big one. They both began to advance on Jarod, who was small compared to either of them. As the big one took a step forward Miss Parker sent a roundhouse kick smack in the center of his chest. As the buffalo of a man landed on the floor she put the point of her stiletto heel onto his neck. While staring into the wild eyes of her hostage she spoke to the smaller man. "Back off now or I crush his neck." The smaller man reluctantly backed off. "Now," Miss Parker continued, "if you don’t mind we’ll be off. Goodnight boys. Oh, and never call him," Miss Parker said while pointing an indignant finger at Jarod, "my man." They headed out the door and to the parked car. The two truckers looked on in shock, their pride permanently tarnished. They climbed into the car and Miss Parker re-handcuffed Jarod. They drove the last twenty minutes in silence. Neither wanting to discuss the preceding event. When they reached the airport it was ten o’clock at night. They parked the car in the guest parking lot.
"Miss Parker? I think that we should sleep tonight and start tomorrow. I want to be rested before I fly."
"Fine. After all crashing isn’t high on my to do list. I want to check on the plane reservations."
"Umm, Miss Parker?"
"What now?" She asked in a sharp annoyed voice.
"Well, this is just a suggestion, but you might want to rent a different plane."
"Yeah, why’s that."
"Well, if the Tower got word that you found me they just might kill two birds with one stone, if you get my drift. They just might have the place wired. You never know, especially after that T-board thing."
"Despite how much I hate to do this I’m going to have to agree. That wheezing freak with his squeaking oxygen tank just might want to get rid of me permanently. God, why couldn’t he have died when Syd shot his.."
"You mean Sydney shot Mr. Reins?" Asked Jarod in surprise.
"Wow, you catch on fast. I’m surprised he didn’t mention it. I suppose he couldn’t really brag about it because of the wrong ears listening in. Enough with the chit chat. Let’s get going." With that Miss Parker unlocked Jarod and they were on their way.
***
Northern Ironwood Airport
Northern Ironwood, Michigan
As Miss Parker and Jarod walked up to the only counter there they were greeted buy an attendant who looked as though he had been working for at least 12 hours. That didn’t seem to bother Miss Parker. She walked straight up to the clerk. "I want to rent a plane." She demanded.
"Wow how nice for you." said the clerk in a tired voice, not at all intimidated by the harshness in her tone. "Tell it to someone else. I’m off duty, finally." With that he walked off towards the doors hunched over as if he were about to fall asleep on his feet.
Miss Parker looked as if she liked to run after him and pound the living shit out of him. Jarod grabbed a hold of her arm to make sure that she did no such thing. She turned to him and before she could give him that "let go of me or die" look he pointed to another clerk who looked much more alive. Miss Parker grabbed a hold of his arm and towed him along after her. She stormed up to the female clerk and looked her directly in the eye with an intimidating stare. "We need a plane now. Can you get us one?"
"Good evening. Of course I can lease you a plane. You just need to follow me please. Oh and you’ll have to fill out a few forms of course." Replied the clerk in an over cheerful, bubbly tone.
Miss Parker looked as though she liked to smack the smile off her pale, beautiful face. "Yes, of course." She shot back in an overly polite tone, obviously making fun of the over zealous clerk.
They followed the clerk to a nearby counter. She walked behind and reached into a drawer and pulled out some forms. "Here you go ma’am. These are insurance, identification, background, and flight plan forms. Just fill these out over there," the clerk pointed to a row of seats, "and return them to me when you are finished." The clerk finished in her still to joyful voice.
After filling out the hours worth of paper work using fake identification and insurance, they finally reached the flight plan. After some help from Jarod, Miss Parker had, at long last, finished the paper work. She walked it up to the still giddy clerk.
"Here’s all the paper work. Now, when will the plane be ready?" Miss Parker demanded her voice filled with the frustration and discontentment of a person of her stature being forced to fill out paper work.
"Well, ma’am. We can have the plane ready for you bright and early tomorrow morning."
"Why not tonight?"
"The information on the paper work has to be verified along with your flight plan and his flying status," she added gesturing to Jarod, "but we can have that all done tonight and you can take off tomorrow." Replied the clerk, the cheerfulness in her voice not at all effected by the harshness in her inquirers tone.
"Fine. We’ll be here early tomorrow morning and the check had better be complete." Miss Parker grabbed Jarod by the arm and stormed out with Jarod in tow.
"A little moody are we?" Asked Jarod knowing full well that that was the stupidest question to ask.
"Look Sherlock, because of you I had to fill out an hours worth of paper work, and on top of that I have to spend a night with you in some nasty hick town hotel in the middle of nowhere. I don’t have a change of clothes and I am in serious need of a shower. Then I have to baby-sit you!"
"You don’t have to baby-sit me." She just gave him a drop-dead stare and shoved him into the car and slammed the door in his face. She stormed around to the other side and got in. For the next hour they searched for a hotel that lived up to Miss Parker’s standards. They finally found one.
***
The West Mark Hotel
Northern Ironwood, Michigan
Miss Parker and Jarod entered the lobby together. She stalked up to the counter and made her demands. "We need a double."
The clerk looked up and slowly processed what had been said. "A double you say? What’s the matter sweetheart? You and your hubby get into a fight?" the clerk asked while giving a little laugh as if he found it preposterous that when a couple got in a fight they should be banned to separate beds.
"First off he isn’t my ‘hubby’. Can we get that room sometime today?" She asked irritated that he was digging into her affairs.
"Sure, sure. I see how it is now," he said winking at Jarod. "Here missy. You have room 22. Enjoy."
Without another word Miss Parker pushed Jarod, who was carrying his bag, off towards their room. Once inside her demeanour seemed to change. She calmed down and lost the guarded distant look. She slammed the door shut with her foot and pushed him into the bathroom. After checking it out to make sure there was no possible route for escape she became even more settled. "Do you want to take a shower?" She asked in a tired, weary voice.
Not knowing what to say, for he had never saw Miss Parker without her cool exterior since she was a child, replied, "Uh, I suppose. Thank you." She just nodded in his direction and sat down on the bed as he headed for the shower.
As he let the cool water wash away the weariness that the day had settled upon him he wondered what was wrong with Miss Parker. When they were alone she seemed weak and fragile. Maybe the idea of bringing me back really does bother her, he thought. Or maybe it was beginning to sink in that her father really is what I say he is. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t come up with a decisive answer to what was ailing her. He continued with his shower weighing the possibilities.
Outside the bathroom Miss Parker laid across the bed closest to the bathroom relaxing. She knew that she had a lot of work to do before she was really free, if they let her go at all. There was always the possibility, no matter how minute, that Jarod could be right. If that should happen she would cross that bridge when she got there. For now, she thought, I should just relish in the goal that I have finally accomplished. But, for some reason, she couldn’t quite bring herself to rejoice in the fact that she had caught the older version of the young boy she had once been so fond of.
***
The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
The door to Mr. Parker’s office was securely shut. Mr. Parker and Jeffery were once again discussing the matter that had previously been interrupted. This time, though, there was another member occupying the meeting.
"I’m not asking a lot. Considering what I know and what information will be leaked if you kill me I say that 10 million isn’t a whole lot to ask." Jeffrey said in a mater of fact tone.
Just then there was a knock on the door and Sam entered looking like his usual calm self except for the fretful look in his normally cold eyes. "Mr. Reins? We have a small problem. It seems that Miss Parker has rented a different plane. There is no time to rig the new one. What do you want us to do?" Sam spit out terrified that Mr. Reins might decide to take his anger out on him.
Before Reins could reply Mr. Parker broke in. "Thank you for the update. We will take over now."
"Yes sir." With that Sam left closing the door behind him.
"What will our recourse be?" Jeffery asked in a monotone voice.
"We will…put one..of our men…on the check…crew. They can..cause the plane…to crash. I don’t…want there to be any..bombs. It has to…look like a.. legitimate...crash. Understood?"
"Yes, I’ll get right on it sir." Jeffery hurried out of the room to get one of his hench men on the phone.
Back in Mr. Parker’s office it wasn’t a pretty sight. Mr. Parker wasn’t looking good, but Mr. Reins said something to him that made the situation that was about to occur tolerable.
"Now…there will be no one…to tell our…secrets."
***
The West Mark Hotel
Northern Ironwood, Michigan
Miss Parker had been asleep when she heard the bathroom door open. She looked up and saw Jarod’s head peek out. "Miss Parker, could you please hand me my bag? I need some different clothes."
Whipping the sleep away with a sweep of her hand, Miss Parker reached for the bag to hand it to him, but decided instead to get the clothes out of the bag herself so that he couldn’t pull anything over on her. She pulled out a pair of boxer-briefs, jeans, and a white T-shirt and placed them in the hand that Jarod offered without saying a word. "Thanks," he said before closing the bathroom door to change.
When he entered the bedroom he noticed that Miss Parker had gathered herself together. She looked ragged and tired, but otherwise up to par. "Get on the far bed." She said in a demanding tone. Jarod obeyed, deciding not to push his luck. He was lucky to get a shower and he would leave it at that for now. Miss Parker pulled out a new pair of the combination cuffs and cuffed him to the bed’s backboard. This set of cuffs had 1,067 different combinations of numbers. She knew that it would take even him at least eight hours to figure the combination out. "There. Now I am going into the shower. Oh and don’t expect the maid to be coming. I put the do not disturb sign up. Don’t do anything stupid. She grabbed a pair of his pajama bottoms and white T-shirt from Jarod’s bag and headed off to take a shower.
Miss Parker took her time in the shower allowing her to relax and decide what to do. She knew that her only option was to bring Jarod in. Surely by now the Triumvirate must have at least heard rumors that she had found, if not captured, Jarod. With all that had been going on she was sure that if she did fail this time that they would think that she was the one who had been helping Jarod. If that happened only God could help her and she wasn’t betting on his help after all she had done. Slowly she finished her shower and reluctantly crawled out.
In the next room Jarod laid on the bed with his hands securely cuffed above his head. He was wondering what, if anything, he could do to get out of this situation. So far things weren’t looking up. The only thing that he could come up with… WAIT! He thought, I’ve got it. Unless she has a death wish there is no way my plan can fail. Just as this sudden realization came to mind Miss Parker stepped out of the bathroom. Her black hair was dripping and slightly mussed causing the shirt that she was wearing to stick to her curvaceous body. Her pants hung on her and looked as if they might fall off. She had on no makeup and was barefoot. As she sauntered around the room Jarod looked after her in incredulity. Never before had she appeared so pure and harmless as she did at that moment. That was until she spoke. "Were the hell’s that damn phone book? I need a dry cleaner."
"Did you look in the drawer? Although, I don’t think that that suit will be good flying attire. If we crash or have to make an emergency landing you might want something more appropriate."
"Yeah, like what," she asked putting up her defensive edge again.
"Like some jeans, a sweatshirt, socks, and hiking boots and an extra set of clothes."
"Fine. Lets go." She walked over to the bed and once again uncuffed Jarod. As they started towards the door Jarod stopped her.
"Are you going in that?" He asked pointing at her pajamas.
"Well, I don’t have much of a choice do I? It isn’t like anyone here will care anyway. They’re probably wearing the clothes they shovelled up cow shit in. At least mine are clean. Aren’t they?" She asked turning to Jarod realizing that she hadn’t before inquired about this.
"Yeah they are."
"Good. Now lets go before I change my mind."
Miss Parker led the way out into the parking lot. It was about 10:00 p.m. and there were few stores still open in the small town. After looking at the few stores that were open they found that they were out of luck. That was until they came across Bob’s outdoor attire. As they walked in they were amazed to find all that they needed. Miss Parker made Jarod gather all that they needed in record time, paid with a fake credit card, and went back to the hotel, despite repeated requests by Jarod to stay out and experience the town. Miss Parker gave him the "yeah, I’m almost that stupid" look and dragged him back to their hotel room. When they re-entered the room Miss Parker looked over at Jarod.
"This is last call for the bathroom. This is going to have to last you all night." With that Miss Parker turned away from him and began to fold her clothes and place them into Jarod’s bag. Jarod decided not to question her kindness and entered the bathroom to get ready for bed.
"I need to get my pajamas out of there." Jarod said pointing to the bag. Miss Parker rummaged through the bag until she came across the pajamas. She shoved them into his arms and returned to her packing.
"Thank you." Jarod said as he went to continue getting ready. When he came back into the room he
found Miss Parker in her newly acquired and unflattering flannel pajamas and her bed pushed up against the door.
"Get yourself tucked in Jarod. You’re going to be handcuffed to the bed all night."
"That sounds interesting" said Jarod slyly.
"Yeah, keep dreaming." She said as she walked over to the bed. When Jarod had himself situated Miss Parker handcuffed one of his hands to the bedpost and left him. She turned out the lights. They both lay in bed unable to sleep.
Jarod lay in his bed debating whether or not to tell Miss Parker what he had uncovered before he was abruptly taken. He knew that she would be upset, but it was something that she had to know before she went back to him. "Miss Parker, are you awake?" He whispered, not wanting to disturb her if she had in fact fallen asleep.
"Yes," she replies almost inaudibly.
"There’s something that I have to tell you and you’re not going to like it." Jarod’s voice was shacking with the nervousness that seemed to have taken over his whole body. His stomach began to role.
"What is it?" She asked sounding more alert. Perhaps he’s found out more about my mother, she thought to herself.
"It’s about Thomas," he said shattering her thought. She perked up even more.
"What about him," she asked guardedly.
"Well, okay, there’s no easy way to say this so I’m just going to spit it out. He works for Unit 13. I followed him there one morning after he stayed the night at your house. I used a little technique that I learned at the Centre to listen in. I heard him and a Mr. Braddock talking." He spit it all as fast as he could. Then he added in a low, sad, and concerned voice "Miss Parker, he’s using you."
"Shut up! You’re lying!" She had reached his bed now and punched him. He did nothing. He just looked up at her with wide worried eyes. He decided to let her get it out of her system before telling her the rest. "You’re just saying that because you want me to be alone like you! Always wallowing in my past, looking for answers that I’m never going to find! Well, I’ll leave that to you. Just leave me alone!" She started to stalk back off to her bed when Jarod’s next sentence stopped her.
"I have tapes." Miss Parker stopped in her tracks and whirled around.
"Where?"
"In my bag."
Miss Parker dumped the contents of the bag on the bed at Jarod’s feet and rummaged threw it until she came across three micro-cassettes taped together and the recorder. She sat down at the foot of the bed and began to listen to the first tape.
"How is your assignment coming Thomas?" A deep, burly voice asked.
"She trusts me completely. I think that I can get what we need from her. Although she has yet to confide in me the truth about what she does. She’s completely unaware of who I am." The voice was obviously Thomas’s. Jarod saw Miss Parker’s face drop in despair and betrayal. Jarod’s heart went out to her.
"Good keep it that way. We need her to lead us to Jarod. If we have him we can do away with the Centre for good. Has your surveillance turned up anything?"
"Nothing yet. I got a glimpse at some papers. It seems that she has never caught him. She’s gotten close, but he always manages to get away. I figure that if she leads me to him I will have no problem getting the job done."
"That’s what I wanted to hear. Now go back and report here again as scheduled. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir, Mr. Braddock" A door was heard slamming and then nothing.
"Miss Parker are you alright?" Jarod was really worried about what she might do. He wished that he had some control over the situation. Miss Parker’s face was blank and distant. Then a look of sudden realization came over her.
"God! That bastard could be here right now waiting for us to doze…."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and they both sat up with a start. Miss Parker slowly stood, climbed on her bed and looked through the peephole. She tuned to Jarod with a terrified look on her face. She jumped from the bed and uncuffed Jarod. There was another knock on the door.
"Just a minute!" Miss Parker called as she rushed to gather their things from the bathroom as Jarod put the stuff Miss Parker had dumped on the bed back in the bag. As they were exiting via the window the third knock came. When no one answered there was a loud bang as someone attempted to kick in the door. Only the bed was in the way. Miss Parker and Jarod climbed out the window and sprinted for the car.
***
The West Mark Hotel
Miss Parker’s room
Northern Ironwood, Michigan
"Damn it! Were the hell are they? I just heard her." Thomas yelled clearly frustrated at how close he had come.
"Sir?" Said a young man in a dark blue suit that matched the attire of the other Unit 13 agents, "I think they left through the window."
"No, really Sherlock? See, I thought they left through the front door." Thomas said with sharp sarcasm. He pushed the operative aside and looked out the window. He couldn’t see them, but they couldn’t have gotten far. "What are you twits waiting for? Get your asses moving and get them. NOW!" The operatives scrambled out to cover the perimeter.
Meanwhile Miss Parker and Jarod were already back on the highway speeding away. Nothing was said. They were both trying to regroup and catch their breath. The sick realization of running for their lives was beginning to sink in.
To Be Continued……………………
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