Stolen Secrets
Sydney’s Office
The Centre
Blue Cove Delaware
“Have you seen this Syd?” Miss Parker walked into Sydney’s office, carrying a newspaper, with Broots trailing along behind her. “Five sweeper teams have already been sent to Vallejo.”
Sydney looked up from the newspaper spread out on his desk. “He looks happy, doesn’t he, Parker?” He said with a smile
“That’s beside the point the great chase begins again.”
Broots sat down. “Well, I’m relieved. At least we aren’t the only ones who know about this now. Do you think they’ll assign us to chase him again?”
“Of course, moron, Daddy has already called me to his office.”
Sydney got up and walked around his desk. “Are you going to join in the chase, Parker?”
“What else am I supposed to do?”
Broots looked up timidly. “I…um don’t think your mother would be chasing Jarod M-miss Parker.”
“Well neither would yours.” Miss Parker hissed sarcastically. “I don’t see either of you defending Jarod’s right to freedom.”
“I feel I can be more helpful to Jarod by remaining here for now.”
“They just saved our lives.” Broots added. “How hard we work at this is sort of up to us.”
“What about the boy?” Sydney asked.
“I will not be responsible for bring him in,” Miss Parker snapped. “Raines can do his own dirty work.”
Sydney smiled. “Then were agreed.”
“For now Syd, for now.’
**************************************************************************************
Motel
Vallejo, California
“Jarod wake up. We have to get out of here.” Emily’s frantic whisper pulled Jarod out of a deep sleep.
“What is it?”
“Sweepers.”
Emily handed him his shoes and he noticed everything in the room was packed. “How long have you known?”
“It started out as a paranoid hunch a couple of hours ago.” Emily said as she nervously looked out the window.
Emily walked over and shook Jay awake. “Hay kiddo there’s supposed to be a great meteorite shower tonight. Lets get out of the city so we can see it.”
Jay sat up and studied the tense expressions on Jarod and Emily’s faces. “What going really going on?”
“Sweepers. Stay very quiet and don’t turn on any lights.”
While Jay got ready Emily picked up the phone and dialed. “What are you doing?” Asked Jarod.
“Leaving a trail. If they hit redial they will hopefully think were headed south.”
When Jay was ready Emily went to the door. “Jarod are you carrying?”
“Carrying?”
“A gun.” She hissed as she pulled a rather large pistol from her bag.
“No”
“Damn.”
“Emily?” There was fear in Jay’s voice. “Why do you need a gun?”
“It’s OK kid. It’s just a precaution. Now just stay with us and don’t make a sound. Jarod and I have lots of experience at this.”
The trio silently made their way to the car. They could see a sweeper team in the office talking to the night manager. “ That’s Willie.” Whispered Jay.
They made it to the car unnoticed. The motel had 3 exits Emily went out through a planter and wove through a series of parking lots until the reached the road.
“That was too close for comfort.” Jarod sighed
“How did they find us?” Asked Jay.
“I don’t know. They seem to be everywhere and know everything sometimes.” Replied Jarod.
“Will they catch us?”
“Not a chance kiddo. I always get away.” Emily said lightly. Did either of you notice Lyle and Bridget? There must be a half dozen sweeper teams.”
“We better stay off the main roads.”
“And we’ll have to loose the car.” Emily sighed. First rule of life on the run never get attached to your stuff. It just creates problems.”
**************************************************************************************
The Next Day
Vallejo, California
“Miss Parker” Sam spoke. “ According to their registration card they were driving a Chevy Blazer but this man says they were driving some sort of convertible.” The man standing with Sam spoke. “It wasn’t just a convertible it was a classic 1968 Mustang.”
Miss Parker sighed. “Did you happen to get the license number or the color?”
“No it was dark but they were California plates.”
“You can’t rent a car like that so if we can get the license number we can get an address for the owner.”
“Sam have you ever known Jarod to make it that easy?”
“No Miss Parker.”
Just then Lyle and Brigitte joined them. “Any luck?” Lyle asked.
“They’re driving a convertible,” Sam answered.
“Did you find them among the monkeys at Marine World?” Miss Parker replied sarcastically.
Brigitte removed the lollipop from her mouth. “Must I do everything, luv? After all, I brought him in last time.”
Miss Parker rolled her eyes.
Lyle broke in. “The only person from Marine World who remembered them was an elephant trainer named Chad. Apparently the boy has taken a liking to elephants. He could definitely identify Jarod and the boy, but he wasn’t sure about Lee.”
“Ah, yes. The mysterious Lee. Another traitor to the Centre,” Brigitte purred.
“And what do you mean by that?” Miss Parker snapped.
“Oh nothing, luv. I just have to wonder how we got called away to Africa.”
**************************************************************************************
Mini-storage Unit
Lodi, California
Emily sighed. “Last time I did this, the poor thing was on blocks for six months.”
“Why can’t you keep your car?” Jay asked.
“Too recognizable. A 1968 Mustang is the kind of thing that tends to stand out.”
Jarod drove up in a puke green hatchback. Emily’s eyes widened. “Well, I guess it could be worse, but I’m not sure how.”
Jarod rolled down the window. “Are you ready to go? The salesman assured me that it will be a classic.”
Emily buried her face in her hands. “And you survived three years all on your own?”
On the way out of town, they stopped at a gas station. Emily went in to pay and came out carrying a newspaper. “Nice picture.”
Jarod gasped. “Well, now we know.”
***********************************************************************************
Six Hours Later
The Hideaway
“It’s good to have you back, son. Your mother’s been worried ever since she saw the picture.”
Jarod sighed. “Well, we knew they’d find out eventually.”
“We’re almost ready to leave. Your mother even simulated a cave-in in the entrance to the mine. They’ve had plenty of practice. Apparently the Centre has known about this place for years. But before now, Miranda always got rid of them.”
“Where are Emily and Jay?”
“They’re out catching rattlesnakes to make the entrance a little more…inhospitable. I’m going back to work on Gemini. I got a lot of it decoded while you were gone. Would you like to see?”
“I’ll come in a minute, Dad.”
**************************************************************************************
Sydney’s Office
The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
Miss Parker was sitting on the edge of Sydney’s desk. “Well, we traced Boy Wonder as far up the coast as Westhaven.”
“I hope Jarod has not grown over-confident.”
“If Jarod’s in control. For all we know, this Lee person is orchestrating this entire chase. They left the hotel in the middle of the night, Syd. How did they know we were coming?”
“I wondered about that as well, Parker. If only there were some way to warn him.”
Broots poked his head in. “Miss Parker, Lyle’s looking for you.”
“I suppose he wants me to help look for his thumb again. I guess I’d better go, Syd.”
Sydney returned to the report on his desk. Just then the cell phone rang.
“This is Sydney.”
“I see you’re leading the hounds again, Sydney.”
“Jarod. Are you all right?”
“And why wouldn’t I be?”
“Are you finding your family to be everything you had hoped?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Do I hear a ‘but’?”
Jarod sighed.
“It seems the Centre isn’t the only one with secrets, Jarod.”
“Secrets, Sydney? What aren’t you telling me?”
“Mr. Broots has discovered some disturbing information regarding your sister.”
“Isn’t it just like the Centre to try and destroy what happiness I’ve finally managed to find?”
“I hope you’re right, Jarod. But I think you should know that Emily’s apparent involvement with the Centre goes back nearly a decade.”
“What sort of involvement?”
Sydney paused briefly. “Disappearances, kidnappings, acquisitions…there is a lengthy file.”
“What are you saying, Sydney?”
“Only to be careful, Jarod.”
Jarod hung up and stared at his cell phone. He sighed. Just then, Emily and Jay came over the rise. “We’ve been looking all over for you. It’s time to leave.”
Jarod studied her for a moment. Her T-shirt, which read, “Chocolate—it’s not just for breakfast anymore,” did not match the cold-blooded image that Sydney had painted of her. He tried to reconcile Lee with Emily. Lee was an ice-cold woman that looked at least thirty. Emily had a wide-eyed, child-like quality and sometimes seemed even more innocent than Jay.
But he couldn’t forget the look on her face when she pulled out the gun in the hotel room. Was it fear? Resignation? Or anticipation?
Emily interrupted his thoughts. “What? The rattlesnakes looked friendlier.”
“How did you get into the Centre?”
“On six-inch heels. Are you going some place with this?”
Jay interrupted. “Is something wrong?”
“No, Jay. Why don’t you go make sure the snakes are settled in? And be careful.” She waited until Jay was well on his way. “Jarod?”
“I’ve been talking to Sydney.”
“And?”
“They have a personnel file on you.” He paused. “It goes back a decade.”
Emily sighed. “Do you really think I could have pulled it off in six days? I’ve been working the Lee angle for years. Miranda wrote my original resume.”
“How much of it’s true?”
“Only what had to be.”
“Why do I feel like you have as much to hide as the Centre?”
“And you don’t?”
“How? My whole life’s on DSA.”
“Well, mine’s not.”
Charles came up over the rise. “What’s this about a personnel file?”
Jarod sighed. “Oh, it’s nothing, Dad.”
“It doesn’t look like nothing?”
Emily spoke up. “It would seem Sydney is questioning my loyalties.”
Charles turned to Jarod. “Is that true, son?”
Jarod froze. “There have just been so many unanswered questions in my life.”
“Emily, there is an awful lot we don’t know. Your behavior with Matumbo, alone, is enough cause for suspicion. I’m not saying that I believe any of this, but I think you should be more patient with your brother.”
Emily glared at him menacingly. “Behavior? I suppose you have a problem with success.” She stormed off.
**************************************************************************************
Sydney’s Office
The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
Sydney was at his desk when Broots came in. “Sydney…I finished aging that picture for you.”
“And?”
“It’s inconclusive. It could be her. But I’m just not sure. Oh, but I did find this.” He slipped a DSA into Sydney’s DSA player.
The DSA showed the same young girl, in the same tiny room in SL-27. This time she was lounging in her chair while Raines paced in front of her, shouting angrily. “You will eat what we give you!”
“I told you. If you want me to eat, you have to give me real food.”
“We can just use a feeding tube.”
“If you really thought that was an option, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Besides, won’t it compromise your medical research?”
“You seem to be forgetting your situation. I am in control, here.”
The DSA cut off in a burst of static. Broots turned to Sydney. “This part is dated a full week after the last one we saw.”
“She does not behave like a child raised by the Centre. Has Miss Parker seen this?”
“Um, not yet.”
*************************************************************************************
Southern Oregon
There was a tense silence as Margaret walked away from the car. Finally, Charles spoke. “Son, I want you to tell me just what you and Emily were talking about back there.”
Jarod sighed. “I…talked to Sydney.”
“He doesn’t have your number, does he?”
“Of course not.”
“Well, what did he say?”
“Apparently…they’ve recovered a file.”
Charles looked impatient. “What kind of file? We don’t have all day here, Son.”
“A personnel file…on Lee.”
“Well, she or her mother could’ve planted it.”
“You’re right.”
There was another silence. Charles spoke again. “On the other hand, life with the Centre is seldom that simple.” Jarod didn’t reply. “You know her better than I do, Son. What do you think?”
“I just don’t know.”
“Surely you have some opinion.”
“To be honest, Dad, I’d rather not talk about it.”
“But we have to know. She’s with Jay right now. He may not be safe.”
“I don’t believe she would ever do anything to harm Jay, no matter what else she’s done.”
**************************************************************************************
Western Nevada
“Emily,” Jay asked, “what’s going on with Jarod? I thought you guys were friends.”
“Sometimes even friends have questions.”
“What kind of questions?”
Emily thought for a moment. “About the past. There are pieces of my life that even I don’t talk about.”
“Like what?”
“Like…” Emily sighed dramatically, “when I was seven years old, and I smashed the sacred oogi-toogi bug.”
Jay giggled. “But that’s not what Jarod’s worried about.”
“You just don’t give up, do you? All right, he wants to know about my involvement with the Centre.”
“You were involved with the Centre, too?”
“It was the only way to get Jarod out.”
“Is Mom involved, too?”
“To some extent. I don’t tell her…everything.”
“Like what?”
“Mom’s had a pretty rough life. I try not to cause her any undue stress.”
**************************************************************************************
Mr. Parker’s Office
The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
“So, that’s what we know about Lee, Daddy,” Miss Parker finished. “She seems to have been a model employee…except for several unexplained absences.”
Mr. Parker grimaced. “Matumbo’s remains were discovered in Uganda. We can only assume that Lee was involved.”
Lyle rubbed his stump. “Who do you suppose she’s working for?”
“The Centre has many enemies who are after Jarod, as well,” Mr. Parker replied.
Just then, Raines came wheezing in. “What do you know about…” he took a wheezing breath, “Lee.”
Mr. Parker pursed his lips. “Not nearly enough. Just that she’s been the Centre’s employee for ten years.”
“I have suspicions about her identity. This picture may be of some use.” He held up a photo of a teenage girl with a black eye and a large bruise on her cheek.”
Miss Parker raised her eyebrow. “Oh, have you been improving your social life?”
Brigitte picked up the picture. “Who is this?”
“Jarod’s sister, as she appeared 14 years ago.”
Lyle studied the photo. “Where is she now?”
“Perhaps with Jarod.”
**************************************************************************************
Lodge
Agnes, Oregon
Margaret instructed Jarod to turn down what scarcely appeared to be a road at all. After about five miles, they came to a clearing in the woods, with a large, run-down building. This was Miranda’s lodge. She and her husband had come here to fish in the Rogue River. It hadn’t been lived in for thirty years.
“Emily and I have used it occasionally,” Margaret explained, “but it’s pretty rough.”
“I’m sure it’s fine, dear,” Charles replied.
Jarod sighed. “Do you think the Centre knows about it?”
“They’ve never showed up here. And Randi always covered her tracks; even before the Centre.”
Later that evening, Charles plugged in his computer and started to work on Gemini.
Margaret walked up behind Jarod. “You should really put a coat on, Jarod. It’s cold in here.”
“If you’re cold, Mom, I’ll start a fire. Where’s Dad?”
“He’s in working on Gemini. He seems to have decoded a lot.”
“Why did Emily take Gemini?”
“I’m not sure, dear. She said something just didn’t seem right.”
Jarod built the fire and went in to join his father. “Jarod, oh my god, look at this. This is big.”
“What is it, Dad?”
“If I’m reading this correctly… Well, here, look at this.”
Jarod’s reached for the paper. “Let me see that.” He read it and his jaw dropped.
Charles pointed excitedly. “It only gives a subject number: 289-1, SL-27.”
“Well, we know she was housed in SL-27.”
“Wait a minute. I remember something! There’s a file that I’ve been carrying around for years. I kept it because there were so many references to you. And I think it’s the same number.” Charles left to find the file.
Margaret came in. “What is it, Jarod? I just saw your father and he looked like he’d seen a ghost.” Jarod showed her what they had found. Margaret read it out loud.
“’Subject 289-1, SL-27. Using eggs from subject, seven embryos containing the Pretender gene have been created, five female and two male. Through genetic manipulation each should exceed the genius of their father, subject Jarod. The five female embryos have been frozen, while the two males have been implanted in subject 289-2.’ Jarod, are they talking about Jay?”
“I think so, Mom.”
“So, you’re his father?”
Just then, they heard a car outside. Emily and a very tired Jay came inside. Emily immediately noticed the looks on her family’s faces, but sent Jay to bed before asking. “Okay, what’s up?”
Charles, Jarod, and Margaret exchanged a look. “Here,” Jarod said. “Look at this.”
As Emily read the file, all color drained from her face. “What do we know about the mother?”
“Only the number.”
“Actually,” Charles countered, “I think I have some more information, here. Margaret, I don’t think you should read this. It’s an awful report about Mr. Raines’ attempts to break a young genius.” He started reading. “’Subject 289-1 is extremely violent and uncooperative. The medical testing precludes the use of drugs to control her behavior. Despite Dr. Raines’ assurances that she is a genius as well as a pretender, I have been unable to perform even a simple IQ test. She adamantly refuses to eat...”
Emily interrupted. “May I see that?” Emily took the folder with shaking hands.
“Is something wrong, Emily?” Margaret asked. Emily didn’t answer. “Emily?”
Emily pushed the hair out of her face and breathed an obscenity. “Now this we believe to be Jay’s…mother?”
Margaret gasped. “Oh, God, Emily, no.”
Charles and Jarod exchanged puzzled glances. “What is it, Mom?” Jarod asked. Margaret started to sob.
Emily sighed. “Did I ever mention the time I spent six weeks as a guest of Mr. Raines in lovely SL-27? Six weeks, four days, two hours, and 36 minutes.”
Collective gasp. “How could this be possible?”
Emily sat down wearily. “Mom, it was when you were so sick. I never made it to the Heavens’ Angels. I only made it as far as Tulsa.”
Charles put a protective arm around Margaret. “I don’t understand.”
“When I was 16, Mom got really sick and the sweepers were relentless. Mom wasn’t going to survive if she couldn’t rest. We decided to split up. She went to stay with Harriet Tashman, and sent me to find Reverend Mike. I only made it as far as Tulsa before the sweepers caught up with me.”
Margaret looked up. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were still so sick. I didn’t think you could survive it. And at the time, it didn’t seem so…important. I thought I had destroyed it.”
“What do you mean?” Jarod asked softly.
“I thought the…genetic material was destroyed in the fire.”
“The SL-27 fire?”
Emily nodded. “I set it right after they had harvested. I thought all trace of my time there would be erased.”
There was a long silence.
Charles spoke. “Why would you hide something like this from your mother for fourteen years?
“You read the report. How far does it go?”
“About six weeks.”
“Then you know I cooperated.”
“Only after four weeks of torture and only when they made you responsible for someone else.”
“I performed sims for Raines. You want to talk blood on your hands. I’m an expert.”
“Are you still cooperating?”
Margaret gasped. “Charles how could you suggest such a thing?”
“Margaret we have to know. The Centre has a personal file on her that dates back years. If she hasn’t told this, what else don’t you know?”
“It’s alright mom. I wouldn’t trust me either. But I also know I’m not prepared to deal with any more revelations tonight.” Emily walked out the door and disappeared into the darkness.
**************************************************************************************
Agnes Oregon
4:00 AM
Jarod sat up when he heard the front door open. He listened for a moment and then heard the sound of someone going out again. Silently he made his way down stairs through the window he could see Emily setting on the porch railing reading the report in the moonlight. Jarod stepped outside to join her. “You OK?”
“Quality time is highly overrated.” She said without looking up.
“Are you ever serious?”
She flipped through the papers in her hand. “Page 13 paragraph 2.”
Jarod sighed impatiently. “I would like to understand.”
“Did you read this?”
“Yes”.
“That pretty much covers it then.”
Jarod walked over and put his hand on her shoulder. “No it doesn’t.”
Emily closed her eyes for a moment. “What do you want to know?”
“How did you know you wouldn’t be recognized by Raines?”
“When I was 16 I was a 4’11” 87 pound blonde with a black eye and a bad attitude. Next.”
“Why didn’t you ever tell mom?”
Emily sighed. “ I planned to. All I wanted when I got out of there was my mommy, but she was still so sick and I didn’t think she could handle it.”
“But she is your mother. Didn’t she need to know?”
“Yes, but you have to understand who mom is. This is a woman who only goal was to be a wife and mother. She was a June Cleaver wannabe. She planned a life where her biggest decision was whether to have pork chops or pot roast. Not dealing with this.” She said holding up the report.
“Do you always try to protect her?”
“Of course.” Emily stood up. “It’s cold out here. I think I’ll try and sleep for a while. You know, if you think about this, it’s actually good news.”
“Good news?”
“Yeah; it means Raines failed at creating a clone. And we now know his big secret. Do you really think he wants the triumvirate to know this?”
“It also means you’re Jay’s mother. How do you feel about that?”
Emily smiled. “If I filter out 14 years worth of guilt for not knowing he existed, it’s just to cool. I mean, he may even start to act like me.” She said with a wicked grin. “It also means you’re a dad. Is that better or worse than being cloned?”
Jarod thought a moment. “Better I think.”
The mischievous gleam came back into Emily eyes. “But you know what else this means, don’t you? Jay’s just a genetically altered hillbilly-child. Good night, Jarod.”
“Good night.”
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