Shadows of the Past

by Jennifer DeNaughel

Past, present, and future collide when the ultimate Centre betrayal comes to light, changing Jarod and Miss Parker's

1. Default Chapter

Shadows of the Past

By Jennifer DeNaughel

Thunder rumbled as lightening flashed violently across the darkening sky. Jarod drove his rental car as fast as the narrow, wet highway would allow. He knew that they were behind him. He couldn't see them, but he knew. He smiled to himself. Miss Parker had to be fuming at having just missed him again.

Sydney and Broots were probably bearing the brunt of her wrath. He couldn't help feeling a little sorry for them. It really wasn't their fault. Miss Parker just didn't realize how close they had come to catching him. If not for a timely email from Angelo warning him, they would have had him for sure.

Jarod kept one eye on the road and one on the rear-view mirror. A bright yellow sign, alerting motorists of a dangerous curve in the road ahead, caught his attention. Immediately he backed off the accelerator and slowed the car.

Just as the curve began, there was a deafening explosion. Jarod felt the steering wheel being wrenched from his grip. Frantically, he fought for control of the car, but the wet pavement and darkness were working against him. The wheels left the road sending the car careening over a steep embankment and hurtling toward a massive tree looming in the headlights. His last thoughts, before the collision, were of her.

Miss Parker's serene expression revealed none of the raging anger burning deep inside her. They had missed him again. So close but so far.same old story. Jarod could not possibly keep evading capture forever. Even as the thought crossed her mind, she knew she was wrong. He would keep right on evading them.forever. And she was going to be trapped, in the Centre.forever.

Sydney searched through the items that Jarod had left behind. He couldn't hold back a sigh of relief that the pretender had once again narrowly escaped his pursuers. In the past four years since his escape from the Centre, he had helped so many people and righted so many wrongs. Sydney was proud of the man Jarod had become and the way he was using his gift for good.

Broots cleared his throat as he entered the dreary motel room. Miss Parker turned on him and he flinched as he braced himself for her wrath.

"Well?" Miss Parker asked impatiently.

"Uh, Miss Parker, I have good news--Jarod just left. About five minutes ago, he's heading east---into the mountains."

Miss Parker raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Good work, Broots." She slapped him on the back, nearly knocking him over. "Let's go."

Broots regained his balance and glanced in Sydney's direction, shrugging his shoulders. Sydney just smiled and followed Miss Parker out of the room. Broots closed the door behind him and trailed after them.

Jarod slowly became aware of the distinct smell of smoke and gasoline. He forced his eyes open to face the bone-chilling darkness surrounding him. He noticed an eerie orange glow coming from under the twisted piece of metal that had once been the hood of the car. He knew he had to get out of there, fast.

He tried the door handle.nothing. It was jammed tight. He groaned in pain as he shifted his position to try the passenger side door. It was like a giant can opener had shredded the metal leaving behind a mass of jagged knife-like edges. Reaching up he found that the sunroof was cracked in several places. While protecting his eyes, Jarod covered his hand with the sleeve of his leather jacket and finished breaking the glass. Pushing upward he was able to move it away and slowly raised himself up through the opening. His entire body was numb from the cold. The icy rain pelted him as he slid off the roof of the car and dropped to the ground.

Struggling to find his footing in the mud, he steadied himself against the side of the car. His eyes burned from the fumes and smoke. Coughing to clear his lungs, he stumbled away from the burning car and collapsed against a tree. A few seconds later it exploded, sending flames shooting twenty feet into the air. Not even the torrential downpour could diminish the blaze as it lit up the night sky.

Jarod felt blood trickling from a head wound just above is left eye. His left shoulder throbbed and his right knee, exposed through a large tear in his black jeans, was bleeding badly. Struggling to his feet, he braced himself against the tree and shook his head, trying to clear his vision. He needed help.

Jarod tried in vain to remember how far he was from the small town he'd just left. He found that he couldn't even remember the name of it. The only clear thought he had was that he would not be alone for long. They were right behind him. And unless he wanted to go back to the Centre, he had to find the strength to run. As badly as he needed help, he would not go back there. He would rather die in the middle of nowhere, alone.

Reaching deep down inside, Jarod somehow managed to block out the pain and took a step toward the woods. He could do this. He'd survived worse. He could survive this. One step at a time he made his way through the underbrush and ran deep into the forest.

They saw the flames from a mile away. Miss Parker stopped the black car at a safe distance from the burning wreckage. As her gaze met Sydney's, she felt the sudden panic that she read in his eyes. Her heart leaped into her throat. "Jarod," she whispered as she watched Sydney exit the car. An instant later, she was running through the pouring rain after him. With Broots following closely at her heels.

Miss Parker scrambled down the embankment and came to a stop next to Sydney where he stood on the edge of the flames. The sheer horror in his eyes would haunt her into eternity. The license plate lying at her feet confirmed their fears. It was Jarod's car.

Suddenly, the reality of the scene before them blind-sided her. The overpowering feeling of helplessness and anguish shook her to her very core. If Jarod was in that car, he was dead. No one could survive such an inferno, not even a pretender. He was dead, and she killed him. She'd killed her best friend.the one person who had known her better than anyone. She fell to her knees as she realized that she had killed the man she loved. She refused any comfort that Sydney tried to offer. She did not deserve it.

Sydney held her against his chest as she screamed Jarod's name. He had not realized how this would affect her. He had forgotten that she was not the cold-hearted woman she pretended to be. Her heart-wrenching cries were testament to her true nature. The woman in his arms had suddenly become the little girl he remembered from so long ago. The little girl who had been forced to betray her best friend and had become a part of the evil her own mother had died trying to stop. Sydney's own tears mixed with the rain as together the two people shared their grief.

Broots stood on the edge of the road above them, his own eyes filled with a deep sadness. Jarod was dead.the Pretender was gone.

Jarod ran blindly through the pouring rain and biting wind. The brush tore at his clothing and scratched at his exposed skin adding to his growing list of injuries. Fighting the urge to just lie down and accept his fate, he continued to push himself forward. He came to a raging creek and without even a moments hesitation, plunged into it's icy depths. The current threatened to drag him under, but somehow Jarod managed to keep his footing. If he fell, it would be over, he would not have the strength to pull himself out.

Struggling up onto the opposite bank he kept running. He was losing the battle, he could feel his body weakening. His mind was telling him to just give up. His heart was telling him to hold on just a little longer. Just a little farther.

He stumbled, but did not fall. He could not fall. Jarod reached the edge of the woods and before him stood a large, ramshackle, old barn. He smiled in relief as he paused to catch his breath. His lungs burned and his whole body was shaking violently. It took every remaining ounce of strength to pull open the door of the structure and close it behind him. He took only two steps before falling into a pile of straw, immediately slipping into unconsciousness.

The firefighters extinguished the flames just as dawn approached. Miss Parker, wrapped in a blanket, sat in the back of the ambulance watching as Sydney sifted through the remains of Jarod's car. She could not tear her eyes away. She prayed that they would not find him.his body. She wanted him to be alive.to be somewhere safe, laughing and enjoying the affect his latest ruse had had on her. She could almost make herself believe it was true until she found herself faced with the undeniable proof.

Miss Parker looked up as Sydney approached, he was carrying what appeared to be a piece of metal melted by the heat of the fire. Part of the car? "No," she whispered as the realization of what the contorted object was brought tears to her eyes all over again. She shook her head in disbelief. It was the remains of the DSA case. He would never leave that behind.it was his only connection with his past. His entire life had been recorded on the small discs and now they were gone.destroyed. All hope, of Jarod being alive, drifted away on the early morning breeze. Miss Parker felt her frozen heart shatter into a million pieces.

Jarod awoke to a wet tongue laving his face. Opening his eyes, he found himself face to face with a hairy, black and white dog. "Thanks for the wake-up call," he smiled weakly. He grimaced as he tried to raise himself up into a seated position. He felt small hands pulling gently on his arm and looked up into a set of beautiful blue eyes framed by the face of an angel and a mass of curly dark hair.

"Hello," Jarod grinned as he forced himself to his feet his joints screamed and his head felt as though it would explode at any moment. "Thank you for your assistance."

"You're welcome." The little girl smiled, "Are you lost?"

Jarod laughed softly, nodding, "Yes, I guess you could say that."

"My mommy says that I shouldn't talk to strangers. What's your name?"

"Your mommy is a very smart lady," Jarod grinned. "My name is Jarod. What's yours?"

"Jessica. But everybody calls me Jessie. You can too.if you want."

"Nice to meet you, Jessie."

"Jarod, you are hurt. Come on, my mommy can make you better. She always makes hurts go away." Jessie tugged on Jarod's arm as he struggled to his feet.

"Jessie, how old are you?" Jarod asked.

"Four-and-a-half," the little girl smiled proudly as she pulled Jarod along behind her. The morning sun felt warm on his face and as Jarod followed Jessie toward a two-story farmhouse that stood just east of the barn, he silently thanked God that he had survived. His entire body ached, complaining incessantly with every step he took, but he was alive.

"Jessica Elizabeth Thomas, get away from that man," Jarod saw a very angry blonde woman rushing toward them.

"This is Jarod, Mommy. He's hurt. I told him you would make him better."

"Jessie, go inside the house."

"Mommy, no." Jessie pouted, "Jarod is my friend."

"He's a stranger, Jessie. What did I tell you about strangers?"

"He's nice, Mommy," Jessie pleaded. "Look, Jasper likes him."

The woman's gaze fell to the old Border collie standing protectively next to the man. Jasper hated men. Why would he trust this stranger? Shaking her head slowly she raised her eyes to meet his, and she suddenly knew why.

"Okay, Jessie. You win. Go get the first aid kit from the upstairs bathroom."

Jessie turned and hugged Jarod's arm, "See, I told you she would make you better." Then she ran into the house taking the steps two at a time.

"Who are you?" the blonde woman asked cautiously.

"My name is Jarod. I had an accident on the highway last night.tire blew I think. My car hit a tree. I was disoriented. I found my way here and took shelter in your barn.where Jessie found me. I did not mean to frighten you, I will leave if you don't feel comfortable about this."

"What?" the blonde smiled. "And have my daughter disown me for life? I don't think so. Come on, let's get you patched up and get some food in you."

Jarod smiled, "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. You haven't tasted my cooking."

"I'm sure it's delicious."

"By the way, I'm Emily Thomas."

"Pleased to meet you, Emily. That is my sister's name too," Jarod's eyes filled with a deep sadness.

"Where is she?" Emily asked before she could stop herself.

"I don't know. I've never actually met her."

Emily glanced at him in confusion. "I'm afraid I don't understand."

"She was born a shortly after I was stolen from my parents. I was just a boy, about Jessie's age."

"I'm sorry."

"I'll find them.someday," Jarod whispered.

"I hope so, Jarod." Emily frowned, she'd only just met this man and already she felt as though she could trust him with her life, and Jessie's. She had not trusted a man in a very long time. What was it about Jarod that made her feel no fear of him? Maybe it was his eyes. Something in their depths told her that he would never hurt them.

The Centre was like Grand Central Station as Miss Parker walked slowly down the corridor. The noise was unbearable. She entered her dimly lit office and slammed the door shut behind her. She wasn't even sure what she was doing there. Jarod was dead. There was nothing keeping her there. Her father was still on the run with Brigitte. Lyle was in the Tower, meeting with the Triumvirate, discussing Jarod's demise. She had no doubt that they would be ecstatic. With Jarod dead, they had no more worries that he would expose the Centre. Knowing Lyle, he was probably taking credit for the whole situation.

Sydney was making arrangements for Jarod's memorial service. She could not bring herself to help him. The thought of saying goodbye to Jarod.she didn't want to think about it.

Miss Parker collapsed onto the sofa and laid her head back against the pillow. This was not going to be easy on Sydney. She knew that he and Jarod had shared a special bond that ventured way beyond professional boundaries. She thought of Jarod's family. Would they even know that he was gone? She remembered the emptiness she'd felt after losing her mother. Jarod had filled a part of that emptiness over the years. He had become a part of her life that she had refused to acknowledge for far too long.

Sitting up suddenly, Miss Parker stood and stormed out of her office. She'd made up her mind to do what she should have done long ago. Jarod may be dead, but he was not going to be forgotten. She would find the truth about his past, if it was the last thing she did. His family deserved to know the truth.to know him.

True to Jessie's word, her mother made Jarod better. She stitched up the gash on his forehead and then she cleaned and bandaged his other injuries, including his knee. Luckily there were no broken bones. Then she gave him some clean clothes to put on while she washed and mended his.

"These belonged to my husband. They should fit fine. You are about the same size," Emily laid the clothing down on the bed and left the room.

Jarod wondered where her husband was. She had referred to him in the past tense. He'd noticed also, that when she'd spoken of him, her hands shook slightly and her eyes had darted unconsciously toward the window, she seemed terrified of something.or someone. Shaking his head slowly, he undressed and went into the bathroom to wash up.

When he came out, his clothes were gone. He put on the clothing she'd left which included a pair of well-worn blue jeans, white T-shirt, and a dark blue flannel shirt. Emily was right, they fit well, though the sleeves were just a little bit short. Jarod pushed them up to his elbows and sat down to slip on his own black boots.

A soft knock sounded on the door. "Come in."

Jessie peeked around the corner as she opened the door. She was smiling widely, "All better now?"

Jarod laughed, "All better now."

"Good. Wanna come see my horse?"

"I'd love to," Jarod grinned and followed her out of the room and down the stairs.

Emily was in the kitchen when they passed through. "Jessie, let Jarod rest. You can show him your horse later."

"It's okay," Jarod nodded. "I feel much better now. I'd like to see Jessie's horse."

Jessie looked pleadingly at her mother.

Emily gave in, again. "All right, but lunch will be ready in a few minutes."

"Okay, Mommy," Jessie took hold of Jarod's hand and led him out of the house and around to the corral in back of the barn.

Jessie climbed the split-rail fence and sat down, balancing precariously on the top rail. The whistle that escaped the little girl's lips rivaled that of any adult. Jarod smiled as a beautiful buckskin mare left the rest of the horses and galloped toward them.

Jessie slid off the fence and onto the horse's back. She beamed proudly at Jarod, "Her name is Cocoa. 'Cause she looks like chocolate."

"Pleased to meet you, Cocoa." Jarod ran a hand over the neck of the magnificent animal. "She is a very pretty horse, Jessie."

"My mommy gave her to me. We were born at the same time."

Jarod smiled, "So Cocoa is four-and-a-half too."

"Uh-huh," Jessie nodded. "My mommy says we are twins."

Jarod laughed softly, "I can see the resemblance."

Jessie's smile faded as she looked into Jarod's eyes, "Are you going to leave now that you're all better?"

"I'm afraid I have to go, Jessie. I can't stay, I'm sorry."

"Please stay. My mommy won't be scared now that you're here."

Jarod wasn't sure how to respond to the child's request. "Why is your mommy scared, Jessie?"

"My daddy hurt her. She doesn't want him to come back."

"Where is your daddy now?" Jarod asked.

"He's where he belongs," Emily's voice sounded behind him.

Jarod turned to face her, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

"Jessie, go water the horses please."

"Okay," Jessie said and turned Cocoa toward the water trough.

When she was gone, Emily sighed and sat down in the rope swing hanging in the large oak next to the corral. "I wish I could have shielded her from that knowledge. There are some things a child should not have to see, much less try to understand."

Jarod leaned against the fence and nodded slowly, "Jessie is a very smart little girl. There aren't many things you can hide from her."

Emily started to swing slowly, "I can't get a divorce. I've tried, but he won't release me. He won't let us go."

"You said that he's where he belongs," Jarod moved toward her and sat down on the grass at the base of the tree. "Is he in prison?"

"For now," Emily frowned. "He's up for parole in two days. He's coming after me, I know it," her eyes brimmed with tears which she quickly wiped away. "He is going to punish me for betraying him, just like he said he would."

"How did you betray him?" Jarod asked.

"I put him in prison and I tried to divorce him. In his eyes, he did nothing wrong."

Jarod had to ask, though he all ready had a pretty good idea. "What did he do to you?"

Emily turned to meet Jarod's gaze, her hazel eyes flashed with reserved anger, "You don't even know me, and I'd really appreciate it if you would just mind your own business."

"You'd be surprised what I know, Emily," Jarod smiled slightly. "I have an unusual gift for understanding people."

"I can't believe I'm even considering telling you this. I haven't told anyone. Not even my own parents."

"I'd like to help you, Emily. But in order to do so, I need to know everything there is to know about your husband and what he did to you."

Emily was silent for a moment before finally nodding slowly. "It was a little over a year ago. I had just put Jessie to bed when I heard his truck pull up in front of the house. He had his friends with him and they had all been drinking. I went downstairs, they came into the house laughing and shouting. I asked them to leave because I was afraid they would wake Jessie. My husband slapped me across the face, knocking me to the floor. He proceeded to kick me while his buddies watched. I begged him to stop."

Jarod listened silently, his anger growing by the minute. Any man who would hit a woman deserved a lot more than prison.

Emily continued, "They were laughing and shouting, egging him on. When I stopped moving, he tore my clothes off and he."

"He raped you."

Emily nodded, her tears now flowing freely. "In front of his friends. And then he let them have a turn."

Jarod's anger reached boiling point, "Emily, I am so sorry you had to endure that kind of pain and humiliation. Please let me help you make him pay for what he did to you."

"It's not just what he did to me. Jessie witnessed the whole scene, Jarod. I think she was too little to really understand, but she saw the whole thing. When they finally left the house, I managed to pull myself together and started up the stairs. She was huddled in the corner of the landing with her doll, crying silently."

"Dear God," Jarod glared at down at the ground for several minutes trying to control the rage that was building toward the man who hurt her. Then softening his gaze he turned back to Emily. "What kind of monster would do that to his family?"

"That monster is getting out of prison in two days, Jarod. I'm really scared."

Jarod gathered her into his arms and held her, "I won't let him hurt you again, Emily. I promise you, he will pay for what he did."

Emily accepted the comfort Jarod offered. She almost believed his words. This man was a stranger to her, but she felt a connection with him that she could not explain. He understood her. He didn't judge her. For the first time since that night, she didn't feel alone and vulnerable anymore. She didn't know how Jarod could possible help them, but she was more than willing to let him try, for Jessie's sake.

Miss Parker let herself into her father's.Lyle's, office. Her brother was evidently still brown-nosing the Triumvirate. There was no sign of him. She settled into his chair behind the desk and quickly searched every drawer and file she could get her hands on. Nothing about Jarod, or his family. Glancing at Lyle's blank computer screen, Miss Parker picked up the phone and dialed Broots' number.

"Hello?" Broots answered the phone on the second ring.

"I need you to do something for me."

"Miss Parker?"

"Broots, I need to see you right now. Come to my father's office."

"Don't you mean, Mr. Lyle's office?"

"Just get your ass up here, now."

Broots heard the urgency in her voice and wondered what could possibly be so important that she had broken in to Mr. Lyle's office. "I'll be right there."

Miss Parker slammed down the phone and stood, walking over to the window she watched as the sun slipped slowly out of sight signaling the end of another day. She wondered what it had been like for Jarod. To have been denied the sight of a sunset for so many years, then to see one for the first time. What she would give for that kind of innocence, to experience life through his eyes. God, she missed him.

"Miss Parker," Broots whispered. When he'd first entered the office, she had not noticed him. Unsure what to say, he'd just watched her. She seemed so lost. There had been tears in her eyes, which she'd immediately wiped away upon hearing his voice.

"Broots, I need your help. I want to find out everything about Jarod's past. But we have to keep this between us. No one can learn what we are doing."

"What about Sydney?"

"Sydney has enough on his mind right now. I will tell him after the memorial service. Can you hack into Lyle's computer?"

Broots' face paled, "Yes, but if he finds out."

"Then he had better not find out," Miss Parker warned. "I'm going to leave the Centre, Broots. But I can't leave until I have found out everything I can about Jarod's past and his family. Find out whatever you can about Kyle too. I owe it to Jarod to find the truth."

"Miss Parker, I don't understand. Why are you doing this?" Broots asked, against his better judgment. He braced himself for her reaction, expecting an explosion. Instead she just stared out the window. When she finally turned to face him again, the words she uttered surprised him beyond mention.

"Because I loved him," Miss Parker's voice was barely above a whisper.

Broots wasn't sure how to respond to her revelation. "Oh God, Miss Parker I never realized."

"Neither did I.until it was too late."

"I-I will get to work on it right away."

"Thank you, Broots. You don't know what this means to me."

"I think I do, Miss Parker," Broots said as he turned to leave the office. He stopped at the door to look back, she was staring out the window again. He knew she was crying. He wanted to comfort her, but she would never accept it, not from him. Quietly he walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.

Emily was in the kitchen when Jarod came downstairs. She was singing softly to herself as she moved about the room. It was barely light outside, just after six o'clock. The hypnotic aroma of blueberry muffins and fresh brewed coffee had pulled him gently from a sound sleep and lured him down to the kitchen. If he wasn't careful, he could get used to this place, and as much as he longed for a home, it would be a mistake to become too comfortable. He would not put the lives of his new friends in danger.

"Need some help," Jarod smiled as he walked lazily toward the screen door and stared outside at the approaching dawn.

Emily turned and returned his smile, "No, thank you. What are you doing up at this hour? You need to rest." His sudden appearance in her kitchen caught her off guard, but she felt no fear, no anxiety. As a matter of fact, Jarod was a strange comfort to her, she did not mind his company and if she would admit it to herself, she did not mind looking at him either. His dark, chiseled looks cast a hard, dangerous air about him. While in stark contrast, his warm smile and soft brown eyes reminded her of an irresistible lost puppy. Emily barely managed to tear her eyes away from him in time to save her blueberry muffins from certain death.

"I smelled your muffins and couldn't control myself. My feet carried me down here before I even completely awake."

Emily laughed softly, "Yeah, well, when you taste them, you'll wish you'd stayed in bed. My coffee is just shy of being motor oil."

"Ah," Jarod sighed, "Just the way I like it. And if those taste half as good as they smell, they'll be delicious."

"You're a real charmer aren't you, Jarod?" Emily glanced over her shoulder just as he sat down at the kitchen table.

"Am I?" Jarod grinned. His eyes were the epitome of innocence.

"Who are you?"

"You'll be better off not knowing."

"That is not very reassuring."

"Emily, there are people that are looking for me. If you know too much, they might try to use you to get to me and I can't put you in that position."

"At least tell me if you are wanted by the law."

"Emily, I would never hurt you or Jessie."

"I know that, I just wanted to know if I'd be guilty of aiding and abetting a fugitive."

Jarod smiled, "I am a fugitive of sorts, but not from the law.at least not the type you are envisioning."

"All right, I won't pry. But, Jarod, you can trust me. I owe you for staying on here to help us, though I don't understand why you want to do hard labor. I realize that things need fixing around here, but you don't strike me as the handyman type."

"I can become anyone I want to be," Jarod chuckled. "And I enjoy hard work. It gives me a feeling of normalcy and pride. I've spent most of my life using my head, it's nice to be able to burn some physical rather than mental energy."

Emily nodded, "Well, okay. I can't afford to pay you much."

"You won't have to pay me anything. And I will buy the materials that are needed as well. You just keep these blueberry muffins coming," he raised his eyebrows and devoured his third muffin."

"You are a glutton for punishment, you know that," Emily stood with her hands on her hips shaking her head in amusement.

"I guess I've had plenty of practice," Jarod stood and kissed her cheek. "I'd better go upstairs and change into work clothes, lot's to be done today."

"Take it easy, Mister. You get those wounds dirty and bleeding again, I'll have to take a switch to you," Emily warned shaking her finger at him like a mother hen.

"I'll be careful, I promise," Jarod said as he climbed the stairs.

Emily cleaned up the kitchen, laughing to herself. Something she had not been able to do for a very long time. How could one man, a stranger no less, walk into their lives and change everything in such a short time? Jarod was a bright light at the end of the long, dark tunnel she'd been traveling through ever since the night Robert had betrayed and humiliated her. Her heart was slowly beginning to heal thanks to whatever magic Jarod had brought into their world.

As she entered Jessie's room, Emily noticed that her daughter's Whinny the Pooh lamp was turned off. She had not slept without a light on since that night. "Thank you, Jarod," Emily whispered. For the first time, she began to feel that there was hope for a normal life without night- lights and dead bolts. Robert could not hold them prisoners of their fears forever. Even when the time came for Jarod to move on, she believed that they would be fine, thanks to him. She leaned over her sleeping daughter and kissed her gently on her forehead. "I love you, my little angel," she whispered then closed the door as she went back downstairs.

When she stepped out onto the porch, she saw Jarod. He was chopping wood out by the barn. The sweat glistening on his bare arms and broad back with every swing of the ax. Emily blushed slightly and smiled as she forced herself to go back into the house before he turned and caught her watching him. She could not resist another glance as she walked back into the kitchen and let the screen door slowly swing closed behind her.

Miss Parker was alone in her office when Lyle decided to grace her with his presence. The glacier-melting glare she laid on him should have taken the wind out of his sails. Instead he just smiled and sat down behind her desk to gloat.

"What the hell do you want, Lyle?"

"Just to see how my dear sister is fairing now that the game is done. What's the matter, Parker? A little sore now that your little toy has been taken away? Don't worry, I'm sure we can find you something to keep you occupied. I hear that Raines is looking for a new lab rat. Want to apply for the job?"

"Go to hell, Lyle," Miss Parker hissed as she slowly approached him. When her face was a mere inch from his, she smiled sweetly and winked. "I have no intentions of staying here now that Jarod is dead. A deal is a deal.I will be leaving the Centre. And no one, especially you, brother dear, is going to stop me. Am I clear?"

"Crystal," Lyle smirked. "But what makes you think that the Triumvirate is going to just let you walk out of here, Parker? You know too much. They won't let you live if they have the slightest inkling that you might reveal Centre secrets to the outside world.

Miss Parker straightened and slammed her fists down on the desktop. "I do not care about the Centre secrets. I want to be left alone. I want to have a normal life, as normal as possible. I've spent my entire existence trying to please my father and this place. I became someone that I despise. I have to find out who I really am. I have to make peace with myself and."

"With Jarod," Lyle finished for her.

Miss Parker's face softened as she turned away from her brother's prying eyes. Her voice was shaky but she did her best to hide that fact from him. "Leave.now," she whispered harshly.

Lyle ignored her, "I don't know why I didn't see it before. You were in love with the lab rat."

Before she knew it, Miss Parker had a death grip on Lyle's throat, "If I ever hear you call him that again, Lyle, I will rip out your black heart and feed it, piece by piece, to whatever mutant creature Raines has in this little house of horrors nowadays. Got it?"

Her outburst and the speed at which she had turned on him surprised Lyle. He could not disguise the sudden fear that crept into his blue eyes. "Parker," he smiled slightly, "I'm sorry, all right. I didn't mean anything by it."

Miss Parker released him, "Yeah right, I mean it. I will not let Jarod be degraded in death as he was in life. I owe him that much."

"Jarod is dead, Sis. It's pointless to dwell on the past. He was what he was and because of that he gave up any right to a normal life when he came to the Centre."

"No, Lyle, he had that right stolen from him when he was ripped away from the family who loved him. I owe it to his memory to find the truth about his past and one way or another, I will."

"The Triumvirate will not allow that, Parker. Jarod's past must stay buried. It doesn't matter now anyway. It won't bring him back."

"I was his best friend.I betrayed that friendship by allying with the people who kept him prisoner for half a lifetime. I will carry that guilt with me for as long as I live, and maybe even beyond."

Lyle stood and walked toward the door. He paused and turned slightly to face her, "I hope his honor is worth dying for, Sis."

"If that's what it takes," she stated flatly, her heated gaze burning holes in his back as Lyle left her office. She had never dreamed it was possible to hate as deeply as she hated him. Flesh and blood or not, she despised the man. Quickly she picked up the ashtray on her desk and hurled it across the room. It struck the wall next to the door and shattered into a million pieces.

A few seconds later Lyle opened the door and winked at her, "You really should learn to control that temper, Sis." Then he smiled and closed the door.

Fuming, Miss Parker spun on her heels and went after him. In the corridor she whispered to herself though it was meant for his ears, "One day, Lyle. One day you will pay for the pain you have caused." It broke her heart every time she watched the DSA Sydney had given her. The things Lyle had done to Jarod during the three weeks they kept him isolated after he was captured made her blood boil. Especially since Jarod never would have been caught if he hadn't stayed behind to help her. He'd lost his freedom to save her life and she had repaid him by continuing to hunt him once she had recovered.

Miss Parker ran her fingers through her hair and leaned back against the wall. She stared up at the vaulted ceiling high above her. She was paying, and paying dearly, for all the pain she had caused the people in her life. And the price was Jarod.

Jarod sat alone, on the front porch steps, long after dark. Jessie and Emily had gone to bed. When he thought about what they had been through. Robert Thomas was a monster. Somehow Jarod knew he had to protect his new friends and find a way to teach Mr. Thomas a lesson. In less than twelve hours, the judicial system would turn loose that man. He would come after Emily, there was no doubting that fact.

Jasper curled up next to him on the porch and licked his hand. Jarod rubbed behind the old dog's ears, "Jasper, we have a long day tomorrow. Better try and get some sleep." He stood, stretching out his tired muscles, and looked up at the sky. A million stars sparkled against a black velvet background. He had never seen a more beautiful night. He thought of Miss Parker and wondered if she had returned to Blue Cove. For some strange reason, he wished she could be there to share that moment in time with him. The little girl he used to know had always loved the stars.

Slowly Jarod turned and entered the house. Upstairs he quietly closed the door to his room. After slipping off his boots, he lay down on the bed and closed his eyes. "Good night, Miss Parker," he whispered.

The telephone rang just as Miss Parker was about to go to bed. Her heart stopped. Jarod usually called her late at night. Her hand paused above the phone, she prayed that it would be him. "Please let it be him," she whispered. Picking up the phone she held her breath. "What?"

"Miss Parker," Broots' voice on the other end shattered what little hope she'd held on to for Jarod to be alive.

She struggled to control the quiver in her voice, "Broots."

"I'm sorry for calling so late. I found something you need to see."

"Where are you?"

"I'm at the Centre."

"Still?" Miss Parker raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Debbie is spending the night with a friend so I thought I would use the time to do some digging."

"What did you find?"

"Not over the phone, Miss Parker."

"All right, I'll meet you there in an hour."

"I think I should bring it to your house. There are too many eyes and ears around this place, and this is not something they are going to let us live knowing," Broots whispered.

"Okay, hurry. And Broots."

"Yes, Miss Parker."

"Be careful."

"I will. See you in a few."

Miss Parker laid down the phone and ran her fingers through her long dark hair. What could he have found? Whatever it was, it had to be important for Broots to risk his neck bringing it to her house.

An hour later she heard a knock at her door. Opening it she let Broots in and made a quick check outside before turning the lock. Broots wandered over to a chair and collapsed.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to get here. I drove around awhile to make sure no one followed me."

"I can't believe you took such a risk, Broots," Miss Parker sat down in the chair across from him.

"Neither can I," Broots chuckled softly. "But I knew you would want to see this right away. You aren't going to believe what I found."

Miss Parker took the three files from Broots while he set up his laptop computer. The first file was Jarod's. The information inside was nothing new to her. The next file was a different story. It was about another pretender. No picture.just a description, a description that eerily fit her.

"Who is this girl? There's no picture?"

"Miss Parker, you were.are a pretender too. Like Jarod."

"I knew that I was tested, but I thought I failed."

"No, you didn't fail. Your IQ is right up there, almost as high as Jarod's," Broots paused, unsure of how she would take the news he was about to break to her.

"Broots?"

"Miss Parker, they-I can't do this. I'll just show you." Broots turned on the laptop and hit a few keys. A DSA recording came up of her father and Mr. Raines.

"Are you sure he will cooperate?" Mr. Parker asked.

"Sydney will not have a choice. I assure you he will do as he is told," Raines answered. "Jarod will be placed in isolation until after the procedure."

"My daughter is not going to be aware of any of this?"

"She will not remember anything. The drug is perfectly safe."

Mr. Parker nodded, "If this procedure is successful we will have created a pretender that will be ours from the very beginning. We will be able to mold it and train it without fear of outside interference."

"Yes, and the two donors will never know they have a child together."

Broots turned off the recording. He couldn't bring himself to look at her.

Miss Parker opened the other file. Inside was a report signed by her father. It spelled out exactly what the procedure was and that a child, a girl, was born to a surrogate mother nine months later. The date of birth was listed as April 20, 1995. As she flipped through the rest of the file, a picture slipped out and fell to the floor.

Slowly Broots reached down and retrieved the photograph. Miss Parker took it from him and turned it over. It was of a beautiful baby girl, not more than a few weeks old, with dark hair and blue eyes. "Oh my God, Broots. I have a daughter."

"Yes, Miss Parker. I confirmed everything. Her name is Ashley."

"Ashley," Miss Parker whispered. "Where is she, Broots? I have to find her."

"I don't know-yet. I'm sorry. I'll keep working on it. I'll find her, Miss Parker, I promise you."

"How could my father do this to me.to Jarod and to our child.his grandchild?" Miss Parker asked, as tears flowed down her face. "How could Sydney do this?"

Broots shook his head, "Sydney refused to cooperate, Miss Parker. They waited until he was out of town to do the procedure. I have no reason to believe that he knows about any of this."

"Jarod died, never knowing he has a child."

"I'm sorry, Miss Parker. I can't even imagine never knowing about Debbie."

"Broots, I really need to be alone right now."

Broots nodded, "I understand. If you need anything-anything at all, please call."

"I will," Miss Parker nodded. "Thank you."

When Broots had gone, she sat staring at the picture in her hand. The tears blinded her as she curled into a fetal position in the chair and lost all control of the storm of emotions she had been struggling desperately to hold in check.

The distant sound of thunder woke Jarod from a sound sleep. Glancing at the clock next to the bed he noted that it was only a little after four in the morning. A strange sense of unease came over him as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and glanced out the window. Quietly as he could, Jarod slipped on his boots and went downstairs.

As he stepped out of the house he caught a fleeting glimpse of a dark figure as it slipped around the corner of the barn and disappeared into the woods. He started to follow when something told him not to leave the house.not to leave Jessie and Emily alone. Quickly Jarod turned and went back inside. Emily met him on the stairs.

"Jarod, what is it? What's wrong?"

"Emily, do you have a gun?" Jarod asked.

Emily nodded slowly and pointed toward a locked cabinet in the corner of the living room. "In there, Robert kept them in there. I don't have a key though. He would never tell me where he hid it."

Jarod went to the cabinet and made quick work of picking the lock. The doors swung open and he grabbed a shotgun and loaded it. Handing it to Emily he then loaded a semi-automatic handgun and slipped it into the waistband of his jeans. "Emily, do you know how to use that?"

"Yes, my father taught me."

"Good, go get Jessie and go up to the attic. No matter what happens, do not come out until I return."

"Jarod, be careful. If it's Robert, he will kill you."

"I will be careful. Now go get Jessie."

Emily quickly kissed Jarod on the cheek, then ran up the stairs.

Jarod took the remaining guns from the cabinet and locked it back. He then hid the weapons on a high shelf in the kitchen pantry. Robert might try to get to them and Jarod wanted to keep the odds even. He had a feeling that Mr. Thomas was not alone.

Locking all the windows and doors, Jarod took his position below the living room window where he had an unobstructed view of the barn and the woods. He waited and watched. Silence. Then a sudden flash of lightening illuminated the entire barnyard. He saw three figures heading for the house. They weren't even bothering to keep out of sight, which told Jarod that they thought Emily and Jessie were alone.

"Surprise surprise," Jarod whispered.

As soon as the three men reached the front porch Jarod moved to the door. Robert tried to open it and found it was locked.

"Damned fool woman never kept this locked before."

"Maybe she heard you were in town," one of his buddies chuckled.

"Shut your big mouth, Joe. I want this little visit to be a surprise," Robert slipped his key into the lock and when he opened the door he came face to face with his own prized shotgun. "What the.?"

"Hello, Robert Thomas, I'm Jarod. And I'm not real pleased to meet you. Now I suggest that if you want to live to see another day you and your friends there need to turn around and leave this woman and her little girl alone."

Robert laughed, "Who the hell do you think you are? This is my house."

"And this is your gun. I'm thinking that it would be poetic justice to kill you with it," Jarod flashed them a menacing grin.

"Do you really think you can take us on alone?" Joe piped up.

"Who said I was alone?" Jarod raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Nervously the three men looked around. Robert shook his head, "You are lying."

Jarod raised the shotgun and aimed it directly between Robert's eyes. "Actually, it's called pretending.there is a difference."

"You're crazy," Robert chuckled but Jarod saw the flash of fear in the man's eyes.

"Yes, I am. And you are a miserable excuse for a man, a monster. You do not deserve to live. Not after what you have done to your family." Jarod stepped forward, dropping the barrel of the shotgun, he fired. Joe and the other man danced in the dirt. Robert made a move toward Jarod, stopping short when Jarod pulled the semi-automatic on him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. I'm just itching to put a bullet between your eyes."

Robert stepped back and Jarod followed, backing the man down the steps and into the yard. "Joe.Jimmy, help me out here," Robert whined.

Joe and Jimmy shook their heads in unison then turned and high-tailed it into the woods where they'd left their truck. "Ah," Jarod grinned, "Your friend's are all gone.now what ya gonna do?"

"You aren't going to get away with this," Robert warned weakly.

"Not so tough without your sidekicks are you?"

"Who are you?"

"I'm someone who believes that a sicko like you deserves to die for what you did," Jarod's voice became even more menacing. "You will give Emily a divorce and disappear forever or I will personally make your life a living hell. Do you understand, or shall I give you a little bit of incentive?" Training both guns on the cowering monster, Jarod waited for his response.

"What's to keep me from coming back after you are gone?" Robert glared at the stranger. Something about this man made him very, very nervous. The lightening flash illuminated the stranger's face just long enough for Robert to catch a glimpse of the sheer disgust and hatred in his eyes. Suddenly he decided that she wasn't worth dying for. And neither was that brat of hers.

"Well, what's it gonna be?"

"All right," Robert threw his hands up in surrender. "Whatever you say, I'll do it."

"Good choice. Now sign these." Jarod tossed him a pen and the documents releasing Emily from their marriage and an agreement to stay away from her and Jessie under penalty of prison.

Robert examined the papers in the light the coming dawn. "What are you, some kind of lawyer?"

"I am today," Jarod grinned.

Robert quickly signed every single page and handed the documents back to the stranger. "Well, you can have her. She's worthless anyway."

"Wrong," Jarod growled. "You are worthless. You had what some people are never lucky enough to find and you threw it all away. You destroyed her. You humiliated her. And you exposed an innocent, little girl to a kind of ugliness that no grown adult should ever have to witness. You had better count your lucky stars that I am letting you walk away."

A sudden look of regret passed over Robert's features. "You mean.Jessie. She saw what happened?"

Jarod raised the shotgun, "Time to go, Robert. Unless, of course, you enjoy tempting fate."

"I'm going. I'm going," he stepped back with his hands in the air. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry about Jessie. I didn't know."

"Go," Jarod shouted, "And if you ever come near them again you won't live to regret it, I promise you."

Jarod watched Robert disappear into the woods in the direction his friends had taken. After he had gone, Jarod took a deep breath and released it slowly. He felt his heartbeat slowly returning to normal. As he walked back toward the farmhouse a light rain began to fall.

Emily waved to him from the attic window and Jarod nodded, telling her that it was safe to come down. When she appeared in the doorway, Jessie was right behind her. The little girl rushed passed her mother and into Jarod's arms. "I knew you would save us. You're a hero," she wrapped her arms around Jarod's neck and hugged him tightly.

Jarod laughed softly, "Jessie, I'm not a hero. I'm just a person who did what had to be done. I just wanted you to be safe."

Emily stood silently at the top of the porch steps. Tears began sliding down her cheeks as a sudden realization washed over her. Spinning on her heels, she quickly ran back into the house and up the stairs to her bedroom. Locking the door behind her, she pulled a heavy wooden box out from under her bed. Lifting the lid she sighed heavily. Inside were hundreds of photographs, several files and many red notebooks. Scanning the files, Emily pulled out the one she was searching for. Opening it she spilled its contents over the antique patchwork quilt covering the bed. Frantically she picked through the various documents and reports. She emptied every file onto the bed and searched desperately for what would confirm that which she all ready knew in her heart to be true.

Jarod took Jessie's hand and led her into the house, "Emily?" Where had she disappeared to so quickly? "Emily?"

A few minutes later she came walking slowly down the stairs. She looked from Jarod to Jessie then back to Jessie and nodded. There was no doubt. She had that same look in her eyes.that same, all-knowing look. Taking a deep breath, Emily smiled sadly, "Jarod you have been searching for the family you lost when you were young.well, I found a part of your family that you did not even know existed."

Jarod looked at her in confusion. "I don't understand."

Emily looked to Jessie, "Honey, please go upstairs and play, Jarod and I have something to discuss. Once Jessie had gone, Emily handed Jarod a file and a red notebook that looked all too familiar to him. "This will prove that what I am about to tell you is true."

Jarod took the items from her and sat down at the table. He could not stop his hands from shaking as he opened the file and scanned its contents. His heart froze as he read. "Oh my God," Jarod gasped. Struggling with the reality facing him he suddenly could not breathe. "How can this be?"

Emily sat down across the table from him and took hold of his hand. "Jarod, I'm so sorry. I can't expect you to forgive me, but I want to tell you everything. You need to hear the whole ugly story."

Jarod focused his shocked gaze on her. "I'm listening," he whispered, his tone hard and bitter.

"I worked for the Centre. I was a receptionist.later, I became a personal assistant to Mr. Raines. I was unmarried and barely getting by. Mr. Raines offered me a large sum of money to become a surrogate mother for a couple desperate to have children. I read the file he gave me and after meeting the couple I agreed."

"How much money?" Jarod hissed.

"Two hundred thousand dollars."

Jarod said nothing, just nodded.

"It wasn't until after Jessie was born that I overheard Mr. Raines talking to Mr. Parker. I learned then that the whole thing had been a lie and that Jessie was to be used as a test subject by the Centre. I immediately made my decision to take her and leave. I had a friend in the Centre, a man who lived in the ventilation system."

"Angelo," Jarod smiled slightly.

"Yes, he helped us to escape. He gave me a laptop computer and showed me how to use it to communicate with him. I didn't know if he knew the truth about Jessie. At least not until I started receiving these files and notebooks. He shipped them to me every week. "I know I should have gone to the authorities for help, but I was scared for our safety. I came here to Oregon and met Robert. We married and I thought the worst was over. Then one day I received a package from Angelo, at least I think it was from him. It was a series of newspaper clippings about a man who had been helping those in need. I didn't put all the pieces together until I saw the two of you together outside and heard your response when Jessie called you a hero.the same response you gave in one of those newspaper articles."

Jarod sat in stunned silence as the truth set in. "Who is her real mother?"

"I think you know the answer to that, Jarod."

Jessie came into the kitchen just then and Jarod turned to her. He stared at her in awe. She was his daughter, his flesh and blood. He looked into her eyes.her stunning blue eyes. Yes, he knew.

Emily stood and hugged the little girl. "Jessie, I think you should take Jarod out to see Cocoa now."

"Okay, Mommy," Jessie grabbed hold of Jarod's hand and together, father and daughter, walked toward the barn.

Emily choked back her tears as she sat back down at the table and placed her head in her hands. She'd known this day would come, but her heart was still breaking. Now Jessie was where she belonged, with her father. And soon, her real mother would become a part of the child's life. Emily did not know how she would ever begin to find the strength to let her go, but she knew she had to.

Jarod stopped near the swing and lifted Jessie into it. As he began to gently push her, he calmly thought through the entire situation. It was still so hard to absorb. He was a father.Miss Parker was Jessie's mother. Fate had brought him to this little farm in the middle of the woods. If the tire had not blown.he would have never known he had a child. And Miss Parker had no idea that she was a mother. How would she react? Jarod smiled to himself. He had a feeling that the Centre would never be the same after she learned the truth. Heads were definitely going to roll. Firstly, her father's.

"Jarod," Jessie's small, sad voice brought Jarod out of his thoughts.

He stopped the swing and moved around in front of her. Kneeling down on one knee Jarod smiled, "What is it Jessie? Why are you sad?"

"I just don't want you to leave. I know you are going to leave now," Jessie's eyes filled with tears.

Jarod pulled her to him and held his daughter close, "I have to go. But I will be back. I promise I will be back."

"Jarod, are you my daddy?"

He stared in stunned silence as she looked expectantly into his eyes. Then he nodded slowly, "Yes, baby. I am your daddy. Your real daddy."

"I knew it," Jessie squealed and threw her arms around his neck.

Jarod pulled back slightly in confusion, "You knew? How?"

Jessie reached into the pocket of her bib overalls and pulled out a small photo, holding it out so he could see it. "I found this in my mommy's room."

Jarod looked at the photo of himself. It had been clipped from a newspaper article dating from just a few months after his escape from the Centre. "How long have you had this, Jessie?"

"Since my birthday," Jessie smiled shyly.

"What made you keep it?"

"I just liked it."

"Jessie, that day you found me in the barn, did you know me from this picture. Is that why you weren't scared of me?"

The little girl nodded, "I knew you."

Jarod pulled her into his arms again lifting her of her feet. "Jessie, I am so thankful to know you. I love you."

"I love you too, Daddy."

Emily stood in the shade of the oak leaning against the broad trunk, needing its support to keep from falling apart. She took a hesitant step toward them just as Jarod looked up and caught sight of her. The look of pure joy in his deep brown eyes took her breath away.

Turning to Jessie, Emily smiled, "Jessie, I need to explain something to you, honey. I need you to be brave and try to understand." She sat down on the grass and brought Jessie into her lap. "I want you to know that I love you."

"I love you too, Mommy."

Emily took a deep breath and released it slowly before continuing. "Jessie, I think you understand that Jarod is your real daddy, right?"

Jessie nodded silently.

"I need you to understand that you have another mommy.your real mommy. And she will be coming for you one day, real soon. I have taken care of you and loved you for your whole life, but I am not your mommy."

Jessie looked from Emily to Jarod and back to Emily. "I have a real mommy?"

Emily nodded, "Yes, sweetheart."

Jessie turned to Jarod, "I have two mommies?"

Jarod whispered, "Yes, Jessie."

"Where is she?" Jessie asked softly.

"That is why I have to leave, for just a little while. I need to find her and bring her here to meet you," Jarod pleaded with her to understand.

"You promise to come back."

"I promise."

"Okay," Jessie hugged Jarod tightly.

Jarod was amazed at her ability to grasp the situation before her and make some sense out of it. Jessie seemed so much older than her years. His little girl.her father's daughter.

Sydney sat at his desk, in front of his computer, staring blindly at the screen. It was no use. He couldn't work. He wasn't even sure why he bothered to come into the office. Jarod was gone.and with his death came an emptiness that could not be filled with meaningless work.

Slowly he got up from his chair and moved toward the door. The ringing of his cell phone froze him in his tracks. "Jarod?" Quickly he picked up the phone and pressed the button. "This is Sydney."

"Sydney, how are you?" Broots' voice came over the line.

Unable to cover his deep disappointment and grief, "Broots, what can I do for you?"

"I'm sorry, Syd. I know you miss him."

"I know I should just accept that he's gone, but I can't. A part of me wonders if he is still out there somewhere."

"Have you seen Miss Parker?" Broots asked.

Sydney looked confused, "Come to think of it, I haven't seen her for a few days." As he sat down in his chair again, he whispered, "I hope she is all right. Jarod's death has affected her in ways I never would have expected."

Broots cleared his throat, "Syd, there's more to it than that. Something that you don't know."

"What is it Broots? Tell me."

"I'm sorry, Syd. It's not my place to tell you."

"Broots if Miss Parker is in danger, I want to help. I can't lose her too."

"Just call me if you see her, please. She will tell you when she's ready."

"All right, Broots. I will."

Sydney laid down the phone and placed his head in his hands. A few seconds later, it rang again. "This is Sydney," he said weakly as he answered.

"Hello, Sydney."

Sydney's heart leaped at the sound of his pretender's voice over the phone. "Dear God, Jarod. You're alive." Tears of joy filled his eyes as he smiled with relief.

"Sydney?" Jarod asked in confusion. "What do you mean.alive?"

"Jarod, we thought you burned inside the car. We found the DSA case."

"I'm sorry, Sydney. I had no idea. I just figured you would assume that I had gotten out safely. I would never have put you through that intentionally."

"I know, Jarod. I know."

"I need your help, Sydney. Something has changed in my life.and Miss Parker's."

Sydney gasped softly, "Is she with you?"

"No, why. Where is she?"

"Broots just called looking for her. No one has seen her in days."

"Sydney, get Broots and meet me at her house, right away."

"What's going on, Jarod?"

"Hurry, Sydney," Jarod said just before Sydney heard a soft click on the line.

Dialing Broots' number, he waited for him to answer.

"Hello?"

"Broots, meet me at my car in five minutes. No time to explain."

Miss Parker had just dragged herself out of bed and to the sofa where she collapsed again. She knew that she needed to pull herself together, but she couldn't stop thinking about Ashley, her child.Jarod's child. And Jarod.his smile.those incredible brown eyes.she was going insane. What happened to the 'Ice Queen'? Where was she now that she really needed her strength.her courage?

Struggling to her feet, Miss Parker hugged herself tightly and walked slowly toward the kitchen before deciding that she wasn't really hungry. Her body refused to eat and sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she'd see their faces.hear their voices calling out to her.

A sudden crash brought her around to face a tall silhouette standing in the opening where her front door had been only a moment before. A familiar voice whispered her name.

"Miss Parker, thank God you're okay. I was afraid they'd hurt you."

The silhouette came slowly toward her. Her eyes could not adjust to the bright light behind him. Then he was there, gathering her into his arms. She looked up and choked back a sob before curling herself into Jarod's embrace and allowing him to lift and carry her into her bedroom. Somewhere in her exhausted mind she heard him speaking softly to her.comforting her.

Jarod carefully lowered her down onto her bed and then sat down next to her. As his strong hands gently smoothed back her hair he smiled, "It's all right, Parker. I am here and I won't leave you. Sleep.just sleep now. I love you."

Sydney and Broots stood in the doorway of the bedroom staring at each other in disbelief as Jarod kissed Miss Parker softly then walked toward them.

Jarod hugged Sydney, "I'm sorry, Syd."

"It's all right, Jarod. All that matters is you are safe," Sydney squeezed Jarod's shoulder and smiled, "I know I'm not your father, but when I thought I'd lost you forever, all I could think about is how I never told you what you really mean to me."

Jarod nodded, "I know, Sydney. I guess I've always known."

"The Centre.they think you are dead," Sydney said as the three of them went into Miss Parker's living room.

Broots stuttered slightly as he smiled, "Jarod, I just realized something."

"What is it, Broots?" Jarod asked.

Broots sat down on the coffee table and nodded. "It just might work," he whispered mostly to himself.

"Broots, what are you talking about? What might work?" Sydney asked.

"Jarod, everyone at the Centre thinks you are dead. That means."

Sydney glance quickly at Jarod as he suddenly came to the same conclusion, "You're free, Jarod. As long as they believe that you died in that car accident, you are free to go on with your life the way you've always wanted." "Not quite, I'm afraid." Jarod moved to stand by the window.

"I don't believe I'm following you, Jarod. If the Centre and the Triumvirate believe you are dead, they won't be hunting you any longer."

"Sydney, there's something I need to tell you," Jarod turned to face his mentor. "I need to tell, Miss Parker first. I'm not sure how she will handle it, but right now she needs to rest."

Broots spoke up, "Jarod, she all ready knows."

"What are you saying?" Jarod asked.

"I'm saying, she knows about her."

Jarod ran a hand through his hair, "God, no wonder she's falling apart."

"Would one of you please tell me what is going on?" Sydney pleaded.

Nodding, Jarod motioned toward the sofa. "Have a seat, Syd. This is going to come as quite a shock."

Miss Parker thought she heard voices. Opening her eyes she found her room completely dark. The clock by her bedside registered just after midnight. Slowly she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Standing she made her way through the darkness to the door which was slightly ajar. Opening it she crept down the hallway and into the living room.

She recognized Sydney's voice just as she came into the room. Broots was there with him. Miss Parker sighed, "What are you two doing here?"

Neither of them said a word, they just turned toward the fireplace. She followed their gazes and gasped as she saw Jarod crouched in front of the fire, placing a log into the flames. The golden firelight danced in his eyes as he smiled.

"You look, a little better," he said.

"Jarod," she whispered. Her hands flew to her mouth as tears filled her eyes.

Jarod reached her in two strides, gathering her into his arms as she swayed, "Hey, Parker, please don't cry. Everything's going to be all right now."

"Oh God, Jarod I thought I'd dreamed it, but you are really here."

Gently Jarod brushed away her tears with the back of his hand. "Yes, I'm here, Parker, and I'm not leaving, not without you."

Neither of them noticed as Sydney and Broots slipped quietly out of the house, leaving them alone together. Both grinning from ear to ear as they walked toward Sydney's car. Maybe, just maybe, there would be a happy ending to this crazy story after all.

Miss Parker shook her head, "Jarod, no. I can't leave yet.I have to find someone."

"I have all ready found her."

Miss Parker stared at him in disbelief, "You knew?"

"No, I found her purely by the grace of God. The night of my accident, I ran through the woods to get away from there before you caught up with me. I was injured and disoriented, but some unseen force led me to a barn where I took shelter. The next morning I was awakened by a beautiful, dark-haired angel with the most incredible blue eyes.very familiar blue eyes."

"Ashley is in Oregon?" Miss Parker smiled.

"Her name is Jessica now, though she likes to be called Jessie," Jarod grinned.

Throwing her arms around Jarod's neck, Miss Parker laughed in relief. "Jarod, I want to go to her."

"We will leave in the morning," Jarod held her close. "I love you, Parker."

"I love you too. I'm just sorry it took me so long to realize it."

"You know, Parker," Jarod touched her cheek and stared into the bottomless blue depths of her eyes. "After everything we've been through in our lives.I have a feeling that we are finally on the right path?"

"I hope so, Jarod. Promise me that we will never look back, that the past will be put to rest, once and for all."

Jarod kissed her tenderly. "What past?" Jarod grinned.

Miss Parker reached up to touch his face, "I almost lost you."

Jarod brushed her cheek with the back of his hand, "I'm not going anywhere, Parker. Like it or not, you are stuck with me."

The look in Jarod's eyes nearly made her want to cry again. He loved her.she'd spent four years making his life a living hell and yet he loved her. She did not deserve him.

As if reading her thoughts, Jarod shook his head slowly and smiled, "Parker, that's the past.the past is dead. All that matters now is that we're together and we have a little girl who needs us. She's been through a lot and I have a feeling that it's not going to be an easy road ahead. The Centre is not going to be kept in the dark for long."

Nodding, Miss Parker turned and walked a short distance away from Jarod. "Why do they keep torturing us like this, Jarod? What did we ever do to deserve this life they have dealt us?"

"I don't know, but we cannot let them win. They can never win," Jarod moved behind her and wrapped his arms tightly around her, resting his chin lightly on the top of her head.

Turning to face him again, Miss Parker smiled slightly, "Now that we're on the same side, the Centre won't stand a chance."

"Why do you think they turned us against each other? They knew what they would be up against if we ever found the truth and turned against them."

Miss Parker chuckled softly, "I almost feel sorry for them."

"Me too," Jarod grinned.

"Jarod," Miss Parker turned to stare into the dancing flames. "Is Jessica going to accept me? She is four years old and has been raised by another woman, whom she believed to be her real mother. Is she going to understand?"

"Parker, Jessie is a very bright child. You are forgetting who her father is," Jarod raised both eyebrows and flashed her that mischievous grin she'd always hated. Somehow this time she found it amusing.

"Okay, Boy Genius," Miss Parker laughed, "I think that is more egotism than I can tolerate on an empty stomach."

Jarod made a beeline for the phone, "Pizza or Chinese?"

"Do this often? How in the hell do you keep in shape?"

Jarod glanced sideways at her as he dialed the phone. "I run it off."

"Funny."

A few hours later, Jarod carried a sleeping Miss Parker into her room. Once she was tucked in tight he laid down next to her. He fell asleep listening to her breathing and for once, the nightmares didn't come.

The ringing of the phone woke Miss Parker from a sound sleep. Normally she would have snapped, but for some strange reason, she felt rested and content. The feeling would be short-lived. "Good Morning," she smiled into the phone as she glanced over her shoulder to see Jarod grinning sleepily at her. She could definitely get used to this.

"Miss Parker?" Broots responded in a confused voice.

"Hello, Broots."

"Miss Parker, is he there?"

"Yes."

"I'm not sure what's going on, but Lyle just left. He said something about having business in Oregon. Miss Parker, I think he knows."

"Damn," Miss Parker shot out of bed. "Broots, get the jet ready. We've got to get there before he does."

Jarod leapt from the bed, "Lyle." He scrambled to put on his boots, "If he touches her, I'll kill him." The unrestrained menace in Jarod's voice did not surprise her. She had seen that look in his eyes before.

Miss Parker slammed down the phone and headed for her closet. She dressed quickly in jeans and a black sweater. She pulled on her boots and grabbed her gun. "Jarod, if he gets to Jessie before we do."

"He won't," Jarod took hold of her hand and squeezed. "They can't win."

Miss Parker nodded silently and fighting to control her tears, headed out the door with Jarod hot on her heels. Neither of them dared to think about what would happen if they didn't reach Jessie in time.

The jet had barely touched down and coasted to a stop on the runway before Jarod threw open the door. Miss Parker climbed down and ran toward a waiting helicopter. The pilot looked up from his magazine to see a tall, angry and determined brunette heading directly for him. Behind her came a tall man with desperation in his eyes. Instinct told him that these two were not to be messed with. "Ma'am, can I help you?"

"Is this thing ready to fly?"

"Yes, ma'am, but I'm waitin' for someone else."

"They can find another way," Miss Parker hissed and slapped a roll of cash into the pilot's hand.

"Yes, ma'am," the pilot winked and opened the door to the cockpit for her. The man went around and climbed into the front seat. Evidently, they didn't need him. He stepped back from the helicopter just as the blades came to life. He waved as they took off then counted the wad of bills in his hand, nearly passing out as he realized that it added up to just over ten thousand dollars. "This must be my lucky day," he grinned and walked toward the hangar counting his riches over and over again.

As the farm came into view, Jarod immediately sensed that something was not right. It was too quiet. Nothing was moving. He flew over the corral startling the horses. It only took him a split second to notice that Cocoa was not among them. Something was definitely wrong. He'd begun to worry when Emily had not answered the phone when he called to warn her.

Miss Parker scanned the ground below. Her heart was in her throat as she willed herself to believe that Jessica was safe. She could not let herself fall apart. Sensing the fear in Jarod's movements, she barely managed to hold back the tears.

Jarod set down just a hundred feet or so from the barn. Both he and Miss Parker pulled their guns as they moved quickly toward the house. They found the front door locked, but Jarod threw himself against it and it gave way with very little resistance.

The silence of the home was deafening. There were no smells of fresh- baked blueberry muffins. No Emily, singing softly to herself as she cooked and cleaned. No laughter.no Jessie. Jarod had only spent a few days there, but it had been the closest thing to a home that he'd ever found. Now it seemed lonely and abandoned.

Miss Parker searched the first floor rooms while Jarod went upstairs to search. The first place he looked was the attic. It was empty. Just before going back downstairs, he glanced out the window toward the barn. His heart stopped as he saw something or someone lying on the ground in the shadow of the oak tree. At breakneck speed he ran down the stairs passing Miss Parker as he flew out the door. She followed, keeping up with him as best she could. She saw him heading for a still form lying on the ground. As she dropped to her knees next to him, she saw that it was a petite, blonde woman.

"Oh God, Emily," Jarod gasped as he carefully examined her from head to toe. She was lying on her stomach and as he gently rolled her onto her back they saw that the front of her dress was soaked in blood. Checking for a pulse he found it.weak and erratic. Frantically, he tore the lower part of her skirt and held it over the bullet hole in her side.

Emily suddenly coughed and opened her eyes, "Jarod. Thank God.you.came back.Jessie."

"Emily, stay with me. Hang on. We'll get you to a hospital," Jarod whispered softly, trying to make his voice sound as reassuring as possible. He knew the wound was fatal. He could not save her.no one could. "Emily, can you hear me?"

"Jarod, Jessie.she's gone.they took her. The Centre came and took.her away. I tried to stop them." she gasped and went into a fit of coughing."

Miss Parker knew also that this woman, who had raised Jessica from birth, was dying. She had never felt so helpless. Jessica was in the hands of the Centre. "Emily, you don't know me."

Emily focused on the brunette's face and smiled weakly, "Miss Parker.Jessie looks just like you."

Miss Parker fought back her tears, "I want you to know that I will be forever indebted to you for saving Jessie from the Centre when she was born and raising her. Thank you."

Emily reached for Miss Parker's hand and took hold. "Tell her that I love her.please, don't let her.forget me."

"I promise you, I will never let her forget you," Miss Parker whispered.

"Jarod," Emily's eyes filled with tears. "Take everything from the house.don't bring Jessie back here.I don't want the bad memories to.to haunt her."

Jarod nodded, "Emily, do you know where they are taking her?"

Shaking her head slowly, Emily started to cry. Huge sobs wracked her whole body. "It's my fault.Robert.he brought them here.they took her."

"Damn," Jarod swore. "I never should have let him live. Who shot you, Emily?"

"I didn't know him.but he wore.a glove.one hand."

"Lyle." Miss Parker leapt to her feet and ran a hand through her dark hair.

Jarod glanced up at her then back to the dying woman in his arms. "Emily, was Robert with them?"

She nodded, "He laughed.he killed Cocoa."

"Oh God, Jessie didn't see.did she?"

Emily nodded again, "She saw.the look on her face.he just.laughed."

Miss Parker wasn't sure who Cocoa was, but she knew that the violent death of a pet could traumatize a child for life.

Jarod's shoulders sagged as Emily gasped her last breath her last words would be forever etched in his memory.

"Jarod, Jessie is.just.like.you." And with those words, Emily's eyes closed and she was gone.

The flight back to Blue Cove seemed to take an eternity. Miss Parker sat staring silently out the window of the jet. Jarod sat next to her with his head resting in his hands. She reached for him but something told her that he needed to work through the pain in his own way. She knew that the guilt was weighing heavily on his shoulders, eating away at him little by little.

They had made arrangements for Emily's burial before leaving Oregon. They left immediately after making their statement to the police. It had cost them three hours, but they knew that Jessica's life was not in danger. If she was a pretender, as Emily's last words had suggested, the Centre would not hurt her.physically. Mentally was another story.

Miss Parker jumped as her cell phone rang. "What?"

"Miss Parker," Sydney's soothing voice came over the line. "I need to speak with Jarod, is he there?"

"Yes," she handed the phone to Jarod.

"Sydney," Jarod's voice was barely audible.

"Jarod, Jessica is here. Lyle brought her in about an hour ago. She appears to be unhurt. She won't speak to anyone though. Jarod, they still believe you are dead and they don't know that I am aware of Jessica's true identity."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Evidently, Robert did not tell them about our little encounter. He must not have known who I was."

Sydney cleared his throat, "Jarod, I believe that this Robert Thomas worked for the Centre and was given a directive to marry Emily so they could monitor Jessica until she was old enough to be trained. She is approximately the same age as you were when you were brought here."

"She is a pretender, Sydney."

"Lyle has asked me to meet with Jessica and try to get her to cooperate. I'm going down there as soon as we hang up. She is on SL-20, corridor 3.room 52. Be careful. They may not be expecting you, but they know Miss Parker is coming for her daughter."

"We'll be careful, Syd. Thank you."

After cutting the connection, Jarod turned and gathered Miss Parker into his arms. "She's there and she's safe.for now. Sydney is on his way down to see her. He will protect her."

"Thank God," Miss Parker whispered as she curled into Jarod's embrace.

"We're going to get her out, Parker," Jarod gently kissed the top of her head.

Jarod and Miss Parker were within a mile of the Centre grounds when a flash of movement ahead caught their attention. Jarod slammed on the brakes. The car came to a sliding stop, just inches from a figure crouched in the road, covering his head. As Jarod exited the car, the figure raised his head and blinked quickly, blinded by the headlights.

"Angelo." Bending, Jarod helped his friend to his feet, "Angelo, are you all right? What are you doing out of the Centre?"

Miss Parker joined them just as Angelo grinned and hugged Jarod tightly, "Angelo knew Jarod not dead. Angelo glad."

Laughing, Jarod hugged him back, "It's good to see you too, but why did you run out into the road like that? You could have been killed.

"Angelo find Jarod and Miss Parker. Little girl sad.scared. She cries.when no one sees. Brave.strong.when they see."

Miss Parker put an arm around Angelo, "Is Jessica all right? Have they hurt her?"

Angelo shook his head, "Sydney there now.little girl safe."

Jarod started to help Angelo toward the car, but after only a few steps, Angelo grabbed Jarod's arm and shook his head. "What is it, Angelo?"

"Angelo help. Come this way."

"Parker," Jarod said. "Take the car and go on to the Centre. I will go with Angelo."

"All right, but be careful. He may not be the only one who knows you aren't dead."

Jarod covered her lips with his own in a quick but tender kiss, "You be careful. And remember the plan. We have to stick to the plan. I'll meet you inside."

Miss Parker watched until they disappeared into the darkness before getting back into the car and driving the remaining distance to the Centre. She said a prayer for Jessica and for Jarod before sliding out from behind the wheel and slamming the car door behind her as she stormed into the main building.

The elevator doors closed and she pressed the button for SL-20. Pulling out her gun, she checked the clip to make sure it was loaded, then returned it to its home under her jacket. Still dressed in the jeans and black sweater from that morning, Miss Parker felt strangely vulnerable.human. As she watched the sub-level indicator, she struggled with the overwhelming fear that something ominous would be awaiting her when the elevator doors opened.

When they finally did, Miss Parker scanned the corridor warily and as she moved along, keeping close to the walls, she became aware of the distinct sound of a child crying. She followed the sound until she came to Room 52. The door was slightly ajar. This can't be good, she thought to herself.

Cautiously, Miss Parker pushed open the heavy steel door and waited for her eyes to adjust to the dim interior of the room. Slowly she moved farther into the small cell. The crying had stopped but she could still hear the choked sobs as the child tried to keep silent.

As her eyes adjusted she saw a tiny form huddled into the farthest corner of the room behind the bed.

"Jessica," Miss Parker whispered. "It's all right.you can come out now."

The little girl moved ever so slightly, as if trying to decide whether she could trust this new stranger.

"Jessie, I'm here now, baby. You don't really know me, but I'm."

"You are my real mommy?" a small voice said.

Miss Parker's eyes filled with tears suddenly, "Yes, Jessie, I'm your real mommy."

"Where's my daddy?"

Sitting down on the small bed, Miss Parker reached out to her daughter, "He's here too. We've come to take you away from this place."

Jessie reached up and took hold of Miss Parker's outstretched hand. "Good. I don't like it here. They wanted me to play games with them.I told them no."

"You are a very smart girl, Jessie." Miss Parker gently pulled the little girl into her embrace and held her, comforted her. "Come now, we have to go. Before they come back."

Lifting Jessie, Miss Parker smiled as she wrapped her arms tightly around her neck. Moving toward the door, she'd no more taken a step that the door flew completely open, banging against the wall and the lights came on, blinding her for a moment.

"Well, well what do we have here," Lyle flashed his charming but deadly smile. "If this isn't a touching sight. Just where do you think you are taking her, Sis."

"Out of this hell-hole," Miss Parker hissed.

"She belongs to the Centre."

"She is my daughter, Lyle. I won't let you hurt her. I will kill you if I have to."

"You will have to, Parker. And do you want your little girl to see that her real mommy is a killer?"

Jessie lifted her head and glared at Lyle. The look she gave him was pure 'Miss Parker'. Her mother quickly stifled a chuckle as her heart filled with a powerful emotion that she had never known before. Pride.love.devotion.all rolled into one amazing feeling that renewed her courage and overpowered all doubt.

Miss Parker started toward her brother, "Lyle, my daughter and I are going to walk out of here now. You and Raines should really learn that playing God will only pave your way to hell. But then.you both should fit right in."

"Sorry, Sis. You aren't going anywhere.except maybe a cold, dark cell on SL-27. That will keep you out of the way for a long, long time," Lyle motioned with his head and two sweepers came into the room.

Miss Parker backed away from them until her back hit the wall. "Lyle, I'm warning you, I am not letting you take her from me."

"I don't see that you have a choice in the matter, Parker. Give her up and we won't kill you," Lyle stood just inside the doorway, an amused look in his eyes.

The sweepers were only a few feet away when Miss Parker heard a scratching noise coming from the vent above her. Smiling slyly, she dove to the floor just as the grate exploded out of the wall and Jarod dropped out of the opening, instantly wiping the smug grin off of Lyle's face. In its place was a panic and fear that nearly made Miss Parker burst out laughing.

"Hello, Lyle." Jarod raised an eyebrow and grinned, "So nice to see you again."

"Jarod," Lyle gasped. "But you're supposed to be dead."

"Sorry, I guess I'm just not gonna go away."

"Kill them all," Lyle ordered the sweepers.

"I don't think so," Jarod aimed his gun directly at Lyle's head. They move, you die."

Lyle swallowed hard and cleared his throat, "Jarod, the girl is the Centre's property. Look at it this way. With her, we no longer need you. You are free to go. Fair trade?"

Jarod glared at the cowering man, "Jessica is not going to have her childhood stolen from her the way mine was. She is going to live a happy, normal life with parents who love her and no one will ever take her away from us again." Then to Miss Parker he jerked his head toward the opening in the wall, "Go, take Jessie. There's a friend waiting inside to show you the way out."

Miss Parker nodded and quickly lifted Jessica into the ventilation shaft. With a glance over her shoulder, she met Jarod's gaze. The silent communication between them spoke louder than words ever could. As she followed Jessica into the vent, she knew that Jarod would die to protect them. She prayed that it wouldn't come to that.

Once Jessie and Miss Parker were gone, Jarod focused all of his attention on Lyle. The sweepers had backed off enough that he had some room to maneuver. His mind mechanically ticked off the seconds as he moved toward the vent. "Time to go. It's been a pleasure."

And in one fluid movement, Jarod lifted himself up into the shaft and tossed a time-delayed hand grenade into the room behind him. He heard Lyle and his goons diving for cover and chuckled softly to himself as he moved stealthily through the ventilation system. The explosion rattled the ductwork around him and forced him to cover his ears for a few seconds before moving on.

Miss Parker followed Angelo out into the night air. She had wrapped her jacket around Jessie to keep her warm. Her arms were growing tired but she refused to let go of her daughter. They finally reached the car and she settled Jessie into the back seat. When she turned around, Angelo was gone.

"Thank you," she smiled into the darkness. Slipping into the driver's seat, she started the engine and waited and prayed. There was still no sign of Jarod. He heart was beating rapidly in her chest. She looked at her watch. Two more minutes, Jarod had told her to leave him if he wasn't out two minutes after they reached the car.

A minute passed, and still nothing. Two minutes.time to go. She fought back tears as she pressed her foot down on the accelerator and the car tore out of the parking area. "Come on, Jarod. Where are you?" she whispered.

As the car rounded a curve she saw headlights coming toward them. As the car drew closer Miss Parker recognized it. "Broots."

The two cars came to a stop in the middle of the road. Broots rolled down his window and grinned, "I think I found something that belongs to you."

The passenger side door opened and Jarod got out. He slid into the passenger seat and immediately kissed her. When he pulled away, he was grinning from ear to ear, "I love you, Parker."

Miss Parker slugged him playfully in the chest. "You sure know how to show a girl a good time," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm.

"I do my best," Jarod laughed.

They waved to Broots as he drove away, then Miss Parker stepped on the gas and did the same. Jarod reached over the back of the seat to adjust Miss Parker's jacket over Jessie who was sound to sleep. He smiled as he gently smoothed back his daughter's dark hair. She was beautiful. Truly, her mother's daughter...he thought as he turned his gaze to Miss Parker. Beautiful.strong, definitely stubborn.and he loved them both more than his own life. They were his home now and nothing would ever come between them again.