Stormy Weather
Chapter One
It happened on a fine spring morning one year ago. They never saw them coming until it was too late. F.B.I. Agents and several swat teams swarmed through, 'The Centre', and took into custody those who they pursued.
Following a ruthless interrogation and spending twenty-four hours in the slammer, Ms. Parker, Dr. Sydney Green, and George Broots were free to go, hence they knew why.
They also knew whom was responsible for bringing down 'The Centre'.
For five long months the state attorneys and defense lawyers were at battle with one another.
Finally after three longs weeks of deliberations the jury returned, "Guilty", was their judgment for Mr. Raines, Lyle, Sam, Willie, and other menacing characters that just so happen to be at, The Centre, that day. "Life in prison without parole" was the ruling from Judge Lanier for the gruesome characters that stood before him.
And most importantly of all, the 'you run, I chase' game, had ended between predator and prey.
In the beginning, Parker, and Jarod were the happiest couple in the neighborhood.
Her mother's house once more became a happy home with the two love birds, painting, remodeling, and then one more shopping spree to locate the final piece of antique furniture that would complete their happy love nest.
Their intimate candlelit dinners together would always end up the same way. He ran and she gave chase straight upstairs to the bedroom for a night of passionate love.
Parker rose to a sitting position in her bed from another restless night. The same bed where once two woke up embraced in one another's arms. She ran her fingers through her chocolate hair as she swung her feet over the side. Her eyes focused upon the half-empty bottle of scotch and a pack of cigarettes that resided on her nightstand and released a jaded sigh because years ago she had kicked the nasty habit of smoking.
Parker had done just that, however, somewhere along the way; Parker started to resent Jarod and blamed him for ruining her, back in the day; routine lifestyle. Thus began the ruthless extended fights between them with, Jarod, being the one to storm out the door until they both had time to cool off.
Then he would return to her with open arms declaring that their love would overcome any obstacle that life has in store for them. Her mind drifts back to a time when the thirst that, they had for one another could not be quenched.
But that was then.
Parker walks down the hallway to the guest bedroom, presses her fingertips against the door, and pushes it open. Her eyes follow him as he walks across the space with shaving kit in his hands. He places the few remaining items inside his duffle bag, zips it up and its leather strap goes over his right shoulder then, he swiftly grabs his jacket to leave for yet another trip.
As he begins to walk past her, he stops, takes a deep breath and looks into her eyes.
"Jarod…" He interrupts her.
"You know, Parker, I can take the demeaning names that you call me. I can even take your hard slaps across my face. But, for whatever the hell your reasons are…" He sighs. "I cannot take this!" Jarod stomps down the stairs, and slams the front door behind him.
Parker returned to her bedroom, ran her fingers through her hair, sat down on the edge of her bed and poured herself another glass of scotch and lit up another cigarette to start her day which is now a daily routine for her. She tilts her head to the right with smoke drifting from her lips, reminiscing of days passed by when she was the 'huntress' and Jarod was the 'hunted'.
"To the fantastic times that we shared together Jarod. It's just that I'm so damned…" She trails off and downs the scotch in one gulp.
The unspoken word that lingers in her mind makes her body tremble because she loves only one man, Jarod, a pretender, a genius who can become anyone that he wants to be.
But, be that as it may, Parker never could bring herself to admit to, Jarod, the real reason as to why she broke off their engagement and she swats the tear away that streams down her right cheek.
Because she was the infamous "Ice-queen" of yesterday who had tried but somewhere along the way had resorted back to her old ways.
Parker exhales loudly, crushes the cigarette into the ashtray, rises, and walks into the bathroom to shower, and dress.
Then, do what all women do.
She and Debbie would shop until they both drop from exhaustion.
TBC