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My Dearest Angel
By tigereyes320 Part 1 of 5
Day 1 The Centre
Blue Cove, DE
Parker was sitting in her office, with her back to the door. She just wanted this day to end as quickly as possible. Even though she was deep in thought, she felt rather then heard someone in her office. She didn't need to turn around to know who was there. Sometimes it just didn't pay to have a twin.
"Can I do something for you Lyle?" Parker asked in her iciest voice.
"No. I came to ask if you wanted to go out to dinner?" Lyle said calmly, just waiting for the storm to break.
"You want to take me out to dinner?" Parker said pronouncing each word as its own sentence.
"Yes, I do. I know what today is. I also know how hard it has been for you since Dad died." Lyle answered with a small grin.
"Have I entered the Twilight Zone? Since when do we do dinner? For that matter since when were we family. We also don't know that Daddy . . ." she paused in the middle of her snit. She took a deep breath and continued. "We don't know that Daddy is dead. You and Raines insisted on having a memorial service for him. Now his empty casket lies next to my mothers. That is it! Take you offer of dinner, and shove it where the sun doesn't shine! I'm leaving right now, before I do something that gives me one less brother! I'll see you tomorrow." With that she grabbed her briefcase and her coat and stormed out the door and out of the building.
Parker would run a few errands, before going home and then enjoy a long hot soak in her tub. It had been a long time since she left work, while the sun was still shining.
An hour or so later
Parker's House Blue Cove, DE
Parker closed the door after the messenger had given her the message and signed for it. She opened the letter she had just signed for. She had never seen this messenger service before because, The Centre had their own messenger service so there was never a need to use outsiders. She glanced at handwriting on the envelope and realized it was from the man that she had called "Daddy" her whole life. The memorial service for the man she still considered her father, had been held one month ago today.
As she opened the letter, her mind repeatedly played the last time she saw him.
"Daddy, I have to know. Are you my real father?" she had asked him desperately.
"I love you as though you were my daughter. That's all that matters." He said before he jumped out of the plane with the scrolls.
Parker opened the envelope and saw several pages inside. She steeled herself for what lies might be inside, but also for whatever truths might be revealed. Parker sat down on the sofa and turned on the light to read the letter.
My Dearest Angel; I have always considered you that, My Angel. I hope after you read this letter you will be able to forgive me. Please wait until you hear the entire truth about everything before you react. If you are reading this, I am dead. A month after my funeral the messenger service has been instructed to deliver this to your house. A lot will be revealed in this letter. Do what you will with the information in this letter. Please think before you act. I don't want you joining your mother and I any time soon.
The first thing I need to tell you is one of the hardest. I helped kill your Thomas. I didn't pull the trigger. I didn't assign Brigitte to kill him. But I knew it was going to happen. Mr. Raines came to me and said you were losing you focus, your edge. I told him that you were in love, and if you had to choose between Thomas and us. Thomas would be the one chosen. I also told him that you planned to leave the Centre and move to Oregon to be with Thomas. Angel, he was livid. He told me I had a choice to make. You could stay at the Centre and live or you could move to Oregon with Thomas and die. If I chose you to live, I knew I was signing Thomas's death warrant. I'm sorry Angel I chose you. I had no idea they would do it at your house with your gun. I thought it would just be an accident on a road somewhere. After Thomas' death you were back to your old self and you were safe. I know what losing Thomas did to you Angel, and I am so sorry for putting you through that. I love you; you are my daughter, Angel. I had to keep you alive. I owed your mother that much.
The next thing I have to tell you about is your mother. I loved her so much. I wasn't able to protect her. In fact, I helped destroy her. I helped the Centre destroy her. I let the Centre control my love for her and or marriage. I'm not proud of the fact that on more then one occasion I did hit your mother. I am not your biological father that is true. Neither is Abel Parker/William Raines. He thinks you are, and Angel for now it might be best that he does. Lyle is not your twin brother, Angelo is. It was safer at the time when Lyle changed the results of the test for him to be a Parker. I'll get back to this in a bit. We tried for a while and nothing seemed to work. The Centre was decades ahead in fertility studies.
We tried Invitro-fertilization long before the rest of the world had even heard of it. However, the miscarriages were too much for your mother. She wanted a child so badly; it began to strain our marriage. We stopped talking to each other. To make a long story short, I had an affair Angel. Your mother was so angry with me she left me for a while. I know she found comfort in another mans arms. I think it might have been Sydney or his brother Jacob. This was before he was her doctor. I'm not sure on this. You'd have to ask him. He knows quite a few of the Centre secrets. Your mother and I broke off our respective affairs and forgave each other. We then discovered that you and your brother were on the way. I was thrilled. I made her promise me that she would never tell the father that you were his, nor would she tell anyone else. I didn't want you confused Angel. No, that is a lie. I didn't want you calling anyone else Daddy. I also didn't want the Triumvirate to know that you weren't mine. If I couldn't have a child, I wouldn't be of any use to them. You know what happens to those they have no use for. I swear to you, your mother and I never knew that your twin had survived. Losing that baby nearly killed her. Raines wanted to exploit the gift you had inherited from her. I couldn't do that to Catherine. She had lost two babies to miscarriage and then your brother to his stillbirth. I put my foot down; they weren't going to take you from her as well.
I will tell you something else Raines needs you and "your brother" to run the Centre. It can only keep going if you, Angel are a part of it. You are the one they need. Your mother, I know wants you to finish her work. Angel, you have to be careful. Your mother went to far, to fast. I played a major part in her death. I let them impregnate her with Ethan. I thought that I could explain it to her and together we could work something out. Instead, she was forced to trust in Raines. If she hadn't maybe, I could have kept her alive. Angel, she really is dead. I saw the body cremated. I scattered her ashes under the tree you two use to picnic under and in her garden at the summer place, your house. That's probably why you always felt her presence there more then my house.
I'm so glad you and Jarod were able to save Ethan. You two always made an unbeatable team. That is why Raines sent you two that picture of your mothers together. She did hide a DSA for you. I was never able to find it. It probably is somewhere in your house, in a place that only you and your mother knew about. Angel, Please try to make the Centre what it once was, a place that did do some good. If you can't you, have my blessing to destroy it. Do what you must to survive. Then do what you have to do to rebuild your life. Can't keep a Parker down, and you are a Parker. I'm sending another letter to Jarod to give him some answers.
About Angelo, your mother insisted after what Raines did to him we adopt him. The papers for him, Faith and ones dealing with your baby brother are in a locked box that is located under some floorboards beneath your sofa. The key to the locked box is taped to the painting I gave you for your college graduation. Angel I wish I could say what I have just confessed to be the worse that I have done to you, but it isn't. Before I go into all the details of my betrayal. I have named you your baby brother's guardian. All the papers are in the box. Evan Thomas is the child you should have been able to have with your Thomas. The one you would have had if the Centre hadn't interfered. I named him Evan because that is what we planned to call your twin brother. It went so well with your given name of Eve Catherine. I chose Thomas because of the day he was born, what Brigitte had done, but most especially because I genuinely liked Thomas. He put you first. He saw all your faults and loved you because of them or in spite of them. He would have gone toe to toe with anyone out to hurt you. I know you'll be as wonderful a mother to Evan as your mother was to you. Your custody will go uncontested. If it doesn't, in the box, there is DNA test results that will guarantee you get custody. Angel, Evan is your biological son, yours and Jarod's. Neither of you knew that we had his sperm from when he was a prisoner here, and we took some of your eggs when you almost died from the ulcer perforation two years ago. The Centre knew one thing. If anything happened to you, Jarod would disappear without a trace. I knew the child wasn't Brigitte's and mine. I had the test run at three separate non- Centre run facilities. The truth is that child wouldn't be here at all, if you hadn't delivered him. From the Triumvirate, I have a signed irrevocable sanction giving your son to you free and clear. The Centre is not allowed to use him as they used his father. Angel, Jarod' ll be contacting you about this. I'm also sure he will want to see, and spend time with his son. The Centre has stolen so much from you, Angel. Get Jarod to help you steal some of that time back. Angel, I know you are hurt, and furious and you have every right to be. I did what I did to keep you both alive.
I have known from the start who Raines was and that his only loyalty was to himself. I know I don't have to tell you this but don't trust him or Lyle. In fact in that whole place the only people I feel you can trust are Sydney, Broots and Sam the sweeper I've always had assigned to you. I knew he couldn't be bought and that his first loyalty would be to you. Raines will have to be eliminated by fair means or foul. I will leave that decision up to you and Jarod. I'm running out of time here. We leave to meet you two in Scotland shortly. My Eve, I have always loved you, even when I didn't show you for fear of the Centre's reprisals They have an uncanny knack of taking what people love and twisting into something ugly or destroying it. Don't let them do that to you. One of my biggest regrets will be in not seeing the incredible mother you'll be. I wish I could see you raise Evan and any other children you might choose to have. Your mother called you her gift from God. Know that I think of you that way too. The other information in the box should provide you with whatever answers you desire. I won't ask for your forgiveness, I don't deserve it. I only hope that one day you will think of me, with a small portion of kindness. Know that I don't forgive myself for all the pain I've caused you.
I love you My Dearest Angel, My Eve. "Daddy" Cain Parker
As Parker finished reading the last page it fell to her lap as unheeded as the tears running down her face. She looked up at the fireplace and saw a picture of her and her mother together. She snapped to attention and grabbed her cell phone from the pocket of her leather trench coat. She activated it and starting snapping instructions into it as soon as the phone stopped ringing.
"Have my baby brother packed up and ready to leave in an hour. I'm bringing him home to live with me. I'll get the police involved if I have to 'Dad'. I have papers giving custody to me. I'll be out of the office for the next 3 weeks. Call it maternity leave! I don't care! Don't push me Raines. You want my loyalty, hand over my brother and approve my time off. I'll be there in less then an hour." she abruptly ended the call.
Parker sat back down on the sofa. Her hands were shaking. 'Let's hope I just didn't sign my own death certificate.' Parker rose, and went to the back to the portrait, that was hanging over the fireplace feeling for the key behind it. She pushed the sofa out of the way and heedless of her silk miniskirt and stockings found the loose floorboard and grabbed the locked box. She found another envelope pushed further back then the box she pulled that out too. Parker had just shoved the sofa back in place when her cell phone rang.
"What!" Parker snapped at the caller.
"Do you have my son?" Jarod asked in a voice she'd never heard before.
"That is OUR son. I'm in the process of changing and going to pick him up." Parker took a few deep breaths before continuing, "Jarod, I knew nothing about this." she said as she walked into her room pulling off her jacket, and grabbing a suitcase from the closet.
"I know" Jarod replied I that horribly quiet voice.
Parker was somewhat surprised he wasn't more upset about the whole situation. Especially knowing how Jarod felt about family. "Jarod, I'm taking the next few weeks off. It's probably dangerous to do this. But, oh well. Do you want to meet somewhere, and spend some time with us?" Parker asked as she starts throwing some necessities in her suitcase.
"Let me make some arrangements. I'll call you in about an hour."
"Fine. You can reach me on my cell. I know you know the number." Parker zipped up the suitcase as she tossed the phone onto the bed. She took off the rest of her clothes and jumped into the shower.
After toweling off, she slipped into some old jeans a tank and her favorite flannel shirt of Tommy's. She then put on some shoes, grabbed her trench coat, and picked up the locked box and envelope. She opened the suitcase and put the envelope and the contents of the lock box inside before slamming it shut. She went back in and grabbed various pictures of mother and her as a child, as well as the picture of her and Thomas. Parker took her suitcase and put it into the trunk of her car.
Parker then got in her car and drove to her father's house. Raines had taken over there as well. It had been fifteen minutes after she had left her house when she pulled up outside Raines' new residence, her father's old house. When she got out of her car, Parker made sure her gun was loaded, and armed at the small of her back and went to retrieve her son.
Raines met her at the door with his ever present oxygen tank and sweeper Willie as she climbed the steps.
"I don't think this is a good idea." Raines rasped as he stared intently at her.
"Since when do I care what you think? I can do anything I want. You need me to find Jarod and you know it. A blood test may say you are my father. Daddy however gave custody of Evan to me. Are you going to cause a problem?" Parker's voice dripped with poison. "Because, I have the paperwork and the law on my side. If I don't involve the police, I could involve the Triumvirate. I'm sure they would love to know just how much you've 'helped' with the search for Jarod. Now, did you approve the vacation time or do I need to make a phone call?" she stared at him, her eyes like twin ice beams.
"Yes! I approved it." Raines growled knowing at that moment she was right. If the police got involved the Triumvirate would have heads rolling. Especially if they found out the truth about Evan.
"Good. I'll see you in three weeks. I wouldn't advise trying anything. I've already made out a will and faxed it to my attorney, as to who will raise Evan if anything happens to me before he is eighteen. I even think someone is following me. I'll go to the Triumvirate with the information I have. We both know it's enough to get you killed several times over." with that missile aimed and fired, she picked up Evan, and his car seat, placing him in her car. She then took his things from the nanny and put them in her car as well.
"I'm taking my brother on a vacation with me. We need to bond. You may have the next three weeks off with pay Ms. Roberts. I'll let you know when I'm returning. I don't know, that I plan to retain your services myself. Here is my cell phone number if you have any questions." Parker explained as she handed the woman her business card. She got into her car and sped away, before Raines could change his mind.
"Evan, you and Mommy are going to get to spend some quality time with Daddy. As soon as he lets me know where to meet him." Parker explained to the almost 2 year old in a soft voice.
"OK" Evan chirped as he watched out the window.
"Mommy. I'm Mommy, baby." Parker said gently, a tear running down her cheek. She never thought she'd have to ask her own child to call her Mommy.
"OK, Mommy." Evan agreed happily munching on a cracker he had grabbed from his diaper bag.
Parker then picked up her cell phone, and called Sydney, who was still at the Centre. "Sydney, I just wanted to let you know I'll be out of the office for the next three weeks. I'll call you soon, and let you know what is going on." she cut the connection before he could reply. Before she could interrogate him for the truth about him and her mother
Parker continued to drive west, not knowing where she was going, just wanting to get away from Blue Cove, as fast as she legally possible. Parker was so unaware of her surroundings like in a trance, that she nearly jumped out of her skin when the cell phone beside her started to ring, Parker realized she'd been driving in her near-trance state for almost an hour. Parker glanced into the backseat, through the rear view mirror and saw her son was asleep. Parker pulled to the side of the road before answering the phone.
"Hello?" she said in a low voice as she looked at the deserted road around her.
"Parker is that you? You almost sound friendly." Jarod asked shocked at her response.
"Evan is asleep. I don't want to wake him." She told him shortly.
"Where are you?"
"I just passed the Maryland-Delaware state line. I'm in my car. Will I need to get rid of it? Jarod, are you there?" she asked hesitantly.
"How is he?"
"He is beautiful. Where do you want us to meet you?"
"Go to the next Airport and take a plane to Chicago. Don't use your credit cards or your real name if possible. Do you have enough cash?" He asked before continuing, "Also here is my cell phone number, it secure and you can call me before you get in so I know which Airport to meet you at." He rattled off a number to her.
"Yes I've enough cash. I went to the Bank, before I went home today. It's one of the reasons I was home early. Jarod, is it safe to fly to you directly or should I take several flights?" she asked glancing back at her son. He looked so cute with cracker crumbs around his mouth.
"You'll be safe. I'm sending Lyle, Sydney, and Broots on a wild goose chase up and down the West Coast. You'll probably be back before they will." He joked.
"Jarod how are we going to do this? Hell, How am I going to raise a child?" she asked running a hand through her hair, and away from her face.
"We'll worry about that later. Call me when you are about an hour out of Chicago. I'll pick you up at either O'Hare or Midway."
"Okay. Call you soon." She disconnected the call and pulled back onto the road.
Parker continued driving to the next gas station to fill up the gas tank, and purchase a road map of Maryland. After studying the map on the trunk of her car, it looked like Baltimore is where she would have to fly out from and she was at least an hour away. She called the Baltimore Airport to see if she could still catch any flights out tonight. Parker was then told there was a 7:55 flight, so she made reservations for her and Evan using a credit card she had recently got under a fictitious name. If she drove like a demon, they might just make it, especially with Security being so tight at airport these days.
Before driving off, Parker got her luggage out of the trunk and repacked her suitcase with the contents of her briefcase and the pictures she had taken from the house. When that was done, she proceeded to pack some of Evans things that were in the backseat with him and repacked the diaper bag. She reloaded the suitcases back into the trunk, and drove off like Satan himself, was hot on their heels.
Parker swung into the Baltimore-Washington Airport with 40 minutes to spare. She raced through check in with Evan, his car seat and the diaper bag. Evan drowsed against her shoulder looking around at all the lights and sounds of the airport.
"Let's go see Daddy. Ok Evan?" she asked.
"Ok, Mommy." He answered giving her a hug.
TBC
My Dearest Angel
By tigereyes320 Part 1 of 5
Day 1 The Centre
Blue Cove, DE
Parker was sitting in her office, with her back to the door. She just wanted this day to end as quickly as possible. Even though she was deep in thought, she felt rather then heard someone in her office. She didn't need to turn around to know who was there. Sometimes it just didn't pay to have a twin.
"Can I do something for you Lyle?" Parker asked in her iciest voice.
"No. I came to ask if you wanted to go out to dinner?" Lyle said calmly, just waiting for the storm to break.
"You want to take me out to dinner?" Parker said pronouncing each word as its own sentence.
"Yes, I do. I know what today is. I also know how hard it has been for you since Dad died." Lyle answered with a small grin.
"Have I entered the Twilight Zone? Since when do we do dinner? For that matter since when were we family. We also don't know that Daddy . . ." she paused in the middle of her snit. She took a deep breath and continued. "We don't know that Daddy is dead. You and Raines insisted on having a memorial service for him. Now his empty casket lies next to my mothers. That is it! Take you offer of dinner, and shove it where the sun doesn't shine! I'm leaving right now, before I do something that gives me one less brother! I'll see you tomorrow." With that she grabbed her briefcase and her coat and stormed out the door and out of the building.
Parker would run a few errands, before going home and then enjoy a long hot soak in her tub. It had been a long time since she left work, while the sun was still shining.
An hour or so later
Parker's House Blue Cove, DE
Parker closed the door after the messenger had given her the message and signed for it. She opened the letter she had just signed for. She had never seen this messenger service before because, The Centre had their own messenger service so there was never a need to use outsiders. She glanced at handwriting on the envelope and realized it was from the man that she had called "Daddy" her whole life. The memorial service for the man she still considered her father, had been held one month ago today.
As she opened the letter, her mind repeatedly played the last time she saw him.
"Daddy, I have to know. Are you my real father?" she had asked him desperately.
"I love you as though you were my daughter. That's all that matters." He said before he jumped out of the plane with the scrolls.
Parker opened the envelope and saw several pages inside. She steeled herself for what lies might be inside, but also for whatever truths might be revealed. Parker sat down on the sofa and turned on the light to read the letter.
My Dearest Angel; I have always considered you that, My Angel. I hope after you read this letter you will be able to forgive me. Please wait until you hear the entire truth about everything before you react. If you are reading this, I am dead. A month after my funeral the messenger service has been instructed to deliver this to your house. A lot will be revealed in this letter. Do what you will with the information in this letter. Please think before you act. I don't want you joining your mother and I any time soon.
The first thing I need to tell you is one of the hardest. I helped kill your Thomas. I didn't pull the trigger. I didn't assign Brigitte to kill him. But I knew it was going to happen. Mr. Raines came to me and said you were losing you focus, your edge. I told him that you were in love, and if you had to choose between Thomas and us. Thomas would be the one chosen. I also told him that you planned to leave the Centre and move to Oregon to be with Thomas. Angel, he was livid. He told me I had a choice to make. You could stay at the Centre and live or you could move to Oregon with Thomas and die. If I chose you to live, I knew I was signing Thomas's death warrant. I'm sorry Angel I chose you. I had no idea they would do it at your house with your gun. I thought it would just be an accident on a road somewhere. After Thomas' death you were back to your old self and you were safe. I know what losing Thomas did to you Angel, and I am so sorry for putting you through that. I love you; you are my daughter, Angel. I had to keep you alive. I owed your mother that much.
The next thing I have to tell you about is your mother. I loved her so much. I wasn't able to protect her. In fact, I helped destroy her. I helped the Centre destroy her. I let the Centre control my love for her and or marriage. I'm not proud of the fact that on more then one occasion I did hit your mother. I am not your biological father that is true. Neither is Abel Parker/William Raines. He thinks you are, and Angel for now it might be best that he does. Lyle is not your twin brother, Angelo is. It was safer at the time when Lyle changed the results of the test for him to be a Parker. I'll get back to this in a bit. We tried for a while and nothing seemed to work. The Centre was decades ahead in fertility studies.
We tried Invitro-fertilization long before the rest of the world had even heard of it. However, the miscarriages were too much for your mother. She wanted a child so badly; it began to strain our marriage. We stopped talking to each other. To make a long story short, I had an affair Angel. Your mother was so angry with me she left me for a while. I know she found comfort in another mans arms. I think it might have been Sydney or his brother Jacob. This was before he was her doctor. I'm not sure on this. You'd have to ask him. He knows quite a few of the Centre secrets. Your mother and I broke off our respective affairs and forgave each other. We then discovered that you and your brother were on the way. I was thrilled. I made her promise me that she would never tell the father that you were his, nor would she tell anyone else. I didn't want you confused Angel. No, that is a lie. I didn't want you calling anyone else Daddy. I also didn't want the Triumvirate to know that you weren't mine. If I couldn't have a child, I wouldn't be of any use to them. You know what happens to those they have no use for. I swear to you, your mother and I never knew that your twin had survived. Losing that baby nearly killed her. Raines wanted to exploit the gift you had inherited from her. I couldn't do that to Catherine. She had lost two babies to miscarriage and then your brother to his stillbirth. I put my foot down; they weren't going to take you from her as well.
I will tell you something else Raines needs you and "your brother" to run the Centre. It can only keep going if you, Angel are a part of it. You are the one they need. Your mother, I know wants you to finish her work. Angel, you have to be careful. Your mother went to far, to fast. I played a major part in her death. I let them impregnate her with Ethan. I thought that I could explain it to her and together we could work something out. Instead, she was forced to trust in Raines. If she hadn't maybe, I could have kept her alive. Angel, she really is dead. I saw the body cremated. I scattered her ashes under the tree you two use to picnic under and in her garden at the summer place, your house. That's probably why you always felt her presence there more then my house.
I'm so glad you and Jarod were able to save Ethan. You two always made an unbeatable team. That is why Raines sent you two that picture of your mothers together. She did hide a DSA for you. I was never able to find it. It probably is somewhere in your house, in a place that only you and your mother knew about. Angel, Please try to make the Centre what it once was, a place that did do some good. If you can't you, have my blessing to destroy it. Do what you must to survive. Then do what you have to do to rebuild your life. Can't keep a Parker down, and you are a Parker. I'm sending another letter to Jarod to give him some answers.
About Angelo, your mother insisted after what Raines did to him we adopt him. The papers for him, Faith and ones dealing with your baby brother are in a locked box that is located under some floorboards beneath your sofa. The key to the locked box is taped to the painting I gave you for your college graduation. Angel I wish I could say what I have just confessed to be the worse that I have done to you, but it isn't. Before I go into all the details of my betrayal. I have named you your baby brother's guardian. All the papers are in the box. Evan Thomas is the child you should have been able to have with your Thomas. The one you would have had if the Centre hadn't interfered. I named him Evan because that is what we planned to call your twin brother. It went so well with your given name of Eve Catherine. I chose Thomas because of the day he was born, what Brigitte had done, but most especially because I genuinely liked Thomas. He put you first. He saw all your faults and loved you because of them or in spite of them. He would have gone toe to toe with anyone out to hurt you. I know you'll be as wonderful a mother to Evan as your mother was to you. Your custody will go uncontested. If it doesn't, in the box, there is DNA test results that will guarantee you get custody. Angel, Evan is your biological son, yours and Jarod's. Neither of you knew that we had his sperm from when he was a prisoner here, and we took some of your eggs when you almost died from the ulcer perforation two years ago. The Centre knew one thing. If anything happened to you, Jarod would disappear without a trace. I knew the child wasn't Brigitte's and mine. I had the test run at three separate non- Centre run facilities. The truth is that child wouldn't be here at all, if you hadn't delivered him. From the Triumvirate, I have a signed irrevocable sanction giving your son to you free and clear. The Centre is not allowed to use him as they used his father. Angel, Jarod' ll be contacting you about this. I'm also sure he will want to see, and spend time with his son. The Centre has stolen so much from you, Angel. Get Jarod to help you steal some of that time back. Angel, I know you are hurt, and furious and you have every right to be. I did what I did to keep you both alive.
I have known from the start who Raines was and that his only loyalty was to himself. I know I don't have to tell you this but don't trust him or Lyle. In fact in that whole place the only people I feel you can trust are Sydney, Broots and Sam the sweeper I've always had assigned to you. I knew he couldn't be bought and that his first loyalty would be to you. Raines will have to be eliminated by fair means or foul. I will leave that decision up to you and Jarod. I'm running out of time here. We leave to meet you two in Scotland shortly. My Eve, I have always loved you, even when I didn't show you for fear of the Centre's reprisals They have an uncanny knack of taking what people love and twisting into something ugly or destroying it. Don't let them do that to you. One of my biggest regrets will be in not seeing the incredible mother you'll be. I wish I could see you raise Evan and any other children you might choose to have. Your mother called you her gift from God. Know that I think of you that way too. The other information in the box should provide you with whatever answers you desire. I won't ask for your forgiveness, I don't deserve it. I only hope that one day you will think of me, with a small portion of kindness. Know that I don't forgive myself for all the pain I've caused you.
I love you My Dearest Angel, My Eve. "Daddy" Cain Parker
As Parker finished reading the last page it fell to her lap as unheeded as the tears running down her face. She looked up at the fireplace and saw a picture of her and her mother together. She snapped to attention and grabbed her cell phone from the pocket of her leather trench coat. She activated it and starting snapping instructions into it as soon as the phone stopped ringing.
"Have my baby brother packed up and ready to leave in an hour. I'm bringing him home to live with me. I'll get the police involved if I have to 'Dad'. I have papers giving custody to me. I'll be out of the office for the next 3 weeks. Call it maternity leave! I don't care! Don't push me Raines. You want my loyalty, hand over my brother and approve my time off. I'll be there in less then an hour." she abruptly ended the call.
Parker sat back down on the sofa. Her hands were shaking. 'Let's hope I just didn't sign my own death certificate.' Parker rose, and went to the back to the portrait, that was hanging over the fireplace feeling for the key behind it. She pushed the sofa out of the way and heedless of her silk miniskirt and stockings found the loose floorboard and grabbed the locked box. She found another envelope pushed further back then the box she pulled that out too. Parker had just shoved the sofa back in place when her cell phone rang.
"What!" Parker snapped at the caller.
"Do you have my son?" Jarod asked in a voice she'd never heard before.
"That is OUR son. I'm in the process of changing and going to pick him up." Parker took a few deep breaths before continuing, "Jarod, I knew nothing about this." she said as she walked into her room pulling off her jacket, and grabbing a suitcase from the closet.
"I know" Jarod replied I that horribly quiet voice.
Parker was somewhat surprised he wasn't more upset about the whole situation. Especially knowing how Jarod felt about family. "Jarod, I'm taking the next few weeks off. It's probably dangerous to do this. But, oh well. Do you want to meet somewhere, and spend some time with us?" Parker asked as she starts throwing some necessities in her suitcase.
"Let me make some arrangements. I'll call you in about an hour."
"Fine. You can reach me on my cell. I know you know the number." Parker zipped up the suitcase as she tossed the phone onto the bed. She took off the rest of her clothes and jumped into the shower.
After toweling off, she slipped into some old jeans a tank and her favorite flannel shirt of Tommy's. She then put on some shoes, grabbed her trench coat, and picked up the locked box and envelope. She opened the suitcase and put the envelope and the contents of the lock box inside before slamming it shut. She went back in and grabbed various pictures of mother and her as a child, as well as the picture of her and Thomas. Parker took her suitcase and put it into the trunk of her car.
Parker then got in her car and drove to her father's house. Raines had taken over there as well. It had been fifteen minutes after she had left her house when she pulled up outside Raines' new residence, her father's old house. When she got out of her car, Parker made sure her gun was loaded, and armed at the small of her back and went to retrieve her son.
Raines met her at the door with his ever present oxygen tank and sweeper Willie as she climbed the steps.
"I don't think this is a good idea." Raines rasped as he stared intently at her.
"Since when do I care what you think? I can do anything I want. You need me to find Jarod and you know it. A blood test may say you are my father. Daddy however gave custody of Evan to me. Are you going to cause a problem?" Parker's voice dripped with poison. "Because, I have the paperwork and the law on my side. If I don't involve the police, I could involve the Triumvirate. I'm sure they would love to know just how much you've 'helped' with the search for Jarod. Now, did you approve the vacation time or do I need to make a phone call?" she stared at him, her eyes like twin ice beams.
"Yes! I approved it." Raines growled knowing at that moment she was right. If the police got involved the Triumvirate would have heads rolling. Especially if they found out the truth about Evan.
"Good. I'll see you in three weeks. I wouldn't advise trying anything. I've already made out a will and faxed it to my attorney, as to who will raise Evan if anything happens to me before he is eighteen. I even think someone is following me. I'll go to the Triumvirate with the information I have. We both know it's enough to get you killed several times over." with that missile aimed and fired, she picked up Evan, and his car seat, placing him in her car. She then took his things from the nanny and put them in her car as well.
"I'm taking my brother on a vacation with me. We need to bond. You may have the next three weeks off with pay Ms. Roberts. I'll let you know when I'm returning. I don't know, that I plan to retain your services myself. Here is my cell phone number if you have any questions." Parker explained as she handed the woman her business card. She got into her car and sped away, before Raines could change his mind.
"Evan, you and Mommy are going to get to spend some quality time with Daddy. As soon as he lets me know where to meet him." Parker explained to the almost 2 year old in a soft voice.
"OK" Evan chirped as he watched out the window.
"Mommy. I'm Mommy, baby." Parker said gently, a tear running down her cheek. She never thought she'd have to ask her own child to call her Mommy.
"OK, Mommy." Evan agreed happily munching on a cracker he had grabbed from his diaper bag.
Parker then picked up her cell phone, and called Sydney, who was still at the Centre. "Sydney, I just wanted to let you know I'll be out of the office for the next three weeks. I'll call you soon, and let you know what is going on." she cut the connection before he could reply. Before she could interrogate him for the truth about him and her mother
Parker continued to drive west, not knowing where she was going, just wanting to get away from Blue Cove, as fast as she legally possible. Parker was so unaware of her surroundings like in a trance, that she nearly jumped out of her skin when the cell phone beside her started to ring, Parker realized she'd been driving in her near-trance state for almost an hour. Parker glanced into the backseat, through the rear view mirror and saw her son was asleep. Parker pulled to the side of the road before answering the phone.
"Hello?" she said in a low voice as she looked at the deserted road around her.
"Parker is that you? You almost sound friendly." Jarod asked shocked at her response.
"Evan is asleep. I don't want to wake him." She told him shortly.
"Where are you?"
"I just passed the Maryland-Delaware state line. I'm in my car. Will I need to get rid of it? Jarod, are you there?" she asked hesitantly.
"How is he?"
"He is beautiful. Where do you want us to meet you?"
"Go to the next Airport and take a plane to Chicago. Don't use your credit cards or your real name if possible. Do you have enough cash?" He asked before continuing, "Also here is my cell phone number, it secure and you can call me before you get in so I know which Airport to meet you at." He rattled off a number to her.
"Yes I've enough cash. I went to the Bank, before I went home today. It's one of the reasons I was home early. Jarod, is it safe to fly to you directly or should I take several flights?" she asked glancing back at her son. He looked so cute with cracker crumbs around his mouth.
"You'll be safe. I'm sending Lyle, Sydney, and Broots on a wild goose chase up and down the West Coast. You'll probably be back before they will." He joked.
"Jarod how are we going to do this? Hell, How am I going to raise a child?" she asked running a hand through her hair, and away from her face.
"We'll worry about that later. Call me when you are about an hour out of Chicago. I'll pick you up at either O'Hare or Midway."
"Okay. Call you soon." She disconnected the call and pulled back onto the road.
Parker continued driving to the next gas station to fill up the gas tank, and purchase a road map of Maryland. After studying the map on the trunk of her car, it looked like Baltimore is where she would have to fly out from and she was at least an hour away. She called the Baltimore Airport to see if she could still catch any flights out tonight. Parker was then told there was a 7:55 flight, so she made reservations for her and Evan using a credit card she had recently got under a fictitious name. If she drove like a demon, they might just make it, especially with Security being so tight at airport these days.
Before driving off, Parker got her luggage out of the trunk and repacked her suitcase with the contents of her briefcase and the pictures she had taken from the house. When that was done, she proceeded to pack some of Evans things that were in the backseat with him and repacked the diaper bag. She reloaded the suitcases back into the trunk, and drove off like Satan himself, was hot on their heels.
Parker swung into the Baltimore-Washington Airport with 40 minutes to spare. She raced through check in with Evan, his car seat and the diaper bag. Evan drowsed against her shoulder looking around at all the lights and sounds of the airport.
"Let's go see Daddy. Ok Evan?" she asked.
"Ok, Mommy." He answered giving her a hug.
TBC
