Twist of Fate: Chapter 4
by Lisette
Legalese: See Chapter 1 for disclaimers and ratings.
"Sydney, I swear that when I find your lab rat, I am going to bury him so deep in the Centre that he will never again even dream of seeing the light of day," the woman ranted as she slowly paced the spacious confines of her office, her tiny skirt crawling up either thigh to afford both men more than an eyeful of her long, shapely legs.
"I take it that Jarod wasn't in Memphis?" the younger man asked, nervously reaching up to run a hand over his balding head.
"Gee Broots, was it so obvious?" the woman hissed, her eyes flashing daggers as she impatiently reached for a small silver case, snapping it open and quickly lifting a slim cigarette to her painted lips. "I am so sick of him running us all over the country on his little pranks," she trailed off as the older man calmly reached out and offered her a light.
"Miss Parker," he began as he smiled at the woman, quietly reveling in her anger, "I can assure you that Jarod-"
"Can it, Sydney," she quickly cut in, her tone biting as she took a long drag on the cigarette, "I'm in no mood for your excuses for your lab rat," she hissed, her smile turning dangerous as the phone rang on the desk beside her. Turning, she glared at the device for the briefest of moments before reaching over and jabbing her finger down on the phone's console. "What?" she barked, her attention divided between glaring at the two men standing before her.
"Ah... hello?" a young girl's voice echoed out of the small device, seeming extremely out of place in the luscious and sophisticated office.
Eyes narrowing, Miss Parker threw a questioning glance to her comrades as she slowly crossed to stand behind her desk, leaning forward so that her weight was supported by her arms, spread out firmly before her. "Who is this?" she asked slowly, her tone low and dangerous.
"Um, Willow?" the girl's voice replied, sounding so unsure and hesitant that it was almost comical.
Eyes narrowing even further, Miss Parker leaned even closer to the phone's microphone. "How did you get this number, Willow?" she hissed, stressing the girl's uncommon name.
Obviously flustered, the girl's voice paused before quickly stammering, "I'm sorry, but Jarod had it-"
At this, Miss Parker's eyes quickly snapped to Sydney, her eyebrows rising so high that they were almost hidden amongst her perfectly styled hair. "Jarod? You know Jarod?" she asked quickly, her tone changing 180 degrees so that it was almost sickeningly sweet.
"... Not really... listen, are you a friend of his?"
Smiling evilly, Miss Parker looked like a cat about to close in on her prey. "Closer. Where is Jarod?"
"Well, you see... he was kind of attacked-"
"Attacked?" Miss Parker muttered, her throat tightening as she saw Sydney pale visibly. Deep down she didn't know whether the worry that filtered through her veins was because of the fear of failure or a deep fear for her nemesis. "By whom?" she questioned, her voice sounding unnaturally high to her ears.
"... Uh, mosquitoes?"
"Mosquitoes?" Broots whispered, summing up everyone's confusion as he exchanged looks with the others.
Shrugging, Miss Parker turned her attention back to the phone.
"Anyway, he's lost a lot of blood. We're getting an ambulance now."
Shoving aside the puzzling mosquito bit for another time, Miss Parker quickly reached for a pad of paper and a pen. "Where are you?" she asked, pen poised over the paper.
"In the graveyard-"
Feeling another chill sweep over her, Miss Parker quickly shook her head, her perfectly coifed hair swirling around her shoulders. "No, where are you? What city? What state?" she asked, her impatience coloring her voice.
"Sunnydale... Sunnydale, California."
Smiling the smile of a predator once more, this one colored with a worry that she refused to acknowledge, Miss Parker quickly slid the paper to Broots. "We'll be there in two hours," she quickly stated before terminating the connection.
"Mosquitoes?" Broots repeated, his expression both curious and confused.
Ignoring the computer technician, Miss Parker quickly walked around her desk and picked up the handset of her telephone. "Broots, have them get the jet ready. We have a flight to catch," she ordered as she lifted the handset to her ear.
"To where?" a new voice asked from her open doorway.
Biting back a groan, Miss Parker slowly replaced the handset and turned to glare at her brother, dressed immaculately, as always, in a finely pressed dark suit. Instantly the possibilities, the lies, raced through her mind as she scoured her brain for a possible answer to get rid of him - finding none. It was of no use. He would be suspicious and would just play back her strange conversation, her phone no doubt bugged and every call recorded. Sighing, she knew she had no viable option but the truth. "We... we have a lead on Jarod," she murmured, hating the position that she was in. Then again, she didn't really have a choice. With her father in hiding and Mr. Raines on a religious stint, that left her brother in charge. He, in charge. She, not so much. Wincing, she limply lifted a hand to her forehead as she waited for the inevitable.
"Wonderful, then what are we waiting for?" Lyle asked as he smiled broadly at his sister.
Sighing, Miss Parker accepted her fate. "Nothing. Let's go," she muttered as she brushed past the men that made up her life - what a sad life it was.