Thanks again to Nancy, gemini006007, and Pez7701 for your reviews. I know the last chapter insinuated there would be another, and I don't want to disappoint, so here goes. Not too sure about this one though...
Chapter Four: Making Up Rules By Which We Play
I can feel 'Larry's' eyes burning into the back of my head without even turning round to check. Well, I'm assuming his name is Larry - that's what the tattoo on his forearm read, the other one reads 'MOM' and I'm sure that's not the name he goes by. And we weren't exactly introduced. I shout again for the sheriff and I can hear Larry grunt. I turn around and take in the six foot, two ton figure sat on the bench that passes for a bed. There's no way I can take him without my gun and the sheriff relieved me of that item. This is all Jarod's fault. Special Agent Jarod Hunter that is. Scratch that, it's all my sisters fault. Since she vanished that day Jarod no longer has someone to pull his pranks on - except me. And the son of a bitch set me up.
I sit down on the other 'bed', as far away from Larry as I can get. I can't even get to make a phone call to The Centre, the sheriff is one of those small town officials who think they have their own rules. That and Jarod has told him I'm a suspect for six other murders. Not that there's any proof, I'm very careful. And so is The Centre. If I could just get to make that call. I've been incarcerated in this dump for most of the night and no one knows where I am. And this worries me, Jarod must want me out of the way for some reason. After all he went to a lot of trouble to set me up with that girl.
I thought there was something about her, couldn't put my finger on it though. She was just too perfect and that made it all the better. I got caught up in her and let my guard slip. No wonder if Jarod has concocted all this. Luring me out to this God-forsaken little hole he's been watching me all the time. Waiting for the moment to show up with the sheriff and that other agent in tow. Just as I was about to achieve perfection.
Of course it won't stick. The girl may be an undercover agent but The Centre can pay her off, as always. And if she doesn't then The Centre can find some way for her to 'disappear' or call in some favours. Jarod must know this which brings me back to wondering why he wants me out of the way. It can't be just a prank - he went to too much trouble. And involving the police. No, the tricks he pulled on my sister were nothing like this.
Larry coughs to get my attention but I ignore him. He's probably a friend of Jarod's too. Jarod has no class, he'll make friends with anyone especially the little people. My thoughts return to my sister. There has been no trace of her these past three months, absolutely nothing. Sydney thinks she's gone to ground but I believe he knows more than he's letting on. I've heard the recording of his last conversation with Jarod just a few days after Parker disappeared. And it confirmed my belief that she was with Jarod. She's probably been helping him all these years anyway. She may have acted like she wanted to bring him back to The Centre, and she put on one hell of a show, but I always doubted her. She never wanted it badly enough if you ask me. She was more interested in our mother.
This whole situation is ironic. This is the best lead on Jarod for a few months, an actual sighting. Though of course he was waving a gun in my face and reading me my rights. I protested but Jarod's cover, as usual, was iron cast. The other agent, Roberts, and the sheriff weren't interested. The only other time we've come remotely close was almost a month ago, Jarod had assisted some locals in preserving their park. There was no sign of Parker though and the old lady that had lived next door to Jarod knew nothing. Just the usual speil of how marvellous he was. It's enough to make you sick and I've had enough of his good deeds, chasing him from one town to another. The sooner I get him back to The Centre the sooner I can claim my place there. And then I can make Jarod's life Hell.
Larry is still staring at me, I can see him out of the corner of my eye. Any normal person would probably find it unsettling, but when you've worked with Raines for as long as I have then it's not a problem. The old ghoul can freak most people out, I know he scares the pants of that techno geek that Parker worked with. Raines of course has assigned me to bringing my sister back as well, though that little fact is just between the two of us. Raines flipped out when she disappeared. I had to listen to him shouting, and alternately wheezing, for about an hour or so. I don't know why he wants her back so badly, she obviously has no loyalty to him or The Centre - if she ever did. I want her back for very different reasons, she is a very attractive woman and I would love the opportunity of a few hours with her. It's not like she's really my sister anyway - in the same way my father isn't really my father. This twisted little family that I am part of is not so different from my youth.
I get up and pace a little, I haven't really thought about this before, never really found the time. Larry tracks me with his eyes as I walk back and forth. That man should look after himself better, take some pride in his appearance. I stop at the bars and try to peer through, maybe get the sheriff's attention, or even better one of his deputys. I need to call The Centre and set the wheels in motion for my release. I can't see anyone so I try yelling some more to no avail, but it makes Larry chuckle.
I slump back down. If Parker is with Jarod then where does she fit into all this? She's as smart as Jarod, I know that. Before I joined this little venture I checked up on everyone I'd be working with, her and Sydney especially. I've seen her file and 'Daddy Parker' insisted she would return Jarod to The Centre exactly because she was as smart he is. Raines though had an entirely different outlook at that time, he doubted she would ever bring him back. And the old man was right. And if I'm right, that she is now with Jarod, then The Centre could be in trouble - how does that saying go? 'Two heads are better than one'?
At that moment Jarod strolls down the corridor and stands the other side of the bars. I sit up on the bed to let him know he's got my attention.
"You two made friends yet?" He asks, nodding at Larry.
I stand up and walk over to the bars placing myself opposite Jarod. "You made friends with my sister?" I ask back with a smile. To his credit Jarod doesn't even flinch, though I didn't expect him to really. Maybe I can ask him about Kyle and see if he flinches then.
He doesn't reply straight away but sighs. "The game's not too exciting when you have no one to play against is it? I would imagine Raines is putting a lot more pressure on you to find me, must be uncomfortable."
I smirk at this, though Jarod is very close to the truth. "She never really was a good player though, not much of a competition. And you can tell her that when you see her. Where is she by the way? I thought she'd love an opportunity to gloat." He smiles at this and I briefly wonder if I could land a punch on him through the bars.
"Agent Roberts is going to let you make that call, he's in charge of your case by the way."
"Is this about Kyle?" I ask smugly. Jarod's jaw visibly moves but he says nothing. "Or is it my sister? She got you under her thumb, Jarod?"
"The rules are changing, Lyle." He speaks calmly and I'm annoyed that I can't get a rise out of him.
As he starts to walk away I shout out after him, "Well it's been fun but this isn't going to stick Jarod. You know that. The Centre has friends all over."
He stops and turns back around. "No. The Centre has people in their pocket, Lyle. And that's a whole different ball game." He gives a nod to Larry and this time I let him walk away. I sit back down and resign myself to another hour of this. Larry now has a smirk on his face and I want to relieve him of that, but he has that whole height and weight advantage. I am going to make Jarod pay for this and for every other stupid prank he's played. I will bring him back to The Centre. Even if it means dragging his corpse back. Larry stands up and walks in front of me. I guess Larry and I are going to have a little 'talk' now.
I don't remember what happened during my conversation with Larry, but my head aches and I can feel a new lump at the back. It's Agent Roberts who I see first. He has a sneer on his face as he mentions something about a phone call but he couldn't wake me. As it all comes back to me I ask him how long I've been 'asleep'. I can already guess that Jarod is long gone and the agent confirms this. I get to make my call.
I use a phone at the end of the corridor and call up The Centre, more specifically Raines. He's not going to be happy about any of this. And, when I explain to him what has happened, he isn't. After a lot of shouting on Raines' part he hangs up on me. I try to look calm as Roberts leads me back to the cell - now lacking Larry's presence. Once again I slump back down. I remember what 'Daddy Parker' had said that time in Vegas, that The Centre wouldn't always bail me out. I think that time may have arrived.
Chapter Four: Making Up Rules By Which We Play
I can feel 'Larry's' eyes burning into the back of my head without even turning round to check. Well, I'm assuming his name is Larry - that's what the tattoo on his forearm read, the other one reads 'MOM' and I'm sure that's not the name he goes by. And we weren't exactly introduced. I shout again for the sheriff and I can hear Larry grunt. I turn around and take in the six foot, two ton figure sat on the bench that passes for a bed. There's no way I can take him without my gun and the sheriff relieved me of that item. This is all Jarod's fault. Special Agent Jarod Hunter that is. Scratch that, it's all my sisters fault. Since she vanished that day Jarod no longer has someone to pull his pranks on - except me. And the son of a bitch set me up.
I sit down on the other 'bed', as far away from Larry as I can get. I can't even get to make a phone call to The Centre, the sheriff is one of those small town officials who think they have their own rules. That and Jarod has told him I'm a suspect for six other murders. Not that there's any proof, I'm very careful. And so is The Centre. If I could just get to make that call. I've been incarcerated in this dump for most of the night and no one knows where I am. And this worries me, Jarod must want me out of the way for some reason. After all he went to a lot of trouble to set me up with that girl.
I thought there was something about her, couldn't put my finger on it though. She was just too perfect and that made it all the better. I got caught up in her and let my guard slip. No wonder if Jarod has concocted all this. Luring me out to this God-forsaken little hole he's been watching me all the time. Waiting for the moment to show up with the sheriff and that other agent in tow. Just as I was about to achieve perfection.
Of course it won't stick. The girl may be an undercover agent but The Centre can pay her off, as always. And if she doesn't then The Centre can find some way for her to 'disappear' or call in some favours. Jarod must know this which brings me back to wondering why he wants me out of the way. It can't be just a prank - he went to too much trouble. And involving the police. No, the tricks he pulled on my sister were nothing like this.
Larry coughs to get my attention but I ignore him. He's probably a friend of Jarod's too. Jarod has no class, he'll make friends with anyone especially the little people. My thoughts return to my sister. There has been no trace of her these past three months, absolutely nothing. Sydney thinks she's gone to ground but I believe he knows more than he's letting on. I've heard the recording of his last conversation with Jarod just a few days after Parker disappeared. And it confirmed my belief that she was with Jarod. She's probably been helping him all these years anyway. She may have acted like she wanted to bring him back to The Centre, and she put on one hell of a show, but I always doubted her. She never wanted it badly enough if you ask me. She was more interested in our mother.
This whole situation is ironic. This is the best lead on Jarod for a few months, an actual sighting. Though of course he was waving a gun in my face and reading me my rights. I protested but Jarod's cover, as usual, was iron cast. The other agent, Roberts, and the sheriff weren't interested. The only other time we've come remotely close was almost a month ago, Jarod had assisted some locals in preserving their park. There was no sign of Parker though and the old lady that had lived next door to Jarod knew nothing. Just the usual speil of how marvellous he was. It's enough to make you sick and I've had enough of his good deeds, chasing him from one town to another. The sooner I get him back to The Centre the sooner I can claim my place there. And then I can make Jarod's life Hell.
Larry is still staring at me, I can see him out of the corner of my eye. Any normal person would probably find it unsettling, but when you've worked with Raines for as long as I have then it's not a problem. The old ghoul can freak most people out, I know he scares the pants of that techno geek that Parker worked with. Raines of course has assigned me to bringing my sister back as well, though that little fact is just between the two of us. Raines flipped out when she disappeared. I had to listen to him shouting, and alternately wheezing, for about an hour or so. I don't know why he wants her back so badly, she obviously has no loyalty to him or The Centre - if she ever did. I want her back for very different reasons, she is a very attractive woman and I would love the opportunity of a few hours with her. It's not like she's really my sister anyway - in the same way my father isn't really my father. This twisted little family that I am part of is not so different from my youth.
I get up and pace a little, I haven't really thought about this before, never really found the time. Larry tracks me with his eyes as I walk back and forth. That man should look after himself better, take some pride in his appearance. I stop at the bars and try to peer through, maybe get the sheriff's attention, or even better one of his deputys. I need to call The Centre and set the wheels in motion for my release. I can't see anyone so I try yelling some more to no avail, but it makes Larry chuckle.
I slump back down. If Parker is with Jarod then where does she fit into all this? She's as smart as Jarod, I know that. Before I joined this little venture I checked up on everyone I'd be working with, her and Sydney especially. I've seen her file and 'Daddy Parker' insisted she would return Jarod to The Centre exactly because she was as smart he is. Raines though had an entirely different outlook at that time, he doubted she would ever bring him back. And the old man was right. And if I'm right, that she is now with Jarod, then The Centre could be in trouble - how does that saying go? 'Two heads are better than one'?
At that moment Jarod strolls down the corridor and stands the other side of the bars. I sit up on the bed to let him know he's got my attention.
"You two made friends yet?" He asks, nodding at Larry.
I stand up and walk over to the bars placing myself opposite Jarod. "You made friends with my sister?" I ask back with a smile. To his credit Jarod doesn't even flinch, though I didn't expect him to really. Maybe I can ask him about Kyle and see if he flinches then.
He doesn't reply straight away but sighs. "The game's not too exciting when you have no one to play against is it? I would imagine Raines is putting a lot more pressure on you to find me, must be uncomfortable."
I smirk at this, though Jarod is very close to the truth. "She never really was a good player though, not much of a competition. And you can tell her that when you see her. Where is she by the way? I thought she'd love an opportunity to gloat." He smiles at this and I briefly wonder if I could land a punch on him through the bars.
"Agent Roberts is going to let you make that call, he's in charge of your case by the way."
"Is this about Kyle?" I ask smugly. Jarod's jaw visibly moves but he says nothing. "Or is it my sister? She got you under her thumb, Jarod?"
"The rules are changing, Lyle." He speaks calmly and I'm annoyed that I can't get a rise out of him.
As he starts to walk away I shout out after him, "Well it's been fun but this isn't going to stick Jarod. You know that. The Centre has friends all over."
He stops and turns back around. "No. The Centre has people in their pocket, Lyle. And that's a whole different ball game." He gives a nod to Larry and this time I let him walk away. I sit back down and resign myself to another hour of this. Larry now has a smirk on his face and I want to relieve him of that, but he has that whole height and weight advantage. I am going to make Jarod pay for this and for every other stupid prank he's played. I will bring him back to The Centre. Even if it means dragging his corpse back. Larry stands up and walks in front of me. I guess Larry and I are going to have a little 'talk' now.
I don't remember what happened during my conversation with Larry, but my head aches and I can feel a new lump at the back. It's Agent Roberts who I see first. He has a sneer on his face as he mentions something about a phone call but he couldn't wake me. As it all comes back to me I ask him how long I've been 'asleep'. I can already guess that Jarod is long gone and the agent confirms this. I get to make my call.
I use a phone at the end of the corridor and call up The Centre, more specifically Raines. He's not going to be happy about any of this. And, when I explain to him what has happened, he isn't. After a lot of shouting on Raines' part he hangs up on me. I try to look calm as Roberts leads me back to the cell - now lacking Larry's presence. Once again I slump back down. I remember what 'Daddy Parker' had said that time in Vegas, that The Centre wouldn't always bail me out. I think that time may have arrived.