Unexplained

Chapter Eleven

Carthis

Isle of Carthis, Off Coast of Scotland

Broots parked the car in front of a house. It was massive, brick with shutters around each of the windows. The house reminded him of a haunted mansion, and he half-expected ghosts to pop out from underneath the door. Debbie was strapping on her messenger bag without much complaint and Sydney was shutting the car door behind him. "Come on, Sweetie, we'll go on inside."

"When are you going to tell me why we're here, Daddy? Why did we have to move so fast? I didn't even get to say good bye to my friends."

Broots sighed loudly, the strain showing on his face.

"Let's go sit down inside and I'll tell you."

So Debbie hurried up the steps to the porch and waited impatiently for her father to unlatch the door. When he did, they all took a survey of the room in front of them. Well, it was a narrow hall with stairs leading to a second floor. To the right was a large room, with furniture covered in white sheets, making it seem all the more abandoned. Broots pulled a cover off of the couch and dust flew into the air. He sneezed twice while waving the immediate air around him away. He sat down and Debbie sat opposite of him. Sydney stood in the door way, debating staying or exploring the rest of the house. This would be a very private moment between father and daughter, but Broots might need some help explaining. So he stood there until he met Broots' eyes and realized that Broots didn't need or want his help. So Sydney made himself scarce. Broots brushed Debbie's hair out of her eyes and he got the Dad-I'm-not-five look. But instead of dropping his hand, he tucked it behind her ear. "Debbie, I don't know how to tell you this, but you're going to have to try to understand."

"Understand what?"

"I didn't work at just some research facility. I was working at a place called The Centre."

"I know that."

"They weren't a think tank, Sweetie. They performed hundreds of experiments on people. They weren't all legal. Sydney worked on a boy named Jarod. He was kidnapped and forced to run simulations all the time. That consisted of plane crashes, how people died, all kinds of stuff. Jarod's a genius. But the Centre sold it to the highest bidder, not caring if it was an enemy of the United States. Jarod finally escaped and I was part of a team brought in to capture Jarod. It was Sydney, Miss Parker, and I, and eventually Miss Parker's brother, Mr. Lyle. But we never managed. Well, the three of us are finally working with Jarod. He's had the Centre destroyed, but we have to hide from the Triumvirate. They won't hesitate to kill us."

"Daddy!"

"I'm so sorry, Baby Girl. I never wanted this to affect you. They paid well and by the time I figured out what the Centre was, it was too late for me to back out."

Debbie folded her hands and shifted uncomfortably. She was thinking, Broots could just see the wheels turning in her head. And then he found out what she was thinking. She threw her arms around her father, hugging him tightly.

"It's okay, Daddy. I forgive you."

"But I'm horrible. I took you away from your friends and school without any notice."

"You couldn't help it, Daddy, I know that. Don't worry. Now can I go pick out my room?"

Broots couldn't stop himself from smiling at the thirteen-year-old.

"Go on."

Debbie got to her feet and flounced out the door. Broots leaned back on the couch, thanking the Lord for giving him such a wonderful daughter.

Jarod and Miss Parker walked down the familiar streets of Carthis. Miss Parker held Angelo's hand, and Ethan hung behind them, propping Sark up. Jarod was trying to find a car to get them to the house he'd discovered seven months ago. He'd purchased it with Centre funds in hopes that they would all be able to end the Centre. Jarod was giving up on finding a car for sale, so he commented that they'd have to walk to the house. It wasn't too far from town, but far enough. So the group set out, Miss Parker in a ridiculously short skirt and high heels, Angelo amazed at the sight of anything outside of the Centre, Sark exhausted and burned severely, and Ethan, the only uninjured and unscarred of the bunch. Miss Parker sighed in relief when she saw the brick come into view. She jerked her high heels off, regardless of the rocks on the path and Ethan with a burst of energy flew forward. Broots was on the porch with Sydney, both rocking in wooden chairs. Debbie was hanging on the railing, her foot up on the bar, a book open, a c.d. player on. She was the first to notice them.

"Miss Parker! Hi!"

She jumped off the railing and ran towards the woman. Broots looked up and Sydney's face lit up at the sight of Jarod. Debbie stopped as soon as she realized the others were looking at her and flushed immediately. She looked down at her sandaled feet, unable to look the others in the eye.

"Debbie, hello. This is my brother Andrew and Ethan, that's Angelo, and that's Jarod."

Debbie gasped. "Jarod?"

"You've heard of me?"

She nodded slowly. "You're the reason Daddy doesn't work at the Centre anymore. Thank you." She finished shyly.

"It was no problem, Debbie."

Miss Parker snorted and it broke into a laugh. It was slightly hysterical, the days finally taking their toll on her. And Jarod was hugging her, holding her close. The group didn't even seem to notice. Sydney reached Jarod and waited for him to finish with Miss Parker. Jarod turned and then gave the older man a hug as well.

"Hello, Sydney.

"It's wonderful to see you again, Jarod."

"I think I'll be staying here with you all for a little while, so you'll see me for a bit. Now we need to get inside, Sydney. Andrew's injured. He was burned by the Rambaldi device."

Sark looked kind of out of it. He was never totally incapacitated. It wasn't in his genetic make up to let his guard down. He was stumbling by the time they'd arrived at the house, nearly unconcious. He collapsed on the stairs finally. He knew he was safe. Finally safe. Jarod and Sydney managed to get him inside and on the uncovered couch while the others followed. Jarod grabbed one of the bags Sydney had unloaded from the car and unzipped it. Inside were all kinds of medical supplies, including burn salve and some bandages. Jarod carefully removed Sark's shirt and began to dress the wounds. Sark groaned, but remained unconcious. Jarod covered him up with a blanket before walking out to the hall. Miss Parker had wrapped her wrist and feet, whereas Angelo was sitting on the floor with Debbie, unbothered by the laceration on his forehead. "I tried to fix the cut, but he was too fascinated with the c.d. player. And Debbie. It's like he thinks he has a new playmate."

"He probably does." Jarod said quietly. Broots smiled at Jarod, and managed to stutter, "I'm g-glad that everything worked o-out."

"Thanks, Broots."

Sydney sighed from a chair. "I'll second Broots' comment. And I don't think I've ever seen Angelo so happy."

Jarod and Miss Parker exchanged a look. "I have." They both said at the same time. Miss Parker smiled oddly, her look faraway. Jarod wondered just how much psychological damage had been done to them all. He sat down next to Angelo on the floor and handed him a Pez dispenser, a Superman head on the top.

"Try this. They're really good."

So Angelo popped one of the sugary tablets in his mouth and announced his happiness.

"MMMM! Good. Friend right. Very good. Daughter." He stopped, trying to find the words to offer Miss Parker one. Finally, he grabbed the dispenser and handed it to Miss Parker.

"Daughter. Good."

She took one and nodded. "Yes, Angelo. They're good."

Angelo sat back down, satisfied for the moment.