Chapter Three
Sydney's House
He said not a word as he watched her set the breakfast tray in front of him. Oatmeal with banana, toast and orange juice; same spread, different day. She stared at him for a moment, then her brow furrowed in frustration as she read the consternation on his face.
The soft chestnut eyes peered at her from under sultry eyelids,
He sighed. It reminded him of when she was a very little girl. He could either offer an explanation, or be hounded. Sometimes the path of least resistance was the best. He acquiesced.
His voice was small, but resolute, Coffee. I want coffee, Parker.
Her eyes narrowed in annoyance as her arms folded across her chest, We've been over this before, Sydney, and you know damned well the doctor said NFW to coffee.
Parker's glare grew from annoyance to exasperation, Figure it out, Freud. Even you should be able to understand that acronym.
Sydney shrugged, unmoved, I want coffee.
Parker rolled her eyes, Well too damned bad, you're not getting any.
The psychiatrist almost snarled in irritation, That's TBD to you.
Parker couldn't help it, she laughed. Sydney glared up at her, as he realized the mistake he had made, and that her laughter was at him. But a moment later, his lips dissolved into a smile. Parker sat on the edge of the bed and gently ran a hand through his hair, brushing back the strands that had fallen to his forehead.
Confucious say: those who cannot form an acronym, may not use one. They held the smile for a moment, then Parker's face turned serious, Come on, Syd, eat your oatmeal before it gets cold.
He looked at her in distaste, I want coffee.
Eat the oatmeal, Freud.
The brown eyes held a hint of abject horror at the idea of eating the oatmeal.
Parker picked up the spoon and held it up for him, Please, Syd, for me?
He couldn't resist the large grey eyes pleading silently with him now, anymore than he could when she was a child. Inhaling a deep breath, Sydney gently took the spoon from her and starting eating.
Parker stood, kissing his forehead, Good-bye oatmeal trauma, hello SL-24.....
Sydney looked at her sharply, SL-24, why in the hell are you going down there?
Parker frowned slightly, Because Jarod traced the email that was sent to you to a terminal down there.
She read slight alarm in the deep brown eyes, But that's impossible.....
And why is that?
Because it ......the level....it has been vacant for years.
There was something in his tone that caused her stomach to flutter.
What aren't you telling me?
Sydney shrugged, Nothing to tell. The level hasn't been used in some twenty years or so; it's probably full of old equipment and the like. I just don't want you tripping over god knows what down there.....
Uh-huh. I'll let you know what I find when I get home tonight.
Parker watched him turn his attention to the oatmeal, then she left the room. There was a nagging sensation. And she wasn't imagining it; she had read fear on his face at the mention of SL-24. There was something he wasn't telling her. She could feel it; she had felt it before.....
****************
SL-24
Parker cautiously stepped off the elevator on sub-level 24. It had taken several hours for her to find the key that unlocked the floor bypass on the elevator so that she could access the level. She aimed her flashlight on the wall in the corridor, looking for the master power switch. She found it fairly quickly, and pushed the lever up. The generator groaned into action, and the lights flickered. A moment later, SL-24 was illuminated.
She walked down the corridor. It was much as she anticipated, filled with dust and disuse. Rusted out, empty file cabinets lined the rooms, with broken chairs and abandoned desks littering the open areas. But not a single computer terminal anywhere. She turned the last corner and opened up the final door. The sight which greeted her made her breath catch in her throat.
A pretender cell, complete with a bed, sink, toilet, and desk, lay before her, charred from what could only have been a massive fire. The stench of charcoal filled her nostrils and burned the back of her throat. Even after twenty years it still lingered in the closed-up room. Slowly Parker walked forward, as if expecting an apparition to appear at any moment in front of her. She shivered involuntarily. How could there have been another one?
A noise from behind the air vent caused her to jump. She looked up and saw eyes staring back at her, and had to suppress the urge to scream.
Her voice shook slightly, Damnit, Angelo, is that you?
There was no answer.
Parker sighed, Hey, troll-boy, are you in there?
The scuffling she heard a moment later told her that Angelo saw fit to take off. She wondered what demons were rummaging through his tortured mind. Poor Angelo. He had never really had a chance. At least she and Jarod had somehow come through it all with their sanity more or less intact, but Angelo....he had suffered far worse.
Her cell phone rang, causing Parker to start.
She answered it with more pepper than usual, What the hell do you want?
Broots voice shook slightly on the other end, I'm sorry, Miss Parker....it's just that Mr. Raines is looking for you, and well....I don't know where you are. I just thought that maybe you might want to know he's looking for you. You know, in case you're....I don't know, somewhere you shouldn't be....
Oh for god's sake, you moron....now that you've called me, anyone monitoring phones in the Centre probably knows where I am.
That's right, Miss Parker, the voice behind her rasped, And I'd like to know what you're doing down here.
Parker tried to cover the fact that her heart had leapt into her throat. She closed her cell phone, replacing it in a pocket, and turned to face Raines.
What am I doing down here? What did you do down here....
I asked you a question, Miss Parker.
So did I.
How did you get a key?
I found it.
Give it to me.
Parker glared at him for a moment, and he held her eyes. The only sound in the room was the oxygen Raines drew from his tank. Reluctantly, Parker handed over the key.
Who's room was this?
I would have thought, Miss Parker, that after all these years, you would know better than to breach off-limit areas.
I want answers, Raines. What went on down here?
Raines turned to the Sweeper standing next to him, Ray, see that Miss Parker finds her way back upstairs.
Yes, sir.
The large man grabbed Parker's arm only to have it yanked away.
I don't need help, you idiot. I know the way back upstairs....
Ray followed Parker out into the corridor, leaving Raines alone in the room. He glanced around at the charred remains, and a small but sick smile lined his thin lips.
Be careful what you wish for, Miss Parker....
****************
Broots' Area
Broots was typing furiously at his keyboard, frowning. Parker sat near him, chain smoking. He coughed loudly, but she didn't take the hint.
There must be something there, Scooby....
So far, there isn't a single mention of another--
Well now, hang on here, we just might have something.
What? What did you find?
It looks like an old record that was deleted and overwritten.
Can you reconstruct it?
I don't know, Miss Parker.
This is important, Broots, it might be a clue to who attacked Sydney...maybe more.
I'll do my best, but this is going to take awhile.
Parker glanced at her watch, I need to get home anyway, I'm late. Call me on my cell.
Before Broots could comment, Parker was gone in a swirl of smoke.
********************
Sydney's House
Sydney watched Parker pace up and back across the length of the bedroom. He hadn't seen her in quite such a state in many months.
Parker, calm down.
Calm down? Didn't you hear what I told you? There was another pretender, Sydney. One we knew nothing about.
You don't know that.
The hell I don't.
You saw a room that had been badly burnt in a fire, nothing more.
Nothing more? I know a pretender cell when I see it, Sydney, charbroiled or not. Besides, Broots may have found something in the old records. Parker looked into his eyes, which met hers with a steady gaze, You don't seem very enthusiastic, Freud. Aren't you even curious?
Flights of fancy...ghosts, nothing more. Parker stopped pacing and glared at him, his eyes softened, Parker.....I don't want you getting mixed up with Raines. The man is dangerous. You know that. Let it go.
Let it go? Have you lost your mind?
Sydney closed his eyes in pain, and reached for his head. After a moment, Parker moved to him, stroking his hair.
I'm sorry. I shouldn't push you so hard....I know you're still weak.
His voice was slightly strained, It's okay, I'm fine.
No, you're not. Parker gently squeezed his neck muscles,
After a few moments, his eyelids became heavy, and Parker gently guided him to lie down on his stomach. She rubbed his back until she knew he was sound asleep, then covered him with a blanket and quietly stole from the room. She walked downstairs, picked up her gun and jacket. Sam prepared to follow, but she waved him off.
You're staying. I need someone I can trust to keep an eye on Sydney.
--No buts' Sam. You're staying, I'm going. I'll be fine.
--Enough. I'm just going to go check out something at the Centre.
Miss Parker....
Parker turned to Sam, a slight smile on her lips, Sam, I appreciate the concern, but there's nothing to worry about. I'll have Broots with me.
With that she turned and walked out the door. A moment later, Sam realized what she had said.
Oh man.....she's in trouble...
***************
The Centre
Parker stalked into Broots' office, and instead of seeing flying fingers on a keyboard, she was met with a solemn stare. His face gave her sufficient pause, and she came to a halt a few feet away.
I was just about to call you, Miss Parker.
You look like you've seen a ghost, Scooby....
I wish it had been that simple......
Parker's stomach dropped into the soles of her shoes.
