Chapter Eight
Lyle sat behind his desk and followed the centre internal radio traffic. Sweepers were running around checking up false alarms. There was chaos and Lyle fought not to lose his temper.
Jarod had come, but the bait wasn't there yet. Sweepers had been sent out to bring Sydney and Broots in. They had not arrived yet. But Jarod was there and there had to be a way to keep him.
Lyle took out the centre blueprints and marked the alarms. There was method in it. The alarms were set off all over the building, except on the sublevel where the offices were.
Grabbing into the drawer of his desk he took out his gun and checked the ammunition. He then got up and went for the door. He figured Jarod couldn't use the hallways.
Manipulating the cameras would be too conspicious. So the only way to reach the offices was through the vents. Lyle didn't know which office Jarod was heading for, but he made a guess.
Sydneys office lay at the end of the hallway. Miss Parkers right next to it.
***
When Jarod got out of the vent he rested for a moment. His leg burned and he breathed very hard. He had to hurry.
In this shape a confrontation with one of the centre employees was no option.
Hastily but systematicly he went throught the drawers of Sydneys desk. He found nothing. Sydney kept nothing important there anymore.
He felt under the tabletop. No luck there as well. Looking around in the office he saw the DSA-player on the cupboard next to the door. He hurried over and opened the case.
There it was. The DSA still stuck in the player. Quickly he took it and slid it into his pocket. Turning around he saw the door opening slowly.
Freezing he thought for an escape. But there was none of which he would survive.
Nevertheless he figured a good attack was better than waiting for it. He jumped at the arm that appeared in the doorway, holding a gun.
A sweeper, Jarod thought, before both men hit the floor. Jarod had no breathe left. He almost lost consciousness as his opponent fell onto his leg. The sweeper tried to get onto his feet again and therefor tangled with Jarods legs. Jarod let out a loud moan when his leg was hit again.
Then, stunned silence. Jarod concentrated on absorbing the pain. It took him some seconds until he opened his eyes again. The sight of Lyle towering over him made him close them again.
He had been aware of the risk. And now he had to pay for it.
***
Lyle stared at Jarod.
His heart pounded and adrenalin flooded through his veins. Jarods attack had taken him aback.
Now Jarod lay on the floor, fighting for consciousness and Lyle had all the trumps. He aimed his gun at Jarods chest and smiled satisfied. He'd done it. All alone.
"Now, get up, Jarod."
He demanded careless. He knew Jarod still suffered from severe injuries. He didn't care.
Jarod looked at him and Lyle noticed a resigned expression in his eyes.
"You knew you were not going to leave this place again, didn't you?"
Lyle sounded surprised and so he was. Jarod always had had a backup plan. So why would he risk getting caught?
Alarmed Lyle turned to the phone on Sydneys desk. He still aimed the gun at Jarod. But Jarod didn't move. He couldn't. He was shaking by effort to stay conscious. The look in Lyles eyes made him uncomfortable. Lyle had a thought that alarmed him.
And that alarmed Jarod. He listened to Lyles call.
"Willie, how long will it take to bring Sydney here?"
Jarod shot a glance at the clock and then closed his eyes in relief. It was quarter past midnight. Sydney and Broots would already have left for Pittsburgh. His friends had a strict time schedule.
"What do you mean, he's not there. You shadowed him on his way home."
Lyle seemed to have problems with what Willie told him.
"Return immediately. Call the other team back as well. I suppose Mr. Broots will not be in for a while."
His eyes were cold as he pointed his attention towards Jarod again. He knew why Jarod had taken the risk. It was pure distraction.
Lyles plan would have worked if Jarod hadn't been too fast. Again. Angry he came closer. Jarod watched him warily.
"Now, your friends might have gotten away. But be sure, we'll find them. Until then we will be satisfied with your presence."
The mean look in Lyles face made Jarod close his eyes again. Obeying his current fate he gave way to unconsciousness.
Lyle sat behind his desk and followed the centre internal radio traffic. Sweepers were running around checking up false alarms. There was chaos and Lyle fought not to lose his temper.
Jarod had come, but the bait wasn't there yet. Sweepers had been sent out to bring Sydney and Broots in. They had not arrived yet. But Jarod was there and there had to be a way to keep him.
Lyle took out the centre blueprints and marked the alarms. There was method in it. The alarms were set off all over the building, except on the sublevel where the offices were.
Grabbing into the drawer of his desk he took out his gun and checked the ammunition. He then got up and went for the door. He figured Jarod couldn't use the hallways.
Manipulating the cameras would be too conspicious. So the only way to reach the offices was through the vents. Lyle didn't know which office Jarod was heading for, but he made a guess.
Sydneys office lay at the end of the hallway. Miss Parkers right next to it.
***
When Jarod got out of the vent he rested for a moment. His leg burned and he breathed very hard. He had to hurry.
In this shape a confrontation with one of the centre employees was no option.
Hastily but systematicly he went throught the drawers of Sydneys desk. He found nothing. Sydney kept nothing important there anymore.
He felt under the tabletop. No luck there as well. Looking around in the office he saw the DSA-player on the cupboard next to the door. He hurried over and opened the case.
There it was. The DSA still stuck in the player. Quickly he took it and slid it into his pocket. Turning around he saw the door opening slowly.
Freezing he thought for an escape. But there was none of which he would survive.
Nevertheless he figured a good attack was better than waiting for it. He jumped at the arm that appeared in the doorway, holding a gun.
A sweeper, Jarod thought, before both men hit the floor. Jarod had no breathe left. He almost lost consciousness as his opponent fell onto his leg. The sweeper tried to get onto his feet again and therefor tangled with Jarods legs. Jarod let out a loud moan when his leg was hit again.
Then, stunned silence. Jarod concentrated on absorbing the pain. It took him some seconds until he opened his eyes again. The sight of Lyle towering over him made him close them again.
He had been aware of the risk. And now he had to pay for it.
***
Lyle stared at Jarod.
His heart pounded and adrenalin flooded through his veins. Jarods attack had taken him aback.
Now Jarod lay on the floor, fighting for consciousness and Lyle had all the trumps. He aimed his gun at Jarods chest and smiled satisfied. He'd done it. All alone.
"Now, get up, Jarod."
He demanded careless. He knew Jarod still suffered from severe injuries. He didn't care.
Jarod looked at him and Lyle noticed a resigned expression in his eyes.
"You knew you were not going to leave this place again, didn't you?"
Lyle sounded surprised and so he was. Jarod always had had a backup plan. So why would he risk getting caught?
Alarmed Lyle turned to the phone on Sydneys desk. He still aimed the gun at Jarod. But Jarod didn't move. He couldn't. He was shaking by effort to stay conscious. The look in Lyles eyes made him uncomfortable. Lyle had a thought that alarmed him.
And that alarmed Jarod. He listened to Lyles call.
"Willie, how long will it take to bring Sydney here?"
Jarod shot a glance at the clock and then closed his eyes in relief. It was quarter past midnight. Sydney and Broots would already have left for Pittsburgh. His friends had a strict time schedule.
"What do you mean, he's not there. You shadowed him on his way home."
Lyle seemed to have problems with what Willie told him.
"Return immediately. Call the other team back as well. I suppose Mr. Broots will not be in for a while."
His eyes were cold as he pointed his attention towards Jarod again. He knew why Jarod had taken the risk. It was pure distraction.
Lyles plan would have worked if Jarod hadn't been too fast. Again. Angry he came closer. Jarod watched him warily.
"Now, your friends might have gotten away. But be sure, we'll find them. Until then we will be satisfied with your presence."
The mean look in Lyles face made Jarod close his eyes again. Obeying his current fate he gave way to unconsciousness.