Chapter Thirteen
Jarod had enjoyed the food. There was nothing left, since he couldn't count on regular meals.
Until now they had left him alone. Obviously to make him nervous. He already was beyond that. Jarod knew too well, what they were capable of.
Shuddering he remembered the experiment during which they had made his heart stop beating. But he knew as well that he could withstand. All people he cared about were safe. The Centre would not find them. Manny would take care of that. The ex-FBI-agent knew the danger coming from the Centre. He had encountered it hisself.
The second step was to bring those close to them to safety. Michelle and Nicholas would already be on their way to Pittsburgh. Now his only sorrow was to get out of here. That was difficult enough.
The door opened without warning. Jarod saw Lyle enter and then he held his breath. Behind Lyle Miss Parker entered.
She looked fine, cool as ever. Her eyes had a bored expression and she seemed calm.
Lyle watched Jarod sitting on the bunk. He wore nothing but shorts. On his chest there was a freshly healed bullet wound. His thigh was bandaged, but blood seeped through.
The Pretender was attentive. He did not let Lyle out of his sight. But not because he feared him. Jarod didn't know how to assess Parkers presence. If she was here to free him he wouldn't destroy her cover.
"Good morning, Jarod. I hope you had a good night."
Lyle wanted small talk. Jarod felt no desire to answer, but did nevertheless.
"You made sure I would, Lyle. What will I get tonight?"
Jarod alluded to the sedative he had been given. Lyle shrugged.
"That depends."
Questioning Jarod raised his brow.
"Depends on what?"
Lyle didn't answer. Parker did.
"On how you cooperate, genius."
She stressed the genius as she always did. Jarod almost smiled.
Parker was calmed. He was awake and seemingly okay. The bandages showed how severe his injuries had been.
"You never asked for cooperation before. Usually you demand it."
Jarod stated wondering what this was all about.
"As long as you cooperate, there is no need for persuasion."
Jarod held her stare. What did she want to tell him?
"You have nothing to persuade me."
Lyle laughed.
"Not yet, Jarod. But we have a lead on Sydney and Broots. Until their not back home we'll find other ways..."
Jarod didn't like Lyles maliciouis grin. Parker tried to keep up her composure but he could see her uncertainty.
"Ways? Do you think torture cures all evils?"
Jarods voice was soaking with sarcasm. Usually he enjoyed riddles. But he didn't enjoy playing with Lyle.
"Now, Jarod. Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
Lyle bent down to Jarod who shifted uncomfortably.
"I always thought you care for innocent people. What if we bring some innocent people here, lock them up on SL27 and threaten their life if you don't do as you're told? I think twenty people should be enough. So we have enough left if we have to stress our powers...."
Jarod paled slightly and Parker sighed inwardly. Lyle knew perfectly well that Jarod would not want to be the reason for innocent peoples death. Otherwise, the sims he had done over the years often had been used to kill great numbers of people. How would Jarod weigh these arguments against each other.
Jarod looked away, thinking. Lyle had the strong position. Jarod could do nothing but cooperate or he would be responsible for murder. It would be murder, even if it was not him who pulled the trigger.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked through clenched teeth.
Lyle knew for the moment he was the winner and decided to be merciful. He went towards the door.
"At the moment, nothing. It needs some preparations to keep 20 hostages...."
Satisfied to the bone he left the cell, leaving Parker behind. She silently looked at Jarod. He looked at her. Talking was no option. Parker had thought of that and prepared a tiny letter. With a mocking grin she threw him a Popeye-PEZ-dispenser over. Jarod caught it, surpised by her action.
"What is that?"
Parker shook her head and turned to Lyle, who had reappeared in the doorframe.
"Are you sure you caught the real genius?"
Lyle smiled. Parker had asked him before if he would mind her giving Jarod his little toy back. He had agreed. As long as he was in this good mood Jarod needed not fear his anger. What could this little toy do? Lyle had checked it and actually tried some of the candy. It was lemon taste and he surprisingly liked it. What was this saying? A stick and a carrott...
Confusion and suspicion showed in Jarods expression. Carefully he examined the dispenser. Maybe he suspected bugs or else. Lyle loved a confused Jarod. He left and didn't see the meaningful glance Jarod and Parker shared before she followed her sibling.
***
Angelo had found a way to send messages to Jarod. But Jarod didn't know there were messages, so he did not find them. Angelo watched him on the screen. Jarod was restless. He searched for a way to escape. But Angelo knew, that Jarod would not endanger innocent people for his own good.
He had overheard the conversation Lyle and Jarod had this morning. Parker had asked Angelo for help and he was more than willing to. Maybe Parker could give Jarod another message the ordinary way, like the first one.
So Jarod would be able to communicate independently with Angelo.
Jarod had enjoyed the food. There was nothing left, since he couldn't count on regular meals.
Until now they had left him alone. Obviously to make him nervous. He already was beyond that. Jarod knew too well, what they were capable of.
Shuddering he remembered the experiment during which they had made his heart stop beating. But he knew as well that he could withstand. All people he cared about were safe. The Centre would not find them. Manny would take care of that. The ex-FBI-agent knew the danger coming from the Centre. He had encountered it hisself.
The second step was to bring those close to them to safety. Michelle and Nicholas would already be on their way to Pittsburgh. Now his only sorrow was to get out of here. That was difficult enough.
The door opened without warning. Jarod saw Lyle enter and then he held his breath. Behind Lyle Miss Parker entered.
She looked fine, cool as ever. Her eyes had a bored expression and she seemed calm.
Lyle watched Jarod sitting on the bunk. He wore nothing but shorts. On his chest there was a freshly healed bullet wound. His thigh was bandaged, but blood seeped through.
The Pretender was attentive. He did not let Lyle out of his sight. But not because he feared him. Jarod didn't know how to assess Parkers presence. If she was here to free him he wouldn't destroy her cover.
"Good morning, Jarod. I hope you had a good night."
Lyle wanted small talk. Jarod felt no desire to answer, but did nevertheless.
"You made sure I would, Lyle. What will I get tonight?"
Jarod alluded to the sedative he had been given. Lyle shrugged.
"That depends."
Questioning Jarod raised his brow.
"Depends on what?"
Lyle didn't answer. Parker did.
"On how you cooperate, genius."
She stressed the genius as she always did. Jarod almost smiled.
Parker was calmed. He was awake and seemingly okay. The bandages showed how severe his injuries had been.
"You never asked for cooperation before. Usually you demand it."
Jarod stated wondering what this was all about.
"As long as you cooperate, there is no need for persuasion."
Jarod held her stare. What did she want to tell him?
"You have nothing to persuade me."
Lyle laughed.
"Not yet, Jarod. But we have a lead on Sydney and Broots. Until their not back home we'll find other ways..."
Jarod didn't like Lyles maliciouis grin. Parker tried to keep up her composure but he could see her uncertainty.
"Ways? Do you think torture cures all evils?"
Jarods voice was soaking with sarcasm. Usually he enjoyed riddles. But he didn't enjoy playing with Lyle.
"Now, Jarod. Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
Lyle bent down to Jarod who shifted uncomfortably.
"I always thought you care for innocent people. What if we bring some innocent people here, lock them up on SL27 and threaten their life if you don't do as you're told? I think twenty people should be enough. So we have enough left if we have to stress our powers...."
Jarod paled slightly and Parker sighed inwardly. Lyle knew perfectly well that Jarod would not want to be the reason for innocent peoples death. Otherwise, the sims he had done over the years often had been used to kill great numbers of people. How would Jarod weigh these arguments against each other.
Jarod looked away, thinking. Lyle had the strong position. Jarod could do nothing but cooperate or he would be responsible for murder. It would be murder, even if it was not him who pulled the trigger.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked through clenched teeth.
Lyle knew for the moment he was the winner and decided to be merciful. He went towards the door.
"At the moment, nothing. It needs some preparations to keep 20 hostages...."
Satisfied to the bone he left the cell, leaving Parker behind. She silently looked at Jarod. He looked at her. Talking was no option. Parker had thought of that and prepared a tiny letter. With a mocking grin she threw him a Popeye-PEZ-dispenser over. Jarod caught it, surpised by her action.
"What is that?"
Parker shook her head and turned to Lyle, who had reappeared in the doorframe.
"Are you sure you caught the real genius?"
Lyle smiled. Parker had asked him before if he would mind her giving Jarod his little toy back. He had agreed. As long as he was in this good mood Jarod needed not fear his anger. What could this little toy do? Lyle had checked it and actually tried some of the candy. It was lemon taste and he surprisingly liked it. What was this saying? A stick and a carrott...
Confusion and suspicion showed in Jarods expression. Carefully he examined the dispenser. Maybe he suspected bugs or else. Lyle loved a confused Jarod. He left and didn't see the meaningful glance Jarod and Parker shared before she followed her sibling.
***
Angelo had found a way to send messages to Jarod. But Jarod didn't know there were messages, so he did not find them. Angelo watched him on the screen. Jarod was restless. He searched for a way to escape. But Angelo knew, that Jarod would not endanger innocent people for his own good.
He had overheard the conversation Lyle and Jarod had this morning. Parker had asked Angelo for help and he was more than willing to. Maybe Parker could give Jarod another message the ordinary way, like the first one.
So Jarod would be able to communicate independently with Angelo.