Chapter Fifteen
While Jarod waited for whatever was coming he held Parkers note in his clenched fist. He should eat it, so nobody would find it. But the note was his last sign of hope. He couldn't bring himself to eat it.
Almost dozing he suddenly remembered the DSA. Parker knew it. Maybe she would tell him what it was about...
Some hours later the door opened and Parker entered. She had a DSA-player with her and Jarod wondered if that was telepathy. She placed it on the floor right in front of Jarod. He sat on the bunk, wrapped in his blanket, since no one had given him clothes yet. She started the player and Jarod focused on the screen. What he saw sent him into shock. He was pale as the wall and trembled uncontrollably.
"No!"
He exclaimed and gave Parker a pleading look. She didn't say a word, just stared at the Pretender watching in horror. She felt pity for this tortured soul. For him this must be like a bad dream. She wondered how many of these dreams he had.
When the record was over Jarod turned away. She saw tears glisten in his eyes. The urge to comfort him was overwhelming, but she withstood. For Jarods sake.
"I heard you came her to steal the DSA. Here it is. Satisfied?"
Parkers voice was cold as ice. Disgusted she closed the player again. In process she let a little note slip out of her sleeve. Jarod saw it from the eye angles but didn't react.
Lifting the playercase Parker kicked the note under Jarods bunk. While she had the camera in her back she gave Jarod a sympathetic smile. He saw it, but didn't respond.
Parker left. Jarod knew he should read the message but he couldn't move. He was freezing although it was not cold. He knew enough of moviemaking, cutting and special effects to recognize a non-fake if he saw one.
The recording was real. He had shot three human beings for unknown reasons. And he didn't even remember it. Hadn't he ever boasted how he helped and protected people? How Lyle must have laughed at him...
***
Raines and Lyle watched Jarods reactions on the recording from Raines office. Lyle looked satisfied as never before. He was glad he finally had found Jarods weakest spots.
The Pretender cared for people and he'd never hurt anyone on purpose. Those two things combined would shatter his selfconfidence severely. Raines immediately had agreed with this plan.
His suggestion that Parker should go and play the DSA to him appalled to Lyle. Both knew that Jarod had tried to convert Parker of the Centre. So far she had been loyal. And she would stay. Because the very second her sympathy for Jarod showed Lyle would not hesitate to lock her up as a hostage.
Until now he had no reason to mistrust her. She was good at her job and the triumvirate estimated professionalism. But imagening the fact that both had the Pretender gene offered inconceivable possibilities....
"His reaction was as promised. It was a brilliant act Alex did. I actually never thought Jarod would buy it but the disguise was unbelievable."
Raines nodded, always proud of his achivements. He had trained Alex well after Jarods escape four years ago. No one knew where Alex came from. He was a man of the triumvirate. He never failed. Jarod might have higher capabilities but Alex was obedient and enjoyed working for the Centre. He was a sociopath Pretender.
Lyle had his assumptions of where Alex might have come from. And regarding all the facts he was relieved that his Pretender abilities had never shown. Otherwise he'd be jetting around the globe to kill people. He preferred giving the orders. He was in charge of the north american branch of the Centre. And Raines had to keep his hands still....
"Do you think Sydney will find out that it was not Jarod on the tape?"
Lyle wondered aloud. Raines snorted. The sound of comin death made Lyle grin evilly.
"I bet he will, and then he will come and free Jarod. That's when we get hold of him and total control over the Pretender. Mr. Raines, I want Jarod guarded every second. Nobody gets access except Parker and me. I want you to oversee Parkers meetings with our labrat on the screen. Anything conspicious, you lock her up. Understand?"
Raines nodded reluctantly.
While Jarod waited for whatever was coming he held Parkers note in his clenched fist. He should eat it, so nobody would find it. But the note was his last sign of hope. He couldn't bring himself to eat it.
Almost dozing he suddenly remembered the DSA. Parker knew it. Maybe she would tell him what it was about...
Some hours later the door opened and Parker entered. She had a DSA-player with her and Jarod wondered if that was telepathy. She placed it on the floor right in front of Jarod. He sat on the bunk, wrapped in his blanket, since no one had given him clothes yet. She started the player and Jarod focused on the screen. What he saw sent him into shock. He was pale as the wall and trembled uncontrollably.
"No!"
He exclaimed and gave Parker a pleading look. She didn't say a word, just stared at the Pretender watching in horror. She felt pity for this tortured soul. For him this must be like a bad dream. She wondered how many of these dreams he had.
When the record was over Jarod turned away. She saw tears glisten in his eyes. The urge to comfort him was overwhelming, but she withstood. For Jarods sake.
"I heard you came her to steal the DSA. Here it is. Satisfied?"
Parkers voice was cold as ice. Disgusted she closed the player again. In process she let a little note slip out of her sleeve. Jarod saw it from the eye angles but didn't react.
Lifting the playercase Parker kicked the note under Jarods bunk. While she had the camera in her back she gave Jarod a sympathetic smile. He saw it, but didn't respond.
Parker left. Jarod knew he should read the message but he couldn't move. He was freezing although it was not cold. He knew enough of moviemaking, cutting and special effects to recognize a non-fake if he saw one.
The recording was real. He had shot three human beings for unknown reasons. And he didn't even remember it. Hadn't he ever boasted how he helped and protected people? How Lyle must have laughed at him...
***
Raines and Lyle watched Jarods reactions on the recording from Raines office. Lyle looked satisfied as never before. He was glad he finally had found Jarods weakest spots.
The Pretender cared for people and he'd never hurt anyone on purpose. Those two things combined would shatter his selfconfidence severely. Raines immediately had agreed with this plan.
His suggestion that Parker should go and play the DSA to him appalled to Lyle. Both knew that Jarod had tried to convert Parker of the Centre. So far she had been loyal. And she would stay. Because the very second her sympathy for Jarod showed Lyle would not hesitate to lock her up as a hostage.
Until now he had no reason to mistrust her. She was good at her job and the triumvirate estimated professionalism. But imagening the fact that both had the Pretender gene offered inconceivable possibilities....
"His reaction was as promised. It was a brilliant act Alex did. I actually never thought Jarod would buy it but the disguise was unbelievable."
Raines nodded, always proud of his achivements. He had trained Alex well after Jarods escape four years ago. No one knew where Alex came from. He was a man of the triumvirate. He never failed. Jarod might have higher capabilities but Alex was obedient and enjoyed working for the Centre. He was a sociopath Pretender.
Lyle had his assumptions of where Alex might have come from. And regarding all the facts he was relieved that his Pretender abilities had never shown. Otherwise he'd be jetting around the globe to kill people. He preferred giving the orders. He was in charge of the north american branch of the Centre. And Raines had to keep his hands still....
"Do you think Sydney will find out that it was not Jarod on the tape?"
Lyle wondered aloud. Raines snorted. The sound of comin death made Lyle grin evilly.
"I bet he will, and then he will come and free Jarod. That's when we get hold of him and total control over the Pretender. Mr. Raines, I want Jarod guarded every second. Nobody gets access except Parker and me. I want you to oversee Parkers meetings with our labrat on the screen. Anything conspicious, you lock her up. Understand?"
Raines nodded reluctantly.