4:02 - Keep The Home Fires Burning (Part Two)
A Detention Centre - San Francisco
Jarod got out of the back of the darkened police van and blinked his eyes in order to adjust to the strong sun light. It had been a long ride to this particular detention centre, at least Forty-Five minutes.
"Move!" The Female Police Officer, who looked like the Officer Lewis he met a month ago, told him.
She backed it up by pushing him forward. Jarod thought about reacting but saw Miss Parker being treated in the same way and decided against it. This certainly wasn't the woman he had met a month ago. This one was harder and more aggressive. Seeing that Sydney was emerging from the van, he started walking towards the entrance to the centre. They were taken into the building and guided to a desk where a large red-aced Police Sergeant looked wearily at them.
"Who do we have here?" The Sergeant said.
"Some more vagrants," Officer Lewis said.
The Sergeant shook his head.
"You people really are stupid," He said "You knew that the World Song Contest was coming here, you knew that the city was activating a clean-up policy, yet you still come."
Miss Parker pushed her way to the desk.
"My name is Parker," She said "I represent the Centre in Blue Cove, Delaware. I demand that you get in contact with them immediately."
The Sergeant burst into laughter.
"You claim to represent that particular centre," The Sergeant guffawed "That really takes the cake."
"What the hell's going on here," Miss Parker demanded to know.
"I suggest that you shut up," Jarod whispered in her ear "Before you get us all in trouble."
Miss Parker glared at Jarod, but took a deep breath and closed her mouth.
"I'm sorry about my friend," Jarod said "She's just had a shock."
The Sergeant turned his attention to Jarod and relaxed a little.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Jarod Malone, I'm a Federal Marshall," He said "If you check the belongings that your colleague took off me I think you'll find some identification proving my identity."
The Sergeant glanced at his colleague who gave him a bag. The Sergeant tipped the contents out and examined the first ID card that he found. It was Jarod's federal accreditation.
"I'm sorry, Agent Malone," He said.
"Don't be, you were doing your job," Jarod said "Security must be tight for the Song Contest. We're here to see that it is."
The Sergeant glanced Lewis urgently. The Police Officer took off Jarod's handcuffs.
"And the others."
"This woman was holding a gun on you," Officer Lewis said.
"I also said that my partner has just had a shocking experience," Jarod said putting an arm around Miss Parker's shoulders "Somebody abducted her a couple of days ago, some sex crazed maniac. She managed to escape but was feeling disorientated. She thought Doctor Green and I were the kidnappers and she naturally pulled out the gun to defend herself."
Jarod noted the glare that Miss Parker gave him, but was glad that she was nodding her agreement to what he had just said.
"If you can free her from the handcuffs, Doctor Green and I might be able to get her some treatment."
The Sergeant nodded and Lewis took off both Miss Parker's and Sydney's handcuffs.
"Are you okay, Amanda?" Jarod asked.
"I will be," Miss Parker said through gritted teeth "Once I get treatment."
"I'm Doctor Sydney Green," Sydney added following Jarod's lead "The sooner we can get Agent Parker to the hospital, the sooner we can begin treatment."
"I'll arrange an escort," The Sergeant said.
"It's okay," Jarod said "You have your hands full, just point us in the right direction."
"Officer Lewis will take you," The Sergeant insisted "We don't you picked up for vagrancy again, do we."
"Of course not," Jarod said.
He turned to the Female Police Officer.
"Lead the way, Officer Lewis."
The Hospital
Officer Lewis had dropped Jarod, Miss Parker and Sydney off at reception. She had followed them all the way in to make sure that they indeed were going for a check up and not slipping out the back door. Something told Jarod that Officer Lewis didn't entirely trust them, which was why he went through with the process of arranging a check up for Miss Parker. Once the Female Police Officer was satisfied, she left.
"Okay, Lab Rat," Parker said "What was that all about?"
"That was Jarod saving us from humiliation," Sydney said "I think you owe him your thanks."
"Thank you," Parker said quickly "Now can we get out of here."
Jarod crossed his arms and smirked.
"Do you think that my partner should have a check up, Sydney?"
"It was quite a fall," Sydney said "But then she did land on top of you, Jarod. Maybe you should both have a check up, just to be on the safe side."
"Will you two pack it in," Miss Parker said "I'm okay. Let's get the hell out of here before Officer Goody Two Shoes comes back."
Jarod nodded his agreement and followed Miss Parker out of the building. Sydney smiled knowingly and imitated their hasty departure.
The Dominion Hotel - Four Hours Later
Miss Parker felt the jet of warm water cascade down her naked body. It had taken them two hours to find this hotel, the only hotel that had vacancies because of this damned song contest, and she, Sydney and Jarod had to wait an hour before obtaining a room - the penthouse suite of all places. She was feeling tired and ratty and a little frustrated. She had tried calling the Centre only to find that the number no longer existed in any form. Sydney had gone out to find out why leaving both Jarod and Miss Parker to freshen up. As she lathered her body, she wondered what had happened to them. Although this world looked like her world, she had already noted one or two differences. Firstly the World Song Contest. She knew there was a Eurovision Song Contest which had been going for nearly fifty years. There had been talk of it going global but it hadn't happened yet. She had also noted that the fashion sense was a little nineteen seventies, flares and kipper ties predominant. She found that out by looking at complementary wardrobe that this hotel gave all paying customer who arrive without luggage, something else that wouldn't have happened in her world. If it wasn't so serious she would now be laughing at what she was seeing.
"What have you landed me in this time, Jarod?" Miss Parker said.
She turned off the shower and opened the curtains. She stepped out and began to dry herself using the complementary towels. She remembered the smooth way that Jarod convinced that idiot Sergeant of their credentials. Okay, she had to suffer the indignity of having been allegedly abducted by a sex crazed maniac, a situation which in real life she was sure she would not let happen. But it was worth it to get out of those handcuffs and out of that building. Sydney once teased her that she admired Jarod and may have been a little bit jealous of his skills. That wasn't entirely without foundation. Nothing she would admit openly, but at the very least the admiration was there. She especially admired how he smoothly adapted to what was an alien situation to him as well. If he hadn't, they probably would have been in the 'slammer' by now or being carted off to a lunatic asylum. One thing bothered her. Why did they laugh when she mentioned she was with The Centre? Hopefully, she thought to herself, Sydney would find that out. She slipped on a bath robe and went out into the lounge where she saw Jarod watching what looked like the news.
"Anything interesting?"
Jarod turned around and looked at Miss Parker.
"I think I may have found Rembrandt Brown," He said.
Miss Parker sat next to Jarod and invited him to turn up the sound. Jarod did so willingly.
"The United States representative in the World Song Contest, Rembrandt Brown, arrived at the Conference Centre looking confident," The auburn haired Female News-reader said, smiling her shining white teeth "His song, The Crying Times, has been made odds on favourite by Las Vegas bookmaker Jimmy the Greek. Some have called it the best song ever to enter the much maligned contest since Katrina and the Waves won for the United Kingdom with 'Love Shine A Light' in 1997."
The picture switched to a smiling Rembrandt Brown signing autographs. He looked at the camera and his smile broadened.
"You going to win on Saturday, Rembrandt?" A reporter shouted out.
"Of course, I am," He said "My song is a classic. It will wipe the floor with all the opposition."
"Certainly a confident man," Miss Parker said.
"How do you answer the accusation that the song sounds like your best hit 'Cry Like A Man?" Another reporter shouted.
Rembrandt, who was signing another autograph at the time, glared at the camera.
"It's not even close," He said "Who said that?"
"Most of the music press."
Rembrandt put his face close to the camera lens.
"You tell those fools that 'The Crying Times' is an original composition and is nothing like anything that I've done in my life and if anybody suggests different, I will challenge them in court," Rembrandt said "Now if you don't mind, I have a rehearsal to attend."
"Way to go, Rembrandt!" Jarod said.
Miss Parker glanced at the Pretender and saw the smile on his face. She had missed that smile. She took a deep breath and dismissed what she was feeling from her mind.
"What makes you sure this is our Rembrandt Brown?"
"The way he's dressed."
Miss Parker looked at Rembrandt as he walked into the building. His dress was a mixture of the predominant ninety seventies look and the ninety nineties, the time he left from. The hair was definitely ninety nineties, short and well groomed. The hair she had seen on other men would have put an Afghan Hound to shame.
"What do you plan to do about it?"
"As soon as Sydney gets back, I'm going over to the Conference Centre," Jarod looked at Miss Parker "If you want to come with me, you should get dressed. Something casual I think."
Miss Parker glared at him, got up and flounced unceremoniously into one of the rooms two bedrooms. Jarod smiled and continued watching the television. A minute later, the door opened and Sydney entered. He looked concerned.
"What's up Sydney?" Jarod asked.
"Where's Miss Parker," Sydney asked.
"Getting changed, why?"
"I think she ought to hear this," Sydney said "It seems that in this world, The Centre was destroyed, by her."
Even Jarod looked surprised at that suggestion.
A Rental Car
Miss Parker, sitting alongside Jarod in the passenger seat of the car Sydney had rented, was thunderstruck. Never in her wildest dreams would she consider giving evidence to a Senate Select Committee about the Centre's activities. However in this world, according to Sydney, not only did her double give evidence against the Centre, but she did so in the aftermath of her mother and fathers cold blooded murder by the Triumvirate. It had been a public feeding frenzy brought on after a video tape of a Centre black project was released to the press. It showed the results of a virus that the Centre had deliberately released in a New England town in August 1997.
"The act so disgusted the Parker family that they arranged for Jarod's double to deliver the video to the Walter Kronkite Show," Sydney explained "Not long afterwards Mr Parker and Catherine were blown up by a car bomb. It seems that Miss Parker's double was meant to be travelling with her father and mother that evening but had gone down with the flu. This world's Miss Parker persuaded the FBI to put her on the Witness Protection Programme in return for her testimony."
"Which they agreed to do?" Jarod said.
Sydney nodded.
"Unfortunately, the Triumvirate paid off somebody in the FBI and had my double killed," Miss Parker deduced.
"About a year later, she was killed along with two others," Sydney said "Fortunately, the killer was caught and made a plea bargain with the FBI. All three members of the triumvirate were executed two years later."
Miss Parker took another drag of her cigarette and glanced in the mirror at Sydney, who smiled at her sympathetically.
"I would have done the same thing," Jarod said "Your double didn't have much of a choice. She had to give that testimony."
"They would have killed her to make sure that she didn't give evidence," Sydney said "You know that."
"They did anyway."
"But not before she had destroyed them," Jarod said "And the action cost the Triumvirate their lives. The Government was forced to close the Centre down after your double's death. There was nothing else they could have done considering what they were finding out."
"Watergate would have paled into insignificance," Sydney added "The Government probably would have fallen."
"Which is why they cleaned house?" Jarod said.
Sydney nodded
"Yeah!" Miss Parker growled "Of course those bastards would come up smelling of roses. Of course they would clean their lily white hands of the blood of their co-conspirators."
"The way of this world and I suspect of most others," Sydney said.
"That is not comforting," Parker returned.
"It wasn't meant to be," Sydney said "We have to face facts, corruption is everywhere. It's only brave people like your double who can stop it. Something you should bear in mind, don't you think, Miss Parker?"
Miss Parker took another drag of her of her cigarette and thought nasty thoughts.
"Oh by the way, Miss Parker, Jarod, I have some good news," Sydney said "It seems that Miss Parker's double had a twin sister called, believe or not, Catherine. It seems that it was her and Jarod's double in this world that tracked her sister's killer down."
"She's a Fed?"
"A DC Cop," Sydney said "I tried to find out more, but, it seems that she has moved onwards and upwards. Her records have been made top secret, which is interesting in itself."
"I would like to have met her," Miss Parker said.
"Heads up, guys," Jarod said "We're here."
They could see the Conference Centre and the crowd outside cheering and clapping each of the contestants as they went into rehearse.
"How are we supposed to get in, become an entrant in the song contest?" Miss Parker said.
"I don't think we need to go as far as that, look."
The three could see Officer Lewis approach their car. Jarod brought the car to a halt and wound the window down.
"Why, it's the dynamic duo and their butler," Lewis said with withering sarcasm "I checked the hospital. It seems that you never had that treatment. I wonder why?"
"She didn't want it,"Sydney said "The stupid girl checked herself out before they saw her."
"I'm afraid of hospitals," Miss Parker said.
If looks could kill Sydney would have died a horrifying death considering the look Miss Parker gave him through the rear view mirror. All Sydney did was smile impassively.
"We got her treatment with a private clinic," Jarod said.
"Where?"
"A top secret military clinic," Sydney said "I have some friends there. If you check you're not going to find much. I asked them to keep it quiet."
"Why?"
"To save Agent Parker further embarrassment," Sydney said "As you see, she wanted to get back to work as soon as possible. Against my advice."
"Good girl," Lewis said "Don't let the bastards win."
Jarod allowed himself a smirk.
"Okay, Batman, Robin and Alfred, what are you doing here?"
"Security check, we need to see Rembrandt Brown," Jarod said.
"You're joking," Lewis said "That damned stalker isn't here is she."
Miss Parker and Sydney looked at Jarod in alarm. This they knew nothing about. Jarod nodded in his relaxed, unhurried style.
"We think so," Jarod said "We need to make sure that Mr Brown is protected at all times."
Lewis sighed.
"I'll get you in," She said "You know I'm going to call it in. I need to know everything you know."
"It's been collated at the bureau office at the moment," Miss Parker said "We'll let you have it as soon as we have it. May be a few hours."
Lewis shook her head and threw up her hands in frustration.
"One of these days you Bureau types will trust us enough to let us do our jobs."
"Yeah, I know," Jarod said "We get the blame for everything that goes wrong."
Sydney and Miss Parker choked down their laughter. Lewis glared at him and then waved him through.
Rembrandt Brown's Dressing Room
Rembrandt looked at himself in the mirror and smiled.
"Looking good!"
He placed a comb in his hair and gently combed his hair back. He looked at himself again in the mirror.
"Wish Wade, Q Ball and the Professor were here to see this."
He looked at his reflection, puzzled by what he had just said. Then he shook his head and placed the comb back on the table. He heard a knock on the door and frowned. If this was another reporter, he thought, he would go spare.
"Who is it?"
"FBI," Jarod said through the closed door "We need to see you on an urgent matter."
"For Christ Sake!" Rembrandt muttered.
He got to his feet and went to the door.
"I want to see some ID."
"Open the door and we'll oblige," Miss Parker said.
Rembrandt shook his head in disbelief
"If this is about that fruit ball stalker..."
He opened the door to reveal both Jarod and Miss Parker holding identification. Sydney remained just behind aware that he had no ID and allowing Jarod and Parker to take the lead.
"I'm Agent Malone, this is Agent Parker," Jarod said "The man behind us Doctor Sydney Green, he's a consultant. Do you mind if we come in?"
"I have thirty minutes before I'm due on stage for rehearsal."
"This wont take long," Jarod promised.
Rembrandt sighed and allowed Jarod, Miss Parker and Sydney to enter the room. To allow for privacy, Rembrandt bolted the door.
"That may not have been a good idea," Jarod said "We could have been anybody."
"I trust you," Rembrandt said "Let's get on with it. If this is about that damned stalker, I thought you had dealt with it."
"It isn't Mr Brown," Sydney said "This is about your friends Quinn Mallory, Wade Wells, Maximilian Arturo and Maggie Beckett."
Rembrandt gave them a blank look, a give away sign that he had no memory of them or had idea of what they were talking about. This was not a good start.
"Can you remember what happened to you four years ago?" Jarod pressed.
"Who are you?"
"You were about to sing the national anthem before the big game at the ball park in San Francisco when you drove into a vortex, a big tunnel of light," Jarod continued "Do you remember?"
Rembrandt sat down and tried to remember.
"I drove into a block of ice. It was freezing."
Rembrandt could feel a pain shoot through his brain. He could see two men and a woman approach his car. He remembered the tunnel of light and having to be pushed up into it. The pain was becoming intense causing him to black out temporarily.
"Rembrandt?" Jarod said
"Q Ball?" Rembrandt said "You died, it can't be you."
"Rembrandt," Sydney said "It's Doctor Green."
Rembrandt's eyes focussed on Sydney, Jarod and the woman called Miss Parker.
"Who's Q Ball?" Miss Parker said.
Rembrandt almost fell out of his chair trying to back away.
"Who the hell are you?"
Sydney frowned in frustration. Miss Parker scowled, but Jarod adopted a kindly and reassuring smile.
"We're Sliders just like you, Rembrandt," Jarod said "We've come from Earth Prime to find you, Wade, Quinn and Professor Arturo and take you home."
Now Rembrandt looked at the newcomers with suspicion. He saw Jarod take what looked like a timer out of his inside pocket.
"Where did you get that from?"
"Do you recognise it?" Miss Parker said.
"Where did you get it from?" Rembrandt repeated.
"I built it with a man called Conrad Bennish," Jarod said "We used Quinn Mallory's notes to rebuild the Sliding machine."
Rembrandt burst into tears. Sydney came forward and hugged him.
"I can't remember," Rembrandt said "I can't damned well remember."
"It's okay, Mr Brown," Sydney said "You will, I'll help you to remember."
Sydney looked at Jarod and Miss Parker. Both of them understood and left the room.
The Corridor Outside Rembrandt's Room
"Well, that went well," Parker said.
Jarod glared at her.
"I didn't think he would have had his memory wiped clean," He said "Whoever did that did one hell of a job."
"Okay, Lab Rat," Parker said "What do you do now?"
"Wait for Sydney to do his work," Jarod said "It's all we can do."
Jarod sat next to Miss Parker and looked at her light another cigarette.
"You've taken this very well," Jarod said.
"What?"
"This sliding business," Jarod said "Anybody else would have been freaking out by now. But, except for when we first arrived, you've taken this whole thing in your stride."
"We're going home in four days," Miss Parker said "And I'll be delivering you to the triumvirate."
"Despite everything you've learned about what your double on this world did, you still stick to what you know."
Miss Parker took a drag of her cigarette
"It's all I know," She said "You run, I chase you. You're my ticket to freedom from the Parker curse, that obnoxious brother of mine and the Triumvirate."
"So it's nothing personal?"
Miss Parker shrugged.
"What are you going to do if we can't go home?"
Miss Parker looked at Jarod.
"It's a possibility," Jarod said "There were no parameters set, remember. We could end up anywhere."
For the first time, Miss Parker lost a little of her self confidence. They indeed could be lost and it would have been her fault.
"We'll improvise," She said.
Jarod burst into laughter.
"You are incorrigible," He said.
Parker allowed herself a smile. It was a nice smile and Jarod wished he saw more of it.
"Well, at least one thing will happen," Miss Parker said.
"What?"
"I'll learn to walk a mile in your shoes," She said "I'll learn how a Pretender works."
Jarod continued chuckling. He stopped chuckling when Lewis found them and approached. She had a document in her hand and a concerned look on her face.
"Where's your friend?" She asked.
"Inside with Rembrandt Brown," Miss Parker said "Why?"
"I suggest that he stays with him," Lewis said.
"The stalker's in San Francisco," Jarod deduced.
Lewis nodded. Miss Parker silently swore
"A body was found an hour ago in an alleyway in Chinatown," Lewis said "She was killed by somebody using the same MO as Rembrandt's stalker. If we had got this earlier, this could have been prevented."
"Can I have a look at it?" Jarod said.
"I thought you'd already seen it," Lewis said.
"Not the updated version," Miss Parker said "You arrested us for vagrancy and I was being checked up in a military clinic, remember."
"Of course," Lewis said "Silly me."
She handed Jarod the file.
"We'll be back in a minute," Miss Parker said "We want to brief Doctor Green on what has happened."
"I'll be leaving here in five minutes," Lewis said.
Jarod nodded and knocked on the door. Sydney opened it and allowed Jarod and Miss Parker in. Lewis tried to peek in but Jarod shut the door on her face.
Rembrandts Dressing Room
"How is he?" Jarod asked.
"It's slow progress," Sydney said "He can remember Wade, Quinn and Maggie Beckett. He also remembered what happened to Arturo. I'm afraid he's dead. He was killed trying to protect Quinn from being shot by a man called Rickman."
"I already know," Jarod said "I met a friend of Rembrandt's who told me everything. A kid called Malcolm."
Sydney looked at Rembrandt who remained gazing at his reflection in the mirror obviously still under the hypnotic influence that Sydney put him under.
"But he doesn't know why he's lost his memory?" Miss Parker asked.
Sydney shook his head.
"They'll be calling for him to rehearse in ten minutes," Jarod said " I need you to get him ready to perform and to keep an eye on him. Everywhere he goes, you go."
"Why?"
"The stalker's genuine," Miss Parker said "And she's here."
Sydney frowned.
"Be careful, both of you."
Jarod placed a hand on Sydney's shoulder and ushered Miss Parker out.
Chinatown - An Hour Later
Jarod and Miss Parker finished speaking to the main witness, a nervous looking Chinese woman, and had a clearer picture as to what was going on. The woman was a black woman, tall with short dark hair. She was young, in her mid thirties, and powerful looking. She had killed the victim, a female cop roughly the same size as the killer, using a martial art that could only have been taught or performed by a Martial Arts Master, which, according to her file, she was.
"Well, genius," Miss Parker whispered "How is your karate?"
"I've got a feeling we're about to find out in the next few days," Jarod whispered back.
Lewis returned breathless.
"She's been spotted," She said "A house on Fifth Street."
"That's only a couple of blocks away from the conference centre," Miss Parker said.
Jarod frowned.
"Get a SWAT team down there now," He said "And get a hold of Doctor Green at the Centre, tell him to lock Mr Brown in his Dressing Room. He's not to leave until we give them the all clear."
"What about the rehearsal?"
"Tell them to cancel it, we can't take the chance of this woman taking hostages," Jarod said.
Lewis nodded and returned to the control point to give the instructions. Jarod and Miss Parker waited for Lewis's return before getting into the car. The car was leaving the area within seconds.
Rembrandt's Dressing Room
Rembrandt and Sydney entered the dressing room with Rembrandt in a foul mood. He had just finished rehearsing his song on stage when the call came to stop rehearsal and to get the performers back to their dressing rooms. He threw the jacket on the couch and sat down.
"You heard that," He said "That was perfect, I was on fire."
"I was impressed," Sydney said honestly.
"Really!"
"Michael Jackson couldn't have sung it better."
Rembrandt looked funnily at Sydney. Sydney smiled at the look, fully aware that he had given away his lack of knowledge of the music industry. His type of music was Puccini or Beethoven. He wouldn't have known the difference between Motown or Rhythm and Blues, which what Rembrandt had spent the last five minutes singing, even if somebody had explained the difference to him. Rembrandt noted the honest look Sydney gave him and smiled. Then it hit him what was happening.
"What's going on, man?" Rembrandt asked "That Fruit Cake can't be here."
"If she is, she won't get to you, you're too well guarded" Sydney said.
"I hope so," Rembrandt said
He did not feel reassured by Sydney's slightly concerned tone.
The House On Fifth Street
Lewis, Jarod and Miss Parker joined the SWAT Commander inside the building, a squat which should have been demolished years ago by the looks of it. Both Jarod and Miss Parker looked at the building with distaste and mused that nothing really changed in any world. Dust and squalor will always be around in any society however much you dress it up, and this particular San Francisco with its Draconian vagrancy laws had tried to dress it up.
"Which room?" Lewis asked.
"Second floor, fifth door along," The SWAT Commander, a big, swarthy looking Black Man said "We've got men positioned on the roof opposite."
"Can they see anything?" Jarod asked.
"She just seems to be sitting there," He said "She must know we're here."
"Can you get in touch with your guy now?" Miss Parker asked.
"Sure?"
The Commander picked his Walkie-Talkie up and spoke into it. Jarod took Miss Parker to one side.
"What is it?"
"This is how that Pretender, Alex, fooled you."
Jarod's mind went back to the time when he pretended to be an NSA agent tracking down the Chameleon. They thought they had him trapped in a building in a Washington suburb, only to find out that the moving object was a decoy designed for Jarod himself. It was there that he found the doctored pictures left there to incriminate him.
"I hope you're wrong," Jarod said.
The Commander returned and handed the Walkie-Talkie to Miss Parker.
"What's his name?"
"Rodriguez," The Commander said "He's a good man."
"Rodriguez, This is Special Agent Parker, can you still see her, over?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"What's she doing?"
"She's just sitting there with her back to the window."
"Can you take a shot?"
"I could have done so already," Rodriguez said "She's just sitting there."
"Take the shot."
The Commander and Lewis looked at her in shock. Jarod nodded his agreement at the plan.
"Commander," Jarod said "Get your men ready to go on the moment you hear the shot."
"This is crazy," The Commander said.
"Trust us," Miss Parker said "If I'm right, then we need to get your men to the Conference Centre quickly."
"A decoy?" Lewis asked.
Both Jarod and Miss Parker nodded. The Commander snatched the Walkie-Talkie.
"Rodriguez, take the shot on my mark," He said "Unit Five, get ready to go in the moment you hear the shot."
He turned to both Jarod and Miss Parker.
"You two had better be right about this."
Rembrandt's Dressing Room
A knock on the door brought Sydney to attention.
"Who is it?"
"Officer Ramsey," The Voice said "We're checking if you want any refreshments."
Sydney looked at Rembrandt.
"I could do with a stiff drink right now," Rembrandt said.
"No thanks," Sydney said with a smile.
He heard a thud and somebody slump to the ground.
"Ramsey?" Sydney said.
Rembrandt looked at Sydney, who gestured for him to go into the other room.
"Are you armed?"
"Please, Mr Brown," Sydney said "Lock the door behind you."
Rembrandt went into the toilet and as soon as he heard Rembrandt lock it, Sydney approached the door ready to open it. The door was suddenly kicked open and a black woman wearing a police officer's uniform stood there ready to pounce. Sydney picked up a chair and tried to attack her with it but the chair was smashed like Timber-wood. A split second later, he was on the ground slumping into unconsciousness after receiving a karate blow to the neck. He saw enough to see the woman kick in the door and almost pull the frightened Rembrandt out.
The House On Fifth Street
On hearing Rodriguez's shot, Unit Five burst in. Jarod, Miss Parker, Lewis and the Commander entered right behind them and saw that the figure was what Miss Parker and Jarod feared - a Tailor's dummy dressed up. They also saw that the room was a shrine to Rembrandt. One of his jackets hung centre place over the bed. Pictures of the man hung everywhere, even a signed guitar hung on the opposite wall with a naked, computer generated, picture of the woman and Rembrandt together.
"The Conference Centre!" Jarod shouted "Move!"
The team were out of the room quickly, leaving a skeleton team to mop up and keep watch in case she came back.
Rembrandt's Dressing Room - Ten Minutes Later
Jarod and Miss Parker burst in to see A Cop helping Sydney get to his feet and into a chair. He was being attended to by a Doctor and therefore missed Miss Parker's and Jarod's entrance initially.
"Sydney?" Jarod asked.
Sydney looked up and saw the concerned look on both Jarod and Miss Parker's face.
"I've got a bit of a headache, but I'm okay."
"Why did you try and take her on your own?" Miss Parker said.
Sydney grimaced with the pain and rubbed the back of his neck. The Doctor took out a pencil light and examined his eyes.
"I really think you should go to the hospital," He said.
"I'll be fine," He said.
The Doctor looked at him doubtfully, but, decided to take Sydney's word for it. He went outside the Dressing Room to tend to the she-hulk's other victims
"What happened," Lewis said.
"She took out both of the guards and gave me a karate chop which would have knocked Lennox Lewis cold,"
The boxer's namesake gave him a funny look which both Jarod and Miss Parker caught. Obviously the British World Heavyweight champion wasn't known in this world.
"We have to move quickly," Sydney continued "If I read this woman right, her next step would be to force Rembrandt into a marriage."
"We can have all the church's staked out within the hour," The SWAT Commander said.
"It won't be a Church in San Francisco," Jarod said.
The others looked at Jarod, all that is except Sydney who nodded his agreement.
"It will be somewhere personal to her, somewhere where she feels connected to Rembrandt."
"Okay, where?" Lewis said.
"The answer," Miss Parker said gesturing to the file that she had in her hand "Is in here."
The Dominion Hotel - Three Hours Later
Miss Parker stretched herself and rubbed the back of her neck. She had been studying everything that both the Police and The Local FBI office could ferry over to them. It seemed that their luck was really in on this occasion, because it seemed that Jarod Malone and Catherine Parker were partners on a high level FBI task force known as the 'Black Files' which was run by a certain Fox Mulder. It appeared that Catherine had joined the FBI not long after tracking down her twin sister's killer and was fast tracked into The Black Files. Mulder it seemed personally vouched for both Jarod and Miss Parker and asked that the FBI office give them all the cooperation that they needed. What they didn't know was that most of the information had been fed to them by Jarod and Catherine Parker who were aware of the fact that they were sliders. How did they know? Nobody knew, or if they did, nobody told. Nevertheless, the suspicion that was there before had dissipated to be replaced by cooperation and trust.
"It seems that some of Jarod's luck has rubbed off onto you and me by us just being with him," Sydney had observed.
"Next you're going to tell me that should tell me something," Miss Parker countered.
"It certainly tells me something," Sydney said "That we should be telling the Centre to get lost and teaming up with Jarod."
Under normal circumstances, Miss Parker might have said hell would freeze over before that happened. However, after all that had happened over the last few hours, she was beginning to wonder if Sydney wasn't right. Jarod wasn't lucky for Rembrandt, but, he did seem to be lucky for her and Sydney. Maybe she should team up with Jarod when they get home out of spite.
"Lyle would love that," Miss Parker commented
Both she and Sydney chuckled at the thought of her brother being forced to chase the combined might of Jarod, Miss Parker, Sydney and probably Broots as well. She looked at Jarod who was sitting on the couch with another file in his hand and wondered how he remained so calm in a crisis situation.
"Anything?" She asked.
"Nothing obvious," Jarod said "For a psychopath, this woman has been very clever."
"That could be her Achilles Heel," Sydney said putting his file down.
"You've found something?" Jarod asked.
"Possibly," Sydney said "It seems that her Brother is a minister in a town called Preston Valley. It's about three hours drive from here."
Jarod looked at him suspiciously.
"I spent a week there staying with a friend after attending Professor Arturo's lecture,"
Sydney explained "In fact."
He got up and went to the phone.
"Sydney, this is a different dimension," Jarod warned "Your friend could either be an enemy or dead."
"Trust me, we would never be enemies in any dimension," Sydney smiled "Yes, Can i have a number please. Preston Valley, California, John Douglas."
After writing down the number, he replaced the handset and tapped out the number. He waited a few seconds for somebody to answer. A woman answered.
"Maggie, it's Sydney Green, is John around?" Sydney slightly took the phone away when he got a torrent of abuse from the woman "I promise you I wont keep him long, I need him to do me a favour."
Sydney put his hand over the phone when it became clear that the woman had finally agreed to get the man in question.
"It seems that in this world, Maggie and my double didn't get on very well," Sydney said.
"Wasn't John Douglas that Journalist the Triumvirate had murdered last year?" Miss Parker asked.
Sydney nodded.
"You were taking one hell of a chance," Jarod said.
"Not really," Sydney said "He only found out about the Centre by pure chance. I tried to use our friendship to talk him out of publishing. Unfortunately, he had Pulitzer Prizes on his mind."
"So they eliminated him," Jarod said glancing at Parker.
"Totally Lyle's doing," Miss Parker said "I was chasing you in Cincinnati at the time."
Jarod nodded, remembering the incident. Sydney released his hand from the speaker.
"John," Sydney said "It is me. No, I'm not dead fortunately. I missed the fatal flight. Listen, I need you to do me a favour. I want you to check out a minister by the name of Frank Harvey. I want to know if he's received a visit by two people, a woman and a man in the last ten minutes. Minutes, yes. John, it's Rembrandt Brown, the kidnapped singer who's been all over the news."
Sydney listened for a minute.
"Be careful, okay," He said "The woman is dangerous. If she is there get in touch with the local police before you get back to me. Do not try and stop her on your own. You can get me at The Dominion Hotel in San Francisco. Have you got the number?"
Sydney put the phone down
"He's going to check the church and get back on his mobile if he sees them."
Miss Parker took out her mobile and opened it
"What are you doing?" Jarod asked.
"Arranging for a Helicopter," She said "We're going to need to move quickly."
Jarod nodded his agreement.
The Top Of The Dominion Hotel - Fifteen Minutes Later
The Helicopter landed carefully on the top of the hotel's flat roof. Sydney, Jarod and Miss Parker came out onto the roof to find Lewis waiting for them, she was in the pilot's seat.
"You're unbelievable," Jarod said as he climbed into the front passenger seat.
"In the Police Force you're trained to do everything," Lewis said.
Sydney and Miss Parker, climbing into the back seats, allowed themselves a smirk. They could see that Jarod was becoming attached to the livewire Lewis.
"There's a squad on its way to Preston Valley now," Lewis said "A team will be flown in from Sacramento and will be there within the hour."
"Then let's get going," Jarod said.
The Helicopter lifted up into the air.
Preston Valley - An Hour and a Half Later
The Helicopter came down in a playing field not far from the church. Whilst Lewis safely switched off the helicopter's engine, Jarod, Miss Parker and Sydney met with a Sacramento based Federal Agent and the local Sheriff.
"Agent Malone, Agent Parker," The FBI man said "I thought you two were in Miami."
"We were transferred here once the threat to Rembrandt Brown reemerged," Jarod said "This is Doctor Green, by the way."
The Federal Agent shook Sydney's hand.
"What's the situation?" Miss Parker asked.
"We have a hostage situation," The Sheriff said "I don't know why you asked Mr Douglas to check."
"Don't say he tried to be 'Superman'?" Sydney said.
The Sheriff nodded.
"Straight after he called me, he went in to try and stop the marriage," The Sheriff said "There was gun-fire and we tried to go in to get him out."
Jarod shook his head in disbelief. Even in his, Miss Parker and Sydney's world, this 'Gung-ho' attitude was predominant. He remembered trying to analyse the attack on David Koresh's encampment at Waco and remembered the almost suicidal frontal assault that lead to the destruction of that camp and the massacre that ensued. He remembered putting forward a recommendation based on the SAS raid on the Iranian Embassy in London in 1980 as a better way of approaching the problem. His argument was that it worked, only the hostage takers and a couple of other people including WPC Yvonne Fletcher died on that occasion. No innocents were killed during the raid itself. Yet, his proposal was dismissed out of hand as being impractical. That started his disillusionment with the Centre and his suspicions about its real aims.
"How many people were injured?"
"Two," The Federal Agent said "One of them's still in there with Mr Douglas, The Minister, Mr Brown and the hostage taker."
"Has she made any demands?"
"That we allow her and Mr Brown to go on their honeymoon," The Federal Agent said "Jarod, Catherine, this woman is one brick short of a full load. She could do anything."
"We still play it by the book," Jarod said "Have you tried talking to her?"
The Sheriff nodded.
"We talked to Douglas," He said "It was him that gave us her demands."
"What about Shots?" Miss Parker asked.
"Deployed," The Federal Agent answered "We have every window covered, every exit is also covered. She's not going anywhere."
"Could this be another trick?" Lewis asked.
"Trick?"
"She pulled the dummy trick to gain access to the Conference Centre and take Rembrandt," Jarod said.
The Federal Agent scowled. That may have been the oldest trick in the book, but he marvelled about how many times it succeeded.
"I don't think that's happened this time," Sydney said "She thinks that Rembrandt and her are soul mates and she will not go anywhere without her soul mate."
Jarod nodded his agreement at that suggestion.
"Okay, Genius," Miss Parker said "How do we play this?"
"By ear," Jarod said "Sheriff, have you got a plan of the church?"
"The town hall should have one, it's a relatively modern church so there must be one on record."
"Get it here," Jarod said
The Sheriff left in a hurry in the direction of the Town Hall.
"Sydney, I'm going to need you to act as negotiator, can you do it?"
"Of course," Sydney said "I suppose you want me to play for time."
"As much time as you can get us," Jarod said.
"Us?" Miss Parker said.
"Of course, partner," Jarod said "You and I get to play Batman and Robin."
He smirked at Lewis as he added.
"Maybe we need a Batgirl as well."
The Church - Fifteen Minutes Later
Once he knew Jarod, Miss Parker and Lewis were in position. Sydney picked up the loud haler. He looked at the Federal Agent beside him who whispered.
"Remember, we need to keep her talking for long enough to get the team into the church."
"I know the plan, Agent Bailey," Sydney said.
He put the Loud-Haler to his lips.
"Miss Andrea Harvey, can you hear me?"
Nothing. Sydney frowned and tried again.
"Miss Harvey, Andrea," He put a softer inflection in his voice "My name is Doctor Sydney Green, I'm an adviser with the Federal Bureau of Investigations. You are aware that this building is completely surrounded. Can we talk to each other, maybe find a way to end this without bloodshed?"
Again nothing. This was not good.
"Andrea, may I call you Andrea?" Sydney listened but heard nothing, he continued anyway "Andrea, I'm going to be straight with you, the situation is not good. I can only see two ways out. Firstly, you release the hostages and then come out with your hands up and we arrest you; Secondly, we come in there and we try and take you by force. I don't even want to think of the consequences of the latter option."
"There is a third," The voice that came out of the church was a male voice.
"John?"
"Yes Syd, it's me," The Voice, John Douglas said "She won't speak to you."
"Why?"
"Because she thinks you're trying to steal Rembrandt away from her, she's besotted with him and she would rather die than to be without him."
Sydney frowned and cursed at the same time. The Federal Agent motioned for him to keep going.
"Tell her that it would be better with we negotiated with her personally," Sydney said "That way she can tell us how we can end this."
"She already has, Syd," Douglas said "She wants to leave with Rembrandt Brown in an unmarked car."
"I can't allow that, John," Sydney said "We cannot allow her to take a hostage out of that church."
"Then there is nothing to talk about," Douglas said "She wants to go with her new husband on a honeymoon and nothing else will do."
"Has the marriage taken place?"
"Yes!"
"Was Rembrandt coerced to accede to the marriage?"
"It's still a legal union," Douglas said "There were two witness, myself and a Junior Pastor."
The Back of the Church
Jarod, Lewis and Miss Parker reached the back door to the Vestry and forced the door open as quietly as they possibly could. Two Shots followed placing themselves to each side of the door.
"If you have a clear shot, take it," Jarod ordered.
The taller of the two shots, a man in his early thirties, nodded his understanding. Jarod, Miss Parker and Lewis entered with weapons drawn and moved swiftly down the corridor towards a connection door to the church itself. They positioned themselves ready to enter. Jarod prised the door open and saw that it lead to the pulpit. He could also see the black woman hovering around the front of the pulpit with a gun in her hand with a black minister and Rembrandt handcuffed to a railing in front of the pulpit.
"Damn," Jarod whispered "They're tethered."
"Then we may have to take her out," Miss Parker said.
"I'd rather avoid that," Jarod said "We're dealing with a woman who needs psychiatric help."
"In this society?" Lewis said.
"Meaning?" Miss Parker pressed.
"We don't have the resources," Lewis said "It'll a couple of therapy sessions and out on the street."
Jarod scowled. He remembered reading that was what they did to this woman before.
"I still don't want her killed," Jarod said.
"Unless there's no choice," Miss Parker added.
Jarod sighed and nodded his agreement. He could hear Sydney's voice again and strained to listen.
Outside The Church
Sydney had spent the last minute rethinking his strategy. He knew that he may have to concede some ground if he was going to prevent a bloodbath.
"Andrea," Sydney said "What if we let you leave here alone?"
The Federal Agent glared at him. Sydney put down the Loud-Haler.
"I know what I'm doing," He hissed.
"I hope so," The Federal Agent said.
"Andrea," Sydney continued "This is my offer. You leave the hostages behind and you can leave. Nobody will try to stop you. You can go anywhere you want."
"Anywhere?" Douglas asked.
"Precisely, all that we ask is she lets Rembrandt and the other hostages go. John, try and convince her that's the best I can offer her."
"Do you have the power to do that?"
Sydney looked at the Federal Agent who continued his glare but nodded his agreement.
"Yes I do. Tell her this is a once only offer. It will not be offered again."
"I'll try."
The Door Leading to the Pulpit
Jarod could see the man Sydney knew as Douglas approach the woman and draw her to one side. He could see that they were having a heated argument, presumably over what Sydney had just offered, the gist of it he had just caught. He knew Sydney well enough to know that he would rather that this ended peacefully, without bloodshed. So did Jarod. However, on devising this strategy, they knew it probably wouldn't work. They were hoping that at the very least it would buy them time to force the woman's surrender another way.
"I don't think she's buying the plan," Miss Parker said.
Watching the argument getting even more heated, Jarod was becoming convinced that Miss Parker was right.
"Get ready to move," Jarod said.
Jarod and Miss Parker saw the woman point the weapon at Douglas's head ready to pull the trigger.
"Andrea, no," Rembrandt shouted "Mr Douglas, tell them I'll go with her."
"Now!" Jarod said.
He kicked the door in and charged in with Miss Parker and Lewis behind him.
"Armed Federal Agent," Jarod said
He kept his body in between Miss Parker and Lewis who managed to scamper to the safety of behind the pulpit. As predicted the woman used the nearest person, Douglas, as a shield. Also as predicted she moved Douglas towards her real goal, Rembrandt. That was why Miss Parker and Lewis was behind the pulpit.
"It's over, Andrea, you've nowhere to go," Jarod said "Give it up."
"All I want to is to go on honeymoon with my husband," the woman wailed "Is that so much to ask."
"I'm happy to go with her, man," Rembrandt said "Nobody need get hurt."
Jarod could see that she was almost to the pulpit. He mentally counted down to the time when Sydney was timed to use the Loud-Haler again. On one he heard Sydney call.
"Miss Harvey, it's Doctor Green, have you made your decision?"
Jarod levelled his weapon at the now very frightened woman.
"This can end right now without any bloodshed," Jarod said "All you have to do is to leave everybody with me and walk out the door."
"Andrea," Her Brother got to his feet "Listen to the man, you've been given a chance to leave, you can be free to go wherever you want."
"I'm not leaving without Rembrandt."
"That's not the way this will end, Andrea," Jarod said "If you try to take Rembrandt, either I will take you out or they will outside. Leave him here and you will leave here a free woman."
He could now see Miss Parker directly behind the woman, waiting for his signal. Her face was imploring him to give the signal.
"If you want a hostage, take me," Her Brother said "They will agree to that, won't they Agent?"
"I'll make them agree," Jarod said "As Doctor Green said, this is your one and only chance."
The woman suddenly left Douglas and grabbed Rembrandt. She undid his handcuffs and got him to his feet. As she did, Jarod signalled to Miss Parker and saw her and Lewis move behind the woman.
"I'm taking Rembrandt with me," She said "Tell them to back off."
"Sorry," Miss Parker said "Can't let you do that."
She pulled the woman off Rembrandt and landed a haymaker to the woman's jaw. As the woman tried to recover, Miss Parker and Lewis had her covered with their weapons. Jarod grabbed Rembrandt and pulled him out of harms way. The woman levelled her gun at Miss Parker.
"Put the weapon down," Miss Parker said slowly, tightening the grip on the trigger as she did so.
The woman looked at Parker, Lewis, Jarod, her Brother and finally Rembrandt.
"I love you, Rembrandt."
She turned the gun on herself and opened fire.
"No!" Her Brother shouted.
At that moment the door burst open and the Federal Agent, Sydney and several police officers came in. They saw The Minister reaching his sister and hug her blood-stained body.
Rembrandt got up and joined the Minister just as Miss Parker managed to get the weapon out of the dead woman's hand.
"I'm sorry, Man," Rembrandt said.
"All she wanted to do was to be loved," The Minister said.
He rocked his dead sister. Rembrandt allowed Jarod to pull him away from the scene. They were followed by Sydney and Miss Parker. The Federal clean up squad moved in to clean up the mess.
The Dominion Hotel - Twenty Four Hours Later
Rembrandt came out from the bathroom and looked at his manager and the contest organiser who had come to find out exactly how he was feeling. He looked at Jarod and Sydney sitting on a couch and Miss Parker standing in the corner of the room. He could certainly feel the sympathy emanating from Sydney and Jarod. Miss Parker, he wasn't sure of. There was something about her that he didn't like. Maybe given time, he could trust her, but, at the moment he needed something from her to believe in.
"How do you feel, Remmy?" His Manager asked.
"I've been better," Rembrandt said "However, if you're concerned that I'm going to pull out, you know that I can't. I'm representing the United States. I can't let the country down."
"You sure, Rembrandt?" Jarod said "You've had quite an experience. The country will understand if you took a back seat."
Rembrandt shook his head.
"I need to do this," He said "I need to show the world that Rembrandt Brown doesn't run away when the going gets tough."
He looked at the contest organiser.
"When's the next rehearsal?"
"Nine O'clock tomorrow morning," The Contest Organiser said "We can't do it tonight because of the second semi final."
"I'll be there."
His Manager patted Rembrandt on the back.
"Tim, if you don't mind," Rembrandt said to his manager "I need to speak to my friends."
The manager looked at Jarod, Sydney and Miss Parker and ushered the Contest Organiser out of the room.
"When do we slide?"
Jarod took out the timer and looked at the time counting down.
"Three days and change," Jarod said "We'll be leaving after the contest on Saturday."
"And it will take me home?"
"To be honest," Jarod said "I don't know, we had to slide prematurely without setting perimeters."
"Which means you'll be lost?"
"I'm afraid so, Rembrandt," Sydney said "We have to go on, you don't have to. Whatever happens on Saturday, you will have it made. You'll have a career and a future."
"And constant pressure," Miss Parker said "God knows how many Andrea Harvey's are out there. This Earth has a mental care system that is an open invitation for trouble."
Rembrandt looked at Miss Parker again and saw a glimmer of light that he could hang onto. At that moment, she was showing that she cared. However, the slight look of surprise on Jarod's face suggested that it was unusual.
"It's up to you," Jarod said.
Rembrandt smiled.
"I've already made my mind up," He said "I must go with you. If we don't return to Earth Prime. I need to find Wade and Maggie and I need to know what really happened to Q Ball and Logan St Clair."
He held out a hand. Jarod, understanding the meaning, put his hand on Rembrandt's hand as did Sydney. To Jarod and Rembrandt's surprise, Miss Parker came from her corner and placed her hand on the pile of hands.
"Thank you," Rembrandt said "All of you."
Jarod and Sydney smiled. Rembrandt looked at Miss Parker and saw the crack of a smile on her dour face as well.
San Francisco Conference Centre - Two and a Half Days Later
Rembrandt looked at the audience from behind the curtains and shook his hands in nervous anticipation. Jarod and Miss Parker, acting as his bodyguards, came along side and watched as the Swedish entry came to an end.
"Where's the Doc?" Rembrandt asked.
"Out front," Jarod said "Officer Lewis managed to find him a seat in the VIP section."
Rembrandt looked knowingly at Jarod.
"It doesn't pay to get involved with the locals," Rembrandt said "I've learned that one to my cost on many slides."
"Are you and Miss Parker conspiring with each other?" Jarod said.
"Lab Rat, we don't need to conspire with each other to know that piece of advice is right," Miss Parker said.
"It's a harmless piece of flirtation," Jarod said "That's all."
"It may be harmless in this world," Rembrandt said "But she could be a psychopathic killer in the next."
"Then what would you do?" Miss Parker finished.
"Okay, you've made your point," Jarod said.
Rembrandt's manager came from their left.
"Remmy, you ready," He said "You're up next song."
"Ready as I'll ever be," Rembrandt said.
Jarod and Rembrandt touched fists.
"Rembrandt!" Miss Parker said.
"Yes, Sweetheart," He said.
"Break a leg," She said.
Rembrandt smiled and went with his Manager towards the stage.
"Oh, Rembrandt!"
Rembrandt stopped and faced Miss Parker.
"If you call me 'Sweetheart' again, I will break your leg."
Rembrandt looked at her and laughed. He then continued along the corridor towards the entrance to the stage. Lewis joined Miss Parker and Jarod.
"You're off after this," Lewis asked.
"Afraid so," Jarod said with a hint of regret "We probably won't be this way again."
Lewis smiled sadly.
"We will have a drink before you leave," Lewis said "I would like to say that I had a drink with the 'Batman and Robin' of the FBI."
"Both of us?" Miss Parker said.
"Of course," Lewis said "You didn't think I was attracted to 'Batman' alone did you."
Jarod turned his face aware of Parker's discomfort. He was also trying to stop himself from laughing, especially as he knew that would piss Miss Parker off even more.
"You have a deal," Miss Parker said "We have to leave at about Half Past Ten, so how about that drink during the voting. Say Nine."
"That'll be great," Lewis said "I'll meet you both in the Centre Bar."
Lewis almost skipped away. Jarod saw the victorious look on Parker's face and couldn't contain his laughter any more.
"Sometimes, Parker, you surprise me," He said.
Miss Parker glared at him, turning Jarod's laughter into an uncontainable fit. He managed to get it under control when he saw Rembrandt come onto stage with his backing singers to be miked up. Suddenly, the travelogue that accompanied the songs had finished and Rembrandt and the American conductor was being announced. To the screaming adoration of 'Crying Man' fans, the orchestra started up and Rembrandt began his song.
The Centre Bar - Nine O'clock pm
Jarod and Miss Parker entered and saw Lewis at the bar. They also saw a television close up of Rembrandt looking anxious in the Green Room and Sydney not far behind him, chatting in his ear. The Presenter, a famous actress from a popular action series, began the process of going to each voting country and getting the final votes from their telephone votes. As the process began Parker and Jarod joined Lewis.
"Rob," Lewis said to the Bartender "A couple of beers here."
The Bartender smiled and poured to very frothy beers and placed them in front of Jarod and Miss Parker. Lewis paid the man.
"Rembrandt did well," Lewis said.
"Not really my cup of tea," Jarod admitted.
"But he sang well," Miss Parker finished.
Jarod nodded his agreement. He noted that the first jury had just finished. Rembrandt had got eight points, with the top marks going to the United Kingdom entry which Jarod privately quite liked and had voted for, as he knew did Parker. He took a sip of his beer and continued watching the voting.
"So where next?" Lewis asked.
"Where the job takes us," Parker said "It could be anywhere."
Jarod glanced ironically at Parker, aware that she knew what she had just said. She had finally accepted that she may not be going home too soon.
"So there will be no chance of the three of us getting together anytime soon?" Lewis asked.
"I doubt it," Jarod said.
"That's a pity," Lewis said "I liked being 'Batgirl' to your 'Batman and Robin'."
"Well," Jarod smiled "Never say never."
On the television, Rembrandt had got his first top marks which sent the bar and the audience mad with delight.
The Green Room - An Hour Later
Rembrandt was now a nervous wreck. It was neck and neck between three songs: His song, the Australian song and the song from the United Kingdom with two juries to go. He could sense that Jarod and Parker had now joined Sydney behind him and was feeling a set of fingers massage his shoulders. He looked up and saw that it was Miss Parker.
"Thanks Sweet...." Rembrandt smiled "Parker."
The United States jury had just began its voting and had given it's first point to Israel.
"Who did you two vote for?"
"We would have voted for you if we'd been allowed to," Jarod said diplomatically.
"As you couldn't, who did you vote for?"
"Does it matter, Rembrandt?" Sydney asked.
"It might if I'm going to be sliding with you guys," Rembrandt said.
The second point had gone to Spain, and the third point had gone to the Brazilian entry, an up-tempo samba number.
"I'm not going to lie," Jarod said "I voted for the United Kingdom."
Rembrandt looked at Parker who shrugged apologetically.
"Doc?"
"I didn't vote," He said.
"Come on," Rembrandt said "I saw you use your cell phone."
Sydney smiled and saw that the next points went to the German entry.
"It's only a competition, Rembrandt," Sydney said.
Rembrandt smiled nervously.
"Yeah man, it's only a competition," He said.
The next points went to one of the main competition, Australia, which only put them a point ahead of the United States. Rembrandt placed a hand on Jarod's and started to chant a prayer. The next points went to a strange one, the punk rock entry from Canada.
"You are kidding me!" Rembrandt said "Were they all drunk!"
"Probably," Jarod said.
"It is the in-thing," Sydney said "It didn't entirely surprise me."
Rembrandt looked at Sydney suspiciously.
"You didn't vote for that, didn't you?"
"How long do we slide, Jarod?" Sydney asked.
"Twenty minutes," Jarod said.
Rembrandt and now Miss Parker was looking at Sydney in shock.
"Tell me, you didn't vote for Canada," Rembrandt said.
"The ten points have gone to South Africa," Sydney said evasively
"Sydney?" Jarod pressed "You did didn't you?"
Sydney held his finger to his lips and pointed to the screen. The American vote announcer made a slight, theatrical pause before announcing:
"The Twelve points go to the United Kingdom."
Rembrandt's heart sunk, that put the UK ten points clear with only one vote left. The only way that Rembrandt could win was if he got twelve from the Spanish jury, the last jury whilst the UK only got one or preferably, nothing. Rembrandt got to his feet.
"Come on, Guys," He said "It's time that we left."
"You sure," Sydney said "You still can win."
Rembrandt shook his head.
"As you said, Doc, it's only a competition."
Jarod put his arm around Rembrandt. The four of them headed out of the Green Room. Rembrandt's manager approached them.
"Where are you going, Rembrandt?"
"We've lost, Tim," He said "It's over."
Jarod and Miss Parker stopped the manager from preventing Rembrandt from leaving and then followed Sydney and Rembrandt out the Centre's back door. As they walked towards the park, they stopped in front of a television store and saw that one of the televisions was on and was showing the contest. They could see that the UK had only got two points, but, it was enough for victory because Australia had got seven. The picture switched to see the UK delegation going mad.
"Bad luck, Rembrandt," Jarod said.
"Yeah!" Rembrandt said "Easy come, easy go."
They were about to leave when Parker stopped them.
"What is it girl?" Rembrandt asked.
"I want to know who got the twelve, if it's all right with you."
Jarod looked at the timer and nodded. The picture showed ten points going to the Canadian entry and finally the twelve points going to Rembrandt. He had lost by one point. Rembrandt shrugged.
"Come on, let's get out of here," He said.
THE END