Disclaimer: Please see Chapter 1 for all the usual admissions of what I don't own.
Author's note: This was a tough chapter for me to write. I hope all those who do me the honor of reading it really like it. Thanks!!
The things I do…
Chapter IX
By Callisto
"Sydney," he said with abrupt suspicion. The specter of the Centre still hung heavily on his mind as he answered his cell phone.
"I always took for granted that sweepers were regular, salaried employees, now I wonder why I never looked at their station more deeply," a deep voice stated with equal abruptness.
"Jarod! Well this is a surprise. It's great hearing from you! I suppose asking you how you got this number would be a waste of time. How are you? Is everything well?" Sydney inquired, his delight in hearing from his pseudo-son overriding all else.
"I'm fine, Sydney. I trust you're doing well also. However, I need some information from you. The Jongewaard protocol, I first learned of it from Alex—don't ask, it's a long story. But there is something missing from my understanding that I'm hoping you can clarify for me."
"First Jarod, I must know how Miss Parker is doing? Is she okay? Have you seen her lately?" he asked without bothering to hide his worry and concern.
"She's fine Sydney. I saw her about 5 minutes ago. It seems time away from the Centre is doing her a world of good. Now, Sydney about the protocol," Jarod inquired patiently.
A deep sigh was Sydney's answer for several seconds, before replying, "Yes, I remember the protocol. Unfortunately, Jacob and I contributed to it while it was in its infancy and before we understood they were actually planning on implementing it. My opinion was and always has been that the Jongewaard protocol was one of the most brutal and Machiavellian schemes ever thought up by the Center. It was repugnant because part of its success depended on the trainee's parents having died tragically. Recently orphaned children who had been placed in foster care were the first targets though I strongly suspected the Centre occasionally assisted in the deaths of the parents of at least a few of the protocol's recipients.
"Is it true that the protocol was used to train sweepers?"
"Yes, for the most part. I was already deeply committed to the Pretender project by the time I was asked to evaluate the protocol's potential. At first I thought it was just a mental exercise and assisted somewhat in its design. That all changed when I realized the Centre was serious about going forward with its use and ultimate sale. I voiced my opinions about the eventual results that would come about from its utilization but as usual my protests fell on deaf ears. Fortunately, the project was so expensive and time intensive that only a limited number could be trained using its methods. Why the sudden interest?"
"It appears as though a new twist has been added to it. The Centre is now using the protocol to train pretenders and turn them into a particular brand of assassin, one that would be loyal to the Centre and not run away. My question is why? Why would anyone trained this way not turn on his masters? What if the pretender or trainee found out about the protocol? There must be something more to it than I've been told. What is the control?"
"Excellent as usual, Jarod," Sydney praised admiringly to his protégé. Engaging in conversation on any level with Jarod was always challenging and mentally stimulating for Sydney. "Yes there is a control built into the original protocol which would insure the trainee would stay the course and assist in keeping his focus concentrated. The control would be used to distract the trainee until he or she was fully indoctrinated. It was included after extensive research was conducted on the protocol and it was discovered that an important factor was missing. The Control portion was designed to add that intangible need we all have. In most cases, the Pretender project being a notable exception, whenever a protocol called for managing most facets of a person's life, the control factor is found to be absolutely necessary in preventing the trainee from falling apart or violently retaliating if it was found out what had been done to them. Thinking back, you were given a slight taste of the control portion of the protocol. Unfortunately, it worked too well for the comfort of the powers that be."
"Really? I don't remember that. Sydney, tell me exactly what are the controls for the protocol?"
"What's going on, Jarod? The Centre has been hard-pressed for some time to come up with the funds necessary to continue the project. From what I understood, the Triumvirate insisted on Raines using their people instead of sinking more money into the protocol."
"The Centre has developed a new money making scheme and they won't stop unless somehow I can stop them. New pretenders have been discovered. Innocent people are being murdered to complete the protocol and their children are being manipulated for the Centre's needs. Whole families are being plundered like human strip mining," Jarod replied angrily.
"My God, this is horrible. I suppose being away from there has dulled my senses. What is it that you need to know about the controls?"
"Everything, Sydney. Tell me everything you know," Jarod said grimly.
The Centre
Blue Cove, DE
Lyle limped stiffly into Raines' office curious as to the reason for the abrupt summons. Even with Willie subtly slowing his pace in ushering him to the Chairman, the pain from his broken ribs made the effort keeping a neutral expression on his face extremely difficult. The designer drugs he had been given in the Renewal Wing were speeding up his recovery at an unprecedented rate and at the expense of him feeling a higher percentage of the pain despite the high milligram pain relievers.
"Mr. Raines, to what do I owe the honor of this summons?" Lyle asked with carefully masked sarcasm.
"News reports are stating the Orphan-maker serial killer has kidnapped his first orphan. The child from the Pennsylvania site is missing and it's assumed the killer took the child with him. Something which is unfortunately not true, thus putting Project Regeneration in jeopardy. An internal report of a disturbing nature has been forwarded to my attention. An unauthorized person was seen leaving the premises of the last target site. It appears as though someone has discovered this resuscitated project and my guess would place the blame on Jarod. However, there doesn't seem to be any evidence supporting the fact that he took the child but to assume otherwise would be foolhardy. We both know from experience that he will take any opportunity to interfere with our plans or worse attempt to expose our true objective."
Lyle sat back in his seat, aching and stunned. He had not revealed this particular project to either Jarod or Alex nor had he revealed to Raines that Jarod had accompanied Alex to the Centre or was involved in the assault on his person. Lyle racked his brain, trying to figure out how those two had figured things out. Finally looking up, Lyle had a feeling he knew where Raines was going with his opening statement.
"You're going to shut down the project aren't you?," Lyle accused. The stoic look in Raines' face confirmed Lyle's fear. He was on the verge of loosing everything he had worked so hard for, had slaved for and schemed for in order to regain entrance into the Triumvirate. "You can't do that, not now, not when we're so close to accomplishing our goal. Right now we only have two and one of those is breaking down. We need the last one as a back up. Something we've never had, once that's done then you can put Erebus out to pasture or in the ground for all I care."
"I've allowed your use of Erebus on this project but he's showing signs of undue stress. His Control is barely having any positive effect on his emotional stability and is beginning to exhibit signs of corruption as well. Erebus is necessary for our continued autonomy from the Triumvirate, without him our coffers will run dry within a few months," Raines intoned angrily.
Forcibly calming himself, Lyle smoothed his expression back into an impassive mask. "This is the last one I need from him. After that the project will move into stage 3 without any interruptions. Jarod doesn't know anything about this project or what it entails. You're only guessing that it was him and if it was why he showed up at the last target site. One thing I'm sure of is that he has no way of knowing the details about the upcoming hit. Some extra precautions can be put in place just in case anyone shows up again," Lyle reasoned as he stared into his new father's soulless eyes. He could tell Raines was still interested in the possibilities that the project offered, so he expertly slid in the coups de grace. "The success of this project will double long-term revenues and while we are busy applying the finishing touches, we can also analyze the security breaches and shore up all the weaknesses. Let's stay on track with this and I can practically guarantee results that will make you one of the most autonomous chairmen the Centre has ever seen."
"What do you get out of this, Mr. Lyle?" Raines inquired, inhaling a deep draught of air as he narrowed his abyss-depth eyes.
"My life the way I want it Mr. Raines and perhaps a tad bit of autonomy for myself. This can be a win-win situation for both of us as long as you don't loose your nerves just as we're about to accomplish something that will finally eclipse the success of the Pretender project."
"I'm an impatient man, don't keep me waiting, Mr. Lyle. This will be the last foray Erebus will be involved in with this project. We still have plans in the works for him and the psychological toll of your project is twisting him further from our current control. Make the most of this excursion. As to security, the Control protocol will be fully implemented along with 2 sweepers, one of which will be Willie. If Jarod shows up, then the objective is to capture him and your project becomes secondary. Are we clear?" The Chairman inquired as forcefully as his breathlessness would allow.
He had failed to explain that the Control portion of the protocol had already been fully deployed. Erebus' Control was the reason he knew of Jarod's appearance along with that of another person who could only be Miss Parker. Lyle was also unaware of Erebus' secondary goal of obtaining raw field data of the bio-weapon he was developing. The tissue analysis conducted by Erebus' Control was encouraging and another test wouldn't hurt this shadow project in the least. Raines knew Erebus needed a break and considered alternatives but ruled that out immediately. The last thing he wanted was Lyle to figure out there was more going on here than meets the eye. Now the possibility of reacquiring both Jarod and Miss Parker was making him salivate with anticipation. Capturing the two of them and continuing with the project would put him in the driver's seat and perhaps in one of the seats within the Triumvirate as well.
"Crystal," Lyle answered. How the old fossil found out about the two intruders at the target house unnerved him. As the project manager, any forwarding of information would have to go through him first. Erebus, that arrogant bastard, wouldn't have bothered. The only answer could be Control. Lyle would like to move against this particular Control but unfortunately that was the only person keeping Erebus calm and collected. Control was someone he would have loved bringing violently into line but Erebus wouldn't stand for anyone to mess with his Control and made it clear he would become darn right unreasonable with anyone who dared—a thought that brought a distasteful shiver of dread down Lyle's spine. It was smart to be cautiously apprehensive around Erebus, that's how one stayed intact. Lyle didn't like the fact that Raines' personal sweeper would be there to report back any news not sanitized by himself and with a Control who had loose lips, he knew which battles he would win and this wasn't going to be one them.
The Renaissance Hotel
Pittsburgh, PA
Jarod finally turned off his cell phone, satisfied that his plans were well on the way to fruition. Karen, his Seattle connection sounded happy to hear from him and was receptive to his ideas. Elena Trask, it turned out, decided to become the philanthropist her husband pretended to be and actively supported a number of charities, non-profit support groups and an underground railroad for those needing to disappear in order to escape abusive and life-threatening relationships. It was the underground railroad with a change in identity that he had in mind for a certain young boy. The final piece that needed to be put into place was the identity and location of the last child the Centre had targeted. Alex was being mysterious as to the lead he was following up on and without any further reference in the Centre's databases about the project and with the entire pursuit team away from the Centre, Jarod decided he would have to rely on Alex for now. He was determined not to ask Angelo to do any snooping around, Parker's escape already had the paranoid and deadly duo of Raines and Lyle on edge. Anymore mysterious insider leaks might just lead them directly to Angelo. Jarod had modified the specially designed virus he had formulated for the Centre. The damage it had already wrecked wouldn't become noticeable for some time. His recent modifications would broaden the damage considerably, speeding up the timetable of detection. If they were unsuccessful in saving the last family on the list then the modifications would be their final hope to stymie the Centre and make the Triumvirate think twice before continuing with the protocol.
He entered the kitchen intent on finding something quick to eat when he found Parker with her back to him, placing a carafe of milk in the refrigerator. Seizing the opportunity, he slid up silently behind her and as she was turning, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. She was startled at first and immediately grinned playfully when she realized whose arms were wrapped around her. Jarod, sensing her complacency, kissed her with deliberate passion further surprising her. The embrace lasted some time as Parker responded with some heat of her own, returning her lover's kiss and allowing her suppressed desire to speak for itself.
What had started out as a kiss quickly developed into lovemaking as the two explored each other with their hands and softly moaned in their shared enjoyment. Still fully dressed and thoroughly engrossed in themselves, they momentarily forgot the duty that had been palmed off on them by Parker's siblings. It was the soft sniffling and tearful moan that recalled their attention. Realizing they were no longer alone, the thoroughly aroused adults separated somewhat sheepishly, exchanging an amorously heated glance as they each exercised some self control. The boy Jarod and Alex had rescued from the gruesome murder scene over a week ago was standing in the doorway. In the week that had passed the child remained mute. The look of agonized horror reflected in his eyes. He refused to eat and would only accept the occasional glass of milk. Now he was staring at them as he cried softly. Jarod walked over to the boy and dropping smoothly to one knee he looked the child in the eye.
"Hey what's wrong? It's okay, we won't hurt you."
The child lowered his head and cried a bit harder, confusing Jarod completely. Finally, when he was able to regain control of his tears, the boy spoke for the first time saying solemnly, "My parents used to do that too. One time I went in the garage to get my bike and Daddy was kissing Mommy and they were making noises like you were. It was funny then but now I want them to come back and I wouldn't care if they did that all the time."
Jarod looked at the boy's tear stained face and immediately sympathized. The child was beautiful, with gray-green eyes, sandy brown hair and a dusky complexion that many children of mixed racial heritage often have. An expression of deep intelligence reigned in the child's eyes as he returned Jarod's gaze. A moment slid by as Jarod looked at the child, then carefully asked, "What's your name?"
"Cyrus," came the shy reply.
"How do you know we weren't the ones who hurt your parents?" Parker asked abruptly. Her question sounded harsh and abrupt to Jarod's ears but he refrained from saying anything to her. She more than anyone would have some inkling as to what this boy was going through from the loss of her own mother when she was just a few years older. It was also a question that had been puzzling him, though he felt now was too soon to ask.
Unperturbed by her question, Cyrus answered her and gave both adults a taste of what the Centre was after. "None of you have the same mean-hateful look in your eyes as the man who came to my house. It would be something impossible to hide."
Slowly taking a seat at the small kitchen table, Parker asked with deep curiosity, "Do you think you feel up to telling us what happened that night?"
"I guess so," Cyrus replied as he inched further into the kitchen and took a seat opposite Parker.
Jarod got up and stood leaning against the counter behind Parker. So far her direct method hadn't startled or traumatized the boy and she was asking the questions that were begging for answers in his mind.
Staring at the glass of milk on the table the boy told them what he remembered from that night. "I was asleep when I heard a scream. I thought it was a nightmare when I heard it again. I think it was from my Daddy, but I never heard him scream before. Then there was a loud cracking noise, like someone trying to break something in a wet bag. I ran to their bedroom to see what was going on. It was too dark to see much…" Cyrus paused as his tears began to flow unchecked. In a shaky, barely audible voice he continued. "Mommy and Daddy were in bed and there was a man standing over them. He was holding something like a club but it was small not thick and heavy. I knew he had been hitting them with it and I was about to run and hit him until he looked at me. His eyes were weird and scary. I could see them even in the dark!" Now Cyrus was breathing heavily and began to sweat. Jarod straightened but Parker shook her head and raised her hand without looking back at him. "Mommy screamed and I ran away. I chickened out and ran. I could have helped them, I could have stopped him but I didn't," the boy murmured with a sorrow so deep it tore at both adults.
"There wasn't anything you could have done to stop him. Your mother screamed to save you, to get you to run. Remember that and hang on to it. Your mother's last thoughts were of you and how much she loved you," Jarod said as he came around the table and stooped to eye level with the boy. Cyrus looked at Jarod with hopeful resignation. "She spoke to me with her eyes," Jarod began.
Cyrus' eyes widened with surprise. Often his mother would speak to him with an expression, sometimes she didn't need words to communicate. His interest in Jarod increased dramatically as he committed to memory every word Jarod had spoke.
"She made me promise to make you safe so the men who did this to her would never be able to find you or to hurt you—ever. That's a promise I intend to keep," Jarod said with absolute conviction.
"I never met your Mommy, but I will make a promise to you, Cyrus. We will find the man responsible, and if it's the last thing I do, we will make him pay for all the pain he's put your family through," Parker said with equal conviction and surprising Jarod.
Cyrus slid from his seat and walking over to Parker, he stood next to her. There was something in her eyes that told Cyrus that she understood his pain. The fierceness in her tone soothed and spoke directly to the impotent anger and loneliness in the child. Parker looked into the boy's eyes and with unshed tears in her own, she clinched her jaw knowing what he was tacitly asking for but unable to voice. She put aside her aversion to touching strangers and embraced the child. When he stared crying again, she pulled the boy's small body in her lap, never relinquishing her hold and allowed him to vent his agonized sorrow into her shoulder.