Chapter Twelve

Disclaimer: I blame all typos on the crazed rodents that dash across my keyboard at the most inconvenient moments. Oh, and the whole Pretender thing wasn't invented by me. I'm not that smart.

That night, after Jarod had been locked back in his cell under double guard, Parker went home to think. Despite what she had said earlier, Jarod's story did sound sort of familiar.

She remembered strange bits and pieces that just didn't fit with her other memories. And she wouldn't put it past Lyle to wipe her memories. She tried hard to remember more than just a smell or name. Nothing. Almost crying with frustration and uncertainty she decided to have a glass of wine to loosen up her brain cells. If only Sydney and Broots hadn't been fired. She needed someone to speak to, to confirm or deny these memories.

While she was in the kitchen she began to vaguely start making some food to eat. Pulling anything that looked mildly edible out of the fridge she put a plate together and put it in the microwave.

The name Marie . . . no, Marina floated into her head. Screwing her eyes shut she tried to follow that scrap. Nothing. The microwave beeped. Sighing, Parker opened the door. The smell wafted out and suddenly everything came back in a flood. Eating dinner with Marina, surrounded by gangsters in an alley, driving with Jarod sleeping next to her, picking a bullet out of his leg and most of all; a quiet voice, Lyle's voice, telling her that Jarod had shot her.

Fire ignited in Parker's eyes. He scheming brother would pay for messing round with her head. She was ready to go back to the Centre and into his office and shoot him the and then but she realised she would need a plan for getting Jarod out.

It would be easier to move freely if they thought she was still brainwashed. She realised that her food was going cold. She carried it to the table and schemed as she ate.

************************************

The next day Parker demanded a meeting with her father. When the time came though, Lyle was in the room as well. She told herself that it didn't matter and proceeded to press her case.

'I have been on the chase far longer than Lyle has. I know him better.'

'Angel, Lyle has proven he can get Jarod to cooperate.' *Only because he's holding me as a threat over his head* thought Parker. Mr Parker was trying to beguile her as usual. This time Parker wasn't buying in.. She let the thought fuel her anger.

'Look, I've chased the bastard for years. I caught him and all I get is a bullet in the leg. I want in on the project.'

'She has a good case. What do you say Lyle?'

'Sure sis, be good to work with you again.' Lyle was happy to oblige, confident in the knowledge that Miss Parker's memories would not be coming back.

Parker hid her exaltation well as she strode out of the room. *It begins* she thought.

***********************************

A week or so later . . .

Jarod sat cross-legged on his bed, back to the wall. He knew Lyle would be coming shortly. He had been coming in the same time every morning. Even without a clock he knew.

As predicted, within a minute or two the door creaked open. A shock ran through his body when the face that came through the door was not the expected mad grin. Parker strode in confidently backed by two sweepers but even so Jarod could see that something was different. Before he could place his finger on it, she spoke.

'I've been assigned to the *pretender project.* You'll be working with both Lyle and me from now on.' She turned and strode out and the two sweepers came forward to cuff him.

As usual he was led to the sim lab. The set-up had been changed. In one corner there was a pile of hundreds of different shaped blocks.

'A puzzle?' asked Jarod dubiously, raising an eyebrow.

'The Centre wants to see how fast you can put it together. There are suspicious that your skills have slipped during your time on the outside.'

'Want to place a bet on my time?' Asked Jarod jovially. As hard as she was trying Parker wasn't as cold as she had been.

'You should be able to do it within two and a half hours.' The estimate seemed large to Jarod but he didn't say anything.

'With or without the handcuffs?' He asked. Parker signalled to one of the sweepers who unlocked the handcuffs and started a timer.

Jarod walked over to the pile of blocks, rubbing his wrists and considering the puzzle. All other thoughts were lost as he sat down and began to work.

The next thing he knew he was sitting on the floor next to a three foot square cube, made up of pieces each about one inch cubed.

'One hour, forty two minutes' said Parker, very impressed. She had thought two and a half hours was ridiculous for such a massive puzzle. *Once again, wonder boy proves his genius* she thought dryly. She was also impressed that she hadn't even seen him palm the screwdriver that she had hidden there and she had been watching for it. It was up to him now.

For the rest of the day Jarod performed better than expected on all the tests she put him through. She was able to report positive results to Lyle and her father that evening.

The next day Lyle continued with the testing. Somehow, Jarod found it much harder to concentrate. Words jumbled themselves and he just couldn't visualise the answers to the puzzles. He received a warning that if he wasn't trying his hardest then there would be 'consequences'

Even so the pattern repeated itself over the next week in sims and tests. Lyle was ready to snap but Mr Parker ordered that Miss Parker take over simming with Jarod.

As the days marched on Parker began to get more and more worried as Jarod did make so much as an attempt at escaping. She slipped him a few more tools, including some lock picks but every morning he was still there when she went in.

Finally she arranged that the cameras to his cell were looped for a few minutes so she could talk to him.

It was late but Jarod wasn't asleep when the door creaked open. 'Evening Miss Parker. At least I think it is.'

'Jarod. I've turned the cameras in this room off. I've got about three minutes to talk straight to you. Why haven't you escaped?'

'I thought you were loyal to . . .' He trailed off as he realised that she wasn't acting at all like someone who was Centre brainwashed.

'I remembered everything the night after you told me that I'd had my memories wiped. I thought you knew. I've been slipping you tools.'

'What tools?'

'You didn't get them?' She asked with a sinking feeling in her stomach. He shook his head slowly. Parker glanced up at one of the many cameras. There was a little red light blinking in the corner. Jarod followed her gaze.

Abruptly he stood. 'No time for subtlety. We go, now.'

Parker wheeled and strode out the door, Jarod close behind. The sweepers guarding the door, bored after several weeks of non-events bought Parker's story about a late night sim.

Then they were striding through the corridors, heading downwards by the stairs to avoid being trapped in the elevators. It wasn't long before a wailing siren began to sound.

They began to run. Finally, dodging, and occasionally knocking out sweepers, they made it to SL-27. Jarod led the way through the gloomy abandoned sublevel to the door where he had gotten in three weeks ago. It led to a sort of boiler room where it was possible to access the main vent for this level that led straight up and out.

When they were nearly at the door they ran headlong into Lyle and Raines, heading a large bunch of sweepers. More sweepers came up from behind. Jarod was reminded of similar circumstances in an alleyway full of gangsters. Quiet horror began to edge into his guts. He scanned all the possibilities, looking for an escape but the situation seemed grim.

Suddenly he felt the muzzle of gun pressed to the side of his head. 'Let us go or I blow Labrat's brains out.'

'Now, now sis, calm down. We all know you're not going to do that.'

'Not unless you make me' snarled Parker, cocking the gun. Jarod suddenly found it very easy to fall into a pretend of a hostage.

'I've been watching your acting performance and personally I've been very impressed. Unfortunately for you, I just don't buy the whole shooting thing.'

Parker adjusted her grip on the gun, tightening her finger around the trigger. Jarod's face paled and he swallowed hard. 'Uh, Lyle?' said Jarod shaking slightly 'even I'm buying this right now. Can you just not push her please?'

'It seems we have a deadlock' wheezed Raines ponderously.

'You won't in a second if she pulls that trigger' said Jarod desperately. He was thinking of what would happen if Parker's finger slipped.

'All I ask is that you let us go. You caught us once; you should be able to do it again. Or don't you feel capable Lyle?' She was taunting him, trying to get him to agree anyway she could.

'Sure sis. But it would be less hassle for all if you just handed the gun over.'

'Rather die than go back there' whispered Jarod closing his eyes. Parker clenched her teeth and pulled the trigger.

TBC . . . (ah haha, now review, else I'll leave it there)