Chapter 2
Ms. Parker closed her office door, as Jarod began walking down the hall towards her.
'Ms. Parker, I've decided that your services would be much more valuable here.' he said, giving her a sly smile. He couldn't help it! She still looked as if she was so shocked that she was not in control anymore.
Ms. Parker walked up to him. She gave him an intimidating stare. What she never realized was, that that look had never worked on him. Jarod had always wanted to laugh when she stared at him like that.
'Is that right? You can forget it, Wonderboy. I'm going with you.'
'Ms. Parker, did we not discuss your disrespectful references towards me? It's 'Mr. Jarod'. Please, say it out loud, right now.'
Ms. Parker rolled her eyes.
'Hey, 'Mr. Ass-wipe', I'm going to Las Vegas with you! I'll see you at the airstrip.' she snapped, walking around him. Jarod turned as well and grinned after her.
'I warned you about that use of language! Next time I may have to write you up!'
Ms. Parker kept walking, but gave him the middle finger instead. Jarod shook his head, and began to grin again. She really wasn't taking working for him well!
Jarod then watched as Ms. Parker disappeared around a corner, before he slipped into her office. He sighed, looking around. He then focused in on her desk.
Jarod walked over to it, sat down in her chair, then opened a couple of drawers. The second one yielded contents that confirmed his suspicions.
Jarod picked up a pill bottle choked full of prenatal vitamins. He looked at the date on the label. Ms. Parker had picked them up just the other day.
Jarod read the label carefully again, before replacing the bottle. He had wondered if she even knew she was pregnant in the first place. Now he knew.
He also thought Ms. Parker was taking a hell of chance, leaving the bottle in a drawer here in the Centre like this. Lyle or anybody, but specifically, Lyle, could find it and do God knows what with the information....and Ms. Parker.
Jarod stood up. There was no way he was going to be able to keep Ms. Parker from accompanying them to Las Vegas, to pick up Dr. David Banner. But, he would make sure somehow, that she was not involved in the take down. He couldn't worry about keeping Banner out of the Centre's hands, and Ms. Parker's safety. That and that she shouldn't be flying in her delicate condition.
His thought then flitted, momentarily, to the late Thomas Gates, who was surely Ms. Parker's baby's father. Guilt washed over him, as it often did, when he thought of his friend. He should've foreseen that the Centre would've seen him as a threat to their property, that being Ms. Parker. He should've never taken the chance in involving Thomas in the Centre madness.
But at heart, Jarod knew he was an optimist. And he had just FELT that Thomas was right for Ms. Parker. He had wanted her to see the world, just as he had. Jarod felt he had a duty to make sure that Thomas's unborn child, and the woman he had loved, were protected.
The fact that Ms. Parker was keeping mum about her impending child, meant that she felt threatened. She knew that there might be a chance that Lyle, or the Triumvirate, might separate her from her child. It made Jarod wonder what she planned to do when her pregnancy was obvious to everyone else?
****
Ms. Parker marched in on Broots and Sydney. Broots jumped when he saw her. She gave them both long looks.
'I want to know what's going on, right now!' she demanded.
Sydney shrugged.
'I don't know what you mean, Parker.' he said quietly, looking her over. How Jarod could sense that she was pregnant, was beyond him! She looked perfectly normal.
'I think you do. All of this crap that Jarod's been pulling! It is crap, isn't it, Sydney? Broots?'
Broots coughed!
'I need some water.' he spluttered. Ms. Parker did not make a move to get him any. Sydney walked over to a small refrigerator and took out a bottled water. He handed it to Broots, who uncapped it and almost swilled the whole thing down!
Ms. Parker turned from Broots, to Sydney again.
'I want you to look me in the eye, Syd, and tell me that you truly believe that Jarod has changed? That he has suddenly given up his crusade to help the little guy? To rescue the downtrodden?'
Sydney watched her carefully.
'Sydney?' she asked impatiently. 'Jarod may think he's running things around here, but you do still work under me!'
Sydney stroked his chin.
'Is that what's bothering you? That Jarod does not help people anymore?'
'No, Syd, what bothers me is that the guy we've been chasing for years, is now our boss!' she snapped. Her eyes moved from his to Broots, who had finished his water. She decided to work on the weaker of the two.
'Broots? Any thoughts on this?'
'Uh...I...'
'Do you think that Jarod was insincere all of these years, Parker?' Sydney interrupted. 'I mean, are you disappointed in him?'
Ms. Parker's eyes jumped from Broots's, and back to Sydney's.
'Sydney, how many of those damned red notebooks did we pour through, trying to get a lead on Jarod? Come on, Syd! Whatever I thought of all of his sticking his nose in people's business and all of that....I knew it came from the heart. I just don't believe that he's suddenly no different that Lyle.'
'Ms. Parker...' Sydney began, but Ms. Parker interrupted him.
'Sydney, if you care about your boy, you'll tell him this is a dangerous game he's playing. If Lyle senses for a minute that he's 'pretending' with him, he'll kill him where he stands. We all know that.'
Ms. Parker cast one last glance at the quivering Broots, before turning to leave the room. She stopped before she got to the door and turned around.
'By the way, see you at the airstrip.' she said coolly, before leaving the room. Broots shook his head at Sydney.
'She's right about Lyle, you know.' Broots said.
Sydney nodded.
'I know. I just wish I knew the specifics of his plan to keep Dr. Banner out of the Centre's hands.' he said solemnly.
****
Ms. Parker turned the page of her magazine so viciously, that she almost ripped the page! She was sitting behind Jarod and Lyle on the Centre jet. She could feel Sydney's eyes on her across the aisle. Broots was sitting next to Sydney as well.
'So, tell me about that red-head I always see you with?' Lyle asked. Jarod had been alarmed to find Lyle already had the airstrip, disposing of some latex gloves in a trash bin. Jarod could not help but wonder if he would see the Asian girl he had last seen Lyle with, ever again.
'Zoey.' Jarod said.
'Zoey.' Lyle repeated. 'She's hot...not my taste...I usually prefer the more exotic type, but she is a hottie indeed. Listen, once we get Banner, and secure our positions with the Triumvirate, I was thinking of throwing a little barbecue or something at my place. Bring this Zoey with you. I'm sure everyone would love to meet her.'
Lyle suddenly turned around and sat up, so he could peek at his sister. He smiled down at her, as she continued flipping through a magazine.
'What about you, sis?' he asked.
Ms. Parker stopped looking at the magazine to glance at Lyle.
'What about what?' she asked, annoyed.
'Have you met Jarod's, 'Zoey'?'
Ms. Parker's eyes left Lyle's, to stare at the back of Jarod's head. He had not turned around, but she had no doubt that he was listening.
'No. I don't believe I've had that pleasure. I do believe he mentioned her in one of those pathetic little notebooks he used to leave behind for us...you know...back when he was the prey.'
Lyle grinned at her, then turned and sat back down. He looked over at Jarod, who's jaw was slightly clenched. Ms. Parker got up and headed back towards the bathroom. She did a lot of that these days.
Lyle looked over at Jarod.
'I'm sorry about my sister. She'll change her mind about Zoey once she meets her, I'm sure. You know, she's just jealous of everyone's happiness...you know, ever since that farmer she was dating died.'
Jarod coughed.
'I thought he worked in construction?'
Lyle shrugged.
'Construction, farming, something like that. My sister would've never really been happy with him. I still remember the day she turned in her gun...telling us she was going to leave town with that guy...whoa! That would've been the biggest mistake of her life!'
Jarod smiled faintly, but turned to look out of the window instead. Ms. Parker had been ready to let go of the life she knew, when all of her dreams had been snatched from her. He himself now, was worried what might happen to Ms. Parker's unborn child, if Lyle or the Triumvirate were to ever learn of it's existence.
Jarod stood up.
'I'll be back. I didn't care for your sister's attitude towards my girlfriend. Her attitude has just been bad in general. I think I'm going to just have a chat with her.'
Lyle grinned and nodded. He watched as Jarod got up and moved past him. Lyle was still watching him, when his eyes locked with Sydney and Broots. Lyle turned back around in his seat again.
****
Ms. Parker stopped short, when she came out of the bathroom and found Jarod standing there.
'What?' she asked, uncomfortable with his nearness.
'Your reference to my girlfriend bordered on unkind.'
Ms. Parker grinned.
'Your girlfriend? How many of those have you had? Two, three?'
'What's your point?'
'What's yours, Jarod? Like I told Lyle, I read about the tramp in one of your notebooks. Now, move aside.'
'You don't know her.' Jarod said calmly. 'So don't refer to her as a 'tramp'.'
'Or what? Huh, 'Mr. Jarod'? Look, get out of my way. Let's just get this assignment over with, so I can then get about the business of exposing your little game here to Lyle.' she hissed softly, looking down the hallway. They were far enough out of earshot of Sydney, Broots and Lyle.
But Jarod still stood in her way. Ms. Parker was about to lose it! This trip had been damned near unbearable! It was bad enough watching Jarod and Lyle laugh it up in front of her, like they were fraternity brothers or something, but now she had Jarod breathing down her neck, over some perceived slight, against some floozy he was infatuated with!
'Move or I'll make you move, Jarod.' Ms. Parker said forcefully. Jarod looked at her with something akin to amusement, before stepping aside. Ms. Parker began to move past him, when he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him, kissing her long and hard!
Broots, who had gotten up to use the bathroom himself, stopped and stared at the two of them in shock, before turning back and sitting down beside Sydney again. Sydney looked at him.
'I thought you had to use the restroom?'
'Never mind, I'll hold it.' Broots answered, stunned by what he had just seen. He glanced over at Lyle, who was now paging through his own magazine.
Meanwhile, Ms. Parker managed to pull away from Jarod. She raised her hand, as if to slap him, but instead, she touched her lips, then turned and walked back down the aisle. She dropped into her seat. Lyle turned around and eyed her over the top of the seat.
'Your beet red, sis. That must've been some dressing down Jarod gave you.'
Ms. Parker did not answer, but ran a tongue over her lips.
'Look, I know this thing has not been easy for you. I mean it was weird for me too, you know, working with Jarod instead of chasing him. But listen, you can make this thing work for yourself too.'
Ms. Parker stared at her much despised brother with disgust.
'What are you talking about?'
Lyle grinned at her.
'I always thought Jarod had the hots for you.'
Ms. Parker rolled her eyes!
'I really don't want to hear this!'
'Sis, after we catch Dr. Banner, Jarod and I will both be on our way...you can come along too...maybe even as Jarod's wife.'
Ms. Parker almost choked!
'Have you lost your mind? Jarod and I will never be like that in any way!'
But Lyle suddenly looked dead serious.
'I'd think about it long and hard, sis. With Father missing, well, he can't cover for you like he used to...you know, when you were being unproductive.'
Jarod returned and winked at Ms. Parker as passed her seat. Ms. Parker leaned back and closed her eyes. She just wanted this assignment over with!
Ms. Parker closed her office door, as Jarod began walking down the hall towards her.
'Ms. Parker, I've decided that your services would be much more valuable here.' he said, giving her a sly smile. He couldn't help it! She still looked as if she was so shocked that she was not in control anymore.
Ms. Parker walked up to him. She gave him an intimidating stare. What she never realized was, that that look had never worked on him. Jarod had always wanted to laugh when she stared at him like that.
'Is that right? You can forget it, Wonderboy. I'm going with you.'
'Ms. Parker, did we not discuss your disrespectful references towards me? It's 'Mr. Jarod'. Please, say it out loud, right now.'
Ms. Parker rolled her eyes.
'Hey, 'Mr. Ass-wipe', I'm going to Las Vegas with you! I'll see you at the airstrip.' she snapped, walking around him. Jarod turned as well and grinned after her.
'I warned you about that use of language! Next time I may have to write you up!'
Ms. Parker kept walking, but gave him the middle finger instead. Jarod shook his head, and began to grin again. She really wasn't taking working for him well!
Jarod then watched as Ms. Parker disappeared around a corner, before he slipped into her office. He sighed, looking around. He then focused in on her desk.
Jarod walked over to it, sat down in her chair, then opened a couple of drawers. The second one yielded contents that confirmed his suspicions.
Jarod picked up a pill bottle choked full of prenatal vitamins. He looked at the date on the label. Ms. Parker had picked them up just the other day.
Jarod read the label carefully again, before replacing the bottle. He had wondered if she even knew she was pregnant in the first place. Now he knew.
He also thought Ms. Parker was taking a hell of chance, leaving the bottle in a drawer here in the Centre like this. Lyle or anybody, but specifically, Lyle, could find it and do God knows what with the information....and Ms. Parker.
Jarod stood up. There was no way he was going to be able to keep Ms. Parker from accompanying them to Las Vegas, to pick up Dr. David Banner. But, he would make sure somehow, that she was not involved in the take down. He couldn't worry about keeping Banner out of the Centre's hands, and Ms. Parker's safety. That and that she shouldn't be flying in her delicate condition.
His thought then flitted, momentarily, to the late Thomas Gates, who was surely Ms. Parker's baby's father. Guilt washed over him, as it often did, when he thought of his friend. He should've foreseen that the Centre would've seen him as a threat to their property, that being Ms. Parker. He should've never taken the chance in involving Thomas in the Centre madness.
But at heart, Jarod knew he was an optimist. And he had just FELT that Thomas was right for Ms. Parker. He had wanted her to see the world, just as he had. Jarod felt he had a duty to make sure that Thomas's unborn child, and the woman he had loved, were protected.
The fact that Ms. Parker was keeping mum about her impending child, meant that she felt threatened. She knew that there might be a chance that Lyle, or the Triumvirate, might separate her from her child. It made Jarod wonder what she planned to do when her pregnancy was obvious to everyone else?
****
Ms. Parker marched in on Broots and Sydney. Broots jumped when he saw her. She gave them both long looks.
'I want to know what's going on, right now!' she demanded.
Sydney shrugged.
'I don't know what you mean, Parker.' he said quietly, looking her over. How Jarod could sense that she was pregnant, was beyond him! She looked perfectly normal.
'I think you do. All of this crap that Jarod's been pulling! It is crap, isn't it, Sydney? Broots?'
Broots coughed!
'I need some water.' he spluttered. Ms. Parker did not make a move to get him any. Sydney walked over to a small refrigerator and took out a bottled water. He handed it to Broots, who uncapped it and almost swilled the whole thing down!
Ms. Parker turned from Broots, to Sydney again.
'I want you to look me in the eye, Syd, and tell me that you truly believe that Jarod has changed? That he has suddenly given up his crusade to help the little guy? To rescue the downtrodden?'
Sydney watched her carefully.
'Sydney?' she asked impatiently. 'Jarod may think he's running things around here, but you do still work under me!'
Sydney stroked his chin.
'Is that what's bothering you? That Jarod does not help people anymore?'
'No, Syd, what bothers me is that the guy we've been chasing for years, is now our boss!' she snapped. Her eyes moved from his to Broots, who had finished his water. She decided to work on the weaker of the two.
'Broots? Any thoughts on this?'
'Uh...I...'
'Do you think that Jarod was insincere all of these years, Parker?' Sydney interrupted. 'I mean, are you disappointed in him?'
Ms. Parker's eyes jumped from Broots's, and back to Sydney's.
'Sydney, how many of those damned red notebooks did we pour through, trying to get a lead on Jarod? Come on, Syd! Whatever I thought of all of his sticking his nose in people's business and all of that....I knew it came from the heart. I just don't believe that he's suddenly no different that Lyle.'
'Ms. Parker...' Sydney began, but Ms. Parker interrupted him.
'Sydney, if you care about your boy, you'll tell him this is a dangerous game he's playing. If Lyle senses for a minute that he's 'pretending' with him, he'll kill him where he stands. We all know that.'
Ms. Parker cast one last glance at the quivering Broots, before turning to leave the room. She stopped before she got to the door and turned around.
'By the way, see you at the airstrip.' she said coolly, before leaving the room. Broots shook his head at Sydney.
'She's right about Lyle, you know.' Broots said.
Sydney nodded.
'I know. I just wish I knew the specifics of his plan to keep Dr. Banner out of the Centre's hands.' he said solemnly.
****
Ms. Parker turned the page of her magazine so viciously, that she almost ripped the page! She was sitting behind Jarod and Lyle on the Centre jet. She could feel Sydney's eyes on her across the aisle. Broots was sitting next to Sydney as well.
'So, tell me about that red-head I always see you with?' Lyle asked. Jarod had been alarmed to find Lyle already had the airstrip, disposing of some latex gloves in a trash bin. Jarod could not help but wonder if he would see the Asian girl he had last seen Lyle with, ever again.
'Zoey.' Jarod said.
'Zoey.' Lyle repeated. 'She's hot...not my taste...I usually prefer the more exotic type, but she is a hottie indeed. Listen, once we get Banner, and secure our positions with the Triumvirate, I was thinking of throwing a little barbecue or something at my place. Bring this Zoey with you. I'm sure everyone would love to meet her.'
Lyle suddenly turned around and sat up, so he could peek at his sister. He smiled down at her, as she continued flipping through a magazine.
'What about you, sis?' he asked.
Ms. Parker stopped looking at the magazine to glance at Lyle.
'What about what?' she asked, annoyed.
'Have you met Jarod's, 'Zoey'?'
Ms. Parker's eyes left Lyle's, to stare at the back of Jarod's head. He had not turned around, but she had no doubt that he was listening.
'No. I don't believe I've had that pleasure. I do believe he mentioned her in one of those pathetic little notebooks he used to leave behind for us...you know...back when he was the prey.'
Lyle grinned at her, then turned and sat back down. He looked over at Jarod, who's jaw was slightly clenched. Ms. Parker got up and headed back towards the bathroom. She did a lot of that these days.
Lyle looked over at Jarod.
'I'm sorry about my sister. She'll change her mind about Zoey once she meets her, I'm sure. You know, she's just jealous of everyone's happiness...you know, ever since that farmer she was dating died.'
Jarod coughed.
'I thought he worked in construction?'
Lyle shrugged.
'Construction, farming, something like that. My sister would've never really been happy with him. I still remember the day she turned in her gun...telling us she was going to leave town with that guy...whoa! That would've been the biggest mistake of her life!'
Jarod smiled faintly, but turned to look out of the window instead. Ms. Parker had been ready to let go of the life she knew, when all of her dreams had been snatched from her. He himself now, was worried what might happen to Ms. Parker's unborn child, if Lyle or the Triumvirate were to ever learn of it's existence.
Jarod stood up.
'I'll be back. I didn't care for your sister's attitude towards my girlfriend. Her attitude has just been bad in general. I think I'm going to just have a chat with her.'
Lyle grinned and nodded. He watched as Jarod got up and moved past him. Lyle was still watching him, when his eyes locked with Sydney and Broots. Lyle turned back around in his seat again.
****
Ms. Parker stopped short, when she came out of the bathroom and found Jarod standing there.
'What?' she asked, uncomfortable with his nearness.
'Your reference to my girlfriend bordered on unkind.'
Ms. Parker grinned.
'Your girlfriend? How many of those have you had? Two, three?'
'What's your point?'
'What's yours, Jarod? Like I told Lyle, I read about the tramp in one of your notebooks. Now, move aside.'
'You don't know her.' Jarod said calmly. 'So don't refer to her as a 'tramp'.'
'Or what? Huh, 'Mr. Jarod'? Look, get out of my way. Let's just get this assignment over with, so I can then get about the business of exposing your little game here to Lyle.' she hissed softly, looking down the hallway. They were far enough out of earshot of Sydney, Broots and Lyle.
But Jarod still stood in her way. Ms. Parker was about to lose it! This trip had been damned near unbearable! It was bad enough watching Jarod and Lyle laugh it up in front of her, like they were fraternity brothers or something, but now she had Jarod breathing down her neck, over some perceived slight, against some floozy he was infatuated with!
'Move or I'll make you move, Jarod.' Ms. Parker said forcefully. Jarod looked at her with something akin to amusement, before stepping aside. Ms. Parker began to move past him, when he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him, kissing her long and hard!
Broots, who had gotten up to use the bathroom himself, stopped and stared at the two of them in shock, before turning back and sitting down beside Sydney again. Sydney looked at him.
'I thought you had to use the restroom?'
'Never mind, I'll hold it.' Broots answered, stunned by what he had just seen. He glanced over at Lyle, who was now paging through his own magazine.
Meanwhile, Ms. Parker managed to pull away from Jarod. She raised her hand, as if to slap him, but instead, she touched her lips, then turned and walked back down the aisle. She dropped into her seat. Lyle turned around and eyed her over the top of the seat.
'Your beet red, sis. That must've been some dressing down Jarod gave you.'
Ms. Parker did not answer, but ran a tongue over her lips.
'Look, I know this thing has not been easy for you. I mean it was weird for me too, you know, working with Jarod instead of chasing him. But listen, you can make this thing work for yourself too.'
Ms. Parker stared at her much despised brother with disgust.
'What are you talking about?'
Lyle grinned at her.
'I always thought Jarod had the hots for you.'
Ms. Parker rolled her eyes!
'I really don't want to hear this!'
'Sis, after we catch Dr. Banner, Jarod and I will both be on our way...you can come along too...maybe even as Jarod's wife.'
Ms. Parker almost choked!
'Have you lost your mind? Jarod and I will never be like that in any way!'
But Lyle suddenly looked dead serious.
'I'd think about it long and hard, sis. With Father missing, well, he can't cover for you like he used to...you know, when you were being unproductive.'
Jarod returned and winked at Ms. Parker as passed her seat. Ms. Parker leaned back and closed her eyes. She just wanted this assignment over with!
