Chapter 6

Zoey eyed Lyle nervously, as she watched him hand feed an Asian woman a cracker, with dip on it. She turned and made her way over to Jarod, who was standing with Sydney, a drink in hand.

"This is a lovely house, Zoey." Sydney said politely.

Zoey smiled at him.

"Oh thanks, Sydney. Yep, Jarod and I are quite pleased. Listen, I need to borrow Jarod just for a minute." she pulled him away from Sydney and into a corner.

"Didn't you tell me that Lyle had this habit of killing Asian women?" she asked in a fierce whisper.

"Honey, I'm sorry I ever told you that."

"Jarod! Is that poor woman that he's with, going to live through the night?"

Jarod looked over at them. He recognized her as yet, another Centre employee. This could not go on.

"Honey, I'll watch out for her, I swear. But we have to look as casual as possible."

"Jarod, most of these employees are murderers...with the exception of Sydney and Broots...I'm just glad that 'bitch' isn't here."

Jarod took a sip from his drink. No, Ms. Parker was not here, even though he had ordered her to be.

"How is your hand?" he asked softly.

"Still slightly throbbing, but I'll live. Oh, look, we're out of refreshments! I'll be right back!" she said, kissing Jarod quickly, before rushing off.

Sydney made his way over to him.

"She really is something." he said. Jarod smiled at him.

"Do you like her? I mean, really?"

"Of course I do. She radiates positive energy. She's good for you."

Jarod nodded.

"Yeah." he said, sipping his drink again. Sydney frowned at him.

"What is it, Jarod?"

Jarod looked around.

"I love being with Zoey, Sydney. She's the perfect woman for me."

"But?" Sydney asked.

Jarod rolled his tongue around in his mouth.

"I can't get Ms. Parker out of my mind. I can't. Our connection will always be deep, no matter how much she tries to deny it. And I can't help but be scared to death for her and her baby. They're not safe. Not with the way the Centre is now."

"Then we have to keep working to take it down, Jarod. Ms. Parker will be fine. Don't let your concern for her interfere with the good thing you have here with Zoey."

Jarod nodded, sipping his drink again. He almost spilled it when Lyle came up behind him, and slapped him on the back!

"Hey, I just got a message! Banner has been spotted in California. Let's go."

"Now?" Sydney asked. Broots made his way over to them as well.

"Hey, we have to jump on these leads while they're still fresh! Jarod, tell Zoey it was a lovely party. I have to get my 'date' back home."

"Uh, Lyle, why don't you get Ms. Parker and go to the jet? I'll get your date home."

Lyle looked at him as if he were crazy!

"Uh, that's alright. You have your own thing to take care of here, and my sister isn't coming."

Jarod was relieved, but Broots asked why. Lyle gave him a dirty look.

"You know why! She fell asleep the last time we were on the hunt for Banner. If this kind of stuff keeps happening, I'm going to insist she gets looked at by one of the Centre doctors."

Jarod watched helplessly, as Lyle pulled his date out of the door. Zoey returned and stared at them wide eyed. She then hurried over to him.

"Where are they going?" she asked, her voice slightly panicky.

"We have business to attend to, so I have to go."

"Okay...but where is Lyle going with his date?"

"Honey, look, I have to go..."

"Jarod, I'm calling the police!"

Broots, Sydney and a few others, looked over at them. Jarod smiled and gripped her arm.

"Zoey, let me handle this, okay?"

"Jarod, you can't keep this up much longer! We have to tell the cops! I'm sure a lot of parents would be happy to see their children again! And catch a killer!"

Sydney walked over to them.

"Is everything alright? Jarod, we should get going."

"And we will, Sydney!" Jarod snapped, then looked back at Zoey.

"Please, Zoey. I can't worry about you and the Centre. Believe me, I'll do what I can. Just stay here and stay quiet."

Zoey said nothing, but pulled her arm away from Jarod's. Jarod then announced that there had been an emergency with the Centre, and that everyone would have to leave. People began slowly filing out. Jarod told Sydney and Broots he would meet them at the Centre plane. Zoey turned and walked upstairs. She then slammed her door loudly.

****

Jarod stopped by Ms. Parker's home before driving to the air strip. He wanted to tell her in person she would not be going, so that he didn't have to hear a lot of whining about how she was being 'cut out of the loop'.

He was also still in a foul mood over Zoey. She had refused to open the bedroom door after everyone had left. He hated leaving things this way, but he had no choice.

As he pulled up to the house, he was more than a bit surprised to see an ambulance out front. People were standing around gaping. Jarod parked and hurried over to the ambulance.

Ms. Parker was crying hysterically! Jarod hurried over to her and looked at the attendant.

"What's wrong? What's happening?"

"Jarod? Jarod? I'm losing my baby! Tommy's baby! Help me! Help me save Tommy's baby! You're a genius! Boy genius! Help me! Help me!" she sobbed.

Jarod's heart felt like it was ripping in two! He began stroking her hair.

"It's going to be fine now, Ms. Parker! Everything is going to be fine!" he soothed her, then made eye contact with ambulance attendant. He shook his head at Jarod. Jarod climbed in.

"I'm going with her." he said firmly, as the doors to the ambulance closed.

****

Lyle looked at his watch.

"Where the hell is Jarod?" he asked. He was sitting on the plane with Sydney and Broots.

"I'm sure he's on his way." Sydney said, secretly worried himself. He and Broots exchanged a glance.

"We can't wait any longer!" Lyle snapped. Suddenly his phone rang. Lyle snatched it up.

"Hello?"

"Lyle, it's Jarod. Something has come up. Go on without me."

"What's more important than getting Banner?" Lyle asked with disbelief.

"Don't worry about it! Just go and get him!" Jarod snapped.

Lyle leaned forward.

"Let me tell you something, Jarod. If Zoey and you are having problems, then make sure they take a backseat to the Centre!"

"You seem to have forgotten that I don't work for you, Lyle. I work with you."

"And you seem to have forgotten that that can change, if the Triumvirate doesn't get what they're waiting for. I suggest you take a later flight out!"

Lyle abruptly hung up. He then got up to tell the pilot to take off.

****

Jarod hung up his phone. He felt like throwing it!

Ms. Parker had lost her baby on the way to the hospital. She had been given a heavy sedative to help her sleep.

Jarod walked into her room. She was asleep. He sat beside her bed and reached out to move her hair from off her of her forehead. She suddenly awoke.

"Jarod?"

Jarod smiled gently at her.

"Hey...how do you feel?"

Ms. Parker tried to sit up. But Jarod got up and eased her back down.

"Easy, you've been through a lot tonight." he said softly.

Ms. Parker's eyes widened.

"The pain...the baby...is the baby alright?"

Jarod looked down.

"Maybe you should wait for the doctor."

Ms. Parker just stared at him.

"You can be one. Tell me. Tell me if I'm still pregnant?"

Jarod looked up at her and shook his head. Ms. Parker began to weep uncontrollably.

"Ms. Parker, you can have others..."

"NO! I CAN'T HAVE TOMMY'S! HE'S NOW GONE FOR GOOD! HE'S GONE!"

Jarod reached down and pulled her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him briefly, before letting go.

"I'm fine. Just go. Go home to Zoey."

Jarod shook his head.

"Ms. Parker..."

"Jarod please...I need to think now. Just go." she said tiredly. Jarod nodded, then turned and walked out. He stopped in the hallway. Ms. Parker had had a lot invested in this child. She had had plans. She had loved this baby, because she had loved Thomas Gates.

Now Ms. Parker was truly alone. Jarod took a deep breath, before heading to the airport. He had to find another flight to California.