Author's note: Please see Chapter 1 for disclaimer.

Joint Venture

Chapter II

By Callisto

Task Force Headquarters

Denver, CO

Working late became his favorite time of the day. At that time, none of the higher ups, FBI snoops or moronic, insolent co-workers were around to make his life harder. The illumination from his computer monitor lit his face as he stared unblinkingly into the light. Finally, Teddy sat back from the screen, rubbed the back of his neck wearily and heaved a deep, cleansing sigh. A thought struck him and as he was about to run down the lead his imagination had just dreamed up, a soft resonant voice addressed him.

"Still here, Teddy? I thought you would have left with everyone else," Jarod stated in an even, friendly voice.

Theodore Katz looked up startled. He hadn't expected anyone joining him and if pressed to admit it, he didn't particularly like his co-workers either. From the shadows of the darkened bull pen, a tall, good-looking man emerged carrying a thick sheaf of papers and munching on a cinnamon roll. Teddy unconsciously watched Jarod approach with open admiration. Alpha male, with animal magnetism dripping off him like hog sweat and how this guy could actually eat some of the stuff he did and continue to look so ripped was beyond him. Fortunately for Teddy, he was currently enjoying a long-term relationship with a the kind of man he had always hoped to meet. However, that didn't preclude him from enjoying the sight of Jarod's wiry, muscular physique, striking face and easy-going manner.

"Hey there, Jarod. Pull up a chair and keep me company. It gets lonely around here, sometimes."

"What are you still doing here?"

"Checking out some facts and trying to run down a few things that keep niggling at me. What's your excuse? I would have thought a guy like you would have someone warm and willing to snuggle up to on long dark nights," Teddy stated with a sly smile on his face.

"I'm not quite sure what you mean by `a guy like me' and to answer your question I want to go over some of these lab analysis before handing them over to the FBI," Jarod answered, purposely ignoring the latter part of Teddy's comment.

Teddy chuckled amusedly. He had been trying to flirt with Jarod since the guy first joined the Task Force but all his attempts were tactfully deflected. There was a rumor that Jarod was possibly gay, especially since he had deflated the egos of a couple of the most willing and nubile of department groupies, who blatantly vied for his attention but met the same fate as Teddy's friendly innuendos. It took Teddy about 5 seconds to realize Jarod wasn't homosexual but he didn't bother sharing his own conclusions with anyone, especially since their co-workers probably wouldn't have listened anyway.

Teddy was the workhorse of the unit, in much the same way as Broots was for the Centre's pursuit team. He was responsible for transferring to a special program he created, the transcripts of numerous field interviews with store clerks, customers as well as the voluminous tips obtained from the 800 tip line the state of Colorado had set up in an effort to catch the bio-terrorist.

"Brother, you sure would make someone a happy man. I tell ya, it's a waste--a total waste!"

Jarod looked up with a small smile on his face and shaking his head slowly, he returned his attention to the dense information contained in the report. Without looking up he asked, "Have you found anything interesting in the interviews?"

"Nope. Our guy is in there somewhere, we just haven't a clue where. Everyone has seen someone doing something suspicious--usually their neighbor. Any joy from the lab techs?"

"So far, nothing," he answered absently, meticulously reexamining the pages he had already gone over. Teddy watched Jarod as he read, enjoying the view, when another thought hit him.

"Uh, Jarod. When is the last time you went home? Staring at this stuff will drive you nuts. You need to de-stress."

"I've rented an apartment not too far away from here," came the distracted response.

"Well, what I was thinking of is a special place designed to relax and calm. Frank has a cabin about 45 minutes out of town. It's nice, secluded and no one around here knows about it." Suddenly struck with a notion, Teddy reached into his pocket and quickly unhooking the key, stiffly got out of his chair, stretched and ambled over to Jarod and slid the key next to his hand. "It's yours while you're here. Just give me some warning when you leave so I can clean things up a bit. Frank is a regular fuss bucket, speaking of which, I think I'll be calling it a night and see what he's cooked up for dinner."

Looking up surprised, Jarod replied, "Thanks but this isn't necessary."

Teddy smiled and nodded knowingly. "You've been here everyday until late and you're the first one here in the morning. Burning the candle from both ends doesn't leave much of yourself to hang on to. Keep the key and use it this coming weekend. I tell you, a couple days in the forest with the trees, nature and flora and fauna is just what the doctor ordered."

"Why?"

"You're one of the good guys, this I can tell. And I have a feeling that you're going to be the one solving this case before anyone figures out what the first clue means. Don't stay too late."

During his speech, Teddy walked back to his computer, shut it down and started straightening and gathering up his belongings. When he received no answer, Teddy turned around and looked over at Jarod who returned to the report. Shrugging, Teddy headed for the door, passing up Jarod. He glanced at the spot where he left the key and noticed it was gone. With a small smile, Teddy headed home to great cooking and someone who loved him.

The Centre

Blue Cove, DE

Parker had just finished packing her briefcase and was giving instructions to her secretary when Sydney showed up, unannounced. He waited patiently standing to one side of the doorway until she finished. Glancing at her former pursuit colleague, she nodded curtly and issued her last instruction before dismissing the young man. Consciously avoiding the questions in Sydney's eyes, she fastidiously shuffled the papers on her desk. Sydney watched her impassively for several seconds before approaching the desk.

"What does he have you doing now?" he asked quietly. He had stood by and said nothing when Raines took her off the Jarod pursuit and he still remained silent as he watched his friend being pulled further into the Centre, its concerns and daily operations. Now he needed to know what was going on and if there was any chance he could possibly help her.

"Bug hunt. Project development lost one of their talented researchers. Now he's out and about spreading his poison to an unsuspecting populace and I'm being sent to either return or neutralize him," she answered flatly.

"It's strange. I remember when another Centre chairman asked you to neutralize a problem who turned out to be you're twin. I wonder if there is a twist to this assignment as well."

With a deadpan expression, she stated, "He could always be a long lost uncle or perhaps an aunt who had a sex change operation and the hormones are driving her nuts. With this place, you never know."

"Parker…" Sydney started as he took a step towards her.

She stopped abruptly, fixing him with a bitter stare before speaking. "No. Don't Sydney. There isn't anything you can say at this point. Its been close to two years since Raines took control, in that time I've realized that everything is too late and I'm too tired and jaded for any of the secrets or lies to hold any interest. The only truth I know and that matters is what is written on my heart. My mother loved me and gave me the most happiest times of my life. Nowadays, I automatically assume I'm being lied to and used. "

"So you'll continue to do their bidding, without question or pause? Parker you're better than that," he said sadly with marked disappointment.

"You're right about one thing. The current Chairman has proposed a new deal, one that you should be happy to hear: I'm permanently off the Jarod pursuit. No more moral challenges or conundrums. In exchange for being relieved of the `capture Jarod' challenge, I am now responsible for rebuilding what the last chairman tore down. Part of the deal is that this will be the last hunt for me." Parker picked up her briefcase and walking to the door, she paused, placing her hand on the doorknob. "Now, that's a deal I can live with." She looked at her friend feeling empty and hollow inside, then left.

Sydney stood in her empty office for several minutes. He regretted that there weren't any arguments he could have used to convince her to resist Raines' manipulations. For those few minutes he felt at a loss and wondered how many pieces of his heart and soul remained. With some surprise, he felt an indescribably large chunk of his better essence walk out of the door with her. A sense of resolve over came him when he finally left the office, determined to help his friend to the best of his ability. The first step in doing this was to find out exactly what was going on and a certain nervous friend of his would facilitate these first steps.

Hydroponics Botanical Garden

Sub-level 5

Mark Huang was a lazy, lay about. That is to say he was lazy without being downright slothful. The fact that he was an accomplished shot with any weapon was the sole reason he remained in the employ of the Centre. He knew there were only 20 minutes left before his and the other teams followed the boss out to the latest assignment. Despite his faults, Mark had the strange knack for being in the right place at the right time and although it irritated him to no end, he had the unusual ability of finding out valuable information with little effort, though it did cut into his loafing time. Today was no exception, surrounded by thick, artificially supplemented and supported lush greenery, Mark was thoroughly enjoying his stolen moment of solitude when an unexpected interruption showed up uninvited.

Lyle was never one to take being passed over for a promotion easily. Despite his rocky past with the current Chairman, Lyle felt that his rightful spot had been given to his morally squeamish and undeserving twin. He had always given his best for the Centre and put the corporation first when its concerns dovetailed in line with his own ambitions. Why hold it against him that he had tried to kill, imprison and lead a coup against his 'father'? All that was done at the bidding of his former parent. However, Lyle was equal to any task and eager to show his abilities to his real employers--the Triumvirate. Barring that, he had his eyes on a Sub-Chairmanship at the Centre's main competitor, the Lyman Institute. Feeling confident in the strength of his plans, Lyle wanted to vent his displeasure in an inventive way--by imposing his will on his sister, all of course, to his own advantage. Royce, the Director's chief assistant had important information on which Lyle's Centre strategy hinged. He had chosen the Hydroponics lab as a secluded spot in which obtain his latest update. An old fashioned merger was in the works and his sister was a main component. As Lyle discussed the final elements of his plan with his ally, Mark shrunk back behind a hearty Fichus tree, listening to the conversation with unfettered disgust.

As a sweeper, he was expected to perform all duties as assigned with unflinching loyalty. His last boss, Brigitte, had demanded this of all her employees. Unfortunately, the beautiful Brigitte had certain deficiencies which included matching wits with the powers that be around here. Considering his current boss, Mark knew he had finally signed on with the right person who had the right skills to stay in the competition and come out on top. Lyle was too corrupt for his tastes, as the ongoing conversation with the Tower assistant was proving. It took someone with a strong stomach, stretchable morals and a low life expectancy to work for Raines, and the others were too weak and ineffectual to be of any interest. There were those amongst the sweepers who liked the person they worked for but ultimately understood where their paychecks came from--they were company men. Then there were those who because of the intrigues, didn't give a damn about the paychecks as much as they cared who they were working for, Mark fell in to this category. He understood his priorities as he continued to listen with interest to Lyle's plans, determined that his current boss would never fall into any traps laid out for her by her twin--that is if he had anything to say about it.