Disclaimer: Please see Chapter 1 for the usual disclaimer.
Author's note: The places in this story exist, just not where I put them. All geographical inaccuracies are there to facilitate my imagination and this story. To clear up any budding confusion, the lovably lazy sweeper mentioned in Chapter II is not the sweeper who is serving as Parker's personal bodyguard. That character is formally introduced in this chapter.
Joint Venture
Chapter IV
By Callisto
The Centre
Blue Cove, DE
Raines listened impassively to Parker's preliminary report on the hunt for their murderously wayward researcher. She was reporting from the last location her inside sources had given her. Raines was encouraged that she was hot on the trial of the former Centre employee and that she had already collected samples which would tell them how far the demented scientist had gotten in his research. According to Parker's investigation, Hemmings was attempting to finish what the Tower had tried to cancel. Completely aware of her moral objections, Raines just barely refrained from ordering her to terminally sanction Hemmings. He relaxed his oxygen starved body in the custom-made desk chair. Having Parker return the insubordinate employee to the fold where he could be debriefed and disposed of properly, all away from the public eye, would work out much better and accomplish his goal with more satisfactory results. Raines continued to hang onto the possibilities that Hemmings' research, with a sickening interest and the potential profit the revised compound presented made his mouth water. There remained a slim chance to lure the original buyers back and being able to give them real-word results should please them immensely.
Parker's next call went directly to Sydney's cell phone. She avoided directly mentioning Jarod by name. However with some clever half references and coded language, she let him know that Jarod was also involved in the hunt for the Centre murderer and to keep Lyle out of her way. Sydney assured her of his assistance and after briefly continuing the chat, they ended the call. The psychiatrist hung up and released a deep sigh of relief, glad that Parker was no longer a part of the Jarod hunt and that her interest in returning him had waned along with her sense of family amongst those still living who claimed a blood-line alliance. He was worried about Parker and her currently entrenched ennui about the direction her life was headed. There was little that he would be able to do to help her, however keeping Lyle off the scent was almost too easy.
Gruentella Pass
Overlooking Denver, CO
The setting sun lit a fire show of light and color to the valley below. The view of the distant city was spectacular. Jarod, instead of taking in the view walked up cautiously and stopped several feet behind the person he came to meet. He stared her for some time watching the expressions play across her features, taking note of how she held herself, her posture and demeanor. What he saw was a curious mixed bag of contained stress and quiet unintentional beauty. With one last sharp glance, Jarod walked easily up to her and joined her sitting on the front end of her rental car.
"You're late," she said with languid irritation.
"Actually I arrived a little early. Your bodyguard doesn't seem to like me. I'm surprised you thought he would be necessary. Did you expect me to be on anything less than my usual perfect behavior?" he asked with a smile in his voice.
"He's there because he wants to be and before you ask, no, I didn't put him there, it was his idea," she answered after briefly looking at her companion.
Never far from the forefront of his mind, Jarod's curiosity asserted itself again. Glancing at her calm exterior and patient attitude, he decided to ask her a question, much like he would have done when they were children. "How did you choose a bodyguard? I would've guessed that of anyone, you would've picked Sam."
Mentally shrugging, Parker decided to answer Jarod, knowing that sometime during this meeting he would eventually get to the point. "I didn't pick him, not like that. He was one of the sweepers assigned to guard the scrolls and was on duty when the Triumvirate's goons staged their raid to steal what was never there. After we returned from Africa, Lyle was given the task to find out what went wrong. Moriyama was the only one still breathing and after a period of healing, Lyle decided to systematically tear him apart. I came in around the end of it…"
The Centre - 8 months ago
Blue Cove, DE
Dr. Horace Galvan chatted amiably as he searched for the research pages she had called down for over an hour ago. Tales of his newest healing serum and infection inhibitor were expanded upon in brain-numbing detail. Her patience quickly running thin, she stared at the oblivious man balefully and was on the verge of leaving and sending Broots back to waste his time waiting on the absent-minded professor, when the sounds of a man screaming pierced through Dr. Galvan's monologue. The doctor looked up disconcertedly, then quickly ducked back and continued to rummage through a deep drawer where he swore he stashed his reports. The sounds of men shouting and the unmistakenly aggravated voice of Parker's twin echoed through the empty hallways. Finally the doctor found what he had been looking for, straightening up he was shocked into silence in finding the room empty--the only sign of his visitor was the lingering scent of her perfume.
The sight of three muscle bound sweepers she had never seen before accompanying her demented brother, who was rubbing his reddened knuckles while Willie placed a pair of bloodied pliers in a plastic bag caused Parker to shrink back into the shadows of the alcove adjacent to the Renewal Wing's infirmary. Once the group had passed, she stared in their wake inquiringly wondering who they were torturing. Cautiously she retraced their steps, then started trying the doors on either side of the corridor. It was at the fifth door she was about to bypass when she spotted a slight smear of blood on the knob. Trying the door, she found it was locked. Dr. Galvan was surprised again by Parker's sudden reappearance. Barely understanding what she was demanding, the impatient woman brushed past him and taking some of his smaller instruments, she had left before he could voice any objection.
It took Parker 30 seconds to get past the locked door. Inside, the room was bathed in darkness, the light from the hallway unable to adequately reveal anything. Feeling the walls on either side of the door, she finally located a light switch and flicked it on. The room was lit by a single bare bulb. Attached to a hook suspended from a chain anchored to the ceiling, was a bulky, beaten man. Blood poured from his mouth and drenched the front of his shirt. He had the kicked-in appearance of anyone who has spent too much time on the wrong end of Lyle's entertainment. Looking around, Parker approached the man and stared at him. No internal voices spoke to her except her own conscious. Only a moment's hesitation delayed her, as she calmly exited the room and returned with a wheelchair. She unhooked the man's handcuffed wrists from the suspended hook, then guided his heavy body to the waiting wheelchair. The beaten sweeper tried to open is swollen eyes but was unable to move much.
The surprised doctor looked up in resignation when Parker returned for the third time, now wheeling a battered sweeper. She crisply ordered him to take care of Lyle's latest victim. The doctor looked at the man slumped over in the wheelchair with distant interest. At Parker's sardonic suggestion that he use his newest concoction on the sweeper, Dr. Galvan immediately perked up and nodded sagely at the woman. He reminded her who was in charge of the battered man's case. Parker smirked cynically, telling the doctor she would handle her twin personally.
Several months later Parker was confronted by a grateful sweeper. The circumstances encouraged her to negotiate a reassignment and a new deal between herself and Raines which included the sweeper being placed under her protection. Parker intended on having him assigned to Sam for further training when unexpectedly the fellow presented himself in her office a few days later. He was of Japanese/Samoan descent and scrupulously inscrutable . He approached her as she sat at her desk and then bowed deeply. In a barely audible voice he stated his allegiance and vowed that no harm should ever come to her while he lived. Despite any attempts to reason with him, order him or threaten him, the man refused to leave her side. His file suggested prior Yakuza ties but he turned out to be the oddest bodyguard. He startled her by being on her doorstep early in the morning -- clearly waiting for her to appear and following her in a Town Car when she left at night. At first his presence was thoroughly annoying. It took Parker some time, Sydney's hearty support of Moriyama's behavior and Lyle's less than happy attitude to stop her resistance. A thorough self-starter, Moriyama went with her practically everywhere, his efficiency, intelligence and persistence caused him to become her personal assistant.
Gruentella Pass - Present
Overlooking Denver, CO
Jarod listened to her with interest, knowing at which points she downplayed her role or left out a detail she felt he didn't need to know. He had always enjoyed the way she would tell a story when they were kids. For the first time in years he felt at ease in her presence. They were alone together without any psychopathic murderers, greedy bank robbers or a blanket of grief hanging between them. He relished the feeling for several more seconds before interrupting the mood.
"Children were the last target. This guy is a monster that needs to be stopped as quickly as possible. If we pool our efforts than we can catch him before he kills anyone else. Does the Centre know why he's trying his best to perfect his kill? Did they send him out to do this as a sim? What I want to know from you is why the killer is targeting children?"
"One question at a time, Genius. Hemmings is a researcher who got homicidally upset when his pet project was terminated by the Tower. Seems his research was going no where while his home got some badly needed repairs. He took the news poorly and got so angry that he forgot who was funding his little horror project and gave the powers that be a piece of his mind--the only part that was halfway sane it turned out. The idiot bit the hand that was feeding him and lost everything he owned. In retaliation, he ran taking his lethal formulas with him. From what I can tell, he's trying to prove that the stuff he devised really works. Apparently there were a few, shall we say unresolved issues with the project that caused the Tower to lose patience and the deep pockets client to go elsewhere for their filthy product."
"He's been trying to stabilize the compound and compensate for the decrease in toxicity that his conversion process causes. Guessing from his targets, I can only assume that the weapon's potency is the main problem and its effects on a cross section of society is causing him problems."
A deep sigh escaped her lips as Parker responded. "Yes, apparently the formula doesn't work too well on children of a certain age. Something about their immune systems being too adaptive."
Silence enveloped them as Jarod quietly considered her last statement. Then without preamble he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a thick white envelope. He held the package aloft so the unseen bodyguard could get a look at it, instead of shooting him first and asking questions later. Parker watched Jarod with faint amusement, making note that Moriyama seemed to be the first person from the Centre Jarod actually treated with some respect. The Pretender placed the envelope in her hand.
"This is residue that was left on the machine the task force confiscated on the day of the incident. Have your people analyze it. It should tell us where he is in his research. From what I can tell, it appears he's still trying to weaponize the toxin, this is going to be a race to the finish."
"Weapon? What are you talking about? Hemmings is a researcher who went over the edge into a La La land of serial murder and fantasy," Parker countered despite the uncomfortable twinges from her sensitive stomach which twitched in response to his comment.
Jarod turned his gaze from the genuinely stunned look that suffused Parker's features and stared out at the brilliant show below. "I see they're still hiding things from you. My analysis of the compound revealed it's a rare toxin that has been restructured into a substance that can be weaponized. If Hemmings is allowed to finish what he's started, it will mean the deaths of several million people, if not more. I've done some preliminary research and an anti-toxin has never been developed."
She silently stared at envelope in her hand and tucked it securely inside one of her coat pockets. Parker shivered slightly to cover up the cold-fusion of anger building inside. Raines had lied, that she expected as much as she would expect the sun to rise the next day but the depth of the lie and the danger it implied was galling. Abruptly she turned and got inside of the rented Town Car. Jarod followed her and got in on the passenger side. They remained silent for several more seconds as they warmed up. Before either said a word, Jarod retrieved a small device used to scramble any listening device. Parker looked at the small gadget then leaned over, opened the glove compartment and placed a device of her own next to Jarod's on the dashboard.
"I only trust my own toys. I take it there is something else you think I can do for you?" she asked with heavy sarcasm. Being Jarod's information lackey was extremely trying on her nerves.
"Why are you still there?" he asked simply, confident she would understand the depth of his question.
"I'm there, as you put it because that's where I belong. Seems I was born into this role but then this is a conversation we've already had."
"You were no more born into this role Raines has shoved you into, than I was born to serve them."
Parker stared though the windshield at the sprawling city below. Though her view was partially obstructed by the railing and angle, the view was still magnificent. In a quietly calm voice she answered, "I'm not sure what it is you want from me, Jarod. If you think this little vassal would rise up in indignation against her masters than I'm sorry to say that you'll be greatly disappointed. It's too late for me. When I give myself the chance to think about it, I believe my last chance at taking advantage of any turning point died from a single gunshot to the head. My mother's killer is still alive and has claimed many more lives since her death. My family is a complete sham and I have absolutely nothing to turn to or believe in. You would do better to leave me alone and spend your time trying to rescue someone more receptive."
Jarod stared at her as she spoke her mind. The loneliness of the past several months pressed down hard on him. He had left his family after hearing of this spate of senseless killings, immediately suspecting the Centre of complicity. He had just started another relationship before coming to Colorado but if history was to be believed, this lover would eventually fade away as well---his fear of the Centre using her against him would ruin anything he could build up. Remembering what had almost happened between them, Jarod decided to finish what had tentatively started. Leaning over he gently reached out to touch her chin. Parker flinched and turning her head to look at him inquiringly, she suddenly found herself engaged in a kiss. The caress was as gentle, soft and warm as his own lips. Forgetting herself, Parker withdrew her lips and kissed his open mouth several times. Jarod surprised by her reaction, responded in kind and finally enclosed her mouth with his, savoring the taste of her. When they finished, Parker stared at Jarod's mouth, then leaned back into her own seat. Jarod leaned back as well but kept his eyes on her.
"It's never too late Parker. Have faith in yourself, you're worth it, believe me."
Parker looked over at Jarod with mild surprise. Seeing her expression he smirked, shrugged, then exited the car. Leaning over into the open door, he said, "Keep me in the loop. Let me know the results the Centre's lab techs come up with that residue."
"I have no idea how long it will take them to analyze this. He's already struck again, you do realize that? Tonight was his deadline and somewhere down there is another set of victims. The most we can do is minimize the damage."
"Yes, I know," Jarod said suddenly sobering. "I'll be looking for you at the next crime scene." With that, he slammed the door shut and walked off into the darkness. A few seconds later, he heard the powerful engine of the rental car roar to life.
In the shadows nearby, Moriyama slowly lowered his high-powered sniper's rifle. Jarod was correct in his caution when taking out the small white envelope from his pocket. Moriyama had watched the conversation his boss had with the Centre's refugee genius. It was with little shock that he witnessed Miss Parker kiss the man hungrily. Nodding quietly to himself, he recalled that he had discovered how lonely her life was once he started guarding her and was most likely before. Moriyama decided that he would watch Jarod carefully to discover his true intentions.
Acknowledgement: I wish to extend a special 'thank you' to a reviewer who inspired the direction of this chapter and indeed the remainder of this story before the first chapter was even posted!