Chapter 39
Mallory could not concentrate, as Vaughn and Dixon asked her question after question. There was a glass window, and she could see Jarod's face, while he was talking to his cousin Sidney. Something was wrong. She could tell by his face and his gestures.
Her eyes then moved to the window across the hallway, behind Jarod. Her father was sitting in that room. His eyes were on her. Her 'sister' Melanie was sitting in there with him. Probably trying to get to know 'Daddy'. Well twin sis was welcome to him! She'd finally washed her hands of Daddy Parker. What she now wanted was to leave Scotland, and get back to a normal life with her husband and children. Brian was finally coming around, and Abigail had a doctor's appointment next week.
Mallory suddenly looked back up at Vaughn. Dixon had left the room.
'Tell me what's going on here?'
Vaughn was gathering up papers. He knew that Jarod had not told Mallory about Major Charles and Catherine Parker taking possession of Brian and Abigail. He was planning on being down the hall when that little talk occurred!
'Nothing is going on.'
'Jarod is very angry.'
'You can't blame him, Mallory. I'm angry. This whole mission was presented to us as if the CIA was aware of this Carthis Centre, but was still trying to infiltrate it. We were aware there were agents, but not that one of the main players was Irina Derevko.'
Mallory eyed him.
'I know she killed your father. It's good that Sidney and you don't let it get in the way of your relationship.'
Vaughn just nodded, but Mallory could tell he was still hiding something. Vaughn closed his folder.
'I'm going over to talk to Emily now. She's still somewhat of a puzzle.'
Now Mallory began to look a bit uneasy.
'What do you mean?'
'I mean I like Emily, don't get me wrong. She is just as much a victim as anyone. But her story is a bit off.'
That's because Emily is a bit off! Mallory thought. She began to wonder again, if she should tell Vaughn what Broots had told her about Emily on Christmas Day.
'Off?'
Vaughn shrugged.
'I'm sure it's nothing. Listen, I'll send Jarod in, okay?'
'Vaughn?'
'Yeah?'
'What's going to happen to my father?' Mallory asked. As much as she despised what he had tried to do, she had to know how this was going to end for him.
'I think you know. Your father will die in prison. Raines will die in prison and Lyle hopefully will as well.'
Mallory just nodded, looking away. Her father had chosen this end for himself. And if she ever wanted to enjoy her own life, she would have to make a clean cut with the man.
Vaughn turned and walked over to the door. He opened it, stepped out into the hallway and closed it behind him. He then walked over to Jarod and Sidney.
'Dixon and I are done with Mallory.' Vaughn said. 'Jarod, I hope you know that Sid and I knew nothing about this.'
Jarod nodded. Sidney looked visibly stressed.
'What? What is it?' Vaughn asked.
Sidney cleared her throat.
'Major Charles and Catherine did exactly what Jarod had insisted they do. They have disappeared with the kids. So well, as a matter of fact, that even we're having trouble finding them now.'
'How can that be?' Vaughn asked. 'We had people watching them!'
Jarod took a deep breath. He was trying to control his anger at this whole botched Centre thing, but in the end, he and Mallory had become victims again! Their damned children were gone! And now he had to go into that room and tell his wife that the two people that she trusted least in their lives, have Brian and Abigail.
'Look, I realize that the two of you were cut out of the loop on this, probably because of your closeness to Mallory and I. But something else is going on here and you know it.'
Vaughn didn't seem to understand. Sidney realized he did not know.
'We found a body, Michael. Brigitte really is dead. My mother really did shoot her and now she can't be found.'
'And I doubt very much that Irina Derevko shot Brigitte in some fit of jealousy, over the likes of him.' Jarod answered, glancing through the glass as Mr. Parker and Melanie.
'Okay, well let's find out what the hell is going on with your kids and Derevko. I'll have another agent re-question Emily.' Vaughn said. Jarod perked up.
'Re-question her? Why?'
'Jarod, I don't know how to say this, but I'm still a little puzzled about how her relationship with Derevko began. I mean, why would she trust the woman that killed her mother, aunt or not?'
'Is that what she said?' Jarod asked, a bit perplexed.
'Yes. Emily said that they had formed a secret, close relationship, and that her aunt invited her to Carthis to help her with some problem.' Vaughn said.
Jarod raised a brow. The only 'problem' he knew his little sister had, was getting over her obsession with Vaughn!
'I'll tell you what? After I talk with Mallory, why don't you let me ask her about that? Maybe I can find out something, that she wouldn't want to talk about with a stranger.'
'Like what?' Sidney asked. But Jarod especially didn't want to let on to her, that Emily had a thing for her boyfriend!
'I don't know...I'm just pretty good at reading her. Will you let me try?'
Sidney and Vaughn looked at one another. Vaughn shrugged.
'Alright. I'll get working on finding out where Major Charles and Catherine Parker are. Broots might be able to help.'
'Yes, he was always very good at tracking me down for many years.' Jarod said wryly, feeling only slightly better. Sidney touched his shoulder.
'We'll find them. I have to go turn Sydney and Michelle loose. They're not really happy with this whole situation either.'
'At least Sydney and Nicholas have Michelle back. That's what's important.' Jarod replied, before turning and walking towards the room Mallory was in. Sidney watched him walk away, just as her cell phone rang. She answered it.
'Agent Bristow.'
'Sidney?'
Sidney's eyes began to dart around! It was her mother, Irina Derevko.
'Don't bother to try and trace this call. I need to meet with you.'
'Why? To turn yourself in? Why did you kill Brigitte?'
'Sidney, I can't get into that right now. What I can tell you is that I have something I want you to give to Jarod. There's something I really think he and his wife need to know. I want you to meet me....'
Sidney sighed. She knew the place her mother was referring to. She just felt torn about going alone...yet, if this concerned Jarod, she was more than willing to do it. Anything to make up for this botched mission!
Jarod walked into the interrogation room and closed the door. Mallory stood up, as Jarod walked over to the window and closed the blinds. His eyes met Mr. Parker's, as he drew them. Jarod then turned to Mallory.
'Your father seems very interested in what's going on in here.' he noted.
'Let him ask his other daughter then.'
'Are you okay with what's going to happen to him?'
'Jarod, I've accepted what he is and all that he's done. It's over. Now, when are we going home?'
'In a few hours.'
Mallory smiled.
'Good. I feel somewhat better knowing that Bobby is with his real mother.'
Jarod reached out and touched her shoulder.
'Brigitte is dead, Mallory. She is the only one that's really dead. Bobby is here now...Vaughn and Sidney are going to let us take him home.'
'What?! Brigitte is really dead?! Why?! That means that Derevko meant to kill her.'
'Yes. And since that was not part of her deal with the CIA, it means she had her own agenda.'
'When has she never? Do they have her in custody?'
'No. She got away.'
Mallory's mouth dropped open!
'Please don't tell me they think she did this out of some sort of jealousy regarding my father?'
Jarod now placed both of his hands on her shoulders.
'Honey, please don't get worked up like this. Before you leave, I want you to get looked at by some of the doctors here.'
'I'm fine, Jarod.'
'You've been given that drug three times that we know of, Mallory. This last time almost killed you, if not for this 'miracle drug' that was given to you, once again, by my aunt. I would just feel better if you would see someone. Will you do that? For me?'
Mallory sighed, looking at a wall. Once again, they were faced with unanswered questions. Brigitte was killed, but everyone else's deaths were fake. Why? Did Brigitte do something to Derevko in the past? What?
'Mallory?'
Mallory turned back to Jarod.
'Yes. Yes, I will get examined. Anything to get back to Blue Cove and be reunited with our children. So, you left them with the CIA?'
'Mallory, I need for you to sit down now.'
Mallory just stared at him. She had the feeling that now she was going to find out why Jarod had seemed so agitated with Vaughn and Sidney before.
'No, dear, I'd rather stand. What's going on?'
'Okay, there is no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to say it.'
'Please do.' Mallory said. She was beginning to lose her patience. Jarod was beating around the bush on something...something concerning their children.
'When you were brainwashed into thinking you worked for the Centre, I got a call from Lyle. He told me that you were dying from the drug they had given you.'
Jarod stopped abruptly and rubbed his forehead. Mallory softened a bit and reached for the hand that was on his forehead.
'I'm alive and nothing is going to happen to me.' she said softly,
'But I did not know that! I couldn't be sure. One of the conditions of curing you was that I surrendered myself to the Centre.'
'I suspected that. I know how hard that had to have been for you.'
'What was hard, Mallory, was the idea of raising Brian and Abigail alone. Then Lyle hinted that he would be coming for them as well.'
Mallory let go of Jarod's hand.
'Jarod, he doesn't have them. So we don't need to keep re-hashing this. I'll get my physical, or whatever, and things will be good again, okay?'
'I couldn't take that chance, Mallory. I couldn't take the chance that the CIA might not be able to protect them. It looked as if they had let Michelle die and allowed you to be kidnapped. I couldn't take that chance.'
Mallory cleared her throat.
'Are you telling me that Brian and Abigail are no longer under the CIA's protection?'
'No, they are not. I...'
'Where are they, Jarod?! Damnit, you answer me! Where are our children?!'
'With my father and your mother.' Jarod said calmly.
Mallory's eyes widened! She then began to back away.
'Have you lost your mind?! Have you?! You've just given away our children, you do know that?! We'll never see them again! We will never see them again!'
'That's not true! We'll find them and tell them that everything is good and they can turn the kids back over to us.'
'Oh, Jarod! Always so full of Pollyanna sunshine! They turned Brian over to us once, then tried to get him back! They're not going to make it that easy for us again! And now they have a baby to boot?! Where are they?! Where did they take them?!'
'I want you to calm down.' Jarod said, feeling strangely much more in control, now that he was faced with his wife's anger.
'I'll calm down when those two fiends give us back our children! How could you...'
Jarod suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and began to shake her!
'Did you hear any of what I told you?! Huh?! Anything at all?! I thought I was going to be living at the Centre! You didn't remember our love or our children! I was determined to keep them safe and who better to leave them with, than two people who lived their lives hiding from the Centre! This was about keeping our children safe! This was about Brian and Abigail not living in a place without sunlight, and asked to perform simulations...'
The images Jarod's words conjured up were much too graphic. Mallory lurched away from him, put her face in her hands and began to sob. Jarod slowly walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
'We'll get them back, I promise. We'll get them back.' Jarod whispered. Mallory just continued to cry, but did not break away from Jarod's embrace.
Sidney looked around, as the wind whipped through her hair. She then turned to her right, as her mother approached her. Irina smiled at her only daughter.
'How are you?'
'Not in the mood for games. Why did you want to meet me here? Why did you kill Brigitte Parker?'
Irina pulled out a small envelope. She handed it to Sidney.
'What is this?'
'A starting place. I know that Major Charles and Catherine Parker were paid good money to disappear.'
Sidney clenched her fists! Damnit! This whole thing was going from bad to worse!
'Why? And by whom?'
Irina nodded towards the envelope.
'Like I said, that's your starting place. Go with your instincts, Sidney. Think about the first time you felt something was not right about this whole equation. I love you. I know you don't believe that, but it's true.'
Sidney knew she should pull her gun, or try and restrain her mother in some way, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. Not even when Irina turned and began walking away.
Sidney stared after her for a moment, then opened the envelope. It was nine and a half by twelve. Inside of it, was a frayed photo of two little girls, twins.
Sidney stared at the photo. What was this? Who were these girls? She then remembered her mother's words. When did things begin not to feel right?
Sidney turned the picture over. There was writing on the back. It read Catherine and Cecily Jamison. The date was almost illegible, although Sidney guessed from how the girls were dressed, that it had to have been taken back in the forties or something. Maybe even the fifties.
Catherine Jamison? Wasn't that Catherine Parker's maiden name? Sidney's mouth dropped open! Catherine Parker had a twin sister! And it was back when it wad discovered that Catherine Parker was still alive, that things had not felt right to Sidney.
Sidney put the picture back in the envelope and began hurrying towards her car. She tried not to wonder how her mother came across this information. The point was, if her suspicions were correct, neither Jarod, nor Mallory, may ever see Brian or Abigail, ever again.
Mallory could not concentrate, as Vaughn and Dixon asked her question after question. There was a glass window, and she could see Jarod's face, while he was talking to his cousin Sidney. Something was wrong. She could tell by his face and his gestures.
Her eyes then moved to the window across the hallway, behind Jarod. Her father was sitting in that room. His eyes were on her. Her 'sister' Melanie was sitting in there with him. Probably trying to get to know 'Daddy'. Well twin sis was welcome to him! She'd finally washed her hands of Daddy Parker. What she now wanted was to leave Scotland, and get back to a normal life with her husband and children. Brian was finally coming around, and Abigail had a doctor's appointment next week.
Mallory suddenly looked back up at Vaughn. Dixon had left the room.
'Tell me what's going on here?'
Vaughn was gathering up papers. He knew that Jarod had not told Mallory about Major Charles and Catherine Parker taking possession of Brian and Abigail. He was planning on being down the hall when that little talk occurred!
'Nothing is going on.'
'Jarod is very angry.'
'You can't blame him, Mallory. I'm angry. This whole mission was presented to us as if the CIA was aware of this Carthis Centre, but was still trying to infiltrate it. We were aware there were agents, but not that one of the main players was Irina Derevko.'
Mallory eyed him.
'I know she killed your father. It's good that Sidney and you don't let it get in the way of your relationship.'
Vaughn just nodded, but Mallory could tell he was still hiding something. Vaughn closed his folder.
'I'm going over to talk to Emily now. She's still somewhat of a puzzle.'
Now Mallory began to look a bit uneasy.
'What do you mean?'
'I mean I like Emily, don't get me wrong. She is just as much a victim as anyone. But her story is a bit off.'
That's because Emily is a bit off! Mallory thought. She began to wonder again, if she should tell Vaughn what Broots had told her about Emily on Christmas Day.
'Off?'
Vaughn shrugged.
'I'm sure it's nothing. Listen, I'll send Jarod in, okay?'
'Vaughn?'
'Yeah?'
'What's going to happen to my father?' Mallory asked. As much as she despised what he had tried to do, she had to know how this was going to end for him.
'I think you know. Your father will die in prison. Raines will die in prison and Lyle hopefully will as well.'
Mallory just nodded, looking away. Her father had chosen this end for himself. And if she ever wanted to enjoy her own life, she would have to make a clean cut with the man.
Vaughn turned and walked over to the door. He opened it, stepped out into the hallway and closed it behind him. He then walked over to Jarod and Sidney.
'Dixon and I are done with Mallory.' Vaughn said. 'Jarod, I hope you know that Sid and I knew nothing about this.'
Jarod nodded. Sidney looked visibly stressed.
'What? What is it?' Vaughn asked.
Sidney cleared her throat.
'Major Charles and Catherine did exactly what Jarod had insisted they do. They have disappeared with the kids. So well, as a matter of fact, that even we're having trouble finding them now.'
'How can that be?' Vaughn asked. 'We had people watching them!'
Jarod took a deep breath. He was trying to control his anger at this whole botched Centre thing, but in the end, he and Mallory had become victims again! Their damned children were gone! And now he had to go into that room and tell his wife that the two people that she trusted least in their lives, have Brian and Abigail.
'Look, I realize that the two of you were cut out of the loop on this, probably because of your closeness to Mallory and I. But something else is going on here and you know it.'
Vaughn didn't seem to understand. Sidney realized he did not know.
'We found a body, Michael. Brigitte really is dead. My mother really did shoot her and now she can't be found.'
'And I doubt very much that Irina Derevko shot Brigitte in some fit of jealousy, over the likes of him.' Jarod answered, glancing through the glass as Mr. Parker and Melanie.
'Okay, well let's find out what the hell is going on with your kids and Derevko. I'll have another agent re-question Emily.' Vaughn said. Jarod perked up.
'Re-question her? Why?'
'Jarod, I don't know how to say this, but I'm still a little puzzled about how her relationship with Derevko began. I mean, why would she trust the woman that killed her mother, aunt or not?'
'Is that what she said?' Jarod asked, a bit perplexed.
'Yes. Emily said that they had formed a secret, close relationship, and that her aunt invited her to Carthis to help her with some problem.' Vaughn said.
Jarod raised a brow. The only 'problem' he knew his little sister had, was getting over her obsession with Vaughn!
'I'll tell you what? After I talk with Mallory, why don't you let me ask her about that? Maybe I can find out something, that she wouldn't want to talk about with a stranger.'
'Like what?' Sidney asked. But Jarod especially didn't want to let on to her, that Emily had a thing for her boyfriend!
'I don't know...I'm just pretty good at reading her. Will you let me try?'
Sidney and Vaughn looked at one another. Vaughn shrugged.
'Alright. I'll get working on finding out where Major Charles and Catherine Parker are. Broots might be able to help.'
'Yes, he was always very good at tracking me down for many years.' Jarod said wryly, feeling only slightly better. Sidney touched his shoulder.
'We'll find them. I have to go turn Sydney and Michelle loose. They're not really happy with this whole situation either.'
'At least Sydney and Nicholas have Michelle back. That's what's important.' Jarod replied, before turning and walking towards the room Mallory was in. Sidney watched him walk away, just as her cell phone rang. She answered it.
'Agent Bristow.'
'Sidney?'
Sidney's eyes began to dart around! It was her mother, Irina Derevko.
'Don't bother to try and trace this call. I need to meet with you.'
'Why? To turn yourself in? Why did you kill Brigitte?'
'Sidney, I can't get into that right now. What I can tell you is that I have something I want you to give to Jarod. There's something I really think he and his wife need to know. I want you to meet me....'
Sidney sighed. She knew the place her mother was referring to. She just felt torn about going alone...yet, if this concerned Jarod, she was more than willing to do it. Anything to make up for this botched mission!
Jarod walked into the interrogation room and closed the door. Mallory stood up, as Jarod walked over to the window and closed the blinds. His eyes met Mr. Parker's, as he drew them. Jarod then turned to Mallory.
'Your father seems very interested in what's going on in here.' he noted.
'Let him ask his other daughter then.'
'Are you okay with what's going to happen to him?'
'Jarod, I've accepted what he is and all that he's done. It's over. Now, when are we going home?'
'In a few hours.'
Mallory smiled.
'Good. I feel somewhat better knowing that Bobby is with his real mother.'
Jarod reached out and touched her shoulder.
'Brigitte is dead, Mallory. She is the only one that's really dead. Bobby is here now...Vaughn and Sidney are going to let us take him home.'
'What?! Brigitte is really dead?! Why?! That means that Derevko meant to kill her.'
'Yes. And since that was not part of her deal with the CIA, it means she had her own agenda.'
'When has she never? Do they have her in custody?'
'No. She got away.'
Mallory's mouth dropped open!
'Please don't tell me they think she did this out of some sort of jealousy regarding my father?'
Jarod now placed both of his hands on her shoulders.
'Honey, please don't get worked up like this. Before you leave, I want you to get looked at by some of the doctors here.'
'I'm fine, Jarod.'
'You've been given that drug three times that we know of, Mallory. This last time almost killed you, if not for this 'miracle drug' that was given to you, once again, by my aunt. I would just feel better if you would see someone. Will you do that? For me?'
Mallory sighed, looking at a wall. Once again, they were faced with unanswered questions. Brigitte was killed, but everyone else's deaths were fake. Why? Did Brigitte do something to Derevko in the past? What?
'Mallory?'
Mallory turned back to Jarod.
'Yes. Yes, I will get examined. Anything to get back to Blue Cove and be reunited with our children. So, you left them with the CIA?'
'Mallory, I need for you to sit down now.'
Mallory just stared at him. She had the feeling that now she was going to find out why Jarod had seemed so agitated with Vaughn and Sidney before.
'No, dear, I'd rather stand. What's going on?'
'Okay, there is no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to say it.'
'Please do.' Mallory said. She was beginning to lose her patience. Jarod was beating around the bush on something...something concerning their children.
'When you were brainwashed into thinking you worked for the Centre, I got a call from Lyle. He told me that you were dying from the drug they had given you.'
Jarod stopped abruptly and rubbed his forehead. Mallory softened a bit and reached for the hand that was on his forehead.
'I'm alive and nothing is going to happen to me.' she said softly,
'But I did not know that! I couldn't be sure. One of the conditions of curing you was that I surrendered myself to the Centre.'
'I suspected that. I know how hard that had to have been for you.'
'What was hard, Mallory, was the idea of raising Brian and Abigail alone. Then Lyle hinted that he would be coming for them as well.'
Mallory let go of Jarod's hand.
'Jarod, he doesn't have them. So we don't need to keep re-hashing this. I'll get my physical, or whatever, and things will be good again, okay?'
'I couldn't take that chance, Mallory. I couldn't take the chance that the CIA might not be able to protect them. It looked as if they had let Michelle die and allowed you to be kidnapped. I couldn't take that chance.'
Mallory cleared her throat.
'Are you telling me that Brian and Abigail are no longer under the CIA's protection?'
'No, they are not. I...'
'Where are they, Jarod?! Damnit, you answer me! Where are our children?!'
'With my father and your mother.' Jarod said calmly.
Mallory's eyes widened! She then began to back away.
'Have you lost your mind?! Have you?! You've just given away our children, you do know that?! We'll never see them again! We will never see them again!'
'That's not true! We'll find them and tell them that everything is good and they can turn the kids back over to us.'
'Oh, Jarod! Always so full of Pollyanna sunshine! They turned Brian over to us once, then tried to get him back! They're not going to make it that easy for us again! And now they have a baby to boot?! Where are they?! Where did they take them?!'
'I want you to calm down.' Jarod said, feeling strangely much more in control, now that he was faced with his wife's anger.
'I'll calm down when those two fiends give us back our children! How could you...'
Jarod suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and began to shake her!
'Did you hear any of what I told you?! Huh?! Anything at all?! I thought I was going to be living at the Centre! You didn't remember our love or our children! I was determined to keep them safe and who better to leave them with, than two people who lived their lives hiding from the Centre! This was about keeping our children safe! This was about Brian and Abigail not living in a place without sunlight, and asked to perform simulations...'
The images Jarod's words conjured up were much too graphic. Mallory lurched away from him, put her face in her hands and began to sob. Jarod slowly walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
'We'll get them back, I promise. We'll get them back.' Jarod whispered. Mallory just continued to cry, but did not break away from Jarod's embrace.
Sidney looked around, as the wind whipped through her hair. She then turned to her right, as her mother approached her. Irina smiled at her only daughter.
'How are you?'
'Not in the mood for games. Why did you want to meet me here? Why did you kill Brigitte Parker?'
Irina pulled out a small envelope. She handed it to Sidney.
'What is this?'
'A starting place. I know that Major Charles and Catherine Parker were paid good money to disappear.'
Sidney clenched her fists! Damnit! This whole thing was going from bad to worse!
'Why? And by whom?'
Irina nodded towards the envelope.
'Like I said, that's your starting place. Go with your instincts, Sidney. Think about the first time you felt something was not right about this whole equation. I love you. I know you don't believe that, but it's true.'
Sidney knew she should pull her gun, or try and restrain her mother in some way, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. Not even when Irina turned and began walking away.
Sidney stared after her for a moment, then opened the envelope. It was nine and a half by twelve. Inside of it, was a frayed photo of two little girls, twins.
Sidney stared at the photo. What was this? Who were these girls? She then remembered her mother's words. When did things begin not to feel right?
Sidney turned the picture over. There was writing on the back. It read Catherine and Cecily Jamison. The date was almost illegible, although Sidney guessed from how the girls were dressed, that it had to have been taken back in the forties or something. Maybe even the fifties.
Catherine Jamison? Wasn't that Catherine Parker's maiden name? Sidney's mouth dropped open! Catherine Parker had a twin sister! And it was back when it wad discovered that Catherine Parker was still alive, that things had not felt right to Sidney.
Sidney put the picture back in the envelope and began hurrying towards her car. She tried not to wonder how her mother came across this information. The point was, if her suspicions were correct, neither Jarod, nor Mallory, may ever see Brian or Abigail, ever again.