A Mother's Promise
Chapter 3
Miss Parker waited tensely for Jarod to call. She knew he would eventually but how would he take the information she had been hiding from him for months. The telephone ringing brought her back to reality. "What," came Miss Parker's usual reply.
"Parker it's been a while; I hope everything is alright," Jarod said smugly.
"Shut up Jarod. I hare something to tell you and you need to listen closely." She said sternly.
"What is it Parker? You sound upset."
"Jarod have you every heard of a project called Solomon? Angelo will be sending you a file on it in the morning. Once you've read it, call me from a secure line." And with that Miss Parker hung up the phone leaving a stunned pretender on the other end of the line.
When Jarod received the file, he read it quickly. He wanted answers for what the Centre had done and he called Miss Parker for the answers. Once she was on the line, Jarod didn't give her time to speak. He started yelling question after question at her.
"How could they do this to us? You are his daughter for God's sake. Why would he choose you to be in the project? Is she alright? Have you seen her?" Jarod asked without pausing to catch his breath.
"I don't know why Jarod, but I'm glad he did. I need your help. She needs your help. Is there anyway we can meet?" Parker asked hopefully.
"I don't know Parker you could be trying to lure me into one of your traps."
"I would never do that. I wouldn't jeopardize our daughter's life by betraying you?"
"Okay" Jarod finally replied, "go to a motel right outside of Blue Cove called The Traveler's Lodge at 8 o'clock tomorrow night." Jarod hung up the phone and immediately started packing his bags for the trip ahead of him. While he packed, his mind wandered to the idea of being a father.
Jarod had been watching the parking lot closely, waiting for Parker to arrive. At exactly 8 o'clock, Miss Parker pulled into the lot. Jarod watched her for several minutes to make sure she wasn't followed. Finally he motioned her into the room he was in.
She walked in and Jarod couldn't believe they were in the same room with one another without a gun being pointed at his head. Jarod waited patiently for her to begin and it was the only time in recent memory that Parker didn't seem to be in control of her emotions. Finally she spoke. As she did so her voice began to crack ever so subtly.
"Her name is Jewel. We have a daughter and her name is Jewel. I brought a picture for you to see. She actually looks a lot like you."
"Thanks Parker. I would love to see her. I would love to get to know her as well. I want to thank you. You didn't have to tell me about her but I'm glad you did."
"The truth is I've known about Jewel for a couple of months but I was afraid to tell you." Miss Parker said defensively. She was slowly putting some distance between herself and Jarod.
Jarod spoke suddenly. "Why would you be afraid to tell me Parker?"
"At first I was afraid you would try and take her away from me. I barely knew her and yet I couldn't imagine losing her but now I realize that was a mistake. That is why I'm here. I want you to take her. I can't keep her safe and I know you can."
"What are you talking about Parker? Why can't you keep Jewel safe? Has something happened to her?" Jarod said anxiously.
Miss Parker started to answer him but she had to stop because the tears had started falling and her voice seemed to fail her. "She's alright now but a couple of days ago she was beaten at my father's request. He felt she wasn't performing to the best of her abilities on the pursuit for you."
"I'll kill him with my bare hands if he ever touches her again." Jarod spit the words out with as much malice as Miss Parker had ever heard. Miss Parker was also touched at the amount of fatherly concern Jarod had over the daughter he had never met. Her own father had never shown that much concern over her.
"I've come up with a plan for you to take Jewel and disappear. I can make sure the Centre never finds the two of you and she can have a relatively normal life." Parker spoke after Jarod calmed down.
The two of them spent the next several hours going over ever detail of Miss Parker's plan. Finally they were satisfied that the plan would work. Jarod had noticed that the talk of leaving Jewel was taking its toll on Parker and he suggested that she go home and get some rest.
"I'm trusting you Jarod to take care of our little girl. Please make sure she's happy and don't let her forget that I love her."
"I'll protect her with my very life Parker. Just make sure you don't get caught and I will meet you in a couple of days." As Miss Parker left the motel she prayed she had made the right decision.
Chapter 3
Miss Parker waited tensely for Jarod to call. She knew he would eventually but how would he take the information she had been hiding from him for months. The telephone ringing brought her back to reality. "What," came Miss Parker's usual reply.
"Parker it's been a while; I hope everything is alright," Jarod said smugly.
"Shut up Jarod. I hare something to tell you and you need to listen closely." She said sternly.
"What is it Parker? You sound upset."
"Jarod have you every heard of a project called Solomon? Angelo will be sending you a file on it in the morning. Once you've read it, call me from a secure line." And with that Miss Parker hung up the phone leaving a stunned pretender on the other end of the line.
When Jarod received the file, he read it quickly. He wanted answers for what the Centre had done and he called Miss Parker for the answers. Once she was on the line, Jarod didn't give her time to speak. He started yelling question after question at her.
"How could they do this to us? You are his daughter for God's sake. Why would he choose you to be in the project? Is she alright? Have you seen her?" Jarod asked without pausing to catch his breath.
"I don't know why Jarod, but I'm glad he did. I need your help. She needs your help. Is there anyway we can meet?" Parker asked hopefully.
"I don't know Parker you could be trying to lure me into one of your traps."
"I would never do that. I wouldn't jeopardize our daughter's life by betraying you?"
"Okay" Jarod finally replied, "go to a motel right outside of Blue Cove called The Traveler's Lodge at 8 o'clock tomorrow night." Jarod hung up the phone and immediately started packing his bags for the trip ahead of him. While he packed, his mind wandered to the idea of being a father.
Jarod had been watching the parking lot closely, waiting for Parker to arrive. At exactly 8 o'clock, Miss Parker pulled into the lot. Jarod watched her for several minutes to make sure she wasn't followed. Finally he motioned her into the room he was in.
She walked in and Jarod couldn't believe they were in the same room with one another without a gun being pointed at his head. Jarod waited patiently for her to begin and it was the only time in recent memory that Parker didn't seem to be in control of her emotions. Finally she spoke. As she did so her voice began to crack ever so subtly.
"Her name is Jewel. We have a daughter and her name is Jewel. I brought a picture for you to see. She actually looks a lot like you."
"Thanks Parker. I would love to see her. I would love to get to know her as well. I want to thank you. You didn't have to tell me about her but I'm glad you did."
"The truth is I've known about Jewel for a couple of months but I was afraid to tell you." Miss Parker said defensively. She was slowly putting some distance between herself and Jarod.
Jarod spoke suddenly. "Why would you be afraid to tell me Parker?"
"At first I was afraid you would try and take her away from me. I barely knew her and yet I couldn't imagine losing her but now I realize that was a mistake. That is why I'm here. I want you to take her. I can't keep her safe and I know you can."
"What are you talking about Parker? Why can't you keep Jewel safe? Has something happened to her?" Jarod said anxiously.
Miss Parker started to answer him but she had to stop because the tears had started falling and her voice seemed to fail her. "She's alright now but a couple of days ago she was beaten at my father's request. He felt she wasn't performing to the best of her abilities on the pursuit for you."
"I'll kill him with my bare hands if he ever touches her again." Jarod spit the words out with as much malice as Miss Parker had ever heard. Miss Parker was also touched at the amount of fatherly concern Jarod had over the daughter he had never met. Her own father had never shown that much concern over her.
"I've come up with a plan for you to take Jewel and disappear. I can make sure the Centre never finds the two of you and she can have a relatively normal life." Parker spoke after Jarod calmed down.
The two of them spent the next several hours going over ever detail of Miss Parker's plan. Finally they were satisfied that the plan would work. Jarod had noticed that the talk of leaving Jewel was taking its toll on Parker and he suggested that she go home and get some rest.
"I'm trusting you Jarod to take care of our little girl. Please make sure she's happy and don't let her forget that I love her."
"I'll protect her with my very life Parker. Just make sure you don't get caught and I will meet you in a couple of days." As Miss Parker left the motel she prayed she had made the right decision.