CHAPTER FOUR

Dec 29,2001 to Jan. 1, 2002

Using the passport of a Mr. Kenneth Tanbuto of Johannesburg, Georges got off at the airport, picked his bags off from the counter, and walked out towards where his private plane was waiting. He held a look of confidence. Even though the Centre was no more and neither the Triumvirate, he knew with a little work, he could bring it back to its former power. The Parkers, except for Miss Parker, were now dead, but there was the new generation. However, until he got the scrolls back in the Centre with himself as now head, he could not influence them. The scrolls were able to do that. They had a power about them.

He walked over to the old man waiting by a Piper. "Mr. Kenneth Tanbuto. Is my plane ready? I called about it this morning."

"Yes sir. Do you have your flight plan ready?"

"Right here." Georges took out his revolver from his back pocket — it had already been equipped with a silencer — pointing it at the man's heart, put his heavy black hand over the victim's mouth and fired. Now he had to dispose of the body. He picked it up as easily as one does a roll of toilet paper, carrying it inside to the shelter, sat it on the chair, tied it behind by its arms, and holding a sharp knife in his now gloved hands, stabbed the man repeatedly. He then took a can of red paint, spraying obscenities on the wall. Now the police would be looking for some crazies. After than he calmly walked over to his plane and got on it.

By now, it was quite dark and he had equipped his plane to land quietly. Georges counted the change in his pocket. He could not risk hiring a car. Rental agencies kept records, but there were other means of getting a vehicle and then again, he had the name of Kenneth Tanbuto who would be shocked to find an unpaid bill in the mail next month. Another twenty dollars would not hurt him. Georges walked over to the Hertz Rent a Car, asking about the going rates.

"Nothing too fancy," he said, keeping his face down.

"If you look at our brochure you can see our economy rates and there is a travel discount. How long are you staying Mr. Tanbuto?"

"Just overnight, I'll be driving to New York City afterwards. Where can I leave the car?"

"Here's a list of our stopping points. It's …"

He yawned, listening to the costs per mile, the extra costs, the insurance, etc. and paid her in traveler's checks made out to the Tanbutos. His car was a Ford Pinto, small enough, and five years old. No one would look for it.

The Parker house was in darkness when he arrived. He looked at his map. The bedroom should be right over there. They had enlarged the place, now contained two stories and it had a Dish on top as well as a large Satellite dish in the backyard. According to Lyle, they now had cable modem as well as DSL, so if one failed, they could still use the other.

"That must be the lawyer's house," he said, seeing the large house with the stone partition and steep slope at the back of the Parkers. He made a mental note to see this Mr. Lambourni after he got his little entertainment. He got out the car, and walked in the yard, being careful to brush over the snow over his footprints so as not to leave any evidence.

Taking the key that Lyle had mailed to him, Georges opened the back door, walking on his bare feet, his revolver in hand, and started for the main bedroom. A lamp was on, just enough for him to see what was going on and what a sight. Miss Parker had her right hand below Jarod's waist, playing with his private parts, and her other hand rumpling his hair, while he had his arms around her, and was just about to put his right leg around her back. She was unaware of Georges as she whispered in the Pretender's ear. Georges bent over to see Jarod stare at him and then leer.

"Goodbye Georges," he said.

Georges felt someone grab his neck and then there was a snap. That was all he remembered until he woke up in hell.

Miss Parker let go of Jarod and swung around, seeing a heavy black man topple to the floor and Lewison appearing behind him.

"Close your eyes Miss Parker, this won't take a moment."

She saw a flash behind her closed eyelids and a second later, opened them. All that remained of Georges was a pile of ashes that Lewison then put in a small case. "I'll throw this in the bay. Oh and Georges no doubt registered under a different name. I'll be back after I check his car."

He came back to see Jarod and Miss Parker now with the covers pulled over them, and the former almost asleep.

"He registered under the name of a Kenneth Tanbuto. I'll arrange to have all the charges reversed. Do you know if Georges has any family?"

"You can ask the reporter," she said and nudged Jarod. "Did you get anything about Georges from the internet?"

Jarod just murmured. Miss Parker shook him again. "I said what information did you gleam about Georges?"

He yawned. "He has two brothers, both dead, and four sisters, also deceased. Oh his parents are cut from the same cloth. The suspicion is that Georges killed his siblings because his father was a hereditary Zulu chief and the others were older than he. I might add that he also took care of his nephews and nieces. Quite a piece of work this Georges."

"I presume his parents went along."

"When I read the report, I figured I was going through a little deja view, Mr. Parker, Mr. Lyle, and Mr. Raines."

"No wonder they helped the Centre. Get up, give Lewison their address."

"You're almost as good as me," said Jarod, "sending them the Tambuto bills."

"I don't know whether that's an insult or a compliment," said Miss Parker as she watched Jarod put on his slacks and shirt and then get the lap top out from the living room. "I wonder when those scars are going to disappear."

"They're cut too deep so we have to call for one of our experts. His arrival will have to coincide with his vacation, scheduled to start on the seventh of July, arrives since he works at one of your major hospitals," said Lewison.

"I guess the trip to California is out and that deadbeat gets away again," said Miss Parker

"What deadbeat?"

"Oh someone who's daughter needs an operation or her life will be short and painful."

"Ah so expediency is the utmost," said Lewison, taking a cell phone from his jacket pocket, going to the bathroom, and closing the door and even though they heard the toilet flushing and the water running, they knew that it was just to disguise the conversation.

He returned to the living room a few minutes later, informing Jarod and Miss Parker that, "The medical has arranged to trade his vacation time with a Sapien who wishes to visit his ancestral home in Alaska. He will arrive with his assistants on the fourteenth of this month and will be here for the allotted time needed. We have arranged several visits to various theatrical and dining establishments to compensate for his substitution."

"The Sapien must be going on an Alaskan cruise, unless his ancestors were Eskimos," whispered Miss Parker to Jarod who agreed.

"Now for what you have to endure, Jarod," said Lewison who was not interested in The Pretender's owner's comments. "The procedure will require the most delicate of erasure, replacing the damaged tissue and repairing the cuts on the bones. They must have used a cat of nine tails."

Miss Parker shivered.