Disclaimer: see Part 1

Thanks to:

Goldentail: Ah, a new face. Thank you for your review and now go on reading the next chapter and enjoy!

Mfkngst: Creepy... yes, I guess that is a fitting description (but we haven't reached the 'up-scale of creepy' until now #winks#). Anyway, thanks for reviewing (as well as voting) and now enjoy chapter 2.

rev2004: Wouldn't you like to know?!? Hehehe, well, we will see... maybe it was Jarod after all? Anyway, thanks for reviewing and now have fun with the next chapter.

Miss Dynamite: Yeah, it's creepy. But don't we all love creepy? #grins widely#. Thanks for your review and now enjoy the next chapter.

Leochick: Yeah, good ole stalker stories... you sure about it not being Jarod? We'll see. Anyway, thanks for voting and thanks for reviewing. Now enjoy!

Gemini-M: Good, your attention is what I wanted to have #grins#. I know about the mysterious start to the story... I just love starting stories with mysteries (and this will not the last time I do it at the beginning of a story). Hope you don't mind. Thanks for reviewing and now enjoy the next chapter!

Brandy: So take more, I'm offering it on a platter. Here you go... enjoy!

e-dog: Interest is all I was asking for with the first chapter... I obviously got it #grins#. Thanks for reviewing and now enjoy chapter 2.

x x x x x x

Shadows Part 2

The winds are changing

Jarod slowly ambled out of the Empire State Building with his camera in hand, the device swinging back and forth in the same rhythm of his relaxed and yet large strides.

He had finally used the time he had to visit the impressive building. Up to now he had never had the chance to do so.

Technically, he knew the building inside out from his early days in the Centre but he had always wanted to see it in reality. So now he had finally found the time to make it.

It had been really impressive. The technical data couldn't be compared with the real feeling.

He grinned as he looked at the small key-ring pendant he had just bought. He wasn't sure if he would keep it or sent it to his constant pursuers. Miss Parker would just love to get something from him. He chuckled at the thought.

Jarod looked at his watch. He had just enough time to get something else done before the person he was waiting for would arrive.

Smiling and whistling softly, he walked down Broadway and crossed the Eighth Avenue to walk into the Central Park. He took out a ghost-shaped PEZ-dispenser out from the breast pocket of his leather jacket and popped a candy in his mouth.

The smile widened as the sweet taste of PEZ flowed around in his mouth.

x x x x x x

She strode up to the entrance of the Empire State Building purposefully, two sweepers following her a pace behind, one at each side.

One could practically see her reluctance to walk into the building. She hated these formal meetings with possible Centre clients and he knew it.

She stopped short and turned around. Squinting against the sun, she let her gaze sweep around and she looked directly into his camera without even knowing it.

He smiled widely and pressed the shutter, letting the film rattle behind the camera's lenses.

These photos would make some more great snapshots.

He breathed deeply and then let his camera sink when the brunette turned back to the building and vanished inside.

His job was done for the day. No one knew when she would get out of that meeting and as much as he wanted to wait for her, he couldn't.

He had something else to do, other places to be.

Sighing regretfully, he the turned around and walked over to his car to drive back.

x x x x x x

Miss Parker gritted her teeth when she didn't see anything. Well, she saw a lot of things; busy people running around, cars driving by on the street, even some people looking at her, the men's gazes full of admiration and the one's of the women full of envy. But she didn't see what had made her turn around to look around.

Turning back to the huge building's entrance, she walked up the last few steps.

Something was just not right but she couldn't really pinpoint that feeling and she couldn't see anything suspicious. It was just a feeling, something that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

She hadn't just had that feeling today but it had accompanied her for nearly four weeks.

Something had changed since then; something she didn't like.

It was as if there was something behind her, some invisible force trailing her but every time she turned around, she couldn't see it. She could only feel it lurking out from behind the next corner.

The last four weeks had been strange. She had gotten several calls at various times of a day but no one had answered. And then, three days back, a pullover had vanished from out of her house during the night. She had woken up the next day and the pullover was gone.

Miss Parker shook her head and wondered what Jarod was up to now. Maybe he had moved their little game onto a new battlefield they hadn't been playing on before.

Maybe... and yet, the tingling sensation on the back of her neck remained.

Something had changed.

To be continued...

Author's Note: Just as an information and before you start stepping on my toes: I know this chapter was rather short again but it will change from now on. You'll get longer chapters - promise.