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Chapter 17: Surprises, Surprises, Surprises
Kyle, Jarod, Lyle, Catherine, and Miss Parker spun around to face the door as it came crashing to the floor. Seven men in suits ran in, guns raised, and came into the living room. Miss Parker felt faint. Sweepers? But what were they doing here? Her father had promised… he promised not to send them unless she failed. She hadn't failed yet. What were they doing here? In a moment, Miss Parker realized she had been betrayed. A nagging thought told her that this was how Catherine, Jarod, and Kyle had felt only a few minutes earlier.
"Freeze!" The lead sweeper, Willy, said, aiming his gun straight at Jarod. "Anyone moves and you all die a very painful death." He motioned for the other sweepers to enter and get Jarod.
"What's going on?" Miss Parker demanded, her voice coming back to her. "I'm here on a direct order from my father to get Jarod. You are interfering with Centre business." Willy laughed.
"And we have you to thank for all this. Since you led us to Jarod, we can now safely take him back home." Miss Parker opened her mouth to comment, but Willy cut her off. "Just stay put, Miss Parker, and nothing will happen to you."
Two sweepers by this time had placed handcuffs around Jarod's wrists and were leading him toward the door. Jarod struggled for a brief minute before a jab from the gun into his rib cage stopped him. He glared at Miss Parker who felt like she was loosing all control. How could her father do this to her? He had promised not to send the sweepers. Why had he? She leaned against a piano and tried to find her breath.
"Where are you taking him?" Kyle suddenly demanded, breaking the silence that had come over the group as Jarod was led out. Willy glared at him, but started when he recognized Kyle.
"Where do you think?" He mocked. "The same place you're going."
"No!" Catherine yelled as the other two sweepers wrestled Kyle to the ground and cuffed him. Kyle put up a good fight. Though smaller than his brother, he was in slightly better shape. He rolled to one side and lashed out with his foot. It connected with the sweeper's chin and he fell back. Kyle came onto his feet and lunged at the other sweeper. Kyle's shoulder caught the guy in the gut and he fell, gripping his stomach in pain. Kyle made for the back door.
A gun shot rang out and Kyle collapsed, a yell ripping out of his throat. Blood poured from the gun wound in his upper thigh. Kyle lay on the floor, moaning, as the two sweepers he had effectively beaten dragged him to the door.
"You can't take him." Lyle said, aiming his own gun at Willy. "Centre's orders were for Jarod only. Kyle gets to stay. And besides, he's not worth as much." Willy shook his head, showing no fear of the gun Lyle was aiming at him.
"Sorry, Lyle, orders have been changed. I'm supposed to take everyone. And I mean everyone." He glanced at Catherine who had slumped onto the couch, not believing what she had seen. She looked at Willy when she heard his words and panic swept into her being.
"No. You've taken both of my other sons. The Centre can't have him." Her eyes glowed fierce as the mother instinct inside her came to life. Miss Parker and Lyle exchanged confused glances, knowing Catherine couldn't be talking about Lyle. Willy just looked at her.
"I don't know what you're talking about and frankly I don't care. I'm supposed to take everyone. And that means you." His words registered in Catherine's mind and she jumped for the door. Willy was there and grabbed her. Catherine struggled.
"No!" This yell came from Lyle who immediately jumped into the fray. He pried Willy's hand away from Catherine and struggled to push him out the door. "You can't take my mother!" He shouted, as Willy was cleanly shoved out the door.
Miss Parker raced over to her mother and put both her arms around her. This was not going at all the way it should. Out the window, she could see Kyle and Jarod securely tied in the cars. Inwardly, Miss Parker cried. Why? Why did it have to turn out like this?
Lyle slammed the door shut in Willy's face and walked over to where Miss Parker was comforting their mother.
"Don't worry." He whispered, kneeling down next to them. "It's going to be okay." Lyle wished he was better with words. Wished he had learned how to comfort people. He sighed. None of them saw the shadow in the kitchen across the hall. None of them saw it until it was too late.
The sound of a gun exploding twice echoed through the room. One of the other sweepers had sneaked into the kitchen, waiting for the right moment to strike. He had finally seen his chance once Willy had been shoved out the door. Knowing his boss was probably coming in the back door now, he took the shot.
"Lyle!" Miss Parker screamed as her brother fell onto the carpet. Blood streamed out of the wounds in Lyle's shoulder and back. His breathing was erratic and he was unconscious. Miss Parker aimed her gun at the kitchen and fired off a few shots, hoping to cause the sweeper to run out the door and never come back.
"Here." Catherine said, pulling a blanket off the couch. "See if you can wrap this around the wounds to stop the bleeding." Miss Parker did as her mother asked.
"Come on, Lyle. Now's not the time to die." She whispered. A hand fell across her shoulders and she found herself flung into the piano. Her head struck the edge and she collapsed, blackness closing in around her.
The last thing she heard was Catherine shouting and the door slamming shut, obscuring the sound of protest.