Chapter Two
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She walked into the Centre's lobby just like any other day. The place looked exactly the same though thirty years had passed. She went straight to her office. Maybe she could find the older Miss Parker there. But the room was empty.
Miss Parker left the room, she didn't want to slow down and think, she was sure she wouldn't be able to handle that right now.
She stopped as she heard a familiar name and looked around. There was a man and a woman in one of the offices. The man seemed angry and the woman was defending herself.
"I couldn't help it, Dave, and if you are so much better than me, why don't you go after Jarod yourself, gee, you don't even know if he's still alive," the woman said upset.
"He is, and his children are very much alive and it's your job to bring them back to the Centre," the man said and Miss Parker couldn't help but gasp out loud. She moved a little closer to the door to hear more. Someone else was chasing Jarod?
"But,"
"No buts Deborah."
"It's Debbie," the woman snapped. "Don't ever call me Deborah."
Another man came running into the room. Miss Parker guessed it was a sweeper.
"We found her," he said.
Debbie turned to the sweeper. She gave him a look that said – continue.
"She's dead, probably suicide but we can't be sure."
Miss Parker could see that the woman was shocked, maybe even sad, but she also realized no one else in the room saw her sudden shift of emotions.
"So who'll run the Centre now?" she asked coldly.
"We don't know, we have to wait for the Triumvirate's orders," Dave said.
Debbie nodded. "I have better things to do than to stand here talking to you morons, let me know if you find anything on Jarod and his family."
"Sure Debbie," the sweeper said and the blonde woman left the room. She was looking down at the ground as she walked and never noticed Miss Parker.
Miss Parker decided to follow; she wanted to talk to this woman. Maybe she could tell her what was going on.
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Miss Parker looked into the room she remembered as Broots office. The blonde was sitting by her desk, staring at a photo.
"Debbie?" Miss Parker asked and walked into the room.
Debbie turned to look at her; her eyes grew wide and her face pale as a ghost's.
"Miss Parker?" she asked in disbelief.
Miss Parker was so taken aback by her reaction she just stood there staring.
"Who are you?"
Miss Parker realized she should answer. She was desperately thinking of something to say.
"No… I… I'm her daughter," she finally said. It was a lie people could buy. At least she hoped so.
"Daughter! Oh my god, I didn't know she had a child… well I mean…" Debbie started but cut herself off. "You look just like her…"
"Where is my mother?" Miss Parker asked, almost smiling as she realized she was talking about herself in third person.
Debbie sighed miserably. "I thought you knew… she's… she's dead." She said sadly.
Miss Parker had to lean against the wall to not fall. Her legs were weak and her head was spinning. She was dead? Suddenly she realized this was what the sweeper had talked about earlier. Miss Parker could hardly breathe. Suicide? She had committed suicide?
"Did you know her? She asked the other woman.
Debbie nodded. "Yes, I've known her since I was a child. When my father died, the Centre 'took care' of me, they never let my mother know what happened to daddy and me… she's dead now… well, ehm, Miss Parker was the only one who came to visit me; it was when Mr. Raines was in charge. He was so mean, but she told me to not let him get to me and I didn't, she's the one who helped me become what I am today, if it hadn't been for her, Raines would have brainwashed me. When Raines, and her father died, she became the chair-woman of the Centre, but she wasn't herself anymore, she was so mean, I guess she didn't mean to do it, but she shut everyone out. She put me in charge of capturing Jarod… she seemed so sad…" Debbie stopped and looked up at Miss Parker. "I'm sorry; you don't understand half of what I'm saying right?" Debbie smiled sadly.
"Yes I do," Miss Parker mumbled, trying to grasp everything she just found out. Suddenly a thought struck her. She looked at Debbie with big eyes. No, it couldn't be…
"Who are you?" she asked afraid of what the answer would be, afraid that her suspicions would be confirmed.
Debbie looked puzzled. "My name is Debbie."
Miss Parker nodded. "Yeah… I know that, but how exactly did Miss Parker get to know you?"
"My father worked for her as a technician, he brought me here once in a while and…"
Miss Parker cut her off. "Broots?" she almost whispered.
Debbie nodded.
"Oh my god, it's you," Miss Parker mumbled in shock. She remembered Broots once told her, little Debbie wanted to be just like her, but she could never have imagined this. She was JUST LIKE her, in every way…
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TBC.
