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Disclaimer:
I don't own 'The Pretender' or any of its characters. They rightfully belong to
NBC, MTM, TNT and Pretender Productions. Man this is getting depressing! I'm not
doing this for the money, but for my sanity. Please don't sue. Thanks,
Thunderchild.
Break
Away
by
Thunderchild
Parker
was sleeping upstairs when someone knocked on the door of the Manor. Tommy
walked over to answer it. It was Jarod. "Where's Parker?" Jarod asked
as he stood on the doorstep.
"Upstairs
sleeping. She wasn't feeling well." He opened the door wider for Jarod to
come in. "Why?"
"We
have to leave. The Centre's planning something, I don't know what yet but I can
tell you it isn't good." Jarod told him. "You'll have to pack some
things together, clothes, anything that you'd need for a couple of days."
"I'll
go and wake her, but she won't be staying awake for long." Tommy walked
upstairs and into her bedroom. She was sleeping peacefully. He sat down next to
her and touched her shoulder. "Baby, wake up for me. I need you to do
something." Parker stirred and opened her eyes but they started to slip
closed again. "I know, sorry to wake you but we have to leave. I need you
to pack some clothes and things that you'd need for a few days."
"Why?"
Parker mumbled.
"The
Centre's planning something. Jarod's come to take us away till it calms down."
Tommy stroked her face. "I know you're tired, but as soon as you pack some
clothes you can go back to sleep."
"All
right." Parker sat up weakly, but just fell back down onto the bed. "Help
me out." Tommy wrapped his arms around her and sat her up and pushed her
legs over the edge to help keep her balanced when she sat there without him
helping.
"OK?"
Tommy knelt in front of her.
"I'm
OK." Parker said, her eyes started to brighten up.
"Yell
if you need anything, or just drop to the floor. I'll here the thump."
Tommy joked.
"OK,
you go keep Jarod company. I'll be ready in a couple of minutes." Parker
smiled at him. Tommy left and walked downstairs. She got up and walked over to
the cupboard, packing some clothes and most importantly her gun.
"Is
she doing it?" Jarod asked when he saw Tommy coming back downstairs.
"Yeah."
"Aren't
you going to pack?"
"I've
already packed. I was meant to go away today, but when Parker wasn't feeling
well, I put it off to make sure she's all right." He pointed to the bag by
the door. Jarod nodded.
"Do
you know what's wrong with her?" Jarod asked as they sat down on the couch.
"Her
ulcer. She hasn't been feeling well for the last couple of days. But today she
could hardly get out of bed." Tommy said sadly. "Do you know what's
going on?"
"Not
everything. The Centre is planning something against you and Parker, until I can
find out what I'm just getting you away for a while so no one gets hurt."
"You
care about her, don't you?"
"Ever
since we were kids. But now you're here I'm just taking a backseat. Keeping an
eye on The Centre while she's enjoying her new life." Jarod smiled.
"I'm
glad you're still looking out for her."
THUMP!
"She's
either finished or she's dropped." Tommy ran upstairs, taking two at a
time. He found her lying on the bed on her back, with the bag at the foot of the
bed. "Both." Tommy smiled and picked up her bag putting it over one
shoulder. "Come on, time to go." He carefully lifted her into his arms
and carried her downstairs. "It turned out to be both." He said to
Jarod.
"Here,
I'll take that." Jarod came over and carefully disentangled Tommy from the
bag. "You seem to have you're arms full." Jarod smiled.
"You
have no idea." Tommy joked and held her tighter.
"We
better get going. I want the trail to be cold by the time they come." Jarod
walked over to the door and opened it, picking up Tommy's bag as he went. Tommy
walked out with Parker. "Take her down to the car." Jarod said as he
locked the house up and turned on the alarm system.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
- ON
THE ROAD OUTSIDE OF DOVER:
- 5:45P.M.
Jarod
drove for a while then Tommy took over at about 4 hours outside of Dover. "So
what are you planning to do?" He asked as he drove.
"I'm
gonna have to wait till Parker's up to it, I need to know what was going on at
The Centre." Jarod said looking out the window at the fields and woods that
flew past.
"What's
she doing?" Jarod turned round and looked at her. She was lying on her back
in the backseat, with her head hanging off the side of the seat. Her left arm
was on her stomach while the right one was hanging off the side of the seat.
"Giving
herself a headache." Jarod smiled and put her arm back on the seat.
Tommy
looked in the rearview mirror and smiled. "No, she always hangs her head
off the bed when she's starting to wake up."
"When
we get in Dover, we'll find a hotel and stay for a few days. We can't do much
till Parker's up to it. I'll need her help." He instructed.
"What
about money?"
"I'm
going to take it from The Centre. That's what I've been doing the past four
years." Jarod smiled.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
- DOVER:
- 6:25P.M.
They
pulled up at The Majestic Hotel, right in the middle of Dover. The Majestic was
16-story high building with a white washed finish on the outside. Grey marbled
pillars decorated the front of the building, with a sky blue awning covering the
entrance.
Jarod
went in and organised a room. They came to The Majestic because of the rooms.
They're like small apartments. Tommy stayed in the car with Parker since she
still wasn't awake yet. Jarod came back downstairs with a key-card.
"We're
on the third floor."
"Good,
would you be able to take the bags?" Tommy asked as he got out of the car
and opened the back door to get Parker out.
"Yeah,
there's only three and the DSA case." Jarod walked round his side and
popped the boot. Tommy was about to ask what a DSA case was, but thought against
it. He bent down and picked up his precious bundle. Parker groaned at been moved.
"Shh,
we'll be OK now." Tommy whispered and kissed her forehead. She wrapped her
arms around his neck and snuggled closer to him.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Jarod
opened the door of the apartment and walked in. It was massive. In the middle of
the room was the sitting area with lounges and coffee table. The kitchenette was
over in the far corner and there was a small hallway, leading down to the
bedrooms. Jarod was able to organise an apartment with three rooms, but somehow
he doesn't think one will be used. But better safe than sorry.
"The
bedrooms are down the hall." He pointed to the hallway. Tommy nodded and
walked across the room, to deposit Parker on a bed. He could hold her all day
but he thought that he should put her down till she was feeling better and they
had important things to get done. He put her on a bed and kissed her forehead.
She smiled and rolled onto her stomach.
"She'll
be awake soon." Tommy said when he came back.
"Good."
Jarod sat down in a chair and waited.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
- BLUE
COVE:
- THE
CENTRE:
- SYDNEY'S
OFFICE:
- 4
HOURS EARLIER.
Sydney
was ringing Parker at home but there wasn't any answer, he got her machine again.
He had already left 4 messages. Broots walked into his office with some papers,
depositing them on Sydney's desk. "No answer still?" He asked.
Sydney
shook his head. "No. I'm concerned. Even if Parker was unable to answer the
phone, Thomas is there to answer it." Sydney put the phone down slowly.
"Yeah,
I see what you mean. Should we go and make sure everything's all right?"
Broots asked him.
"Yeah,
it wouldn't hurt and it would put my mind at ease." Sydney got his coat and
walked out of the office with Broots following.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
When
they got to Parker Manor, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Her car was where
it always is and Tommy's pickup was behind it, in the shade of a tall tree.
Sydney walked up to the front door and started to knock. No answer. He knocked
harder and started calling out. "Parker! Thomas! Anyone home?" Stupid
question because both the cars were there. Broots was walking along the driveway
with his head down.
"Ah,
Sydney, I think I just solved the mystery." Sydney walked down to him.
"Look, there's been another car here." Broots pointed to the two tyre
marks in the dirt. You couldn't make out a tyre tread thou, the marks were just
shallow trenches made by the car and by the look of the trenches it was a heavy
vehicle.
"Someone
has taken them." Sydney stated carefully, like he was hearing his own voice
for the first time.
"Looks
like it. I think we better tell someone at The Centre. I mean, it could've been
anyone." Broots exclaimed.
"Not
yet." Sydney said calmly, walking back to the house.
"What
do you mean, 'not yet'?"
"Let's
just look around for a minute." Broots followed him around the house. But
they didn't find anything.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
- THE
CENTRE:
- MR
PARKER'S OFFICE:
- 2:50P.M.
"What
do you mean they're gone?" Mr Parker demanded.
"Just
that, they are gone. Nowhere to be found. They've just disappeared." Sydney
said calmly.
"My
daughter DOESN'T just disappear!" Mr Parker was turning red with rage.
"No,
not unless someone has taken her...And Thomas." He said still coolly.
"And
who would do a stupid thing like that?" He demanded.
"I
don't know, I thought you might have an idea."
"Me?
Why me?" Mr Parker growled angrily.
"I
know that The Centre was planning something against Thomas. It looks like
someone got to them before you." Sydney stated.
"How
dare you!" He growled, standing up and facing off Sydney. Sydney didn't
flinch or move a muscle. "Do you think I would purposely cause my daughter
pain?"
"I
don't know, but you normally do and why should this time be any different?"
Sydney asked plainly.
"If
you really believe that you're dumber than I give you credit for. You know, it's
not good to go sticking your nose into business that doesn't concern you, you
might get in more trouble than you thought." Mr Parker said calmly, sitting
back in his chair.
"Is
that a threat?"
"No,
just think of it as advice in the well-being of your safety. People have
accidents." He sat back in his chair further. "And also think of it in
your best interest, that my daughter comes back...You can go." He turned
his back on Sydney.
Sydney
walked out of the office and was met by Broots. "How'd it go?"
"He
threatened me unless I find her. But I rattled his cage when I said that he was
planning something against Thomas." They walked down to the elevator.
"So
what are we planning to do?"
"Find
Jarod, we find Parker and Thomas and we warn them." Sydney and Broots got
in the elevator.
Mr
Parker turned around and picked up the phone and dialed. "Hold everything,
they've gone...I don't know where. Sydney knows what's going on, so it must wait...I
know timing is crucial but it must wait or everything will be jeopardised...We
don't do anything. Sydney will lead us to them. All three..." Mr Parker
smiled evilly.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
- DOVER:
- MAJESTIC
HOTEL:
- THE
APARTMENT:
- 6:45P.M.
Tommy
and Jarod are talking quietly when Parker came into the living room with her gun.
She was looking a bit spooked. "Where are we?" Parker asked, relaxing
when she only saw Jarod and Tommy.
"Dover."
Tommy answered. She walked over to him and sat on his lap. "How's your
ulcer?" He asked as he placed a gentle hand on her stomach.
"Better."
Parker rested her head on his shoulder. "What's going on?" She looked
at Jarod.
"The
Centre is plotting something against you and Thomas." He leant closer to
her. She tensed up and sat taller.
"Easy,
he's helping us." Tommy kissed her temple. She relaxed slightly and rested
her head on his shoulder again.
"I
need you to tell me what's been happening at The Centre so I can figure out what
they're up to." Jarod sat back in the chair so she didn't feel as
threatened.
"Nothing
unusual. Daddy's been busier than what seems necessary." Parker sat up
quickly. "You think Daddy's taken a contract out on Tommy!"
"Maybe.
Just answer me this, how long have you been trying to leave?" Jarod asked
her gently.
She
growled and got off Tommy, pacing dangerously and mumbling to herself. "I've
been waiting to leave and you come along and tell me they're going to kill him.
They gave it to me on a plate, Christ!" She mumbled and snarled as she
paced.
Tommy
looked at Jarod and mouthed 'Thank you' angrily at him and stood up. "Come
here Baby." Tommy said to her gently. She stopped pacing and looked at him.
She turned her head away from him shortly after and started to pace again.
"Parker?"
"I'm
going for a walk." Parker walked into the bedroom where Tommy put her down.
She came back a little while later.
"Where
are you going?" Tommy asked her.
"I
don't know, around." Parker shrugged and headed for the door.
"You
carrying?" Jarod asked her. She turned to face and lifted her shirt. In the
waistband of her jeans was her gun.
"I'm
not stupid!" Parker snarled and walked out, closing the door behind her.
"Why
didn't you stop her?" Jarod asked him.
"You
try stopping her when she's in a mood like that." Tommy sat back down.
"Was that the truth? About them going to kill me?"
"Yeah."
He said sadly. "I knew it was something like that but I wasn't sure. I had
to wait till I could ask Parker, but it didn't work as you saw." Jarod ran
his fingers through his hair.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
- BLUE
COVE:
- THE
CENTRE:
- SYDNEY'S
OFFICE:
- 6:55P.M.
Broots
just walked into Sydney's office and shut the door. He looked spooked rabbit
that was been hunted by a predator. "Someone has been following me since
you spoke with Mr Parker." He said quietly.
"Someone
has been following me too. They think we'll lead them to Parker and Thomas. Stop
searching." Sydney said to him calmly.
"But
Syd..."
"Stop
searching! Parker will come back when it's safe." Broots nodded and walked
to the door just as Lyle walked in.
"Where
is my sister?" He growled.
"She's
disappeared. So has Thomas." Sydney answered him.
"Fucking
Hell! He's in it now!" Lyle snarled and walked away, leaving Sydney and
Broots looking strangely after him.
"No,
no way. I know he didn't like him, but he wouldn't go that far!" Broots
exclaimed.
"I
wouldn't be so sure. After all this is Lyle we're talking about, he's
unpredictable." Sydney said and sat down, looking through papers that he
has on his desk about other subjects in The Centre that are under his care.
"But
not even Lyle would go that far!"
"I
wouldn't be surprised if he did."
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
- DOVER:
- MAJESTIC
HOTEL:
- THE
APARTMENT:
- 10:30P.M.
Parker
still hadn't returned from her walk and Tommy and Jarod were starting to get
worried. "She'll be OK, she's got her gun with her and she's deadly with
it." Jarod said to try and set Tommy's mind at ease as well as his own.
"Yeah,
if you don't mind I'll head off." Tommy stood up and stretched.
"No
you go, I'll wait up for her." Jarod said. He nodded and walked down to his
room.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
11:45P.M.
Jarod
has had a shower and was stretched out on the couch asleep and he didn't hear
Parker come in. She walked past the couch not noticing that there was someone on
it and walked into her room.
She
came back out a while later. After having a shower she walked over to the window
and looked out at Dover, with all of its lights on. She was wearing a black silk
dressing gown, which was tied around her tightly and was reflecting the lights
from outside. "Beautiful, isn't it?" She spun round with her gun drawn
at his chest. Jarod let out of breath and looked away, holding his hands up.
"Can we please get out of the habit of pulling guns at each other?"
"You've
never pulled a gun on me, if you did, you wouldn't be breathing now."
Parker snarled.
"OK,
can we just call it a truce until I find out what's going on?" Jarod asked
her.
"And
why would I do that?" Parker growled, shifting her grip on the gun, so
instead of holding it with two hands she was holding it in her right.
"I'm
only trying to help you and Thomas and I can't if you pull a gun on me every
five minutes." He said to her calmly.
"Go
on." Parker growled. Tommy stepped out of his room, standing in the
darkness looking at them. No one knew he was there.
"If
we could call a truce and you just trust me a little, I'll be able to get this
done a Hell of a lot quicker without you hovering over me with a gun."
Jarod told her.
"Don't
you dare try and blame me!" Parker snarled at him. "If it wasn't for
you we wouldn't be in this mess!"
"If
it wasn't for me, Thomas would be dead!" Jarod bit back.
"ARSEHOLE!"
Parker stepped up and punched him in the mouth. Jarod spun her around, wrapping
his arms around her to hold her arms at her sides. "Let go of me!"
Parker hissed, getting angrier.
"Listen!"
"Fuck
you!"
"Listen!"
Jarod squeezed her wrist with the gun for her to let go. Her hand lets go of the
gun and it falls to the floor. "Now just listen!" Parker started to
thrash around, but Jarod stilled her movements by holding her tighter.
"LET
GO OF ME YOU FUCKING ARSEHOLE!" Parker screamed at him.
"Will
you just listen to me!" Jarod growled at her angrily.
"WHAT?"
Parker was still.
"I'm
just trying to help you. I am helping you whether you like it or not, so just
calm down and stop been so bloody pig-headed. You need my help and I need you're
help, so let's call a truce. After this is it will go back to normal."
Jarod told her calmly.
"Let
go of me!" Parker snarled and kicked him in the shin. Jarod let go of her.
She walked away from him, picking up her gun as she went. "Why should I
trust you?" She snarled.
"Because
if you don't Thomas will be killed!" Jarod bit back.
"How
do you know he would be killed?" She snarled, even in the dark Jarod could
tell her eyes were glowing and flaming. Probably because he knows her all too
well and he recognises the tone that goes with the look.
"You
really believe that your father is just going to let you go? You're stuck at The
Centre, he's only playing along so you don't suspect anything." Jarod told
her.
"I
don't care what you say, I wanna go back!" She snarled.
"OK,
if I take you back Thomas will be murdered or don't you care about that either.
I thought you loved him!"
"I
do!" She screamed and started to cry. "I do." She flopped down in
the chair crying. Tommy came out quietly and stood where Jarod was. Jarod walked
over and knelt in front of her. "Leave me alone." Parker whimpered as
she hung her head down.
"Truce?"
Jarod held out his hand. The only sound in the room was Parker's crying.
She
reluctantly put her hand on his. "Truce." Jarod's hand closed around
hers tightly.
"Only
till this is over. I need you're help...And Thomas needs OUR help." Parker
looked up at him and then saw Tommy standing behind them in only tracksuit pants.
She nodded. "Good, I leave her with you now." Jarod let go of her hand
and stood up, walking past Tommy and into his room. Tommy walked over and sat
down beside her.
"We'll
be OK. We just need to trust him." Tommy gently touched her face. She
wrapped her arms around him tightly and buried her face in his neck. "Shh,
it can't be that bad."
"I
don't know what to do anymore! I have a weakness now." Parker cried.
"Shh,
no you don't. You're still as strong as you ever were." Tommy gently kissed
her neck.
"You're
my weakness and they know it. Whenever they mention you, I try and do everything
to please them so they'd leave you alone." Parker whimpered.
"Let
you're weakness take you to bed." He whispered to her.
"I'm
not tired." She shook her head.
"Wait
till you lie down and get comfy, you'll be tired then." Tommy went to stand
up but she wouldn't let go of his neck. He bent down a little and picked her up.
She tightened her arms around him. "Come on, we'll go to bed." Tommy
said and gently kissed her forehead. Parker didn't say anything, just let
herself get carried to bed.
Tommy
laid her down and lay down next to her, both on their sides, with one of his
arms wrapped around her neck, resting his hand on her shoulder while the other
one was wrapped around her waist holding her tightly against him. "I'm
still not sleepy." Parker said quietly.
"Shh,
just relax." Tommy tightened his arms around her and kissed her neck. He
moved the arm that was around her waist to gently stroke her head and neck. She
snuggled in closer to him and relaxed.
"Do
you think I should trust Jarod?" Parker asked after a while.
"Yeah,
he only wants to help." Parker rolled over onto her other side so she was
facing him. "He won't do anything and he only wants to keep us safe."
He moved onto his back. She leant on his chest and started to drift off to sleep.
"I
do love you, I just thought that I'd be able to protect you from The
Centre." She said quietly.
"I
know you do, but it's OK to ask for help when you need it. That's what Jarod's
around for." Tommy held her tightly.
"Most
of the time we play cat and mouse...It doesn't give us much of a chance to
anything other than enemies...I would like to get to know him better but I can't
because of what Daddy...Taught me...When I came...Centre." Parker was
talking slowing and softly but ended up just going to sleep.
"You
tell me tomorrow." Tommy whispered and kissed her head.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
- BLUE
COVE:
- THE
CENTRE:
- THE
NEXT MORNING:
- SYDNEY'S
OFFICE:
- 8:35A.M.
Lyle
just walked in. A visit this early in the morning couldn't mean anything but bad
news. "Are you still searching for my sister?" Lyle asked him in a
gentle tone that took Sydney by surprise.
"No,
I thought it would be better if I didn't."
"Why?"
Lyle growled. The gentleness had just flown out the window.
"Mr
Parker has Broots and I under surveillance." Sydney answered him.
"While
my sister is missing you report to me. I want you and Broots to try and locate
her before she gets hurt. Thomas too." Lyle ordered.
"Why
would you care about him?" Sydney asked in an accusing way.
"He
makes her happy and if anyone at The Centre gets their dirty little paws on him,
she'll only be unhappy. Kapeche?"
"Yes."
Sydney replied. "But Mr Parker has someone following us."
"I'll
take care of him." Lyle walked to the door. "Start looking for her and
tell me when you find out anything." He left. Sydney picked up his phone.
"Broots."
The computer tech reported into the phone.
"Broots,
start searching again."
"But
you said..."
"I
know what I said, Lyle is going to take care of Mr Parker's goons." Sydney
said to him snappily.
"OK
Syd, I'll have something in a little while." Broots hung up. Sydney put the
phone down.
"I
just hope we find them before they do." Sydney said quietly to himself.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
- DOVER:
- MAJESTIC
HOTEL:
- THE
APARTMENT:
- 8:50A.M.
Jarod
had been up since sunrise and he had some breakfast, now he was just sitting
round the living room waiting for Parker and Tommy to surface. Parker came out
first, dressed in black tracksuit pants and black T-shirt. "Morning."
Parker said and sat down next to him.
"Hey,
how are you feeling?" Jarod asked as he suspended the computer.
"Fine.
I just want to apologise for what I said last night, I know now that you only
want to help." Parker said to him truthfully.
"I'm
sorry too, I shouldn't have said what I did about Thomas. I know you care about
him and wouldn't want to see anything happen to him, but you did make me angry."
Jarod smiled at her warmly.
"So
we're both sorry." Parker held out her hand. "Truce."
Jarod
took her hand and held it tightly. "Truce. Can I have a hug?" He asked
innocently.
"Don't
push it!" Parker smiled and shoved him back. He fell back laughing. Tommy
came out in blue jeans and a blue flannel shirt.
"Good,
I was starting to get worried about you two." Tommy smiled at them. Parker
got off the couch and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"You
look nice in blue." She purred next to his ear.
"You
look gorgeous in black." He held her tighter. "Are you planning to rob
someone?" He joked and touched her face gently.
"Only
if you want me too." She kissed him softly.
"Don't
you just love it when she's like this?" Tommy looked at Jarod.
"It's
priceless." He smiled at her.
She
looked at him and made a growling noise in her throat. "Just because we've
called a truce doesn't stop me from kicking your arse." She snarled at him
playfully.
"Parker."
Tommy scolded her.
"She's
only playing, look." Tommy moved her head to look into her eyes. They
weren't cold like the tone suggested. They were bright and moving like flames.
"You
shouldn't do that around me, I don't know when you're playing or when you're
just about to rip his head off." Tommy stroked her face gently. She lifted
her head up higher and kissed him passionately.
"That
was serious. The other was playing. See the difference?" She purred.
"I
think I need another look between the differences." Tommy smiled.
Parker
turned to Jarod. "See what I have to deal with?" She snarled. "That
was playing, this is serious." Parker kissed him again, this time more
passionately than before. Tommy closed his arms around her tightly and pulled
her closer. Jarod turned back to his computer while Parker 'taught' Tommy about
serious and playing.
"But
can't serious be playing as well?" Tommy smiled.
"Shh!"
Parker looked at Jarod, but he was working on the computer.
"Don't
mind me, I'm not here at the moment." Jarod smiled.
"I'll
finish teaching you tonight." Parker whispered in his ear.
"Can't
wait." Tommy smiled and let her go.
"What
are you doing?" Parker walked over and looked over his shoulder.
"I'm
in The Centre Mainframe. Just seeing if I can find why they were going to kill
Thomas." Jarod said. Parker jumped over the back of the couch and landed
next to him.
"Shove
over. I wanna check on Broots and Syd, see if they're planning anything against
them." Parker was sitting at Jarod's shoulder.
"Knock
yourself out." Jarod moved the laptop so it was in front of her. She
started to type away at the computer keyboard. "Where are you going? If
there was anything against Syd or Broots it would be in Projects or Planning."
"No,
not if Daddy's behind it. I'm just going straight to the source." Parker
said and started to read. "Strange. This hasn't been updated since last
night at 8:36p.m. And Daddy always finishes his files before he shuts down."
Parker scrolled further down the page.
"What
do you mean?" Jarod looked over her shoulder.
"Look.
All times are squared off, all except yesterdays. He was planning something
against Syd and Broots, he had them under surveillance but not anymore."
Jarod was looking over her shoulder and his face was close to hers. "Sit
back, you don't need to be that close." She snarled. Jarod sat back a
little.
"Sorry."
"Can
you hand me the phone Sweetie?" Parker asked Tommy. He got the phone and
sat down next to her. She took it and kissed him. "Thanks." She dialed.
"This
is Sydney."
"Syd
it's me, what's going on?"
"Parker!
Don't come back yet!"
"I'm
not! What is going on?" She snarled at him, knowing that she wasn't going
to get anywhere been nice.
"Mr
Parker had Broots and me under surveillance. He thought that we would lead him
to you, so we stopped then Lyle said start looking for you again, that he was
going to take care of everything." Sydney said to her. "How are you
and Thomas?"
"We're
fine. Where is loving brother now?"
"I
don't know, I haven't seen him or you're father all day." Sydney told her.
"Are you sure you two are all right?"
"We're
fine. I'll ring back later, make sure Lyle's handy at 11a.m." Parker hung
up and turned back to the computer. "Let's see what Daddy's been doing."
Parker snarled and started to look around.
CLASSIFIED
IMFORMATION
Started
to blink up on the screen in red. "Classified my arse." Parker snarled
and entered her father's clearance codes.
UNAUTHORISED
ACCESS PROGRAM TERMINATION IN 6 MINUTES
"Old
bastard, he's changed his code." Parker snarled and moved her hair from the
back of her neck to sit on her shoulder. She thought for a minute and typed
again.
ACCESS
DENIED
She
typed again.
ACCESS
DENIED
She
stopped and thought again. She typed in some more numbers.
AUTHORISED
ACCESS TERMINATION STOPPED
3.
3. 63
"He's
going to have to change them again." Parker let out a breath and leant back
against Tommy.
"What?"
"My
birthday, Momma's month and the year that you were brought to The Centre. It's
not that difficult. He like's dates." Parker smiled and leant forward.
"I
thought I was good at cracking codes."
"You
don't know the people so it makes it harder. You're better than me, but when it
comes to The Centre codes I'd flog you're butt." Parker smiled. "Now
let's see what the old bastard's been up to."
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
- BLUE
COVE:
- THE
CENTRE:
- SYDNEY'S
OFFICE:
- 9:10A.M.
Broots
came in carrying papers and he was looking really pleased with himself. "I've
just been in The Centre Mainframe, and you wouldn't guess who's just hacked in."
"Parker."
"Who
told?" Broots cried out.
"No
one, I just spoke with her a little while ago." Sydney smiled and continued
with his work.
"And?"
He asked impatiently. Sydney put the lid back on the pen and looked up at him.
"She'll
be ringing back at 11 and she'll be wanting some information. Lyle's to be here
too. Have you seen him?"
"I
think he's up in his office." Broots walked up to the desk and showed
Sydney the papers. "This is what I wanted to show you. I didn't think it
was Parker at first but she entered Mr Parker's old code." He showed him
the first access denied and details connecting to it. "Then a little while
later the correct code was entered."
"But
it could have been anyone, what makes you so sure it was Parker?" Sydney
asked him.
"The
files that were accessed. It was everything that was connected to Thomas. Now
who do know, that works here, knows Mr Parker's new code and that knows Thomas?"
"Jarod
springs to mind."
"He's
probably helping her. But everything adds up to one thing: Parker knows what was
going to happen to Thomas." Broots left the papers on Sydney's desk so he
could look at them for himself.
"We'll
find out when she rings back. Go find Lyle and tell him to be here at 11."
"What
if I can't find him?"
"Send
out a memo, anyone who sees him are to tell him that he has to be in my office
at 11." Sydney told him impatiently.
"Yes
Sydney." Broots scuttled out the door.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
- DOVER:
- MAJESTIC
HOTEL:
- THE
APARTMENT:
- 10:55A.M.
Parker
was reading through some papers that she had printed out from her father's
files. Tommy was sitting behind her back and looking over her shoulder. Jarod
was on the laptop at the table behind the couch and he was reading through some
other files that he downloaded onto his computer to try and determine the
inconsistencies that were occurring in Mr Parker's files. Like why was there a
huge time lapse and unfinished files when Parker said that he always finishes
them before he logs off? Times are changing? He didn't think so. There was
something in those files that were staring them in the face and that hold all
the answers. "It's time to ring Syd again Parker." Jarod said to her,
as he suspended the computer.
"What?"
Parker looked up from the papers. She saw Jarod tapping his wrist. "Oh
right." Parker put the papers on the coffee table. "Hand me you're
cell, if they're going to trace, which they most probably will, they won't be
able to trace a cell." Jarod gave her the phone.
"This
is Sydney."
"Syd,
is everyone there?"
"Parker!
Yeah, everyone's here."
"Good,
put it on speaker." She heard a click and then it was all opened and
muffled noise.
"You're
on speaker."
"Where's
Lyle?"
"I'm
here Sis." She heard Lyle, by the sound of the phone he was sitting in a
chair in front of Sydney's desk.
"What
the fuck do you think you're playing at?" She snarled and she knew that
Lyle would have shrunk at her tone.
"I
don't know what you mean." He whimpered.
"Let
me put it this way: Why did you want Syd and Broots to look for us?"
"I
was worried. But it's safe to come back now." Lyle told her.
"How?
Why? What the Hell is going on there?" She demanded. "There is
something wrong with Daddy, his files aren't completed or updated."
"You
haven't heard then." Sydney answered gently.
"Heard
what? If you don't start giving me some answers I won't be very pleasant when I
get back there!" She got up and started to pace. Tommy and Jarod just
listened patiently. "When?" Jarod was trying to hear what the other
end was saying, but he couldn't. "How?" Jarod knew what was wrong with
Mr Parker's files. He wasn't there to complete them. He got up and walked over
to the computer and looked at one little piece of text to prove him right.
"All right, I know all that. If that's the case we're coming back tomorrow."
Jarod's head shot up. Parker looked at him and he started shaking his head
violently. "Hang on Syd." Parker covered the phone. "What?"
"Don't.
Not yet, it could be a trap."
Parker
moved her hand away from the phone. "Where do I go to find the reports to
prove this isn't a set up?" She was silent a minute. "Write this down."
Jarod got a new document opened up. "OK, type it. Put caps-lock on.
PJK-3184690-MPAR/P3YKN. That it?"
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Lyle
walked over and picked up the phone to take it off speaker. "Who's there
with you?" Lyle asked her.
"Just
me and Tommy, why?" He heard Parker growl.
"And?"
"NO
ONE!"
"OK,
just tell him, to bring you two back in one piece."
"You
wouldn't care if I came back in a pine box!"
"Hey!
The inheritance gets split! I want you back here so we can run The Centre.
TOGETHER."
"Fine,
I'll be back around 7, I'll be just dropping by to make sure that you haven't
done anything unorthodox while I've been away."
"OK,
are you two all right?"
"Yeah,
we're fine. But tell me what the Hell you did and why?"
"I
killed him because he was going to kill Thomas. Nothing more nothing less."
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"And
why would you go and do something like that? You have NEVER liked him!"
Parker snaps at Lyle hatefully, as she walked up behind Tommy and rested a
gentle hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her and smiled.
"Just
hold it right there! I have NEVER done anything to him OR YOU. So just back off!
I'm beginning to think that you aren't grateful that I just saved his hide!"
Lyle snarled.
"That's
the reaction I was looking for. Thank you."
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"What?
I think you just tricked me." Lyle laughed. Sydney and Broots looked at
each other confused.
"Yep!
I had to know and the only way for sure was make you fly off the handle. Just
call it a trick of the trade." He knew that Parker would be smiling, very
pleased with herself.
"You'll
have to teach me."
"Not
on you're life. I'll see you tomorrow and I'll check out that pathway."
Parker hung up. Lyle walked over to the desk and put the phone back in the
cradle.
"She's
sneaky!" Lyle shook his head.
"What
was the yelling about?" Sydney asked.
"She
tricked me into saying something to prove her right."
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
- DOVER:
- SAME
TIME.
Parker
gave Jarod the cell back and looked over his shoulder onto the computer screen.
He was getting back in The Centre Mainframe. "What happened?" Tommy
asked her as he walked over to them.
"Daddy's
dead. Lyle killed him."
"Oh
Baby, I'm sorry." Tommy hugged her tightly.
"Don't
be, he was going to have you killed. He organised Raines to kill Momma. He had
it coming." Parker rested her head against his chest.
"But
I don't understand."
"He
wasn't my father. Well, not in the way he should be. Sydney raised me. He just
put me through a living Hell!"
"OK
I'm in, where do I go to enter the pathway?" Jarod looked up at her. She
gently undid Tommy's grasp around her neck and leant down over Jarod's shoulder.
Her hair was tickling his face.
She
opened up Proximity. A black screen appeared with 10 blank spaces under each
other in white. "Oh, it's gotten easier!" She smiled and started to
fill them out.
Proximity:
Council
Pathway:
PJK-3184690-MPAR/P3YKN
Clearance:
3.3.63
Authorisation:
Triumvirate
Category:
Classified Files
Code:
63.3.3
ID
Number: MP-23787291-CRTPN
Position:
Chairman
Authorisation
date: 18 January 2001
Level
10 Clearance: 91748277440-HTPIJ-675
"That
was easy!" Jarod exclaimed. "How can you remember all of that?"
"Very
simple. I broke into Daddy's office and copied them off of his computer. He
doesn't have to remember them, all except the 3.3.63. If he forgot that he
couldn't get onto his computer." She smiled at him.
PROCESSING
CLEARANCE
ERROR
INCORRECT
CODE ACCESS DENIED
"What?"
Parker snarled. "OOPS!" She laughed and changed the code from 63.3.3
to 36.3.3 and pressed enter. "I always stuff that up."
PROCESSING
CLEARANCE
ACCESSING
CLASSIFIED FILES IN COUNCIL PROXIMITY
LOG
ON COMPLETE
"You'll
be right now." Parker stood up straight and leant against Tommy.
"What
would I do without you?"
"They'd
trace who was hacking in and change everything. But you can't stay on long since
The Council will be monitoring this file." Parker said.
"What
am I looking for?" Jarod asked.
"Reports
on my father's death."
UNAUTHORISED
ACCESS ABORTING CURRENT PROXIMITY
"Shit!"
Parker reentered the Level 10 Clearance.
INVALID
CODE USER AND PROXIMITY DENIED
"Never
mind, let it kick us out." Parker looked at the black screen. It returned
to The Centre Mainframe. "Let's see them trying to do that to my clearance."
She went back into Proximity again. "Close you're eyes." Jarod closed
his eyes. "I don't trust you." Parker put one of her hands on his eyes.
"Hey!"
"Shut
up." Parker snarled at him playfully.
Proximity:
Council
Pathway:
PJK-3184690-MPAR/P3YKN
Clearance:
14.5.69
Authorisation:
Triumvirate
Category:
Classified Files
Code:
96.5.41
ID
Number: AP-42947102-CAFHN
Position:
Level 1 Centre Corporative
Authorisation
date: 18 January 2001
Level
10 Clearance: 52810944773-FWRAB-435
PROCESSING
CLEARANCE
ACCESSING
CLASSIFIED FILES IN COUNCIL PROXIMITY
LOG
ON COMPLETE
AP-14.5.69-435
"Can
I look yet?" Jarod asked her.
"No."
Jarod pulled her hand away quickly and before her other hand could cover his
eyes he saw the code. "Bastard!" Parker hissed.
"Aren't
you temperamental?" Jarod smiled at her.
"No!"
Parker growled.
"Temperamental
about what?" Tommy asked.
"On
the 14 of May in 1969 Parker and I met." Jarod smiled at her. "And all
this time I thought you hated me."
"If
you ever breathe a word to a living soul on what you just read I'll amputate
your head!" She snarled.
"I'll
ring Syd." Jarod grabbed his phone. She snatched it out of his hand and
backed away.
"Over
my dead body." She hissed and waved her hand teasingly in front of him.
"Help
me?" Jarod asked Tommy.
"HEY!
NO FAIR!" Parker exclaimed.
"Yes."
Tommy nodded.
"You're
both gonna pay." She snarled and started to back away.
"Who
first?" Jarod asked as he stood up.
"OH
SHIT!" She whimpered and backed up further.
"How
are we planning to do this?" Tommy asked him.
"Ask
the Almighty Huntress." Jarod smiled.
"This
isn't fair!" Parker cried out.
"OK,
if that's your answer, we have no choice." Jarod smiled evilly and started
to advance towards her. "It's going to be fun to have the roles reversed."
"OH
SHIT! Tommy. Sweetie. Honey. You're not going to help him are you?" Parker
looked at him pleadingly.
"Not
all the time, only when he needs help." Tommy folded his arms and stood
where he was.
"OH
CRAP!" Parker stepped back and looked at the layout of the room. She could
run straight through the kitchen and into the living room, around the couch and
straight into Tommy's clutches. A full circuit. And she would be able to get
past Tommy, but only just.
"Last
chance, are you going to give me the phone?" Jarod stopped about four
strides away from her.
"Umm...No."
Parker bolted before Jarod could react. She ran straight into the kitchen and
stood behind the bench watching him.
"I
see you haven't lost you're speed." Jarod said when he stopped running and
stood on the other side of the bench, watching her.
"No,
I'm as fast as ever. Maybe faster." She purred and smiled. Tommy hadn't
moved from where he was standing. She didn't like it one bit. Jarod started to
walk round the bench. They were now at each end. When she realised she had her
back to Tommy she bolted. She ran straight to the couch, jumped up onto the
cushions and cleared the back. Tommy grabbed her as soon as she landed and
tickled her as they fell onto the floor.
THUMP!
"Stop!"
Parker screamed and giggling as he knelt over her tickling her ribs. "Oh
God! Mercy! Mercy!" She screamed.
"OK,
let her up. She's learnt her lesson." Jarod laughed. He let her up. When
she sat up she pined him down by his shoulders.
"When
I say 'mercy' I mean for you to stop!" Parker smiled down at him.
"Sorry."
Tommy wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.
"But
you must admit Parker, you haven't had this much fun since we were kids."
Jarod said from behind her. She let Tommy get up and glared at him playfully.
"And
don't think you're going to get away with that!" Parker stood up slowly.
"OH
SHIT!" Jarod backed away. "You wouldn't do anything to me, would ya?"
Jarod smiled at her. "Not ya old pal J?"
"Don't
be so sure." She purred and stalked towards him dangerously.
"Thomas,
aren't you going to stop her?" Jarod asked him.
"Payback,
sorry buddy." Tommy smiled at her, stalking towards him, like a cat to a
bird in a cage. "I think it would be good for me to see her hunt."
"Easy
for you to say, you aren't the prey!" Jarod backed away from her. She
lunged at him, at which he bolted.
"I
must be getting rusty." Parker smiled, her eyes burning brightly.
"Must
be." Jarod smirked.
"You're
going to pay twice Lab Rat!" Parker snarled and started to prowl towards
him.
"Oh
shit!" Jarod ran into the kitchen. They were on opposite sides to last
time. She jerked to one side to spook him out. It worked. Jarod came running out
of the right hand side. Parker pounced on him and he fell in a heap on the floor
with her leaning against his back. "Ouch!" Jarod yelped and lifted his
head.
"I've
never gotten this far before, now what?" She looked at Tommy, who was
smiling. He shrugged.
"I
don't know. Ask the prey."
"What
do you think prey?" Parker purred and gently blew on the back on his neck.
"Hey,
don't do that!" Jarod cried out.
"Oh,
I don't think he wants to play anymore." She put on her puppy face. "All
right." Parker let him up.
"You're
gonna pay for that!" Jarod told her and lunged. She yelped, jumped back and
ran behind Tommy. "Pity we don't have a pool near by." He grinned
evilly.
"You
wouldn't dare!" She glared at him over Tommy's shoulder.
"Wouldn't
I?" Jarod started to walk towards her.
"OK,
you're both even. Call it quits before one of you gets hurt." Tommy stood
his ground between Jarod and Parker.
"Yeah,
listen to the umpire." She smirked at him.
"You
little..." Jarod lunged at her but Parker ran away and stood near the door.
"You'll keep." Jarod grinned at her evilly. "And when you least
expect it. BANG."
"You'll
have to catch me first." Parker said teasingly and walked back to Tommy.
"Won't
be too hard." Jarod smiled. "Not if I have help."
"You
leave him outta this!"
"But
what if HIM wants to get involved?" Tommy looked at her.
"You
wouldn't dare!" But then she saw that he wasn't joking. "Oh shit!"
She whimpered. "This isn't fair."
"No
it isn't, but my torture is different to Jarod's." Tommy wrapped his arms
around her again and started to tickle her. She began to giggle and wriggle
around in his arms, but he wouldn't let her go.
She
ended up just collapsing on the floor, leaning against his shins and breathing
heavily. "You'll pay for that."
"Oh,
do you want to go in for round two?" Tommy asked her.
"NO!"
She held his hand and pulled herself up. "No more, my sides hurt."
"Oh,
my poor baby." Tommy held her tightly.
"If
we could get serious for a minute we should start thinking about heading back."
Jarod said to them.
"No,
we'll stay here today and head back in the morning." She rested her hands
and Tommy's that were around her waist.
"OK.
What did Lyle say about killing your father?"
"Just
that he did it to protect Tommy and me from Daddy. He was planning to kill Tommy
since he didn't want me to leave. But it's safe now. Lyle doesn't want anything
to happen to either of us and he just wants me to be happy." Parker
answered.
"Don't
you find that a little hard to believe?" Jarod asked her gently.
"If
I can't trust family who can I trust?" She snarled at him.
"OK,
you don't need to get like that." Jarod gently touched her face. "Just
be careful, I didn't save you two from your father so that Lyle could kill you."
"I
know, I'll be careful. But Lyle's different from Daddy."
"Just
be careful." She nodded and relaxed against Tommy.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
- BLUE
COVE:
- THE
CENTRE:
- LYLE'S
OFFICE:
- THE
NEXT DAY:
- 9:30A.M.
Sam
walked into the office and stood at the door with his hands linked behind his
back. "Sir, The Triumvirate sent me to get you. They are in Mr Parker's
office."
"Thank
you Sam." Lyle stood up and walked out of his office.
*
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
When
Lyle entered the late Mr Parker's office, Matumbo was sitting up at the desk
with papers and files in front of him. "Ah, Mr Lyle, thank you for coming.
Please have a seat." He leant forward and pointed to the chairs in front of
the desk. Lyle walked in and sat down nervously. "Now, I've called you up
here because I want to discuss what happened with your father. I just have a few
questions. Firstly, why did you kill your father?"
"Why
not?"
Matumbo
smiled at him. "Don't you have anything to say in your defense? Unless you
can give proper cause for your actions, I can't guarantee what the implications
might be and what we will be doing to try and rectify the problems."
"Did
you know about my father planning to kill Thomas Gates?"
"Not
in details. Mr Parker thought that Mr Gates was threatening Centre security."
"What
a load of shit! Miss Parker didn't tell him anything. And you let him plan to
kill Thomas?" Lyle snarled at him.
"Mr
Parker showed us just cause for why Mr Gates should have been killed! Are you
telling me now that he was lying?"
"What
did Dad tell you?"
"Mr
Gates was a weakness in Centre security and that he was leading his daughter
astray."
"Did
you know he was planning to go to Oregon...With Miss Parker?"
"No,
he didn't tell us that." Matumbo growled. "He was going to kill a
civilian for no reason!"
"Yes,
all because he didn't want his daughter to leave."
"We
don't need that sort of reputation!"
"We
don't. The only people that know about this are Dr Green, Mr Broots, Miss
Parker, Mr Gates and the pretender. They ALL will be keeping quite. Now my
sister is afraid that you were behind this, she will be returning with Mr Gates
later today, I suggest that you stay here until she gets here so you can clear
up this mess."
"Of
course. The Parker children are MORE important that their father and I won't do
anything to jeopardise their safety." Matumbo smiled at him.
|