Parker grabbed her things on her way out the door. As she walked down the hall to her car, her mind kept playing the conversion she had with Dylan and Catherine when she left the house this morning. They begged her not to go.
"Mommy, don't go. I feel the bogey man is coming." Dylan said as she got
them in the
car for school.
"Mom, he's right. Something is not right. I can feel it." Catherine kept
telling her.
"Guys, I will be okay. Don't worry." I kept telling them over and over
as I let them
off at the school. Her mind kept hitting the rewind button.
Broots stopped her before she reached the front door.
"Melissa, wait."
"Mmm." Her mind came back to where she was. "Did you say something?"
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah. What did you want?"
"I wanted to let you know Lyle is back in town."
"How do you know?"
"He was spotted in the area a few nights ago."
"Thanks."
"Wait, where are you going?" He whispered. He glanced over at the security guard behind the desk.
"I have a meeting with the Jones'."
"You can't go without Sam."
"Why? I'm a big girl." She stared down the computer tech.
"But...I thought Jarod had you under protection."
"From who? Lyle? I can take him. You know I'm getting tired of you, the kids, and Jarod trying to protect me."
"I thought he wanted Dylan. Maybe we should send Sam over there. What do you think?" Broots was hoping to talk her into staying a little longer until he could find Jarod.
"He does but I feel he wants me more." She placed her hand on the door to open it.
"Melissa wait."
"What Broots? I'm running late." She was getting aggravated with him.
"I would feel better if you let Jarod go with you."
"I won't be gone that long. Besides, I have to hurry back to get the kids in day care."
"Then just let me tell Jarod where you are going."
"No! I don't want to worry him. I'll be fine." She opened the door and headed out toward her car. Broots watched her as she insisted on going alone.
*****
Parker got in her car. As she turned the key, she felt a gun in her ribs. She glanced in the rear view mirror to found him there.
"Lyle! I have been expecting you."
"I'm glad I didn't disappoint you." His voice was soft, soothing like a shot of whiskey going down slowly.
"Why here?" Her eyes never leaving his.
"I wanted to catch you alone."
"Why couldn't you just call? I would have met you."
"Right. And have you and Jarod both show up. I don't think so."
"What do you want?"
"My son."
"His not your son. He belongs to Jarod and me."
"No. He is mine. I created him."
"Think again, Lyle." She turned to face him.
"Turn around!" He yelled as he pointed the gun in her face.
"Okay. Calm down."
"Drive."
"Where?"
"Just drive. I'll tell you where to go."
Parker put the car in gear and followed Lyle's directions. They stopped outside of a duplex.
"Get out." He said as he opened his car door first and waited for her. "This way." He lead her to the door, handed her the keys. She unlocked the door and they went in.
"Sit here." He pointed toward the couch.
"How do you know I won't run?"
"Because if you fuck with me, I will fuck you." He replied as he sat down across from her.
"You can't have him."
"Shut up!"
"No. I won't. He is with his family and I won't let you touch him."
"He is my son, Parker."
She glared over at him.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Russell." He changed his tone very quickly.
"Lyle, we both know his is not your son."
"He was going to be mine until that Bitch screwed everything up!" Lyle grabbed his head as if he was arguing with himself.
"Brigitte?"
"Yes. It was my idea to create the ultimate Pretender. Since you and Jarod left the country..." His voice trailed off.
"Catherine." She whispered.
"I needed to test her abilities first."
"You're not touching my kids!" She screamed over at him.
Lyle jumped up from his chair and paced. "You don't understand. I need that boy!"
"It's over, Lyle. The Centre is gone."
"But the Triumvirate isn't." He faced her.
"It's over." She said again as she watched his face turning red from yelling.
"No. It's. Not." This time his words were sharp as if they would cut her.
She looked down at her watch and back up at him.
"What's wrong, sis, have somewhere else to be?"
"Yes. I have to pick up my kids." She stood.
"Sit down. You're not going anywhere." He snapped.
"Lyle, you can't stop me." She went for the door.
"You're right. I can't but this might." He pulled out his cell phone and began dialing.
******
Jarod stood next to Sam discussing their plan to keep Parker safe when Broots came running in.
"What is it, Mr. Broots?"
"Have you seen your wife lately?"
"No. She had a meeting across town and is due back shortly."
He looked at him like he wanted to know how he knew that. "The day care called. She is late from picking up the kids."
"Okay, I can get them. Calm down."
"I can't help it. I just have this feeling that something has happened to her."
"Broots, she is fine. I'm sure of it." Jarod had hoped anyway.
Parker's secretary came into the room. "The Jones' called to say that Melissa still hasn't made it and wants to know if they can reschedule."
"Yeah." Jarod answered her. "I wonder where she is. It's not like her. She usually calls me if she is going to be late."
"I told you something has happened." Broots whispered.
"Sam, see if you can find out where the Jones' live and head that way."
Sam left.
"Jarod, I have phone call for you. Do you want to transfer it?" The secretary poked her head back in.
"Yes, please." He turned to Broots. "Can you trace a call from here?"
"Yeah."
"Good. I might need you to." Jarod picked up the ringing phone. "Hello."
"Jarod. It's been a long time."
"Lyle." His voice deepen with hatred.
Broots knew that was his que to start the trace.
"I have something here you might be interested in." He looked over at the dark hair woman standing by the door.
"If you touched her...."
"Relax. It's the boy that I want."
"He's not here."
"Yeah, but you can bring him to me."
"Go to hell!" He yelled into the phone.
"Now that's no way to talk to a man that has your wife." He walked closer to her.
"Let me talk to her."
"No." He brushed his gloved hand over her cheek. Parker jumped back.
"Yes."
"I'm in charge of this, not you!" He snapped.
"I just want to know that she is okay."
"She's fine...for now." He pulled her closer to him.
"Jarod!" She yelled into the phone.
"Melissa!"
Lyle threw her down on the sofa and put his hand in front of her mouth.
"Bring the boy at 6:00 pm to the look out point."
Jarod looked down at his watch. "I'll be there in an hour."
"Good." Lyle hung up the phone.
Jarod turned to Broots. "Did you get it?"
"Yeah. I got it. He's at the corner of Rosewood and Lakeside."
"Thanks." Jarod headed out the door and turned back. "Broots?"
"Mmm." He looked into the Pretender's eyes.
"Could you pick up the kids and take them to my mom's?"
"Sure."
Jarod headed out the door.
******
Parker looked up at Lyle, who was pacing again. "He's not going to bring him to you."
"Shut up, sis."
"Don't call me that! We are not family."
"Well, it seems that you have been busy doing your homework too."
"Yes, I have. I know you are *not* my brother. Angelo is. I also know that Brigitte didn't want to go along with your little project!"
"It would have been a good one until she screwed it all up by killing father."
"Daddy wouldn't have allowed it either."
"How do you know? He just wouldn't let me get near that daughter of yours."
"Leave Catherine out of it."
Lyle took a seat next to Parker. "Well, I guess if Jarod doesn't bring the boy then I will have to take something of his." He leaned in toward her.
She blocked him with her fist. "Get away from me, you sick bastard!"
"I love it when you are angry." He smiled.
"Then you haven't seen anything yet." Her fist stayed clinched as she went for his head.
He ducked, grabbing her fist before she could swing again.
Lyle placed his gun down on the end table with his free hand. He grinned as his head turned back to look at her. He grabbed her leg and pulled her closer to him . He pushed her down against the couch with his body.
"You know, Parker, I always hated it that I had to play the role of your brother. I think we would have been great together."
"Get off me!" She tried to push him off but his body was like a dead weight.
"Not until I have some fun." He kissed her ear and moved down her neck.
"Lyle, why are you doing this?" She fought him every step of the way.
"Because I want you to fear Jarod when he comes close to you."
"That will never happen." She spat out.
"Oh, we'll see." His right hand outline her jaw line, down her neck, and stopped at her chest. His fingers drew small circles over her breast. He looked up into her eyes and could see fear. He lived to see that fear. It made him thrive on it more. He kissed the top of her breast as his hand found the buttons of her shirt.
Parker shifted under him causing him to pin her down with the gloved hand.
"Don't fight it." He whispered in her ear.
"Fight it? Who said that was to fight it?" Her hand moved down his chest as she kept her eyes focused on his. As she reached his hardness, she squeezed so tight it caused him to scream in pain.
Parker laughed.
"You bitch!" He hit her causing them both to fall from the couch to the floor. Parker pushed him off of her when Jarod came through the door.
"Melissa." He bent down to her.
"Jarod." She fell into his arms. "I love you." She whispered.
"I love you too."
Lyle stood. "Where's my boy?"
"I told you..."
"Then it looks like some kids are going to be missing their parents." He went for the gun.
Jarod looked down at his wife, who's shirt was unbuttoned. He wiped the blood from her lip. "What did you do to her?" He went toward him. Jarod grabbed Lyle before he reached the gun. Jarod doubled his fist and hit him several times.
"Jarod, stop!"
"He hurt you." He yelled back as he pinned Lyle to the floor and hit him again.
Lyle laughed as Jarod's fist continued to meet Lyle's body. Parker ran over to Jarod and pulled him off of Lyle. "Let the police handle it." She hugged her husband.