Jarod knocked on the door of a big house.
"I'm coming." A woman's voice answered.
Opening the door, she smiled. "Jarod. What can I do for you?"
"I need you to do me a favor."
"Sure. What is it?"
"I need you to watch my daughter." He pulled her out from the inside of his jacket.
She took the small girl from his arms. "I would love to."
"If you don't hear from me in two days I want you to pack up and go here." He handed her a white envelope.
"Jarod..."
"You have to. It's the only way for your safety and hers." He kissed his daughter goodbye.
"Jarod, wait!"
He turned.
"What if you are just late?"
"I won't be."
"What about her mother?"
"I will take care of that. Just do what I ask."
Before she could ask anything else he was gone.
*******
Parker leaned over Broots shoulder as he typed away on a computer.
"Come on, Broots. Hurry!"
"I'm hurrying."
"Parker?"
"Uh."
"I think you should see this."
"What is it?"
"A tape from two days ago."
"Play it and let's hurry."
Broots pushed the DSA disc in and they watched it.
"It's Mr. Lyle." Broots listened as he overheard him and Mr. Raines talking. "It's something about Jarod."
"I know that Broots but what?"
Broots glanced over at the other monitor. "Miss Parker..."
"Shh..I'm listening."
"No, Miss Parker....I...think I know what they were talking about."
"What?"
"Jarod!"
"I know that Broots."
"No. Look!" He grabbed her arm and pointed at the screen. It was the monitor from the front doors.
"Oh my..."
"It's Jarod!" Broots exclaimed.
"I see that. See where they are taking him while I find out what is going on."
Parker took off from the tower and ran down to her father's office. Busting the door open, "What in the hell is going on around here?"
"Angel. I see you found out that your brother found Jarod."
She turned to see him standing behind her, grinning.
"I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON!" She demanded.
"Funny thing. He just showed up where I was staying." Lyle grinned again.
"I want to see him."
"Why?"
"Because I have a right since I have been chasing him for a while."
"Fine." Mr. Parker agreed.
"Dad!"
"Lyle, your sister has a point. Willie will take you to him." Mr. Parker called him in.
"Thanks." She left their side.
Walking down the dark halls, Parker was scared, mad, and excited to see him. She didn't know which emotion to go with when she opened the door and saw him sitting in the corner. She wanted to run to his side and hold him tight but she knew the cameras would tell her real reason for seeing him and didn't know how she would explain it to her father.
"Jarod." She walked close to him.
"Parker." He looked up. He could tell she wanted to hold him but not as bad as he wanted to touch her.
"How...?"
He stood up, reached for her when she jerked away.
"I got an email from you." He whispered.
"I didn't send you an e-mail." She looked straight into those brown eyes.
"Lyle!" They answered.
"Now what do we do?" Parker asked as she moved a little closer to him.
"I will come up with something." He moved to where he blocked the camera. "I love you." He mouthed to her.
"I love you too."
"I want to hold you."
"Jarod, where is Catherine?"
"She's safe."
"Where is she?"
"I don't want to tell you until I know we are safe."
"Jarod!"
The door opened and Mr. Parker walked in. "It's time to go."
"Give me a minute." She faced Jarod.
"Now!"
"Go." Jarod whispered.
"I'll be back." She turned walked out. She watched him through the glass as the door shut. Her father took her by the arm and pulled her down the hall.
"Angel."
"What?"
"Don't tell me he has some kind of hold on you?"
"No, daddy. Why do you ask?" She pulled herself together. She knew she was starting to show her true feeling for him.
"Nothing."
She broke loose from him and headed to Sydney's office.
******
"Syd, I need your help." Parker replied as she burst through the doors.
"With Jarod. I'm guessing."
"Yes, with Jarod." She answered as she moved closer to the older man.
"Parker, I would love to but I just got orders to fly to our Miami office." He threw papers into a brief case.
"What?" She paced around the shrink. "Orders!"
"Yeah. It looks like Broots will have to help you." He started for the door when Parker grabbed his arm, pulling him toward her.
"Forget those orders. I'm giving you new ones."
"I can't, Parker."
"Why?"
He held up a photograph of Nicholas.
"Son-of-a-Bitch." She burst out the doors again.
"Broots." She clutched his shoulder as he went by her.
"Miss Parker, I found Jarod."
"Forget that. I want you to tell what is going around here."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean..." She pulled him closer to her. "What's going on with Sydney?"
"What's going on with Sydney?"
"I don't know, Broots. That's is what I'm asking you!" She yelled.
"Oh." He took off.
Parker threw her arms up in the air.
******
Parker entered the room that they kept Jarod in. She found him sitting in the corner with his knees pulled into his chest. He rocked back and forth.
"Jarod." She whispered as she came closer to him.
"Go away!" He snapped.
"Jarod, listen to me." She bent down next to him. She could see the dry blood from his busted lip.
"Melissa." He whispered softly.
"Where is..."
"Safe."
"I have to get you out of here." She reached out to touch him when the doors opened and Lyle stood next to Mr. Parker.
"I told you we would find her here."
"Get away from me!" Jarod screamed again.
"It's okay. I won't let them hurt you." Parker stood.
"No. You." Jarod screeched.
Parker looked down at him. She could tell he was telling her something with his mind but she couldn't figure out what.
"Angel."
"Daddy."
"Come here."
She obeyed his order.
The doors slammed shut.
"Lyle tells me something that I don't want to believe."
"If it comes from Lyle then I wouldn't believe it." She turned to face him.
"That's what I thought. I told him that you wouldn't lie to me."
"Is that all? I have work to do."
"You may go." He kissed her cheek and watched her as she left.
"Dad." Lyle whined.
"Relax son. I have another plan."
******
It was midnight. Parker carried a flashlight in her hand as Broots followed her slowly. They walked down the cold empty hallway on Sub-level 27.
"Would you come on?" She pushed him in front of her.
"What are we doing?"
"We are going to find out what is going on around here."
"I should be home."
"Where's Debbie?"
"At her Aunt's house. Thanks goodness or you would be down here alone."
"Shut up, Broots. Keep moving."
"What exactly are we searching for?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I don't know. I will know when I see it." She turned down the small hallway to the right. "Over here."
"What's over there?"
"This." She shined the light on a vent.
"A vent?"
"Yes. It will lead us to Jarod."
"And how do you know this?"
"Jarod and I used to play down here when we were kids."
"Oh, what a great place to play?" He said under his breath.
"Come on."
He followed her down the vent to the room that they kept Jarod in.
"Wait here."
"No complaints here." Broots leaned against the wall.
Parker opened the vent and climbed out. "Jarod." She whispered.
There was no answer so, she walked next to the bed. She went to pull the covers back when the lights came on. Lyle stepped out.
"Where is he?" She demanded.
"Relax, Parker. You will be reunited with him soon."
"What?"
Lyle lean toward her. "I know he's your husband."
She was shocked. "How...I don't know what you are talking about?"
"That bull shit might work on our father but it won't work on me." He motioned with his thumbless hand. Willie stepped out of the shadows and came toward her. He snatched her arm.
"Let go of me!" She screamed.
"I thought you wanted to join Jarod." Lyle grinned.
"Go to hell." She snapped.
Lyle walked closer. "Now, is that the way you talk to your brother?"
"You are NOT my brother."
He hit her across the face with the back of his hand.
******
Parker woke in a damp, cold, dark place. She raised her hand to touch her aching head but discovered she was tied to a pole. Every inch of her body ached as she tried to move.
"Damn it." She spat.
She heard a moan. Turning her head to the direction. "Who's there?"
Another moan escaped his lips.
"Jarod?"
"Mmm."
"Jarod, wake up!" She shouted.
The door opened and Lyle entered. "Well, hello sis. I see you have found your dear husband."
"Go to hell, Lyle."
"Haven't we already had this conversion." He placed his gloved hand on his chin. He paced around her. He stopped as their eyes met. "You could go home if you would only tell me the truth."
"What truth? I don't know anything."
He shook his head. "Tell me what I want to know."
"And what was it that you wanted?" She cocked her head to the side.
"I want to know where the child is."
"What child?"
Lyle laughed. "What child? Now, that is funny." He hit her again. Her head went down toward her chest. "You know what child."
"I'm afraid I don't." She glared up at him.
"Okay, I have tried to be nice about this. Now, things are going to get rough." He walked to the chair that Jarod was tied down in. He glanced back to her. "Tell me where the child is or it is bye-bye husband."
"I told you I don't know what child you are talking about."
"Yours, damn it!" He shouted.
"I don't know. I haven't seen that child since birth."
Lyle let out a loud laugh. He turned to Jarod, doubled his fist and hit him.
"No!" Parker yelled.
"If you would only..."
"You bastard." She interrupted.
Lyle grabbed Jarod's hair, holding his head up. "Parker, let's make this easier on everyone."
Jarod's swollen eyes opened slightly. He couldn't make out who was standing in front of him but he knew his wife and Lyle were there. He could hear their voices. "Parker." He moaned.
"Oh look, it looks like your husband is coming around."
"Leave him alone." Parker cried out as the tears ran down her cheek.
Lyle threw Jarod's head back as he let go. His chin touched his neck. Lyle walked to his sister. He wiped the tears that ran down her face. "Okay, I will leave him alone for now." He whispered in her ear as his gloved hand ran down her neck and cupped her face next to his. "You know it is a shame that you are my sister. There are things I would love to do to you right now." He smiled.
"You sick son of a bitch."
He pulled her hair as he held onto her head. Another laugh escaped his lips. "I was wrong. I think you are more beautiful when you are scared."
"I'm not scared of you." Her eyes became narrow.
Lyle's face just inches from hers. His fingers had a grip on her neck. "You should be. I'm not the one in trouble."
A grin formed on her lips as a small laugh exited. "You should be the one who is scared."
"You bitch!"
Parker laughed harder.
"What are you laughing at?" Lyle was became angry.
"You."
"Me?"
"Yeah. This is the only way you beat up on people is to tie they down." Lyle doubled his fist.
"Lyle!" Jarod screamed.
Lyle was getting ready to hit her again when a car pulled up outside. "I'll be back." Parker watched as he left. She couldn't tell who was in the car.
"Jarod, wake up." Parker kicked her feet toward him, hoping to hit him.
******
Broots raced down the halls. He was going through desk draws, throwing papers on the floor.
"Broots, what are you doing?"
He looked up to see the older man standing in the door way.
"Sydney. Oh thank God, you are here. Lyle took Miss Parker. I don't know where." He went back to searching through the desk. "By the way, what are you doing here?" He glanced up.
"I came back to help."
"Where did you go?"
"I had to check on my son."
"Is he okay?"
"I don't know. He wasn't home."
Sydney watched as the tech left the pile of papers and went straight to the computer.
"What are you searching for?"
"For Miss Parker."
"But I thought you said...."
"Lyle said something about an old trucking site."
"Come on. I know where it is."
The tech follow Sydney out.
******
Parker had one hand lose from the ropes. She was working on freeing the other hand when to door opened again. She could see a figure coming closer. By the ontline she could tell it was a man.
"Who's there?" She asked.
"It's okay."
"Sam! Am I glad to see you."
"I'm sorry it took me so long to get to you." He finished untieing her.
She went to Jarod's side. "Jarod, talk to me."
"Parker." He whispered.
Sam helped her free him.
He reached for her. "I can't see."
"It's okay. I'm going to get you out of here." She kissed him above the eyes.
He took a hold of her and Sam as they walked toward the door. Cracking the door, Parker couldn't see anyone.
"Wait." Sam stopped her. "Take this." He handed her a gun.
"Thanks."
Peeking through the door. "It's clear." They walked out to early morning light.
"Damn. It's bright." Jarod replied as he squinted.
"Over there." Sam pointed.
******
Sydney and Broots stared out at the empty trucking yard.
"Now, what do we do?" Broots asked.
"We go in."
"That's it. We go in? Are you crazy? We are going to get killed."
"Do you have another suggestion?"
"No." He mumbled.
"All right then."
"Sydney, look." They saw Sam, Jarod, and Miss Parker coming toward them.
Sydney jumped out and helped them get Jarod in the car.
"Let's get out of here." Broots responded.
"No! I'm going after Lyle." Parker demanded.
Jarod grabbed her arm. "Let's go. We can leave now before they can get us."
"No. Lyle is mine." Parker stormed off.
"Oh no." Broots whined.
"What?" Jarod asked.
"They are coming this way."
"Who?"
"Lyle, Willie, and Mr. Parker."
"Get Parker!"
"I don't know where she went."
"I'll get her." Sam jumped out. He went searching behind the empty trailers. He spotted her two up from him. He made his way toward her when someone grabbed her.
"Let go of me." Her eyes met his. "Jarod, what are you doing here?"
"Saving you." He took a hold of her and pulled her back toward the car.
"I want Lyle!"
"Another time."
"No now."
"Do you want me to go back to our daughter alone?"
Tears formed in her eyes. "No."
"Then let's go."
"Okay." She said softly.
They caught up with Sam and ran to the car.
"There they are go!" Willie shouted.
Gun fire went off as the car drove away.
"Don't just stand there. Go after them." Mr. Parker yelled. "I want them alive."
Sweepers jumped in a car and headed out.
******
Parker kissed Jarod's forehead. "Does it still hurt?"
"Not like it did. Kiss it again." He grinned.
She leaned in to kiss his lips when Broots sat down next to them.
"I don't understand why I can't go get Debbie?"
"She's safe." Jarod answered.
"How do you know that?"
"Trust me, Mr. Broots." Jarod turned back to his wife. "Your jaw is looking better."
"It's amazing what you can do with make-up." She smiled.
He kissed her.
She pulled back. "Are you going to tell me where our daughter is?"
"Patiences."
"Patiences? I have given you all the patiences I plan on giving you."
"Everyone return to your seats. Flight 207 to St. Thomas will be landing soon."
******
They pulled up to a huge two story house. Jarod opened the door. Everyone entered and couldn't believe what they saw.
"Debbie!" Broots ran to his daughter and gave her a big hug.
"Nicholas, I was worried about you." Sydney joined him on the couch.
"Not as worried as we were about you." Michelle came around the corner.
"Michelle." Sydney gave her hug.
Sam sat down on the other end of the couch.
"Where is she?" Parker asked.
Michelle looked over at Jarod. "She's in her room."
Parker went down running the hall.
"Second door on the right." Michelle shouted.
The door flew open and Parker saw her baby girl sleeping in her crib along with Angelo in the floor. She went to her, brushing her cheek lightly. She bent down to kiss her. Angelo stirred, looking up at the tall woman standing by the crib.
"Baby. Sleep." He yawn.
Parker bent down to Angelo. "Thank you for watching after her."
"Miss Parker welcome." He rolled back over and fell asleep.
Jarod walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around Parker. "You were with her always."
Parker picked up the picture frame with the photo of the three of them in it.
Her daughter opened her eyes. Parker reached down and picked her up. She held her tight. "I love you."
"She missed you."
"Not as much as I missed her." Parker kissed her head.
"I love you, Melissa." Jarod held on tight to his wife as she did the same to their daughter.
******
The chairman sat at his desk staring out the window.
"We have lost them." A voice said from the doorway.
"Lost them!" Mr. Parker turned to face the sweeper that stood in front of him. "You couldn't have lost them. Somebody had to see a woman and four men somewhere!" He yelled.
Lyle walked in behind the sweeper. "It's true. I don't know how they did it but they are gone. It is like they have disappeared in thin air."
"A woman and four men don't just disappear in thin air." He slammed his fist down on the solid oak desk.
"Sir, we have checked every airport, train station, and car rented. Nothing. We thought we had them earlier but...."
"But what?"
"Dad, calm down. We had a lead that they were headed west. Then it is like they were all headed in separated direction. We had a sweeper team at every stop. No sign of them. We can't check every city and country. We don't have that many people."
"Fine." He turned his chair around. "One day...I will find you again, Angel." He stared out the window.
The End!