TWO YEARS LATER:
Jarod woke and squinted at the clock in the dark motel room. Three a.m. He threw off the covers and shivered. His whole body was covered in sweat and he felt the gnawing feeling of fear in his gut. Picking up the phone he dialed Sydney's number.
"Sydney here." The man answered on the first ring. "Did I wake you?"
"No Jarod, I was awake."
"I have a bad feeling...something's wrong. Where are you Sydney?"
"Yes something is very wrong. I'm at Saint Catherine's Hospital. Miss Parker and Tommy were admitted last night. They haven't decided if it's some type of poisoning or something else. Miss Parker is in the intensive care unit Jarod. Her symptoms seem to be getting worse. She became unconscious a hour ago."
"And Tommy?"
"He is in the pediatric unit. He's ill but not as bad as Parker."
"Stay with them Syd." He snapped the cell phone closed, jumped out of bed and got dressed.
*****
SIX A. M. SAINT CAHTERINE'S HOSPITAL Intensive Care Unit
Jarod slipped into a white lab coat and slung a stethoscope around his neck. He stood out side Miss Parker's room reading her chart. Everything in her lab work was off. He quietly walked inside her room and peaked around the corner. Lyle was standing next to the unconscious woman's bed. He slipped a empty syringe into his pocket then bent down and whispered something into her ear. He straighten and squeezed her hand before turning to leave. Jarod slid behind the curtain just in time so he wouldn't be seen. Following Lyle out of the building, his anger began to grow.
What had Lyle put in her I.V? Why was he trying to kill his sister? Once in the parking lot Jarod waited until Lyle reached his car before jumping him.
"You bastard!" Jarod slammed Lyle against the car. "What are you doing? What was in that syringe?" Lyle fought back but Jarod was able to subdue him, take his keys and lock him in the trunk of the car. He drove away from the hospital until he came to a abandoned warehouse. Pulling Lyle out of the trunk, Jarod slammed him into the side of the building.
"Tell me what you've done to them!" He screamed.
"Nothing! I swear." Lyle shouted as Jarod slammed him into the wall again.
"I'm not trying to kill her or Tommy. I'm trying to save them. Don't you understand?" Lyle spit the blood from his mouth before continuing. "Someone at the Centre is trying to kill Parker. If you let me go I can save her."
"Who is trying to kill her and why should I believe you?"
"I don't know who. And there isn't any reason you should believe me but she is my sister."
"I don't understand, why would some one at the Centre want to kill her? She's too valuable to them. That's why Thomas was killed, so she wouldn't leave. So why kill her now?"
"Because of Tommy. He has his mother's inner sense as well as his father's abilities. They know she won't let them use him like they did his father. But with her out of the way, they can do what they want."
"I don't understand. What do you mean his father's abilities?"
You don't understand do you Jarod!" Lyle laughed. "You just don't get it. You can't figure out who Tommy father is and why you're so important to the Centre can you?"
Jarod released his hold on Lyle and stepped away from him. His mind flashed back to the first time he saw Tommy. 'I heard you named him after Thomas. He's so small. His little fingers and toes...he's so ...'
'Perfect.' She had finished for him with a smile. 'He's perfect just like his father.' That had always stuck in his mind the same way their conversation had the day Tommy took his first step. Jarod felt Tommy dad should have been there for his first step, not him, not a stranger. And he had told Parker so.
'His father should be here for things like these. This isn't right. Does he even know his father Parker?'
'Yes Jarod, he does!' She had snapped back at him.
"She never told you that you're Tommy's father did she?" Lyle rubbed his bloody lip against his sleeve and smiled. "You just couldn't figure it out and you're a genius."
"You knew all along didn't you Lyle."
"Yes, I did. I also promised Parker that I wouldn't let the Centre do to Tommy what they did to us. What's between you and me Jarod, is one thing. But my sister comes first and I'm going back."
Jarod shook his head in agreement as they got back into the car and headed towards the hospital.
"Faster Jarod. When we get there, I'll check on Parker, you take care of Tommy."
Jarod shook his head 'yes' and drove faster.