Original air date: December 13, 1997

Written by: Tommy Thompson

Directed by: Fred K. Keller

Mr Lyle secretly uses one of Jarod’s old simulations in order to do business with the Japanese Yakuza mob, a move that ultimately ends up putting his own life in jeopardy.

Jarod’s Discoveries: Magic 8-ball

Jarod’s Occupations: Attorney, Ice Cream Truck Driver

Jarod’s Aliases: Jarod Darrow

Behind the scenes insights and the Creator’s Take

Official Synopsis

Lyle utilizes one of Jarod’s simulations to help a Japanese mobster kidnap a murder witness.

Jarod’s attention is drawn to a television news report featuring a story on the abduction of key murder witness Emma Barrett.  Eighteen months earlier, Barrett witnessed the cold blooded killing of her son, Max, who was caught in the crossfire during a shootout involving Yakuza crime boss, Sammy Tanaka.  A van carrying Barrett to a courthouse was commandeered by three men.  During the incident, the van driver was killed and an FBI agent wounded.  As the news story concludes, Jarod, breathless with shock, locates a DSA and places it inside a player.  The footage shows Sydney asking Jarod to construct a rescue scenario identical to the van takeover.  In the DSA, Jarod told Sydney that in order for his plan to work, the van driver would have to die.

Jarod phones Sydney and tells him he feels as if he is responsible for the driver’s death and the abduction of Barrett.  Sydney assures him the Centre is not in the kidnapping business.  Jarod grows enraged, assuring Sydney that Barrett will not be the next casualty.

Jarod assumes the identity of a Department of Justice attorney.  He meets with Jessica Kline, who represents the still-missing Barrett.  She arranges for Jarod to interview the agent wounded in the attack, a man named Gillson.  He describes how he returned fire when the abductors stormed the van.

Parker and Sydney approach Lyle and demand an explanation regarding the underhanded plot.  Lyle explains that he has decided “to expand the Centre’s scope of operations.”  As a result, the Centre stands to collect a large sum of money from the Yakuza in exchange for the kidnapped Barrett.

Jarod returns to the scene where the abduction transpired, believing Barrett is being held somewhere nearby.  His suspicions prove correct: He sees three gunmen load Barrett into a van and disappear into the night, nearly running him down in the process.

Jarod phones Sydney with word that Barrett is being held captive by Center operatives.  He asks Sydney for his help.  Meanwhile, Mr. Raines informs Miss Parker about an upcoming meeting between Lyle and Sammy Tanaka’s son, Tommy.  Parker, who speaks fluent Japanese, translates the conversation between Lyle and Tommy.  Tommy insists Parker be present when he pays the 10 million dollars for Barrett.

Broots receives assistance from an unknown source during a custody battle to keep his daughter.   Later, he receives an unexpected visit from Jarod himself…and puts two and two together.  Jarod tells Broots he needs his help in finding the location of the kidnapper’s lair.

Raines gives Parker an access code that will override Lyle’s own code when the 10 million dollar transaction transpires, thereby transferring the money into another account.  When the exchange goes down, Parker uses her laptop to relocate the funds.  Unbeknownst to her, someone else overrides her code.  The entire exchange falls apart when Jarod sneaks inside the kidnapper’s lair and makes off with Barrett.  Later, Barrett describes how the kidnapping went down, and mentions how Agent Gillson never pulled out his weapon.  Jarod realizes Gillson is working for the Yakuza.

Lyle arranges a security seal around the Federal Courthouse in an attempt to snare Jarod when he delivers Barrett in the morning.  Meanwhile, Raines tells Parker that the Triumvirate has grown tired of Lyle’s leadership…especially his dealings with Tanaka.  Suddenly, Mr. Parker steps from the shadows.  He admits that he has been part of the plot against Lyle from the very beginning, and has been working with Raines to pull it off.  Miss Parker is stunned.  She realizes that the Yakuza now believe Lyle stole their money…placing him in great jeopardy.

Jarod creates a diversion and slips past the security seal at the Federal Building.  He delivers Barrett to Jessica Kline in the nick of time.  He then converses with Gillson within earshot of Sammy Tanaka, making it seem as if Gillson was working for the FBI all along.  Gillson later confesses to the abduction.  Miss Parker and company rush into the court room, but Jarod identifies them as fugitives to two court officers, creating a diversion that allows him to escape.  Later, two Yakuza hit men begin tailing Mr. Lyle.