Vanished

By Gemini-M

Chapter 4

Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Author's Note: Thank you, Elisa, ICD, pretender fan, airam4u, bloodymary2,
Nans, Sirus183, phi4858, a reader, and Katt. for all the wonderful reviews. I'm
glad that all of you are enjoying my story and I promise the future chapters
will be worth the wait, but not too long of a wait. I promise. Thank you and
enjoy. Mercy

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the
strong." Mahatma Gandhi

On the Road to Dover

The weather had turned for the worst all of a sudden and the downpour
made it almost impossible to even see the road at times. Jarod raised one hand
away from the steering wheel and looked at his watch again. Frustrated he
slammed the steering wheel with his fist. It was 3:15 p.m. and he was still
about 40 miles outside of Dover. "At this speed I'm not going to arrive on
time." Jarod thought aloud. With blind determination, he pressed down harder on
the accelerator and hoped that he would not run into any accidents or end up in
one himself. He just had to make it to that meeting on time.

It was 3:50 p.m. when Jarod finally arrived at the warehouse district
on the outskirts of Dover. The torrential rain had not let up all afternoon, but
now this horrible weather was working to his advantage. Under the shroud of the
heavy rain and fog, Jarod was able to conceal his car behind the abandoned
building and make his way up the fire escape to the roof undetected. By the time
he reached the roof, he was drenched and shaking uncontrollably. Ignoring the
bone chilling cold biting his face and hands, Jarod focused on his plan and
quickly searched the rooftop for an opened skylight or air vent. A sudden flash
of lightning illuminated the entire rooftop making him dive for cover to avoid
being struck or detected. When he re-opened his eyes again, he saw an opening
about twenty feet ahead. Crouching like a cat, he slowly moved toward the
opening. Once he was over the dilapidated window, he cautiously pulled it open
as far as he could and peeked inside. Jarod sighed, relieved when emptiness and
silence was all that greeted him. As he was about to squeeze through the narrow
opening of the skylight, he saw the headlights of an approaching car in the
distance. Jarod looked at his watch and smiled. "Right on time."

Once inside the building, Jarod found himself crawling on an elevated
walkway that encircled the entire building about one hundred feet above the
ground. Concealed by the darkness, the pretender cautiously started looking for
a good vantage point where he could observe and hear the exchange between the
mysterious guest and Mr. Lyle. He was still shivering and he felt like a drowned
rat, but at the moment all he could do was rub his hands vigorously to try to
give his numb fingers some warmth and circulation.

Just as he was about to climb down to hide behind some crates, the huge
sliding door at the south end of the building opened slightly and Mr. Lyle
walked in holding some kind of folder in his hand. "Damn" Jarod swore annoyed
for not having enough time to reach the crates and be closer to this meeting.
Instead he quickly dropped on his stomach and froze. From his place of
surveillance up on the catwalk he really could not see Lyle's face clearly, but
the gloved hand confirmed his identity. A few minutes later another figure, all
dressed in black, moved out of the shadows and walked toward the center of the
floor where Mr. Lyle was standing. The mystery man had his back towards Jarod
and from the platform he neither could see his face nor hear their exchange, but
there was something very familiar about this person and this exchange. It was
like a strange Deja Vu.

The smaller man kept looking around nervously as he exchanged words
with Mr. Lyle. After a few tense minutes, Lyle gave the folder to the dark
figure and in return the other man handed over his briefcase and walked away
swiftly. Immediately after the other man left, Lyle extracted his cell phone
from his pocket and dialed a number. Terminating the very short conversation,
Lyle put away his phone, looked at his watch and started to inspect the content
of the briefcase leisurely.

Jarod wanted to follow the mysterious visitor but apparently Mr. Lyle
had been instructed to stay put while the other man made his getaway safely.
"Damn" Jarod hissed to himself. "Why doesn't he leave?" He really wanted to
follow this guy to find out who was behind this exchange and what was in that
folder. Unfortunately, he had no other choice but to stay hidden until Lyle was
out of there. The last thing he needed right now was to be re-captured by the
Centre.

After about fifteen minutes, Lyle finally moved from his spot and
exited the warehouse the same way he came in. As soon as Lyle was out of sight,
Jarod jumped to his feet and climbed down from the platform as quickly as
possible. The only alternative he had at the moment was to follow Lyle and maybe
get some answers from him. He knew he was taking a big risk, but his gut told
him Lyle had the answers to solve this little puzzle. Besides Lyle was long
overdue for some payback, after what he had done to Kyle and Emily.

The Centre

For the past thirty minutes, Broots had been hiding in the bathroom
stall trying to think of a way to persuade Miss Parker to leave the Centre like
Jarod had advised. This was not going to be easy. Miss Parker was on the warpath
today and Lyle and Mr. Raines were on the top of her list. She was determined to
get to the bottom of Sydney's disappearance. "Maybe I could slip her a sedative
and when she passes out..." Broots thought aloud. "Yeah right, and when she
wakes up, I'm a dead man." He knew that sooner or later he would have to tell
her about Jarod's call and then she was going to go ballistic. "I wish I could
disappear like Sydney."

"BROOTS, ARE YOU STILL IN HERE?" Miss parker's infuriated tone snapped
Broots back to reality.

"OH...yes Miss Parker, I'm here." Broots stumbled out of the bathroom
stall. "I'm sorry Miss Parker, I...I wasn't feeling very good." Broots could
almost feel her piercing stare, but avoided her eyes and hurried to the sink to
wash his hands. "I think it was that breakfast burrito I ate this morning."
Broots smiled nervously as their eyes met in the mirror. "I should have known
better; every time I eat them I get sick as a dog."

"Okay, okay never mind." Parker raised one hand in the air to stop
Broots' rambling. "That's way too much information."

"Sorry Miss Parker."

"Lets go Broots. We need to find Raines." Parker blurted out as she
moved toward the door. "I went to his office and he's gone. His secretary said
that he went home an hour ago."

"MISS PARKER WAIT!" Broots ran and blocked her exit. "You...you can't
do that."

"And why NOT?" Parker glared at the nervously little man.

"Because...uh...Jarod called." The techie whispered.

"WHAT?" "What do you mean Jarod called?" Parker asked slowly as she
approached Broots with a menacing look in her eyes.

"Well...he...he really didn't call me.
He...uh...called...Syd...Sydney's number, and since I have Sydney's phone I...I
spoke..."

"STOP!" Parker snapped at him angrily. Parker was standing so close; he
could feel her breath on his face. "What did Jarod say?"

"Jarod said that you and I were in grave danger and that we should
leave the Centre right away." Broots stopped and moved back a few inches to
regain some control. "He also said that Raines and Lyle were gone and that if we
followed them, Sydney's life would be in danger."

Broots stared at Miss Parker in silence while she took in all this
information. He could see the anger rising in her, but for an instant he also
had seen sadness in her eyes when he mentioned Jarod's name.

"Miss parker, I really think we should listen to Jarod." Broots said
with dread.

"Since when do we listen to what the Lab Rat says?" Parker growled; the
ice queen mask back in place.

"Miss Parker, I don't think Jarod would lie to us about this,
especially if Sydney's life is in danger."

"I don't care what Jarod thinks, I'm going to find Raines and get some
answers out of that ghoul." Parker said as she pushed Broots out of her way.
"Are you coming?"

Broots nodded in defeat and followed Miss Parker out of the bathroom.
All he could do now was to pray and hope that their actions might not cost
Sydney's life or their own. Miss Parker knew Jarod better than anybody else, and
even though he was a pain in the ass, he would never allow any harm to come to
Sydney or her. "Why wouldn't she listen to Jarod?" Broots asked himself
frustrated.

"Man, Sydney must have had his hands full with the two of you when you
were kids." Broots mumbled behind Parker.

"What did you say?" Parker turned around and gave him a stern
look.

"Uh...Nothing...M...Miss Parker." Broots stammered as he halted with
panic written all over his face.

Narrowing her eyes she glared at the techie for an instant, but decided
against scaring him any further. Broots was already a nervous wreck and she
needed him with a clear mind to do his job. Besides, even though she had never
told him, she really respected him and treasured his friendship. He was one of
the few people she could truly trust in this snake pit.

"Lets go Broots, we don't have all day." Parker ordered as she turned
to hide the smile that started to form in her lips.

The halls were almost deserted as Miss Parker stalked towards her
office with Broots hurrying behind. As she pushed past the etched glass doors,
Parker retrieved her cell phone from her jacket and dialed Sam's extension.
While she waited for her sweeper to answer, Parker inspected the clip of her gun
and then tucked it back in the holster at the small of her back.

"Sam, what do you have for me?" For the next few minutes Parker
listened closely to Sam's report on his findings, while she paced the length of
her office nervously. "I was afraid of that." Parker said more to
herself than to the man at the other end.

After a few seconds of silence she continued. "Wait a minute Sam."
Parker moved to her desk and started searching frantically through her address
book. "Okay Sam, I have a new assignment for you. Write down this address. I
need you to track Lyle's movements. Go to his apartment and wait there for me,
but stay out of sight. Thanks Sam."

"Yes, call me immediately if he makes any move." Parker confirmed and
then disconnected the call.

"Did Sam find anything?" Broots asked cautiously.

"Nothing." Parker replied with concern.

"Miss Parker, what are we going to do now?"

"We are going to Raines' home to have a little talk with that eel and
he better have some answers." Parker cried out angrily and rushed out of her
office with Broots at her heels.

Outside Lyle's apartment

The heavy clouds had dimmed the daylight significantly, but at least
the rain had slowed down to a drizzle by the time Lyle reached his apartment. He
parked his little sport car in his private garage and looked at his watch as he
stepped out of his car. It was already 5:00p.m. Raines would be arriving in
about an hour, but due to the new developments he needed to move up the meeting.
Lyle leaned against the stairs that lead to his apartment and looked at the
threatening clouds above as he pulled out his cell phone from his pocket. As he
slowly climbed the stairs to his apartment, Lyle dialed a number and listen
impatiently for a few seconds before the call was transferred to an answering
service.

"Damn, where are you now?" Lyle curse annoyed, but decided to leave a
short message. "Raines, we have a problem. Your Lab Rat has found himself a
private assassin and I have a feeling he's up to something." He looked at his
watch again. "It's 5:05 already, come over as soon as you can."

From the safety of his car across the street, the pretender waited
until Lyle entered his apartment and the lights were switched on. While driving
from the warehouse, he already had simmed the best way to gain access to the
apartment. Breaking in would not be a problem, since he had memorized the layout
of Lyle's apartment from one of his previous visits.

Jarod rubbed his tired eyes and rested his head on the steering wheel.
He hated the thoughts that were rushing through his mind on what he might have
to do in this confrontation with Lyle. "I've spared your life in the past, but
this time you have gone too far Lyle and nothing is going to save you now."
Jarod thought aloud. "Sydney, I hope you can forgive me, but I have no other
option." After a few minutes, he raised his head again and fixed his eyes on the
illuminated apartment as his mind worked the final details of his plan. The time
had come to take action and his feelings of guilt and doubt gave away to anger
and determination.

Before exiting his car, Jarod looked up and down the street once more
to make sure Lyle's apartment was not under surveillance by the Centre or any of
the other criminal organization that had dealings with the notorious Mr. Lyle.
When he felt confident that there was no danger, he quickly exited his car and
approached the apartment building.

As he reached the foot of the stairs, Jarod stopped and glanced around
at the garage area. Everything was still, except for the sounds of the raindrops
in the surrounding plants and the rainspouts. Daylight was slowly disappearing,
veiled by the dark clouds above, and the street lights were already flickering
to life. Jarod took a deep breath and started climbing the steps leading to the
Lyle's apartment. Just as he was about to reach the midpoint of the stairs, he
was suddenly blinded by a bright flash and the force of a huge explosion threw
him over the rail to the driveway below.

When Jarod finally came to, he was surrounded by debris and smoke. His
mind was in a fog. He had no idea how long he had been unconscious or what he
was doing in front of Lyle's apartment, but it was dark and it was raining
again. He blinked the rain from his eyes and looked up to where Lyle's apartment
once stood. It was gone and in its place there was only rubble and fire. "Oh My
God!" Jarod said stunned. Staggering and in shock, Jarod stood very slowly and
looked around at all the destruction. By some miracle he didn't have any broken
bones, except maybe for some bruised ribs, but the pain in his head was
unbearable and his ears were ringing very loudly.

"Son, are you alright?" Said a concerned voice from behind
him.

"I don't know." Jarod said confused. "What happened?"

Still kind of light-headed, Jarod felt someone taking him by the arm
and leading him away from the building. When he looked down, he saw an old man
smiling at him. The old man guided him carefully across the street and sat him
down on the sidewalk right next to his car.

"Son, you better wait here for the ambulance. You have a very nasty cut
on your head." The old man said softly. "I'll try to get you a blanket. Wait
here and don't move."

With his vision still in a blur, Jarod saw the old man walking away
rapidly towards the demolished apartment. By now the scene was of total chaos.
People were running out of other neighboring apartments and the sounds of fire
trucks and ambulances were approaching from all directions. Jarod pushed himself
up by leaning against the bumper of his car and gasped in pain as the movement
put pressure on his ribs. He closed his eyes and leaned heavily on the trunk of
his car as a wave of dizziness overtook him. He had to get away from there
before the authorities and the Centre arrived to investigate. He looked up and
saw Ambulances and fire engines approaching. Soon the street would be blocked to
all traffic.

When the dizziness subsided a little, Jarod started to move towards his
car door. He had to try to leave as discreetly as possible, but the way he was
swaying it was going to be very difficult. As he was about to open the car door,
he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"And where do you think you're going?" A voice said firmly.

Jarod froze in sudden panic and then slowly turned to face a paramedic
and the kind old man that had helped him earlier. He was left speechless and the
pounding headache was making matters worse. He just couldn't think of any good
excuse.

"UH...I was going home." Jarod said sheepishly. "I feel
fine."

"Son, I told you to wait here." The old man scolded him as he placed a
blanket over his shoulder. "Now let these nice paramedics take care of that cut
on your head."

"Young people, they never listen." The old man shook his head in
disbelief as the paramedics escorted the pretender to the ambulance.

Since he could walk, Jarod was slowly guided to the back of the
ambulance and once inside, the paramedics immediately started to treat
him.

The street was now overflowing with spectators and the police had
placed several barricades to keep the curious away and out of danger. Among the
crowd, a suited man watched vigilantly as the pretender was taken into the
ambulance. He moved through the crowd and walked back to his car. Once inside
the car, he pulled the cell phone from his breast pocket and dialed a number.
Shortly after, a female voice answered.

"Miss Parker, we have a problem." Sam said eagerly.

"I'm sorry to inform you, but there was an explosion in Mr. Lyle's
apartment." He listened carefully to Miss Parker's reply before continuing. "It
looks pretty bad Miss Parker." Sam stopped and listened again.

"I think he was home because his car is in the garage. Well, what's
left of it."

"I don't know Miss Parker, but if Mr. Lyle was in there, I don't think
they are going to find all the pieces to put him back together again." Sam said
with a smile as he listened to his boss again.

"Yes Miss Parker, I'll try to find out right away."

"Miss Parker, there is something else." Sam paused for dramatic effect
before breaking the news about the pretender. "Jarod is here and apparently he
was pretty close to the explosion when it occurred, because he got himself all
banged up. The paramedics are working on him right now." Sam stopped and waited
a moment for his boss' next orders.

"Yes Miss Parker, I'll watch him closely. Don't worry he's not going
anywhere in his present condition." Sam replied coldly.

Grinning and very confident, Sam closed his cell phone and returned it
to his breast pocket. "This time the sly pretender is not going to get away. I'm
not going to let Miss Parker down." Sam said to himself with determination.
"It's time to put an end to this ridiculous man hunt." The big man exited his
car and walked back to the crowd as he thought of a plan to snatch the pretender
away from the paramedics without too much commotion.

TBC