Vanished

By Gemini-M

Chapter 6

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Author's Note: Thank you to the faithful readers who have left such
wonderful reviews: phi4858, Sirus183, Elisa and Nans. Hope that you will all
enjoy the rest of my story, and there are a few more surprises ahead in this
little adventure. Also a million thanks to my beta reader, Jaccione. Thanks and
Enjoy.

"It is impossible to go through life without trust. That is to be
imprisoned in the worst cell of all, oneself." Graham Greene.

Outside Mr. Raines' home

Terminating the conversation with Sam, Miss Parker closed her cell phone
slowly and stared silently at the darkness that engulfed the house of her former
boss and tormentor. The events of the past twelve hours had sent her world into
a state of total chaos. First, Sydney had mysteriously disappeared from the
Centre without explanation, and so far they had not found a single clue to his
whereabouts. Next, the two people who they thought were involved in Sydney's
disappearance had been conveniently eliminated. So now they were back to square
one. The only positive outcome of this whole situation was that Sam had managed
to capture Jarod, but even that good fortune could easily change, knowing how
Jarod always found a way to escape and ridicule her.

Nervously and unaware of her passenger's scrutinizing gaze, Miss Parker
began taping her fingers on the steering wheel as her hidden emotions betrayed
her and forced her to confront this new predicament. 'Why had her stomach
turned into knots when Sam had informed her about Jarod's injuries?'
Parker thought confused. 'She should care less about what could
happen to that annoying and conceited Lab Rat, and yet she just could not erase
the thoughts of his condition or what her life would be like without his
constant interventions, his constant mocking and his constant reminders to seek
the truth to their past.' Parker shook her head trying to dislodge these
unsettling thoughts from her mind, but undeniably they pointed to the one truth
she didn't want to admit. 'Jarod was and always had been her constant. No
matter how many times she had pushed him away or rejected him. He always came
back. Even though, she had not seen it until now or simply chose to ignore it,
Jarod still was that faithful friend from her childhood.' Her eyes
shimmered with unshed tears. "He never abandoned me." Parker
murmured to herself.

"Did you say something Miss Parker?" Broots' voice jolted her from
her reverie.

"What?" Parker answered disoriented. "No, nothing." Avoiding
Broots' eyes, Parker quickly started the car and sped away.

"Miss Parker, where are we going?" Broots asked cautiously, while
he held on for dear life to the handle of his door. "Did something
happen?"

"To my house, but first we have to stop by the pharmacy."

"The pharmacy?" Broots said surprised.

"Yes, we are going to need some pain killers and medical supplies."
Parker answered emotionless.

"Medical supplies?" Broots asked with interest. "Who's
hurt?"

"Jarod."

"What happened Miss Parker?" Broots voiced was now filled with
concern. "Is he hurt bad?"

"Why are you so worried about the Lab Rat anyways?" Parker said
coldly.

"Sorry Miss Parker, I...I know you don't like the guy but..."
Broots raised his hand in defense when the woman next to him shot daggers with
her look. "and...and you have plenty of reasons, but he's really not a bad
guy you know. Plus he's trying to help us find Sydney."

"Oh Great, first I had to endure Sydney's mothering, and now you want
to start a fan club for the Lab Rat." Parker said annoyed. "Did the
genius finally get into your head as well?"

"OH No Miss Parker, is not like that, it's just that...I owe Jarod."
Broots remained quiet for a moment, building up his courage to explain his
reasons. "Jarod helped me get my little girl back."

Miss Parker was baffled by Broots' revelation. Parker stared straight
ahead at the road not wanting to show her shock to the man sitting next to her.
'She just couldn't figure out Jarod. Why would he help the same people who
pursued him relentlessly and had kept him locked up most of his life? He was
truly an enigma and in a strange way that's what made him so special.'

After a few minutes of silence, Parker asked, "So what did Boy-Wonder
do to obtain your allegiance?"

"Jarod sent some information about my ex-wife's gambling to the court
during the custody trial, and that helped me get Debbie back." Broots
continued with apprehension. "Miss Parker, I know my job is to help you
capture him, but it doesn't mean I have to like it, or that I have to agree with
all the things the Centre has done to him and others."

"I know Broots, but now our main concern is to find Sydney." Parker
shot back, quickly changing the subject.

A few minutes later they arrived at a local pharmacy in Blue Cove. Parker
exited her car and rushed into the store with Broots at her heels. Within half
an hour they were out of the pharmacy with all the needed supplies and back on
the road en route to Miss Parker's house.

Miss Parker's home

It was 7:00p.m. by the time Miss Parker and Broots arrived at her home. As
she pulled into her driveway, Parker could see the black Centre sedan parked at
the curve. Just before stepping out of her car, Parker turned towards her
techie, her ice-queen mask back in place, and said "Broots get the supplies,
I need to talk to Sam."

Without any question, Broots grabbed the bag of supplies at his feet and
stepped out of the little sports car. Walking rapidly towards the steps that
lead to the porch, Broots looked around nervously as he remembered Jarod's
words, "Mr. Broots, You and Miss Parker are in grave danger." He hated to
be out here in the open. He felt like a sitting duck in a shooting gallery. Just
a few yards away, he could see Miss Parker talking to Sam, but there was no sign
of Jarod. He quickly climbed the steps to the porch and stood by the door
waiting for the others to come. "Come on Miss Parker." Broots mumbled
under his breath. His imagination was just running wild, and he already could
see a sniper in the bushes pointing his riffle at them. Unable to stay put any
longer, Broots dropped the plastic bag by the door and walked hurriedly down the
steps toward Miss Parker and Sam.

Miss Parker looked into the back seat, but it was too dark. All she could
see was a body stretched out on its side.

"Is he awake?" Parker asked dryly.

"He was moving around a little," Sam lean forward and looked into
the backseat. "but I think he's still kind of spaced out from the bump on the
head."

"Okay, get him out of there." Parker ordered.

"Yes ma' am!" Sam replied firmly and opened the back door.

Immediately, Sam reached in and tapped Jarod on the leg. "Jarod
wake-up, come on."

Jarod blinked and struggled to sit up, but his disorientation and
dizziness forced him back down again. The voice that called to him sounded
muffled, but he started to recognize it. It was Miss Parker's sweeper, Sam. He
knew that he had to think of something fast to get away from this gorilla before
the others came, but it was not going to be easy in his present condition. He
would only have one chance.

When Sam reached in again and grabbed his handcuffs to pull him out, Jarod
gathered all his remaining strength and kicked the man in the groin as hard as
he could.

Groaning in excruciating pain the sweeper flew back crashing into Broots.
The momentum sent both men to the ground in a mass of tangled bodies. Infuriated
by the spectacle, Miss Parker rolled her eyes and drew her gun from her holster,
ready to handle the situation.

Unaware of Miss Parker's presence, Jarod stumbled out of the car ready to
take flight. When he turned around, he came face to face with his huntress
pointing her 9mm at his heart. Jarod was too stunned to even move and all he
could do was stare at Miss Parker angrily. She had not changed much since their
last meeting on that damned island, and seeing her again just helped reopen a
bleeding wound.

"Looks like the chase is over Jarod." Parker said with an icy
smile. "Well this is a surprise; the great pretender is rendered
speechless."

Parker slowly approached the tall man, stopping only a couple of feet
away. She shuddered at the sight before her. The pretender was gasping for
breath and his face was ashen with shock. There were scratches on his face, a
visible contusion on his stubble covered chin and he had a bandage on the left
side of his forehead. His face and hair looked about the same as the last time
she saw him on the Island of Carthis, but there was something different and
frightening about him. Jarod's face had a look of anguish and defeat. Suddenly a
flash of lighting brought a painful memory back to life. The images began to
play in her mind, like a movie. She was back on that cursed island, kneeling in
a dark and desolate cemetery while the freezing rain poured down on her and
blended with her tears. She had just discovered the evil legacy of the Parker
family and who she was. All of the sudden Jarod was standing next to her. He was
soaking wet and his hair was already plastered to his face. Jarod looked down at
her with concern and asked, "Miss Parker, are you alright? What's wrong?"
Once again, Jarod was there at her side supporting her during another
difficult moment in her life.

"I hope you're ready to kill me this time, because I'm not going back
to the Centre." Jarod shot back furiously, jolting her out of her
reverie.

Parker was surprised by Jarod's angry outburst, but the pain in his eyes
betrayed his words. The same pain and sadness she had seen in her friend's eyes
so many years ago, but ignored. Maybe this time she would not look away.

"Well, that's up to you Jarod." Parker said harshly.

Before Miss Parker was able to react, Sam was back on his feet and
launching at the cuffed man. Jarod suddenly realized that kicking the burly
sweeper in the groin was a big mistake. The huge man wanted to settle the score,
and from the fire in his eyes, he was ready to rip off the pretender's head. In
the confusion, Miss Parker was pushed aside and landed on her butt on the lawn.
Jarod was able to block Sam's first blow to his face, but hindered by the cuffs
and his injuries, he was unable to stop the following punch to his side. Jarod
gasped in pain as he fell against the parked car and finally crumbled to the
ground, twisted in agony. Just before his world faded into darkness, he heard
Miss Parker's angry voice and those beautiful legs moving towards him and the
form that stood above him.

"SAM, STOP!" Parker shouted. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE
DOING?"

"Sorry Miss Parker, I wasn't thinking." Sam said embarrassed.
"It will not happen again."

"IT BETTER NOT!" Parker said fuming. "Right now, I need Jarod in
one piece and thinking straight to help us find Sydney." Parker took a deep
breath to calm herself and then continued in a murderous tone, "When this is
over I don't care if you two tear each other to pieces, but for now HANDS
OFF, UNDERSTOOD?"

"Yes ma' am." Sam replied obediently but very surprised at Miss
Parker's reaction.

Parker looked down at the unconscious man and then over at Broots who was
still sitting on the lawn with his mouth agape. "Are you planning to sit
there all night and look at the stars or are you going to come here and help
Sam?"

"OH Yes Miss Parker, I'm sorry." Broots said and jumped to his
feet.

Without delay, both men carried the unconscious pretender into the house
before any of the neighbors reported the disturbance. Once inside the house,
Parker ordered Sam and Broots to put Jarod in the guest room and handcuff him to
the bed post.

While the men were taking Jarod to the guest room, Parker rushed to her
den and got her laptop. When she returned to the living room, Broots was there
waiting for her.

Parker handed the laptop to the techie as she clear an area on the coffee
table for Broots to work. "Here, get to work. Go to the Centre's mainframe
and see if you can find something on Sydney."

"Okay Miss Parker, but I checked this morning and I couldn't find
anything." Broots rubbed his balding head nervously. "Miss Parker do you
think Sydney is still alive?"

Parker looked at Broots sharply, but immediately softened her demeanor.
She hated to admit this, but that thought had crossed her mind numerous times
today. "Lets hope so." She finally said her voice low and filled with
concern. Then Parker looked at Broots questionably and asked, "Where's
Sam?"

"He's standing guard outside the room where we put Jarod." Broots
answered as he began to type frantically on the laptop.

"Call me if you find something." Parker removed her jacket and
threw it on the back of the couch. "I'm going to make some coffee."
Parker sighed tiredly as she walked towards the kitchen. "It's going to be a
long night."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In a state of half consciousness, Jarod could hear his own moaning. Slowly
his eyes fluttered open, he raised his head slightly and started to scan the
surroundings nervously. The room was almost in total darkness, except for the
faint light of a small lamp. At first he could not remember how he got there or
where he was, but a photo on the night table brought back the events of the past
few hours. "Miss Parker's home." Jarod hissed to himself as he dropped
his head back down on the pillow. He felt wretched and the pain on his side had
worsened to a point that the mere act of breathing made it almost unbearable.
Cautiously, he tried to raise himself up on his elbows, but painfully discovered
he was cuffed to the bed post. The awkward movement put more strain on his sore
ribs and caused him to cry out in pain.

At the sound of Jarod's groan, Sam rushed into the room and turned on the
room light. The sudden brightness made the pretender shield his eyes with his
free arm, while his eyes adjusted to the assaulting glare. When Sam's face came
into focus, both men stared at each other angrily for a few minutes in a deadly
silence. Struggling and biting down against the pain Jarod managed to sit up,
without taking his eyes away from the menacing sweeper.

"Are you here to finish the job for Miss Parker?" Jarod hissed at
the sweeper.

"Unfortunately not, Lab Rat." Sam spat angrily. "Today is your
lucky day. Miss Parker needs you in one piece; otherwise, you would be pushing
up daisies like Lyle and Mr. Raines."

"WHAT?" Jarod gasped. "MR. RAINES IS DEAD ALSO?"

"Yeah, Dead as a door nail." Sam replied with a smirk.

Jarod just sat stunned for a few minutes. He still could not believe the
fact that Mr. Raines and Lyle were really dead. "This is not good." Jarod
murmured softly. "He's eliminating all the top players and that means Miss
Parker is next."

"What are you mumbling about?" Sam asked annoyed. "You're
beginning to sound like Angelo."

"Sam Listen carefully!" Jarod said with a concerned look on his
face. "You need to get Miss Parker and Broots away from here. Whoever killed
Raines and Lyle is planning to kill them too."

"How do you know this?" Sam shot back suspiciously. "For all we
know, you might be the killer. As a matter of fact, you are the number one
suspect in Miss Parker's list."

"WHAT?" Jarod growled in pain and held his side, while gasping for
breath. Sam's revelation had shocked him, causing him to jerk in anger.
"Why...would...Miss Parker...think...that...I...Killed...them?"

"Because they kept you locked-up for over thirty years, they've used
you, they've tortured you and they tried to kill your family." Miss Parker
said with spite as she entered the room. "Jarod, everyone has a breaking
point, and I believe you have reached yours. IT WAS TIME FOR
RETRIBUTION."

"NO MISS PARKER, YOU'RE WRONG." Jarod's eyes held her for a moment.
When he spoke again, his voice was low and shaking, "Miss Parker, you know I
could never kill them...they held the secret to my past." Jarod closed his
eyes and leaned back against the head board defeated. He was trying to remain
calm, but he just couldn't stop the uncontrollable trembling from the cold, pain
and shock.

"Sam leave us alone, and go see if Broots found something about
Sydney." Parker said over her shoulder as she stared blankly at the shaken
pretender.

"Are you sure Miss Parker?"

"Yes, Go. I'll be fine."

Trying to remain calm, Parker walked to the window and pulled the curtain
aside. She stared into the darkness for a few minutes in order to slow down her
breathing, but it was useless. She felt like her heart was going to jump out of
her chest. She didn't even want to look at him. She was not ready to confront
him after what happened back on that damn island. 'This is ridiculous.'
Parker scolded herself inwardly. 'I'm in control here and I'm not going
to allow him to do this to me again.'

When she finally turned to look at Jarod, he was deep in thought. 'He's
probably simming a plan of escape.' Parker thought as she stared angrily at
the pretender and decided to make her move. Without warning, she stalked towards
the bed making Jarod jerk in surprise and moaned in pain. He was still shivering
miserably, but she quickly looked away and ignored him. She reached into the
night table and grabbed her cigarettes and a lighter. After she lit the
cigarette she began pacing the room casually.

Jarod looked at her in shock. He thought that maybe she would at least ask
about his injuries or how he felt, but she would not even look at him. In the
past six years she had threatened to shoot him many times and he knew she could
have done that on numerous occasions, but deep inside he always believed that
she would not harm him intentionally. Maybe he was wrong after all.

"OKAY JAROD, TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" Parker growled as
her eyes bore into him. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SYDNEY'S
DISAPPEARANCE?"

"Miss Parker, I only know what Broots told me and what..." Jarod
stopped himself. He was not about to reveal his source inside the Centre. With
all the new developments, the Centre might be in its final hours, but his friend
was still trapped in the pits of that Hell.

"WHAT?" Parker shouted.

Jarod blinked and covered his eyes with his free hand as a wave of
dizziness and pain overwhelmed him. "Wait, give me a minute." Jarod
murmured softly.

"Are you alright?" Parker asked almost inaudibly.

Jarod ran his hand through his wet and tousled hair and slowly reopened
his eyes. When his eyes met Parkers, to his surprise, her eyes held a look of
concern, but she quickly diverted her gaze.

"It's my head. It feels like it's going to explode." He said with a
weak smile. "Then I feel like I'm on a merry-go-round."

"Do you want something for the pain?" Parker asked avoiding his
eyes.

"Not now, let me finish telling you what I've discovered." Jarod
pulled against the cuffs on his left wrist accidentally and growled in pain
again. Holding his side tightly with his free arm he took in a few slow breaths
and then continued. "Someone was blackmailing Lyle. This person was
threatening to send information to the Triumvirate about Lyle's dealings with
the Yakuza and other notorious organizations, plus informing the authorities
about Lyle's cannibalistic activities and the possible connection to all those
unsolved murders of Asian women." Jarod said with disgust.

"But why did they take Sydney?" Parker asked confused.

"They are using him as bait." Jarod replied in a dangerous
voice.

"They?" Parker replied.

"Yes, one person alone could not carry out this plan." Jarod was
silent for a moment. "Miss Parker, whoever is behind this is eliminating all
the top players. It's not a matter of blackmail anymore."

"I don't understand." Parker frowned.

"Miss Parker with Raines and Lyle gone...you might be next on the
list." Jarod looked at Parker with concern.

Slowly in a daze, Parker lowered herself at the foot of the bed and sat
there motionless. Jarod's revelation had made the hairs on the back of her neck
stand up straight. Jarod was probably right. Since the beginning of this ordeal,
her inner sense had been giving her warnings, but she just refused to listen.
Maybe if she had listened, Sydney would be safe now.

"Miss Parker, are you alright?" Jarod leaned forward cautiously
trying to reach her hand.

Parker leapt off the bed and moved out of his reach. She didn't want Jarod
to see her vulnerable. She had to be strong and she was not going to allow him
to manipulate her emotions like he had done in the past. When she looked at him
again, her face had turned serious. "Tell me Jarod, why were you at Lyle's
apartment when the explosion occurred?"

Jarod sighed tiredly and reclined his head back against the headboard.
"I received an e-mail about a meeting between Lyle and the blackmailer in a
warehouse outside of Dover."

"So you know who's behind this?" Parker asked hopefully.

"No, due to the bad weather, I arrived at the meeting a little late."
Jarod stopped and rubbed his eyes again. "I didn't have enough time to
get into a good position to observe the meeting." Jarod yanked the cuffs in
frustration. "I couldn't see the face of the man meeting with Lyle."

"DID YOU HEAR ANY OF THE EXCHANGE, WAS THIS GUY ALONE, DO YOU THINK
THIS PERSON IS SOMEONE FROM THE CENTRE, THINK JAROD!" Parker demanded
almost in a panic.

"NO, I DON'T KNOW!" Jarod shouted back. "But there was something
very familiar about this guy." Jarod said thoughtfully and remained silent
for a moment as if watching the event all over again in his mind.

"JAROD!" Parker snapped at the distracted pretender.
"What else happened in the meeting?"

"Lyle gave the man a folder and he received a briefcase in
return."

"What do you think was in the folder Lyle exchanged?" Parker
whispered.

"I don't know Miss Parker." Jarod rubbed his eyes trying to stay
focused. He was still shaking pretty badly and the pain in his head made it
difficult to think. "Parker, I tried to follow the other guy, but I think
Lyle was instructed to wait a while before leaving. So, I was stuck there."
Jarod said with a tone of defeat.

"So you decided to follow Lyle Instead." Parker finished for
him.

"Yes, I was going to try to get some information from him, but...You
know the rest." Jarod said as he stared into her eyes. All of the sudden he
started to sneeze and the jerking of his body made him groan in pain once
again. "Damn it" Jarod hissed as he put pressure on his ribs and closed
his eyes tightly.

Jarod's face was contorted in pain as he tried to find a comfortable
position within the limitations of the restraint. Parker glanced at him with
concern, but immediately looked away again. "Am I doing the right thing?"
Parker murmured to herself feeling totally lost, but in the back of her mind,
her inner sense was telling her to Trust him. She had seen the pain and concern
in his eyes, and deep in her heart she knew that Jarod would never hurt her or
Sydney. Now they both wanted the same thing, to save Sydney. Maybe it was time
to accept his help and have a truce, at least until Sydney was back safe. Once
again she heard her inner sense, Trust him. To her relief, there was a knock at
the door, taking her attention away from the man in agony and her
dilemma.

"Come in." Parker called.

"Miss Parker, is everything alright?" Sam asked from the doorway.
"I heard some shouting."

"Everything is fine Sam." Parker answer dryly. "Did Broots find
anything?"

"No ma' am, nothing yet." Sam answered and frowned when he looked
towards themoaning pretender on the bed. "Miss Parker can I get something for
you or...Jarod?"

"No Thanks Sam."

As soon as Sam left the room, Parker came to a decision. Without any
explanation, she headed for the door and said over her shoulder, "Don't move.
I'll be right back."

Jarod just lifted his head from the pillow and commented sarcastically,
"Don't worry, I'm having too much fun to leave you now."

"Well, I'm glad you're enjoying your stay Jarod." Parker shot back
and exited the room.

Parker rushed past the living room without even looking at the two stunned
men sitting there. Once in the kitchen, she immediately headed for the coffee
pot and served herself a cup of the warm liquid. She closed her eyes and savored
its reviving aroma with all her senses. After refilling her cup again, she
grabbed the plastic bag with the medical supplies and a bottle of water. Upon
reentering the living room, Parker took her jacket from the couch and approached
Broots, who was engrossed in his search of the Centre's mainframe.

"Anything yet Broots?"

"Not much Miss Parker. All I got so far is an e-mail from my friend
Wincky. You know the guy with the facial tic that works down in the
infirmary."

"Sorry we haven't had the pleasure." Parker looked at Broots
frustrated. "Well, what did you friend say?"

"Oh yes, Wincky said that early today, around 7:30a.m., there was some
kind of disturbance down in the infirmary. They had a lock-down and Mr. Lyle was
down there shouting orders to the doctors and nurses." Broots punched a few
more keys and then pointed toward the screen. "Look at this Miss Parker, the
Centre's helicopter flight log shows a transport from the Centre to an
unspecified location at 7:40a.m."

"I knew that Bastard was behind Sydney's disappearance." Parker said
fuming, and then she patted Broots' shoulder and said, "Good Job Broots, keep
looking."

As Miss Parker entered the hallway towards the guest room, Sam followed
her and asked with concern, "Miss Parker are you sure that it's safe for you
to be in the room alone with Jarod?"

"Don't worry Sam, I can handle him." Parker smiled and walked back
to the room.

In a huff, Sam entered the living room and started pacing nervously. He
didn't like what Miss Parker was doing. Jarod was a dangerous man and he would
do anything to regain his freedom. If something happened to Miss Parker, he
could never forgive himself.

"What's wrong with you?" Broots asked curiously.

"I don't like the idea of Miss Parker being in there alone with the Lab
Rat." Sam replied angrily.

Broots snickered and when Sam glared back he continued, "Don't worry
Sam, Miss Parker can take care of herself, plus Jarod would never harm
her."

"I'm not so sure of that." Sam said with distrust.

"Broots looked at Sam and smiled, "At first, I didn't trust Jarod
either, but lately I've started to see the real picture."

"Broots, what are you talking about?" Sam shot back with a
quizzical look.

"Jarod would never hurt Miss Parker, in fact he would willingly risk
his life for her and he has done that in the past."

"You're telling me that those two have a thing for each other?" Sam
asked in shock.

"What was her reaction when you told her about Jarod being hurt in the
explosion?" Broots stared expectantly at the confused sweeper.

"I really don't know, but she was silent for a moment."

"Sam I was sitting next to her in the car and I saw her face.
She looked pretty shocked and concern." Broots whispered.

"I'll be damned! No wonder the Lab Rat remained free all these years."
Sam scratched his head and thought for a moment. "That's why she almost
ripped my head off when I clobbered Jarod outside."

"Well my friend, if I were you I would listen to her warning about
HANDS OFF." Broots said as he raised his eyebrows and nodded at
Sam.

After a few minutes of silence, Sam looked at Broots seriously and asked,
"Do you think Jarod killed Mr. Raines and Lyle?"

"No, I don't think so." Broots answered quickly without hesitation.
"Jarod is not a cold blooded killer."

With a look of repugnance Sam locked eyes with Broots and said, "Well
let me tell you something, with the atrocities that I have seen those two
monsters inflict upon Jarod and others at the Centre. It's motive enough, and if
I were Jarod, I would have killed those two bastards a long time
ago."

Broots felt nauseous after hearing Sam's remark. He nodded in agreement
and returned his attention back to the screen in front of him and his search for
their missing friend.

"This is weird." Broots frowned.

"What?" Sam quickly crossed the room and stood next to Broots, his
attention instantly on the computer screen. "Did you find something on the
Doc?"

"I don't know yet, but there is a new message in Sydney's e-mail. It
was sent to him about an hour ago."

"Well, open it up Broots, maybe it's some news about the Doctor."
Impatiently, Sam slapped the techie on the shoulder to make his point.

"OUCH!...Okay...okay, I'm hurrying." Broots complained as he rubbed
his shoulder while waiting for Sydney's personal mail to open. "Okay, here it
is."

"What is it?"

"I don't understand." Broots scratched his balding head puzzled.
"It's a newspaper article about a young woman that was killed in a car
accident early today. It says that the police are investigating the accident and
they suspect foul play. There is a picture but no name. She was beautiful."
When Broots glanced at Sam, his eyes were fixated onthe photograph.

"Sam do you know who she is?"

"I'm not sure Broots, but she looks very familiar."

"Maybe Miss Parker knows who she is." Broots said
hopefully.

Sam's suspicious nature immediately told him this was no accident. There
was something very wrong with this picture, and this woman's death was probably
another missing piece of a very twisted puzzle. He looked at the face of his
nervous friend and said almost inaudibly, "I don't know Broots, but I have a
real bad feeling about this."

TBC