The Unexpected Guest

Chapter 13

Rated: PG

Spoilers: Season 4

Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine. You know the drill.

 

 

The Unexpected Guest

By Nicky

 

Chapter 13

 

 

 

"Lyle.  Come in," Mr. Parker welcomes. 

 

Lyle gives his father a big, phony smile before closing the door to the office and taking a seat across from him.  He was still upset about that Santa Fe fiasco that happened a few weeks ago.  The 'confirmed sighting' of Jarod turned out to be another false lead.  The only thing that calmed his mood was the fact that while he was out doing real work, Miss Parker was off on a wild goose chase and ended up getting stranded in a snow storm with her sidekicks.  He still can't resist the urge to laugh about that whole incident every time he sees her. 

 

"What's up, Dad?" Lyle asks, flashing another smile, not really sure what to expect from this meeting with his father.

 

"I heard about what you did to your sister.  Sending her off to Philadelphia while you went to check out a lead on Jarod.  That was good thinking," Mr. Parker admits.

 

Lyle is stunned.  He was just about to explain his motives using the well rehearsed lie he thought up.  But now it seems that his father wasn't angry about the whole incident.

 

"Good thinking?" Lyle asks confused.

 

"For three years now, your sister has been trying to catch Jarod.  And for three years, she's been unsuccessful.  Working with her was hindering you."

 

"Then why is she still on the team?  You have the power around here.  Why don't you just assign her to a desk job in some remote Centre satellite office and let me work on finding Jarod on my own."

 

"Don't get cocky, Lyle.  You still need your sister.  But not as a member of the team.  She needs to be the bait."  Mr. Parker stares at Lyle for a long minute, trying to make sure he understood what he was implying.

 

"Bait?  You mean using her to set some kind of trap for Jarod?  What makes you think he'll fall for it?"  Lyle is skeptical.  "Jarod is a genius.  He'd be able to smell a trap a mile away.  That's how he's still free."

 

"Because even geniuses can get distracted," Mr. Parker explains.

 

"By what?"

 

"By whatever bond it is that ties the two of them together.  You know, Jarod and your sister were inseparable when they were children.  They tried to hide it from me, but I knew.  And it took years of brainwashing to try to get him out of her system.  But you can't break a bond like that.  Not completely," Mr. Parker says with a frown.

 

"I still don't understand how using her as bait is going to help us catch him.  He's resisted her before.  What would distract him now?"  Lyle wonders aloud.

 

"He hasn't always been able to resist her," Mr. Parker says with an evil little grin.  "Think about it, Lyle.  Your sister has been face to face with Jarod several times in the course of the pursuit.  And if you look back, you'll notice something similar about all the situations.  You'll notice that above all else, he'll make sure her safety is guaranteed.  Even if it means losing something precious to him."

 

"Like that day I killed his brother," Lyle says, suddenly starting to get the picture.

 

"Exactly.  When it was all said and done, his brother was the one dead while she walked away.  And that day at the airstrip.  He lost his family AND his freedom.  Because without even a second thought, he ran to her rescue."

 

"So what we need to do, is put her in a situation that Jarod sees as life threatening.  And when he comes to rescue her, we'll have him."  Lyle smiles at the thought of finally capturing Jarod.

 

"Like you said, Son.  Jarod is a genius and not easily fooled.  You're going to have to do whatever it takes to convince him your sister's in danger."  He glares at the young man and leans closer to him to emphasize the point.  "Whatever . . . it . . . takes."

 

Lyle is taken aback at the last statement.  What was his father implying?  That either of them should allow Miss Parker to be sacrificed for the sake of catching Jarod?  He's even more surprised that something like that is bothering him.  But the look in Mr. Parker's cold stare was enough to make him refrain from voicing his reservations.   Because if the man could sit there and be willing to send his precious Angel into a life or death situation without her knowledge, then Lyle was sure the man wouldn't think twice about doing the same to him if he dared disagree.  He decides to just oblige the old man and set off to work on the plan.  But deep inside him, he feels something stirring up that he's never felt before.  Some foreign feelings telling him that this whole situation just isn't right.  

 

 

Lyle arrives home that night to a ringing telephone.  He has to run and catch it before it stops ringing.

 

"Yeah," he answers.

 

"It's me," the caller says.  "Is this a good time?"

 

"It's about as good as time as any," Lyle sighs.  "But make it quick.  I had a long day at work and I'm tired."

 

"Listen.  You're the one who needs my services.  This will take as long as it takes," the voice growls.

 

"Alright, alright," Lyle gives in.  "You have my undivided attention."

 

"I got the place set up.  All you have to do now is tell me where to find her.  And your little plan will be set into action by tomorrow night," the caller explains.

 

"Tomorrow?" Lyle asks hesitantly.  "That soon?"

 

"Do you want to do this or not?" the caller asks impatiently.

 

"This is what has to be done," Lyle says, not sounding too sure about his decision.  "Until tomorrow."  Lyle hangs the phone up, his hand suddenly shaking.  There was no turning back now.  He leans his head back and falls into an uneasy sleep.  An uneasy sleep filled with nightmarish images that haunt him until morning.

 

 

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