Title - Saying the Words Author - Nicky Rating - PG Category - JMPR Summary - Jarod and Miss Parker are finally together in a new town with new names and making new friends. So how come they keep on finding the same old trouble? Disclaimer - The characters aren't mine. I'm just using them for my own entertainment purposes. * * * * * * * * * * Chapter 23 * * * * * * * * * * "Mara?" Celia calls to her to get her attention. "What were you thinking? You dazed out on me for a second." "Lynn and her money," Miss Parker says. She's decided to tell the woman the truth. Most of the truth, anyway. There were things Celia could never find out. "It just seems kind of odd to me that she'll all of a sudden have a lot of it to spend. Right around the time when so much of it turns up missing from the student council." "What money?" Celia asks, confused. "That's what Jarod was going to talk to the sheriff about the day he disappeared. Apparently some students had come to him about some missing funds. If I were to guess, I'd say that Kylie was one of them." "She's the student body president. So she would notice the missing money," Celia tells her. "You know, Lynn and the sheriff seemed really interested in what Jarod told me about the situation. I made them believe that I knew nothing." Miss Parker gets a renewed energy that she hadn't had since Jarod was gone. Pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. She just needed to finish unscrambling the picture somehow. "I think the money is the key somehow. It's the only common link between Jarod and Kylie." "Mara, you have to tell someone your theory. It could help find your husband and Kylie." "I can't go to the sheriff," Miss Parker insists adamantly. "I think he's involved in this as well." "Well you can't go off on this by yourself. Not in your condition," Celia says, pointing to her stomach. "You're right," Miss Parker sighs in frustration. "I'm going to need help with this." "I'll help as much as I can," Celia offers. "No, it'll be too dangerous. I don't want to get you in the middle of this." "Well I can do something. Anything. Let me help you, Mara." "Actually, there is something you can do," Miss Parker says, looking sheepishly in Celia's direction. "You in the mood for a little travelling?" "Travelling? Where?" "You ever hear of a town called Blue Cove, Delaware? I have some friends there that can help. For reasons I can't get into, I can't contact them. But you can. You can get a message to them for me." "Delaware?" Celia's eyes pop wide open in shock. "You know, I don't know what I was thinking. Nevermind. Delaware is so far . . . " "No, I'll go," Celia interrupts her. "I was just wondering who would keep an eye out on Lisa. With her dad out of town, I don't want her to be alone, especially considering what's going on with Kylie." "She can stay here and keep me company," Miss Parker offers. "Thanks, Mara," Celia smiles. "She's a good girl. She won't be any trouble. I promise." "I'm sure we'll be fine. Why don't you go get her and bring her back here while I get my message ready to send with you." "Okay. I'll be right back. Oh, and don't worry about the dishes. I'll make sure Lisa helps you out as much as possible." "Celia, I don't expect her to wait on me hand and foot. I'm perfectly capable of . . ." "Mara, Mara, Mara," Celia says, shaking her head and letting out a light chuckle. "You really are used to taking care of yourself. But, like it or not, you will let Lisa and I help you. At least until your husband gets back. Is that clear?" "Yes Ma'am," Miss Parker laughs. "Good," Celia laughs with her. "Now I'm going to get Lisa now. You rest until we get back." Miss Parker thanks her and walks her to the door, watching her drive away. She smiles as she thinks to herself how nice a feeling it is to have someone looking out for her. She hadn't really accepted that kind of help since her mother died. It was different, but definitely something she could get used to. * * * * * * * * * * Broots wanders around the bookstore, feeling a pair of eyes watching him. He thought the Centre gave up tracking him a few months ago. He looks around, trying to spot the sweeper sent to look after him, but comes up empty. He dismisses the feeling as paranoia. He looks down at the stack of books in his hand. Ever since Jarod and Miss Parker disappeared, there haven't been much for him to do at the Centre. He can't even spend time with Sydney without it seeming too suspicious. So he's spent a lot of time reading books on different subjects. He takes his stack to the register, ready to pay. Rounding the corner, he wasn't paying attention and finds himself, his books, and a nice looking woman all in a heap on the floor. "I'm so sorry," he apologizes, picking up the books strewn about the floor. After helping the woman off the floor, he hands her the one book in the stack on women's health issues. He assumed it belonged to her. "This must be yours," he blushes. "Thanks," she smiles. "And I think this belongs to you." She shoves an envelope in his hand and hastily retreats, leaving him standing there with a confused expression on his face. He looks down at the envelop she gave him and notices his name scrawled across the front. The handwriting looked familiar. Like Miss Parker's. His eyes widen in shock and it takes him a second or two before his breathing resumes. As much as he wants to rip it open and read what's inside, he realizes that he still may be monitored. He casually tucks the envelope inside his jacket pocket and heads up to the register, acting as if the envelope doesn't even exist. * * * * * * * * * * Sydney packs his notes into his briefcase and prepares to leave. This was the last in a six week series of lectures he's been giving at Blue Cove Community College. It wasn't a big time university, but it gave him something to do. With Jarod and Miss Parker gone, his work at the Centre hasn't even come close to being an interest to him. He still works there, but only because he's too afraid of what will happen to him if he leaves. But one day, he hopes they'll just eventually forget about him and allow him to go his own way. "Dr. Green," someone calls to him. He turns around and sees the school's special events coordinator walking into the classroom. "It's been a pleasure having you lecture here. The students have had only good things to say about you." "The pleasure has been mine, Mrs. Adams," he smiles. "I'm sorry that it's over." "We'll be sure to call you if anything else in the future comes up." She hold her hand out to shake his, and starts to leave. "Oh, I almost forgot. A woman left this for you in the office. She didn't leave a name, but said it was very important that only you receive this." "Thanks," Sydney says distractedly, opening the envelope she gives him. He has to stifle a gasp when he sees the handwriting. He'd recognize that handwriting anywhere. It belonged to Miss Parker. "Mrs. Adams. This woman, was she tall, slender, with dark hair?" "No. She was actually closer to my height. With short, curly blond hair. Why?" "No reason," he says, forcing a smile to his face. He starts to put the envelope in his briefcase, but changes his mind and puts it in his pocket. He'd rather have it close to him. "Well, thanks again for the opportunity. I hope to be hearing from you soon." He slams his briefcase shut and practically runs out of the classroom. He needed to get someplace where he could read what Miss Parker would risk her safety to contact him about. * * * * * * * * * * Doubletree Inn Detroit, MI Broots hoists his bag onto his shoulder and then bends down to get the other bag still on the floor. The note he was given said to check into this hotel and await further instructions. So on a moment's notice, he packs up himself and his daughter and rushes halfway across the country. "This is it, Debbie," he tells the girl when they get to their room. "Take the key and open the door. My hands are full." And even if they weren't, he's sure they'd be shaking like a leaf. He just doesn't know what to expect. He hasn't seen Miss Parker in seven or eight months. He was sure he'd never hear from her again. So why now, he wonders to himself. Broots steps into the room and is shocked at who he sees on the bed in front of him. It wasn't Miss Parker, but someone else. "Sydney? What are you doing here?" "I was about to ask you the same question," Sydney says, standing up to cross the room. "I take it you got a mystery letter from Miss Parker, too." "Yeah," Broots nods, pulling the letter from his jacket. "She told me to get Debbie and come to this hotel." "What are we supposed to do now?" Sydney wonders. Broots just shrugs, not knowing the answer to that question either. But they don't have to wonder for very long. A few seconds later, the phone rings. Broots frowns in confusion and goes to answer the phone. "H - hello?" he stutters into the phone. "This is the front desk. The car requested for the occupants of this room is downstairs waiting on you. You can't stop by the desk for the keys." Broots stares at the phone in his hand for a few moments before hanging it up. "What is it, Broots?" "There's a car downstairs waiting on us," he says, still in a confused daze. This was a strange game and he wasn't sure he liked playing it. "Syd, do you really think this is Miss Parker? What if it's that woman? What if she's setting a trap?" "What if it isn't, Broots? What if Miss Parker really needs our help? I don't think we have any other choice than to go downstairs and get in that car." "You're right, Syd," Broots sighs. "Let's go." Broots gets the bags again and they all leave the room they just entered. He still wasn't sure about what he was getting himself into. But Sydney was right. If it meant helping Miss Parker, then he was willing to take the chance. * * * * * * * * * * Celia paces in front of the door, checking her watch again to see the time. They really should be here by now. She really hopes she didn't do anything wrong. She made a promise that she'd help, and she really didn't want to let her new friend down. She goes over in her mind all of her actions to make sure she didn't forget anything. What if they didn't read the notes? Or what if the didn't get the directions to the house at the hotel's front desk when they got the key? So much could have gone wrong. "Mom, relax," Lisa says from behind her. "You finally convinced Mrs. Wilson to get some rest. I think you should take your own advice." "I'm fine, Honey," she says, hugging her daughter. "What about you? You look pretty tired yourself." "She didn't sleep very well while you were gone. And you know how she's been since you got back. She's driving herself crazy waiting on these friends of hers. I just hope they're going to be the help she expects them to be." "She doesn't strike me as the type to trust or depend on too many people. The fact that she trusts them tells me that even if they can't help, they're just the people she needs to see right now. I have a feeling they love and support her. And that's . . . " She's interrupted by the sound of car doors slamming outside. "That must be them," she gasps. She looks out the window to confirm her suspicions. She takes a deep breath to calm herself before opening the door to them. "Miss Pa . . . oh, it's you," Broots says, sounding somewhat dejected. "Celia Denton. Nice to meet you." She steps out of the doorway and ushers them inside. "You're Broots and you're Sydney, am I right?" They both nod wordlessly. "And this must be Debbie." Debbie steps behind her father, not sure what to make of the woman. She looked nice enough, but her father seemed nervous. That made her nervous. "Where's Miss Parker?" Debbie asks quietly. "Who? Oh, you must mean Mara," Celia realizes. She chuckles at the confused expression on Broots and Debbie's faces. "She's resting." "She told you her name," Sydney comments, sounding surprised. "She must really trust you. Very few people know her first name." "I'm not surprised," Celia says with a laughs again. "It took her so long to accept my help, even when she knew she couldn't get through this alone." "Mrs. Denton . . ." "Celia, please," she corrects Sydney. "Of course. Celia, what exactly is going on? Why were we lured here?" "It's Jarod," Celia tells them. "He's missing." To be continued . . .