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 24 * * * * * * * * * * Celia watches the two men struggle for the words to say. But none seem to come out. They manage to make their way into the living room and flop down onto the sofa, both still stunned. Or maybe it was worry. Celia really couldn't tell which it was. "Lisa, why don't you take Debbie into the kitchen," Celia suggests. "I'm sure she's hungry from the two hour trip from Detroit. I need to speak with these gentlemen." After the girls have left the room, Broots is the first to recover activity in his vocal chords. "Missing? When? Who? What happened?" he asks. "She doesn't really know. But she's worried sick about him. She can't handle this by herself. That's why she needed me to contact the two of you." "She actually admitted that?" Sydney asks with shock. "She's usually pretty stubborn. Has been that way since she was a little girl. She tends to run herself ragged trying to handle things on her own." "Well, she can't this time," Celia sighs. "She's got other things to worry about. Even more important than Jarod." "More important?" Broots asks. "What could be more important than . . . " His question is cut off by the sounds of footsteps coming down the hall. They all stand up and turn around, assuming Miss Parker would be entering the room any second. "I thought I heard voices," she says, barely able to contain her smile as she comes into the room. She was happier to see them than she realized she would be. She waddles up to Sydney and embraces him. "When did you guys get here?" "Miss Parker," Broots gasps. "You - you're . . . look at you." "Yes, Broots," she laughs. "Look at me." She looks down at her stomach and gives it a light pat. "You and Jarod are having a baby?" Sydney asks, an almost proud grin spreading across his face. "That's wonderful." "It wasn't exactly our choice, but we're happy about it." She gives Broots and Sydney a 'don't ask' look and went to sit down on the sofa. "Now if you guys can help me find him before the baby's born, that would be even better." She gives them a nervous laugh, but they know it's all an act. She was terrified. That she would never see him again. That something terrible had happened to him. That the Centre would catch up with them. "Don't you worry about a thing," Broots says, patting her hand gently. "We're here to do what we do best - to catch ourselves a pretender." "And we'll find him this time. That's a promise," Sydney adds. It felt good being together with them like that again. She missed the old days. But Sydney was right. This time they were going to find Jarod. They had to. Because this time, his life depended on it. * * * * * * * * * * Sheriff Stevens walks past Jarod's room. Cell, was more like it. It was a tiny square area of room with a cot in one corner and a toilet and sink in another corner. There were no windows and the only door was the was that locked from the outside. The sheriff was glad he remembered about this place. No one would even think to look out here. The sheriff slides open the small panel in the door. He usually only opened it to slide the meals through, but this time he was just curious. Curious about this teacher. He was new in town, just arrived a few months back. Immediately, the sheriff was jealous of him. All the women in town seemed to swoon over him. Including his own wife. But he didn't really worry about her being unfaithful. Fidelity was her middle name. What really bothered him was how interested Lynn seemed in him. Of all his mistresses, she was his favorite, though fickle as the day is long. He couldn't stand the thought of losing her to Jarod. "Mr. Wilson," he calls through the slit. The man's eyes pop open and stare coldly at him. It was a bit unsettling for the sheriff. "What do you want with me?" Jarod asks. "Is it the money? I won't tell a soul, I promise. Just let me go. Please. My wife needs me." "Oh yeah. Your wife." The sheriff is starting to feel bolder. Hearing Jarod beg for his freedom was somewhat empowering. "She's a cute one. But, she thinks you knocked up one of your students and ran off with her. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before she's coming to me for comfort. All the women in town do, you know. Or at least they did until you showed up." "Is that what this is about? You're jealous?" Jarod laughs at the ridiculous situation. "I can assure you, I'm not interested in taking the roll of town stud away from you. I'm perfectly happy with my wife. Let me go and you'll never see us again." "Tempting, but I don't think so," the sheriff says, after pretending to ponder his offer for a few moments. "You seemed so anxious to tell someone about the missing money at the school. What would make me believe you'd just leave this alone now?" Jarod scowls, trying to come up with a new approach. There's got to be something he could say to get the man to release him. "I heard someone crying. Next door, I think. Who's here with me? Someone else you kidnapped?" Jarod accuses. "That's none of your business!" the sheriff yells. Jarod can see that he's struck a nerve. "Let me see if I can guess. I'd say it's that missing student that you told my wife I ran away with. The young lady in the, um . . . unfortunate situation. I'd also say that you were the one responsible for her . . . condition." Jarod looks smugly at the man and can see that he's right on the money. "Sheriff, I'm surprised at you. You should know the laws about statutory rape." "It wasn't rape," the man lets slip before realizing he's confirming Jarod's accusations. "She consented." "But she's underage. Consent doesn't matter." The sheriff slams the slit closed, almost catching his finger in the process. He sees now they were right to get Jarod out of the way. Not only to give them a cover story for the missing funds and the missing MacArthur girl, but also because no one in this one horse town would have even found out about the money. Nobody but, Jarod it seems. There was more to this guy than what he initially thought. He's not going to make the mistake of underestimating him. * * * * * * * * * * Debbie giggles as the bowl of ice cream shakes on Miss Parker's belly. The girl never tired of seeing the trick, begging the woman to show her again and again. "That's really him in there?" she asks Miss Parker, rubbing her hand across the expansive stomach. "He sure does kick a lot." "You don't have to tell me that," Miss Parker smiles. "Debbie, stop bothering Miss Parker," Broots scolds lightly. He didn't want to ruin the girl's fun, but he also didn't want her to be a nuisance to Miss Parker. "It's fine, Broots," Miss Parker assures him. "I've been dying to let you guys know about the baby anyway. I'm glad she's excited. I'm going to expect you to baby sit, young lady." "Anytime, Miss Parker," Debbie says with a smile, hugging the woman. "But Dad's right. I'm going to leave you alone for now. Lisa said she would take me to the mall and maybe out for pizza with some friends of hers. Is that alright with you, Dad?" She looks expectantly at the man, praying that he says yes. "Are you sure it'll be okay? I mean, safe?" Broots looks over to Miss Parker, knowing she understands what he's talking about. He doesn't want to risk the Centre spotting her and getting to her. "She'll be fine," Miss Parker promises, smiling at the man's protective streak. It wasn't anything like how her father used to be with her. She could see that with Broots, it came from love. Her father just wanted to control her. She shakes off the thought of her father, unwilling to let him get her down. She had enough to worry about with finding Jarod. Instead, she rises and goes to the desk and pulls out her purse. She takes out a few bills to give to Debbie. "200 bucks?" Debbie's eye open wide in amazement as she quickly counts the money. "Thanks Miss Parker!" she squeals and hugs the woman again. "Debbie . . ." Broots calls out to her. But it's too late because the girls are now out the house and practically in the car. He turns to Miss Parker instead, mouth wide open as if he were about to protest. "Broots, it's fine," Miss Parker says, laughing at the man's reaction. "We have plenty. Besides, she deserves some fun. I didn't mean for her to come here just to get caught up in my little drama. Speaking of which, how's the computer search coming along?" Broots looks out the window at the car retreating down the driveway and sighs. He was used to her being his baby. But now, his baby was a fourteen year old young lady, about to go hang out with a new friend, and meet up with other new friends. Possibly *male* friends. He shudders at the thought and tries to push it out of his mind. He walks over to where his computer is set up and clicks a button to disable the screensaver. "Nothing yet," he frowns at her. "This town is so small. Computer records aren't updated as often. And if this sheriff has something to do with Jarod's disappearance like you think, then the records may never be updated." "You're right," she admits. "I didn't think of that. Expand the search to the neighboring towns. In the meantime, I can't just sit around here doing nothing anymore." She spots her shoes by the door and slides into the loafers, having long ago given up high heels. "Where do you think you're going?" Celia asks her, voicing the question on the men's minds. But they were too afraid to actually say anything. Too many times they've been on the receiving end of Miss Parker's wrath. "To look for something. Anything. I feel so useless around here," Miss Parker says. "Well, you can't drive yourself. Let me take you," Sydney offers, finding the courage to speak up. Miss Parker looks back and forth between him and Celia with a look of exasperation on her face and finally sighs in frustration. "Fine," she relents. "I swear there must be a conspiracy between the two of you to keep me from driving." "Broots and I will stay here and keep on with the computer search," Celia says, just laughing off the other woman's frustrated comments. She looks and gives Broots a shy smile to make sure he didn't object to the arrangements. He gives her a shy smile in return, seeming to be pleased with spending some time alone with the woman. "Okay. You two be sure to call us if you find anything," Miss Parker orders before storming out the door in the old, familiar Miss Parker fashion. Sydney shrugs at the others in the room before meekly following the woman. "So, what's going on with the computer?" Celia asks Broots once they're alone. "Not much. It's just going to churn for awhile. There's not much we can do right now. Except maybe . . . " He looks down, a light blush coloring his cheeks. "Except what?" she asks him coyly. "We can talk. You know, get to know each other and stuff. I think our daughters are becoming fast friends. Maybe we should too." He lets out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding when her face lights up with a delighted grin. "I'd love that," she says, moving to sit next to him on the sofa. To be continued . . .