Jim yawned as he made his way slowly down the stairs. Coming into the kitchen he could already see Jarod sitting down at the kitchen table.

“Morning, Jim.” Jarod greeted amicably, taking a sip from the mug he held in his hands.

“I see you’re beginning to adjust to your new surroundings.” Jim commented casually as he went about making another cup of coffee.

“Adapting… is what Pretenders do best.” Jim watched Jarod’s features closely, but they contained no sign of the bitterness of yesterday.

“Just, out of curiosity…” Jim began. Jarod raised his head indicating he was listening. “How did you know it was me coming in? I could have just as easily been Parker.” Jarod lips twitched into a smile.

“Funnily enough… you don’t smell of vanilla, and your high heels don’t click as you walk over the slate floor.” Jim chuckled.

“Yeah, I guess that was a dead give away. Where is Parker anyway?”

“Still asleep.”

“I went past her bedroom she’s not in there.”

“Oh, she’s asleep in my room.” Jarod felt Jim’s pause. His face filled with discomfort as he realised what he had said. “Ah… it’s not like what it sounds, I… We…” He grimaced, finding it hard to explain the intricacies of Parker and his relationship to an outsider.

“You don’t need to expl-”

“Nothing happened if that’s what-”

“What you two do is none of my-”

Both men paused.

Jim cleared his throat before finally saying, “I’m glad you two are beginning to come to an understanding.” Jarod nodded softly in acknowledgement.

“I’m sorry if I’ve seemed ungrateful since I’ve come here. I understand how much we are intruding into your life.”

“Dealing with an ungrateful patient is hardly a new experience for me.” Jarod gave a soft chuckle. Jim’s face turned serious and he placed his mug on the kitchen table and sat down across from Jarod. “I know you may be wondering about my motives.”

“You don’t have to explain anything to me.” Jarod replied seriously. Jim shook his head.

“All joking aside… Parker meant a lot to me.” Jim gave Jarod a considered look, “She’s told me something about your history together. I know you’ve known her a long time so I guess what I’m going to say isn’t going to come as a surprise to you. You may be a Pretender but I think those skills run just as deeply through her as they do through you. Most of the time I think she even fools herself. It didn’t take me long to realise she wasn’t the mean bitch she pretended to be. It took me even less time to realise how much pain ran inside her under the façade.” Jim paused before continuing, “Once, I asked her why she didn’t just leave her job, if it made her that unhappy.” He gave a short sardonic laugh. “She looked at me like I’d told her to join a convent in Iceland - complete and utter lack of recognition. She couldn’t even comprehend the thought that she could just walk away. I didn’t understand then how stuck she was and probably now I still can’t fully comprehend growing up knowing you only have one fate, and nothing you can do can change that. But I could see that she would never leave, that deep down she had given up even trying. And yet… yet she arrives on my doorstep with you in tow, running for her life… but free.” Jarod’s eyes were downcast as his head bent over his mug.

“Why are you helping us?” Jarod asked simply as if he already knew the answer.

“Because I want Parker to remain free.”

“Are you in love with her?” Jarod asked bluntly. He listened intently trying to evaluate Jim’s reaction.

“That’s a tricky question.” Jarod remained still, waiting. Finally Jim continued. With more bluntness and seriousness than he had ever spoken with, he said, “She’s probably the closest I’ve ever come to. But then she left the Centre for you not me. I’m a big enough of a man to know when to stand down… especially when I know I’m not even in the race. I’m not the one for her, but that doesn’t mean she still doesn’t deserve to be free. But you better well take care of her.”

Jarod opened his mouth to speak but stopped before finally saying, “Parker takes care of herself, she wouldn’t tolerate me trying to do it.”

Jim gave a snort of disgust, “All of this has been about you. She couldn’t leave the Centre for herself, I bet if they threw the doors open and ordered her to leave she would still hesitate at the doorway. She left for you, to keep you in this world; she’s still trying her hardest to do that! She’s given up everything, betrayed her family, betrayed the fate that she was always told was hers… for you.” He finished softly. Jarod swallowed his jaw clenching.

“I know.” He said finally in a whisper.

Both men fell into a grim silence.

“Well this looks cheerful.” Both men jumped as Parker made her entrance. She looked to both of them, knowing something had transpired between them. Jim rose quickly to prepare her a cup of coffee. “Do you think the test results will be ready yet?” She asked him.

“Curtis put a rush on it so hopefully. I’ll go down there now and see if they’re ready.” He replied.

“Maybe I should go with you.” She said worriedly. In unison they both looked at Jarod. She didn’t want to leave him alone, yet taking him to the hospital with them was unnecessary exposure. Parker nodded in silent acknowledgement, “Alright Jim, just be careful. The Centre could be close.”

“Sure, I’ll be back in an hour.” He said as he left Parker and Jarod alone in the kitchen.

Silence stretched between them as they heard Jim’s car leave.

“Should I ask what you two were talking about before I came in, or should I assume you were discussing me and leave it at that?” She eyed him carefully. He gave one of his characteristic sighs and smiled slightly.

“It’s probably better not to ask.”

“Thought so.”

“You want breakfast?”

“You can cook?” Parker glared as Jarod smirked.

“Mr Parker.”

“Yes?”

“Winston rang back to confirm your four thirty appointment and Nelson got you the information you requested.” The man cautiously placed a dark brown folder on the table near the door.

“Thank you Bradley.”

“Ahem… if you don’t mind me asking, Sir, there’s been no change?” Mr Parker looked from his secretary to the hospital bed where his son lay between the white sheets.

“He’s still unconscious… But he’s a Parker; he’ll be up and around in no time.” Mr Parker responded with a gruff optimistic smile. Bradley nodded dutifully before ducking back out of the room. Mr Parker’s stern face faltered as the man left. His brow wrinkled and his shoulders slumped slightly. He let out a breath as he got up to stretch his legs. “They’ll pay for this, they’ll pay for what’ve they’ve done to you, done to us” He murmured to his son. He raised his head slightly, “But first, to find out what they are up to.” He walked towards the folder Bradley had left. Picking it up, he opened it.

“I can’t take it much more, Syd! I mean working for the Centre was never exactly pleasant but this is killing me!”

“Just stop staring at him Broots, a contest to see who blinks first is not helping.” Broots grumbled under his breath as he continued to stare at the dark skinned sweeper who was standing perfectly still at the entrance to the lab room.

“It’s just frustrating, not being able to do anything. Not even knowing what’s going on!”

“I agree. But if they are keeping such a close eye on us it means they haven’t yet found Miss Parker or Jarod.” Broots nodded and was about to speak when the lab room door opened suddenly.

Mr Parker walked into the room; with a gesture he dismissed the sweeper. The dark skinned man left the room closing the door behind him.

“Mr Parker.” Sydney greeted cautiously. “Has there been a change in Lyle’s condition?”

“No. And I came here about my daughter.”

“As we’ve already told everyone; we don’t know where Miss Parker or Jarod are.”

“But you know how to contact them.”

“We don’t.”

“I’m not here to get the same lies out of you that the others have gotten. My daughter is in danger and I need to warn her, now tell me how you contact her.” Mr Parker looked at them grimly as Sydney and Broots exchanged glances. It was Broots that finally spoke up.

“Miss Parker calls us. We don’t know how to contact her. And that’s the truth”

“But you could find out.”

“Maybe… if we didn’t have such, watchful, company.” Sydney said looking pointedly at the door where the sweeper had gone.

“We don’t have much time. Raines is working with the Triumvirate. They have approved for my daughter to be assassinated if she can not be brought in alive. Even if they bring her in they would most likely execute her shortly afterwards. I can not let her be caught before I have regained control of the situation. They are about to move in on her location. She needs to be warned, and soon.”

“We’ll do the best we can.” Broots said his face determined.

“Make sure that you do, the sweepers won’t be in your way.” With that he threw down the folder in his hands and left. The sweeper did not re-enter.

Sydney picked up the brown folder Mr Parker had left.

“Do you think they’re setting us up Sydney?” Broots questioned.

“Mr Parker’s lost too much power… I think he’s beginning to get desperate.”

“Does he really love Miss Parker?” Broots wondered quietly. Sydney looked to where Mr Parker had left his face unreadable.

“You can never tell with Mr Parker. Now we don’t have much time, Broots, we have to contact them before Raines gets to them.” Broots nodded and turned to his computer, relieved not to have the sweeper watching his every move any longer.

Jim walked into the hospital, the familiarity of it settling his uneasiness. Looking over your shoulder constantly might be second nature to Parker and Jarod but to Jim it was still new and frankly rather tiring. But then it was better to be safe than… well, dead.

One of the nurses greeted him as he continued to make his way up to the eighth floor. He nodded to her his mind still occupied. He had known he would have to have a talk with Jarod some time, but for the life of him he couldn’t work out if this morning’s chat had gone well or very, very badly. He was inclined to think it went well since no punches or swear words had been thrown at each other, but he wasn’t sure if his point had gotten through to the stubborn Pretender. If Jarod would just realise that-

“Hey, Jim.” A young Asian man greeted as he walked past.

“Hey, Chan.” Jim stopped suddenly. “Are those test results for Dr Curtis’s patients?” He said once he saw the stack of files in the man’s hands marked with the hospitals Lab logo.

“Yeah why?” The young lab tech kept walking. Jim changed directions to follow him.

“Is there one for an Adam Forest by any chance?” The tech perused the stack of files in his hand before pulling one out.

“You have some interest in that one?”

“Yeah.” Jim said as he gazed at the pages of figures and notes.

“Well you can take it to Dr Rickman yourself if you want.” Jim looked up in surprise.

“Rickman? Why aren’t these going to Curtis?”

“He’s not in today. Nobody’s been able to find him, even his wife doesn’t know where he is. Frankly I think he went on one of his ‘all nighters’ and didn’t want to come home.” A chill formed in Jim’s stomach. He would be an idiot if he didn’t think it was a coincidence.

“Alright. Thanks, Chan. I’ll just have a quick look through and then I’ll take it up to Rickman.” Chan gave him a sceptical look.

“Make sure you do, otherwise it’s my ass that gets fired.” Chan left quickly to take the rest of the files up to the eighth floor.

“Sorry, Chan.” Jim murmured under his breath as he headed for the elevator.

The doors dinged opened and he got in, the elevator was empty except for one other doctor.

“Finishing for the day?” The doctor enquired politely as the elevator continued its descent. Jim was shaken from his racing thoughts.

“Ah… no, I just got in… I forgot something at home.” The man looked down at the hospital file Jim held. Jim caught the glance. “A patient of mine, tricky case.” He hoped that would satisfy the man’s curiosity. The man bent his head slightly to look at the tab on the side.

“Adam Forest… hmm, the tricky cases are always the most interesting.” The man smiled.

“Yes.” Jim agreed returning a polite smile. The elevator dinged as the doors opened to the ground floor. “I haven’t seen you around before, my names Jim Wesley.” Jim greeted shaking the man’s hand.

“Dr Cox.” The man replied, his friendly smile somehow not reaching his blue eyes.

Raines took a breath savouring the sensation. He was in control, like a predator who is about to take the final leap to bring down its prey. It was just a matter of minutes now… and they would be his.

“Hold your men in position. We don’t move in until I say.” The black suited sweeper nodded talking into his radio as he turned back around in his seat in the black limo.

Raines settled back into the comfortable leather seats. Everything was working out more perfectly than he could have ever imagined. That Miss Parker could have exposed herself in such a public manner had just been a stroke of luck at just the right moment as was the Pretender’s blindness. It was all fitting so perfectly into his plans. Now all he had to do was wait for the last pieces to fall into place and everything he had dreamed of would be his.

Jed hung up his mobile phone throwing it into the back of the pick up truck. A grin of anticipation filled his lips. Show Time, he thought. He moved the car into gear and pulled away from the curb.

Parker laughed. “You’re not supposed to eat it like that.”

“Then how else are you supposed to eat it?” Jarod questioned her.

“Here let me show you.” She replied, not able to take the grin off her face.

The black suited men waited for the signal, their bodies tense with anticipation, their faces filled with no emotion.

Jim walked towards his car. It beeped as he switched off the alarm. He had to get back to Parker and Jarod. Dr Curtis missing was a bad sign. It meant they were here. It was only a matter of time before they found out they were staying at his house. The noise of an approaching car distracted him and he turned to watch a beaten up pick up drive around the corner.

Jed reached across to the passenger seat, pulling the automatic rifle into his hands.

Too late did Jim see the black eye of the gun peering from the driver’s side window of the speeding pick up. Too late did he think to move before the first bullets pierced his chest. His body twitched at each impact, performing a macabre dance before his body finally slammed back against his car.

Bang.

Parker looked down at broken plate at her feet, her face pale, her eyes filled with terror.

The body slid slowly to the ground.

It lay still.

He had been killed by the first bullet.

“GO, GO, GO! Move in, Move in!” The men in black rushed forward.

The door buckled and broke off its hinges as the swarm of men swept through the front door. They soon filled the house as they searched each room.

“You have to run faster Jarod!” Parker panted pulling the Pretender forcefully behind her.

“I can’t run like this Parker!” He panted back as they continued to run at a dangerous pace through the suburban streets.

“It’s not much further!” Her hand tightened its grip on Jarod’s as she continued to pull him along behind her. She threw a glance over her shoulder and kept running.

“They’re not here, sir.”

“They were recently. They must not be far! Get them!” Raines yelled to the grim faced sweeper.

Parker pried open the car door, shoving Jarod inside before racing to the other side of the car and yanking the driver’s side door open.

The car doors slammed closed and she hit the accelerator. The car’s tires squealed as she pulled away from the curb and into the street.

Jarod held onto the dashboard, his knuckles white as he felt the cars velocity.

Both were gasping for breath, their hearts racing inside their chests.

“Yes! Yes! YES!” Broots hissed as he whooped for joy. “They got away!” He grinned to Sydney as he put down the headphones he had been using to listen in to the frequency the sweepers used.

Sydney sat down heavily, the relief almost too much.

“No! No! NO!” Raines thumped the bonnet of the black limo in frustration. “They can’t have gotten away! You were supposed to have the house surrounded! How could they have slipped right past you?!”

“I’m sorry sir, we don’t know how they got past. Nor did we anticipate Miss Parker keeping another car nearby. I’m sorry Sir but they will be miles from here by now.”

Raines hissed, his breath even more wheezy as he lost his temper, “I don’t care if you have to search every god forsaken mile from here to Dakota FIND THEM!” Raines fell against the car, breathing difficult, as the sweeper scurried off. Another sweeper helped him into the limo.

Raines gazed out the window at the house Parker and Jarod had taken refuge in.

“Burn it.” He said under his breath.

“Sorry ,Sir?” The sweeper driving asked.

“I said burn it down.”

“I don’t know if the Triumvirate would app-”

“Do it!” Raines ordered. To himself he mumbled, “That should teach them a lesson.”

The car slowed to a stop. Jarod looked over at her questioningly. Parker remained silent. Slowly Jarod became aware of the sound of police and ambulances. He drew in breath as he realised where they were and what must have happened.

Parker gazed stoically out the front windscreen, watching the mayhem caused by death. The body was still there, draped with a white cloth, already stained with blood in places. Men and women in uniform walked around the body, police placed tape around the scene.

Tears made a silent track down her face, marking her failure.

The car started to life as she turned the ignition. Slowly she pulled away from the curb and drove off.

“Sir! You can’t touch that.” Cox looked at the officer who had spoken.

“It’s OK, I’m Detective Branson. I’m taking this investigation.” He flashed the man his badge. The officer nodded and stepped aside.

Cox looked down at the body covered in a white sheet his head cocked in curiosity.

“You had to have figured you were going to die. All you achieved was buying them some time. However… they’ll come crawling back in due time.” He murmured under his breath.

Cox stood surrounded by the chaos caused by the curious and the sombre, a file splashed with blood in his hands, the tab on the side now only partially visible under the red smear:

Forest, Adam.

     End of Part 5

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