Jarod had no trouble getting into Parker's house. After all, it wasn'tlike this was the first time he'd picked her locks.

He made his way through her home, just as he always did, slowly walkingthrough the rooms, absorbing that sense of Parker he always got from theplace. He never really understood why this place meant so much to him.Whenever he'd gone through a difficult pretend, or found out that Sydneyor one of the others had been hurt, he'd come here, while she was away,to be comforted. It was so healing, to come and just look. Jarod wouldwander aimlessly, like a man visiting his childhood home; the one stophe made every time was the mantle, to look at the pictures of Parker'smother.

He stopped inside one small room, intending to say hello to a certainwhite rabbit. Jarod remembered how pleased he had been, during one visit,to discover that Parker had kept it as a pet. Now, as he looked at thetwo cages, side by side, Jarod didn't feel happy at all. Those two rabbitswere like physical proof of what had happened last night, and only madethe situation even more real to him. He could feel anger rushing up inhim, anger towards the creep frightening Parker, and anger at himself fornot being there when she needed him.

~~~~~~~~~

Sydney felt immediate concern as he neared Miss Parker's office. Thedoor was ajar, there was a broken mug and spilled coffee on the floor,and though the lights were off, he could sense that Parker was inside.Sydney walked slowly inside, not wanting to startle her but needing tobe sure that she was all right.

As he walked inside towards the desk, Sydney noticed flowers scatteredon the floor near the far wall. Just another question for Parker to answer.The chair behind her desk was turned away from him, but he could hear somethingthat sounded vaguely like crying.

"Miss Parker?" He made his way around the chair. Sydney could barelymake her out in the darkness, but he could tell by the tilt of her head,that she was looking over at the fallen flowers. Wanting to get a betterlook at her, he walked back over to the door, and reached for the lightswitch.

"Please, Syd, don't turn on the lights." Her words were clear enough,but Sydney couldn't help but notice how weak she sounded, which certainlydidn't comfort him. He'd watched this girl grow up, and the one word he'dnever associated with her was weak.

"Miss Parker, what's happened here?"

"Nothing, Syd. It's nothing, really. I just...I have a headache, isall. The bright lights only seem to make it worse." She was less than convincing,and they both knew it, but Sydney decided not to force the issue. He knewher well enough to know that pushing would only make her withdraw completely.

"All right, then. Is there anything I can get you? A cold compress,some aspirin perhaps?"

"No, Syd, really. I'm fine. Go ahead to your own office. I'll, um, I'llbe there in an hour for our meeting, okay?"

"Right, see you in an hour." Sydney walked out, quietly closing thedoor behind him. Parker sat in the dark for nearly half an hour, usingit as a shield against any cameras, and hoping that any one of three wisheswere reality: the roses would simply be gone when the lights were turnedon, that Jarod would soon call, or -at the very least- that this strangerwasn't watching her now. Finally, Parker stood from her chair and walkedto the door. She jumped slightly at the sound of ceramic shards crunchingunder her thick heel. With a hand shaking a bit more than she liked, sheflicked the light switch on.

There, at the far end of her office, were scattered on the floor a dozenroses and a bit of baby's breath, laying exactly as they had after she'dthrown the bouquet against the wall. Forcing herself to be strong, Parkerwalked over to the floral mess, and picked up a small white enveloped hiddenbeneath red petals. She closed her eyes and took a deep, steadying breathbefore opening the envelope and reading the small white card.

Not much longer now.

The same deep red ink, the same penmanship. Suddenly the headache she'dpleaded earlier was much more real, and it seemed her nerves decided tothrow in a queasy stomach for good measure. Parker moved around the room,trying to spot any cameras. She couldn't help herself. She didn't likefeeling so out of control.

Eventually, Parker stopped. She went to her desk, and picked up hercellphone, intending to call Westmoore Inn, the only decent hotel in thearea, to make a reservation. She was just giving herself some breathingspace away from prying eyes, she defended herself. She wasn't running away,like Jarod had suggested.

Jarod...Much as Parker hated to admit it, she did wish that he wouldcall. She'd felt more at ease last night, while she was on the phone withhim. It was nice knowing someone was worried about her, even if it wasa constant teaser like Jarod. Parker stared at the phone, wishing she hada number to reach him at. Where was he now, she wondered. What innocentpeople was he -as always- trying to protect?

~~~~~~~~~

Jarod left the rabbits behind, choosing the living room as the firstfor him to search for cameras and wires. A small scroll on the floor nearthe couch caught his eye, and he bent down to grab it. He unrolled it,already knowing what it was. Jarod found the ink more odd than the noteitself. His eyes narrowed as he peered closer. It couldn't possibly be...

"Blood," Jarod muttered. The man was actually using blood as ink. Whowas this freak? Grimacing, Jarod crumpled the note in his hand, then walkedinto the kitchen and threw it in the trash. The last thing Parker neededwas to come home and find that note, to remind her of last night's events.Jarod was thankful that she'd gone into work today. Not only did it givehim a chance to check the house out, but he felt better knowing that shewas someplace as well-guarded as the Centre.

~~~~~~~~~

Parker had never gotten around to making her reservation at the inn.By the time she'd thought to look at the time, Parker was already 20 minuteslate for her usual meeting with Broots and Sydney. She sighed, and placedher cellphone in her pocket. She felt ridiculous, waiting for Jarod tocall her like that. Considering her behavior earlier, Parker knew thatSyd would be concerned of her tardiness, so she made her way down the hallsof the Centre at a speedy rate. Still, she tried not to look rushed, butin control. Parker, after all, had an image to uphold.

Sydney didn't say anything, though relief was written clearly on hisface upon her arrival. The meeting was nothing new, just the same old informationBroots would drone on about as Syd added some input once and awhile. Itfelt nice, being back in the swing of things, and Parker soon was addingher own views, as well as arguing Broots' opinions with that bitchy mannershe was so proud of.

Broots was downloading some pictures he'd found of Jarod in a Georgianewspaper -already a week old, and no doubt by now a stale lead- for theothers to see. While he typed commands into his laptop, Syd and Parkertried to put a dent in the mountain of paperwork that had accumulated overtheir latest travels after Jarod. She was so busy keeping up with signingall the papers Sydney were handing her, that when her cellphone rang shedidn't even think before answering.

"What?" she snapped, then froze. What if it was him? Sure enough, therewas nothing but heavy breathing on the other end. Parker got up from herseat and walked to the other side of the room, facing a corner before beginningto speak again.

"This is you, isn't it?" No answer, just the same heavy breathing.

"Mind telling me just how the hell you got into my office?" she askedin a harsh whisper. There was that familiar chuckle, then silence again.Parker didn't say anything more, but waited for him to make the next move.Finally, he spoke.

"He doesn't know how to mind his own business, does he?" Confused, Parkerjust shook her head. Who was he talking about? "You know, he doesn't careabout your happiness. Not really. Not like I do. He just keeps stickinghis nose in where it doesn't belong." His voice sounded angry, almost jealous."For a genius, he can truly be moronic sometimes. He believes he needsto protect you from me." Then it struck her, like a bolt of lightning.Jarod. He was talking about Jarod.

"Not a very big fan of Jarod, are we?" she hissed.

"Oh, don't worry about that. He'll be out of our way, soon enough."Parker's eyes widened.

"What are you talking about?" Her voice was tense.

"You know, I can almost picture him now: wandering around your home,searching for clues to my whereabouts. The knight in shining armor, comingto your rescue."

"You're watching him, aren't you?" she breathed. "You're using the camerasyou've set up in my house." Another chuckled echoed in her ear.

"My dear, I don't need cameras to see him. Not from where I'm standing."Parker's face reddened with instant fear and anger. Without another word,she ended the call, then dialed in her home phone number.

Back at Parker's house, the phone began to ring. Jarod walked over toit, wondering if this creep would have the audacity to leave a message.He glanced over at the answering machine as it clicked on. Meanwhile, atthe Centre, Parker had already grabbed her jacket from her chair and thrownit around her on her way to the elevator, leaving a startled and completelylost Broots and Sydney behind. The machine hadn't picked up until she wasin the elevator and on her way to the main level. Now, she was runningout the door and to her car, digging for her keys in the deep pockets ofher jacket.

"Jarod!" Parker's voice came shouting over the speaker. "Jarod, I knowyou're there. Pick up!" Confused by how she knew this, but pushed by theurgency in her voice, Jarod picked up the cordless phone and activatedit.

"Parker? What's--"

"There's no time for that!" she yelled. She was already far from theCentre, where her screeching tires had left black marks on the paved parkinglot.

"Parker, what are you talking about?" Her tense voice was beginningto make him nervous. What she in some kind of trouble? Jarod was so engrossedin her words that he didn't even hear the slow, cautious footsteps behindhim.

"Jarod, listen to me. You have to get out of that house right now. Imean it, you need to leave now!"

"What are you--" As he tried to fit in a word or two, a hand coveredin a black leather glove lifted a gun.

"Damn it, don't argue, just leave! Jarod, he called me. He's in thehouse, he was watching you. Do you understand? Jarod, answer me! Jarod,please!" But Jarod was no longer listening. His attention was entirelyconcentrated on the slow, deep breaths he heard behind him. His musclestensed, and his mind jumped to work, figuring out an escape route whilestill deciding whether to leave this psycho's grasp or try to take downthe person hurting Parker. In a moment, a list of things this mad man haddone to Parker flashed through his mind, as well as a mental picture ofParker as a little girl, helpless and innocent. He felt anger rise in him.

Suddenly, fighting this guy seemed like a great idea.

Jarod spun around, prepared to kick some serious ass. Unfortunatelythe other guy was just as fast, and they were soon ducking each other'sfists. Jarod's first impression of this person was that he was strong,and a good fighter. Whoever it was, was clad in black, complete with ablack ski mask and black leather gloves. He saw that, and the silver glintof a weapon.

That was all he had a chance to notice, before a single gunshot echoedthroughout the house.
 

~~~~~~~~~

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Part 3