fandomhigh | The Library Is Open (12/05/05)

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The Library Is Open (12/05/05)

Janet unlocks the library and flips on the lights.

Sitting on the Collections Desk is a package addressed to "Adam Pierson." The envelope is embossed with an unusual symbol, the meaning of which Janet didn't know. ~~Except she did, because she steamed open the last envelope that came with that symbol on it. But she couldn't do that to this package without getting caught.~~ And that was really starting to bug her.

She moved the package behind the Collections Desk and glared at it until the first library patron showed up.

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"I don't know." Parker rubbed her face, looking at both of them. "I have to talk to him. Not to ask him about this, but just to see if I can tell--" She made a helpless gesture, then swallowed. "And after that, I want to kill him," she said, her voice dropping.

*uncertainly* I think that's against the rules. But, um, I have a mallet you can borrow.

Unwillingly, Parker smiled. "You'd let me borrow it to break his kneecaps? Seriously?"

Yeah, sure. Bastard.

((just a timeline note...CJ took off before the girls started to confer, kk?))

"I think I'll take you up on that before this is over. Thanks, Zero. I'm glad you were looking out for me. Even if it doesn't seem like it." Parker said, turning to listen to Janet.

Janet moved back from the Circulation Desk, far enough that no one standing at the desk could hear her. ~~And totally presumed that Zero and Parker followed, but wasn't godmodding them, nope, uh-uh, no way.~~ "I have a friend who can run a background check," said Janet. She was practically whispering. "I asked her to get some information for me."

Swallowing hard, Parker closed her eyes, leaning against the wall. "And?"

"He's got blacked-out portions. Lots of them." Janet shook her head. "You don't get blacked-out records unless you're involved in high-level classified work. And the fact that the people I know got records with that level of incomplete information tells me that he's involved in something on the order of 'if you are caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow all knowledge of your actions.'"

Parker looked nauseated. Jarod. The Centre. The other Pretenders. That's why.... "Oh," she whispered. Opening her eyes, she said, "I think I know why, then. My father's company-- there's defense contracts, research. Some of it is classified. I don't have access to all of it, obviously. But more than some employees do." She dug her fingernails into her arm as she tried to process this.

*blinks*

Clearly, I am way out of my league here...

"But you don't have any access to it while you're here, do you?" asked Janet. "My friend is trying to dig deeper, but it'll take a few more days."

Parker looks away. "I shouldn't. But I'm friends with a couple people on the project. And you know geeks, they have to--" Send you encrypted notes, ask for Cracker Jack, call after midnight. "--brag, sometimes."

She remembers that she hasn't told Janet what Zero and Rory and Liz know. "One of whom just ran away from home, I told you? And, uh. He's here in town. Now. Jarod."

Parker made a face. "Don't be impressed. The Centre has a million employees, most of whom aren't doing anything more exotic than refining existing tech or investigating resources. But," her posture tightens, "there is more cutting edge information, and if someone with a freaking classified access is -- screwing me and not telling me that," she said, her lips white, "then I don't think it's because he forgot."

Janet raised an eyebrow. "Then we get all the information we can about him," she said. "I'll let my friend know it's urgent."

"So this guy has access to classified information from your dad's company?" asked Janet.

Nodding, Parker grimaced. "Jarod had access, anyway. That's part of why I don't want anyone knowing he's here," she said, shooting Zero a glance. "His homelife sucked too, but my father's company was *not* thrilled when he left the project. He had moral objections," to being a lab rat, "to some of the things they had him doing."

She bit her lip. "He's only 18, Fraiser. If he wasn't a genius, he wouldn't have even been on the project. I don't want Michael anywhere near him," she spits.

Janet nods, her expression determined. "He won't get close," she said. "And we won't bring him up, though I'd like to meet him some time, if he's a friend of yours."

Oh. *turns to Parker* About Jarod. I sort of ran into him at the Perk again, an'...*fiddles with her jacket* Well, he's your friend, right? So I sorta asked him about Michael. What he thought of him. And. Um.

(*cringes*)

Parker froze. "You did what?" She turned bright red. "Oh. My. God. That's why he was asking me about Michael. Did you tell him-- Please tell me you didn't tell Jarod about the bugs, Zero. Please."

*wordlessly crawls under the desk*

*muffled* Please don't kill me?

Parker covered her face, the scarlet reaching her hairline. "Only if someone kills me. Now. How could you? Damnit, Zero!"

*pokes her head out from under the desk*

I wanted to help?

"But Jarod? Why? Why him? He's beaten me on every test we've ever taken since we were ten, he never lets me forget he's smarter than I am, he has to find out I'm this stupid on top of it?" Parker dropped her hands from her face, glared at both Zero and Janet and said, "I will talk to you later. I just--"

She stalked toward the entrance without looking back.

*scrambles to her feet to call after Parker, then realizes this is probably not a conversation Parker wants to have across the library*

*sigh*

Janet sighs.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

The Library Is Open (12/05/05)

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