Chapter 1:

Jackson Rippner sauntered into headquarters, earning quizzical stares from his coworkers. It was his first day back on the job after a year of incarceration, and luckily being able to coerce the jury into finding him not guilty. (Or, rather, he had an associate planted on the jury with a "knack for persuasion" if you understand that meaning.) He shot each associate a cool 'got a problem?' look and proceeded to his office.

"Hey Jack!" Jackson turned to see his most despised colleague and assistant manager Vince, coming toward him.

"What is it Vince?" Jackson asked, not bothering to hide his contempt. He may not like the guy, but Vince was damn good at what he did, which placed him in a position of power, yet left him craving more. Jackson knew this guy wanted his job and would cut his throat in a second if that's what would secure it for him.

"How was your vacation, lover boy?" Vince teased.

"Oh, it was just peachy. A stint in prison does wonders for the character. I suggest you try it."

"Aw, did you become Big Bubba's butt buddy? Or is the privilege of kicking your ass strictly given to lovely little ladies like Ms. Reisert?"

Jackson responded with an icy glare, "Care to repeat that, Vincent?"

Vincent chuckled, thoroughly enjoying the rise he was getting out of Jackson. "Well she does look pretty sweet and succulent. Why didn't you just fuck her and get it over with?"

"Well, it seemed to me that once the object of business was on the table, she wasn't too interested in THAT type of relationship."

"Who said she had to be a willing participant?"

"Rape was not part of the program, nor was it necessary."

"No, but you could have had a little fun along the way. Maybe then she wouldn't have distracted you. I know I would have taken advantage of my time in the bathroom with her." Vincent smirked.

"Yes, I'm sure you would have. That's what makes me the bigger man."

"Fuck you, Rippner. If I was your boss, you would have been left in jail to rot. Either that or I would have paid an inmate to take you out."

"Yes, well, you are not my boss, and I wouldn't go around questioning his decisions unless YOU want to be taken out." With that, Jackson turned, unlocked his office, and disappeared inside, leaving a seething Vincent in the hallway.

Lisa Reisert smiled as she sat down to lunch with Cynthia at an outdoor Miami café. Though Jackson had been found innocent, she refused to change her entire life around just because of him. He had friends in high places and she knew that no matter what she did, he'd find her if he were determined to do so. Besides, he failed his last job. His company might just kill him anyway.

What really bothered her was the fact that she had only prolonged Keefe's death. A month after the failed assassination, Keefe's home was burnt to the ground, killing him and his entire family. An accelerant of some sort had been used, and ligature marks had been found on all of the victims, proving that an assassination had been carried out. At least now the blame couldn't be placed entirely on her shoulders. She had tried her best to spare his life and someone else had taken him out. She wouldn't let herself take the blame. She couldn't know the new plan, and she couldn't stop it from happening. It was BEYOND HER CONTROL. She hated that phrase, even more when she thought about how nonchalantly Jackson had used it. Bastard. She should have killed him when she had the chance, but that chance may come again…

"Leese –" Cynthia whistled and waved a hand in her face, "Space cadet, are you here or what?"

Lisa snapped back to reality and smiled, "Sorry, just the events of the last week catching up with me, I guess."

"Oh, I know. But you are still my hero. Are you scared he's going to come after you again?"

"Yes, but there's no point in running. He will find me. I might as well just take my chances and keep the identity that I have. "

"Mmm, it's too bad….what a waste of good looks!"

Lisa smiled, "Amen to that!" Both girls laughed.

"So what do you think you'll have?"

"I think I'm going to start off with something different…maybe a mojito…"

"Aaah, abandoning vodka all together?"

"Trust me, after the Red Eye flight, you would too."

"Nah, I'd probably become an alcoholic," Cynthia laughed, "I'm not as strong as you, Leese."

"Maybe not, but you'll never know unless you fall into one of those incidents that seem to follow me around. Pray that never happens."

Jackson sighed and slumped down at his desk. 'Fuck, if one more person mentions Lisa, I'm going to kill them!' he thought. He glanced at his desk, making sure no one had messed with anything, and noticed a small package in the center. He picked it up and opened it, pulling out a small heart-shaped silver frame, with Lisa's beautiful image staring out at him. He growled and slammed the delicate frame into the ground before picking up his ringing phone.

"Rippner…"

"Hey Rippner, good to have you back! Come up to my office for a little chat. You have an assignment," his boss told him before hanging up.

Jackson sighed, got up and headed for the door. Reaching for the knob, he hesitated, turned and walked back to the smashed and mangled picture frame lying on the floor beside his desk. Gently he plucked Lisa's picture from the broken shards of glass and placed it gingerly in his breast pocket before sweeping the mess into the trashcan. Chuckling at his obsessive compulsive behavior, he left his office and took the elevator to the top floor where his boss awaited.