Let the Right One In
Summary: Just when Lisa thought that her life was back on track, Jack makes an unexpected appearance that throws her life, and her sanity out of balance. Even with the shoulder of her new friend, Emilee Carson, to fall onto, will Lisa be safe?
Late Night Rendezvous
Jack watched Iris as they were driven to the office. They're relationship wasn't sexual, it was logical and full of respect. Yes there were nights that they spent together, but they happened on rare occasions. Neither of them had time to waste.
The clicking noise from her phone drove Jackson a little mad; although the silence they would endure would drive him insane. She looked up at him, her emerald green eyes meeting his. "Can I help you?"
"It's not a matter of being able to help…"
"Very well, let me rephrase my question. May I help you?" she raised an eyebrow.
"No, I'm fine."
She smiled a little and put her phone away. "It'll be nice having you back. The office hasn't been the same without you."
"Sounds like someone missed me." Jack flashed a teasing smirk and watched her fidget in her seat.
"On a work basis yes."
"And on a social basis?"
His icy blue eyes pierced into her. Iris wasn't one to admit her feelings, feelings that she felt like she couldn't have. "Undecided." She flipped her sleek, brunette hair over her shoulder and gazed out the window.
"I take it that you're working with me on this assignment?" he asked after a moment of awkward silence.
"Yes, I am. Although I don't know what it is yet." She looked at him once more, this time keeping her eyes locked on him. "But I know that it will interest you."
"How so?" he was intrigued. He had gotten no leads over the phone. Jackson was told to be on the next flight out and to come back with an open mind.
"It was allocated to you specifically. If it had have been in someone else's criteria, you would still be south of the border, sipping cocktails on the beach with a girl on each arm."
"I'm not in to girls. I'm in to women." Jackson couldn't have made the hint any more obvious. Either she would take it, or decline it.
"Well, set your love life aside, we'll be getting back to business."
Jackson followed Iris' lead. A chorus of 'welcome back's' lurked behind him. All he could do was smile and nod. There was no time for pleasantries. Jack's boss, Stark, waited for him outside his office. Stark was the shot giver, what he says goes.
"Rippner, nice to see you back… And with some colour on your face." Stark grabbed Jackson's hand firmly and shook it.
"It's good to finally be back." He lied with ease. Jack's only wish was to spend the rest of his time relaxing in his villa, no rules and no rush; just the high life.
"I believe you were in Acapulco. Tell me; was the water still as blue as ever?"
"Yes sir. But to be fair, I spent my days in my villa."
"And why is that?"
"My job takes its toll. Or did you forget about the trachea injury I suffered?" Jack rested his hands in his trouser pockets.
Stark stared at him blankly. "No, I didn't forget. But now that you mentioned it, I think we should discuss the reason I brought you back." He opened his office doors. "Please, join me in my office." Stark looked at Iris. "You too Cale."
Iris followed the two men into the office and closed the door. There was nothing that she hated more than being called by her last name.
The night was cold, but luckily for Lisa, she didn't have to stay outside for too long. She fumbled with her keys, trying to get that one bronze key into the keyhole before she froze.
The novelty of numb fingers eventually wore off. Lisa tried to fix her hair as she walked over to her answering machine. She pressed the play button and took off her thick coat.
"Hey Leese, its Emilee. I just thought I'd call you to check if we're still on for our night in? I'll hopefully be at yours by eight; just to give you time to get yourself ready after work. Can't wait to see you, bye!"
Lisa smiled to herself and made her way upstairs to get ready. It had been a while since Lisa enjoyed a night with her best friend. It seemed to be that before, Emilee was always working, but now it was like she was unemployed. Yet she always had something to do or somewhere to go during the day. Lisa didn't really look in to it much; it wasn't her business. She always felt suspicious of her though, the last time someone was shady with her was on the Red Eye flight almost a year ago. But this time, Lisa trusted Emilee, unlike Jack.
Emilee arrived an hour late. Her hair was soaked from the rain. "Look at me, I'm like a drowned rat." She exclaimed as she stepped inside, wiping her flat plimsolls on the doormat.
"You should've seen the state I was in when I came back from work. The weather is terrible." Lisa locked the door and pulled the curtain. It was one of the safety measures she had become accustom to. It was like second nature.
"Sorry I'm late." Emilee looked at her with a small smile. "I had a lot of paper work to get through."
"It's fine. It gave me time to get myself ready."
Emilee watched her for a moment in silence. "Do you mind if I nip to the bathroom for a moment?"
"Go right ahead, I'll just pick a DVD." Lisa strolled into the den. Emilee kept her eyes locked on her until she was out of sight. Her footsteps were light on the stairs.
The latch clicked on the bathroom door. Emilee whipped her phone out from her pocket and dialled the number.
"Hello?" a man on the other end answered.
"Dexter, I need you to listen to me…"
From downstairs, Lisa couldn't hear any movement. Was Emilee even up there? Or was she trying to play a game of hide and seek? Lisa made her way upstairs and knocked on the bathroom door. "Emilee? Are you alright in there?"
Almost instantly, the sound of the running tap was heard. "I'll just be a minute."
Lisa could hear a sound, like Emilee was whispering to herself. "The movie's about to start."
"Start it without me, my nose just started to bleed."
She started to grow uneasy. It seemed like there was always an excuse for everything. Yes Emilee was still Lisa's closest and best friend… But there was something mysterious about her.
Jackson stormed out of the office with a furious expression. How dare they give him this job after everything that had happened? He suffered a permanent injury due to Lisa, and he wasn't up for another one. Iris followed him, jogging to keep up.
"Jack, wait." She called out. She could only catch up with him as he waited for the elevator to come to their floor.
"Did you know about the Reisert case?" he looked down at her with a hint of betrayal in his eyes.
"No, as I said before I only knew that it would have been in your interest."
"And you call this in my interest?" he yelled. He glanced over his shoulder at the people that were now staring at him. He took her by the arm and pulled her into elevator. "I made it clear that I wanted nothing to do with that woman."
"Well, the company thought that you were the best man for the job. And personally I agree with them. Nobody knows her traits and personality quite as well as you do."
He crossed his arms and looked at her. "I suppose you want me to just grin and bear it?"
"Yes, because I know you can." She rested her small hand on his shoulder. "There is no reason why you're not able to."
Jackson searched her expression for any sign of doubt, but there was none. As the doors opened, he stormed out of the elevator and into the foyer, searching his blazer pocket for the trusty pack of cigarettes he had become used to. Iris couldn't help but watch him walk away. There was nothing more to say; there was nothing to say. She had to let him get over this anger and get on with it, as life will always go on.