Innocent People's Lives
Chapter Four
"No, that's not possible."
The shaking grew worse. He reached out, his hand over hers and she let him. She didn't resist as he took the gun from her.
"He's been lying to you for years."
"No. You're wrong."
"Right now you're asking yourself how he knew where to find me. Where I've been for the past ten years. Right now you're thinking about when he came to you and told you I was dead. Right now you're wondering what kind of person does that. I'll tell you what kind. It's the kind of person who uses innocent people's lives for political gain."
She couldn't help but shake. "How long have you known him?"
"Twelve years."
She couldn't stop herself from a gasp. "No, that's not—"
"Think about it, Leese. Think really hard. You're a smart girl. Much smarter than he ever gave you credit for."
"That's insane! The missile… the hotel… his kids…"
Jackson nodded. "Yes. It was gonna be a close call. That's how he wanted it. What better way to raise his profile than a failed assassination? That's right—it was never supposed to succeed, Lisa. No one was going to die. You thought you saved him. You thought you were a hero. You weren't. You were his pawn."
"And my dad?"
"He was only in danger when you didn't play along. The moment you ran from me, it changed things. You changed the rules of engagement. I was told to terminate you. And your friend. We couldn't have you babbling about someone blackmailing you to kill a government official."
"So what you're saying is, this is all my fault?"
He shrugged.
"This is insane. You're insane!"
"I will tell you everything you want to know as soon as we get out of here. Do you understand? This is bigger than me or you."
"I'm not going anywhere with you!"
Jackson grabbed her by the elbow as she tried to turn away from him. "That's not an option, Leese. Not if you want to live."
"No! No!"
He grunted with effort as he picked her up. She screamed and kicked at him as he slung her over his shoulder.
"Put! Me! Down!" She punctuated each word with a punch, beating her fist against his chest.
He started down the stairs. "Not a chance. You're not thinking straight right now."
"Help! Someone help!"
Whack!
Without warning, he smacked her hard on the butt, causing her to yelp. "Don't draw attention to us or I will drop you on your head."
"Put me down!"
"I will knock you out if you don't stop it!"
She let out a loud sound of frustration and went limp. "You're an asshole."
"Save the compliments for later."
It wasn't long before they reached the first floor and he set her back on her feet none too gently. She grimaced as she landed hard, pain shooting up her legs.
"Now, Leese, I need you to stay close to me. That way if there's trouble you can get behind me. We're going to move fast and out the exit. I have a car nearby. Act casual."
"Easier said than done." She smoothed the jacket over her ruined clothes. He rolled his eyes and pulled the door handle.
The hallway was busy, but not chaotic, and no one seemed to notice them. It was a blessing really. They moved through without detection, Jackson taking the lead and on alert. If he were a dog, his hackles would be raised. It was strange to see him be protective.
It was oddly comforting.
He took her arm, leading her down a narrow hallway to a back exit. They went through the door without any alarms going off. Without anything really. She kept waiting for someone to come running after them. It was oddly anti-climatic after being woken up to see a dead guy on the floor.
"Almost there," he said.
She followed him, weaving through cars as they wound their way through a parking lot. It was fairly deserted at this time of day.
"What are we looking for?"
He pulled her around a pillar and stopped beside a sedan. "We're here. Get in."
She pulled on the door handle and climbed into the passenger side. "Where are we going?"
"To stop Charles Keefe. Eventually, that is."
"How?"
He slipped into the driver's seat and started the engine with a quick twist of a key. "With your help. As his assistant, you have access to files and documents that I need. We're going to get those files. And when we do, Keefe will have no choice but to try and kill you."
She sank back into the seat. "You're going to use me as bait?"
"You could say that."
"I don't know anything. I'm just an assistant. I make appointments, write schedules, and organize things. I make photocopies for shit's sake!"
"But you know his schedule. You know if he was in one place or another. You know more than you think. Plus, it was convenient. If you died in the car along with her, no one would be surprised. It would be tragic, yes, but far easier than if he had to arrange a break-in at your place where you'd be killed or a rape/murder."
"Your mind is a sick, dark place, isn't it?"
Jackson glanced over at her. "I prefer to think of it as realistic."
"I still don't get why Charles would want me dead."
"You got a ten year extension. It would've been too suspicious if you had an 'accident' so soon after all the media attention," he said as they merged onto a highway. "He had to wait. And now with the election coming up, his profile is raised. He needed to end his marriage and that presented a chance to get rid of you, too. Two birds, one car bomb."
Lisa watched the tree line as they rolled down the highway. Could Charles really be the cold-hearted, calculating man that Jackson believed him to be? Did he really want her dead?
And why today?
Jackson snapped his fingers in front of her face. "You still with me, Leese?"
"I just…"
"You still trust him?"
She nodded.
"You're something else," he said, shaking his head. "Get some rest. We've got a long drive ahead of us."
Author's Notes:
Not super happy with this chapter, but it was time to get them out of the hospital and on the road. We'll be learning more about what Charles was up to and why Jackson has been working for him. It's a trail of breadcrumbs…