Steal My Life
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!
Chapter Twenty-five
A year later…
"Jackson, I've got a line on a new job for you," Craig Smith said cheerfully. "I know you don't do political, but I think you'll want this one."
"Who is it?"
"Charles Keefe—the soon-to-be Deputy Director of Homeland Security."
"Give me the file," demanded Jackson, holding his hand out. The hair on the back of his neck was bristling at the very mention of the man he had once seen with Lisa.
"I don't have it."
"Liar."
"They'll contact you and give you intel. I'm just telling you to clear your schedule because they want the best and they are more than wiling to pay for your expertise."
"Stop lying to me!" He yanked his knife free and placed it against Craig's throat as he held the older man's shirt collar in his left hand.
"Have I ever lied to you?"
Brown hair, red lips, dead eyes gazing accusingly at him… red curls, wide smile, petite frame…
"You stole Lisa…" his voice wavered and the blade in his hand quivered, nicking the exposed skin.
"No, you did that yourself. You pushed her away just like Sofia and Audra."
With an animalistic snarl, Jackson slit Craig's throat without a second's hesitation. The lead manager's blood sprayed on the walls, Jackson's face, and other nearby objects as he slumped to the floor dead. Jackson's chest was heaving and the knife was still poised in the air.
Disgusted, Jackson spit on his old boss before wiping the blood off his knife and face with the dead man's handkerchief. He left the stained cloth lying beside the body and stepped on the body on his way out the door.
Jackson Rippner walked back out into the daylight a free man for the first time in eight long years.
Lisa taped the last box shut with a loud sigh. All of her meager belongings were now boxed up and ready for the moving company.
The ghosts in the apartment she had once shared with David were too many. She had spent many nights crying herself to sleep or so drunk that she passed out in her clothes. Alcohol helped numb the pain even if she was not supposed to be mixing it with her anti-depressant medication.
A friend at work, upon watching Lisa repeated coming in either exhausted, hung-over, or with red-rimmed eyes, had suggested that she move. She had taken the advice and sold her apartment and leased another one closer to her work.
Her father had graciously offered to let her move back in his house. It was currently being remodeled, so she had declined the offer. As much as she loved her insomniac father, Lisa needed her own space.
By tomorrow, she would be living in a new apartment with her memories left behind at the old place. She needed a fresh start—she needed to move on from David's death. After all, it had been four years since he was killed.
Good-bye, she thought as she drove away from the apartment and headed for work. Good-bye for good.
Jackson pulled up in front of the fairly-new apartment building. A moving truck was parked in front and unloading boxes labeled with the neat, precise handwriting he had come to know as well as his own. A petite redhead was standing in the yard, giving directions to the moving men. Her curly hair was falling out of the ponytail she had hastily tied it back in and her worn out clothes were a stark contrast to her usual business-type skirts and blouses. Her faded jeans were even ripped and fraying at the bottoms.
You almost look like a teenager, Lisa. I wish I had known you back then…been your first love… Think of all the fun times we could've had…
His cell phone rang. "Hello," he answered smoothly, trying to hide his annoyance at being bothered.
The rest of the phone call was a mixture of numbers and code. He had gotten the Keefe job and they wanted to use a certain hotel manager…
Lisa gave an exasperated sigh and blew at a few loose strands of hair. She turned, hands on her hips, and glanced in his direction.
Hello again, sweetheart. Sorry for the interruption—stupid idiots should know better than to bother me when you're around…
She was calmly trying to explain something to the movers; miraculously managing to control her anger.
We're going to be very friends, aren't we, Leese?
A slow smirk crossed his face as his fingers stroked the knife at his side.
Soon…soon you'll be mine. Your time is almost up… I'm already here, sweetheart. Can you see me? I can see you…
Jackson turned on the engine and drove away, already thinking of the best way to claim his prize—his Lisa. Craig Smith was dead and there was no one left to stand in his way.
My lovely, lovely Lisa…you belong to me.
Author's Notes:
That's the end! I can't believe it's finally over! It's been over eight months since I started writing 'Obsession', even though when I started it, I thought it was only going to be Do My Part. Thanks for sticking around to see this to the end!
All of the extras, such as missing scenes, trailers, music videos, graphics, etc. are on the web page. It's still under construction, but the link to the 'Obsession' pages is in my profile.
Thanks so much for all of your comments and support throughout this story and the others! Enjoy it: )
I think I'm gonna go cry now…