I May Have To Steal You
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!
Chapter Fifty
"Okay, Mrs. Rippner, let's go," said the waitress and Lisa's eyes flew wide in surprise. She had never given her name to this stranger. "Now."
The muzzle of a gun looked at her from across the table. Lisa almost rolled away from the table as a reflex, but the waitress grabbed her arm, pulled her from the table, and pressed the gun into her side.
Lisa curled her lip in disgust. She had trusted this woman with more than she should have, (why did she have such a bad case of loose lips this time?) when all she probably wanted to do was kill her. She was not about to be easily taken advantage of. She was, after all, married to Jackson and could beat the crap out of him.
The diner was pretty much deserted and there was no Jackson waiting to save her. Lisa was on her own.
As soon as the gun moved, Lisa rammed her elbow into the woman's side before stomping on her foot with the high heel of her shoe. The waitress screamed aloud in horrific pain, while Lisa whipped a gun from her purse. She leveled the sleek weapon at the waitress mercilessly.
"Who sent you?" questioned Lisa, completely in control and satisfied with it. "Who wants me dead?"
"Not dead, Mrs. Rippner. They want your recluse of a murdering husband dead. You're just bait," hissed the waitress with a pained grin.
"Who? Who's after him?"
"Everyone."
Lisa could not take it anymore. She fired one shot before fleeing the scene on foot, heels tapping on the cement as she ran.
Jackson's blue eyes shot open. There was no coldness or icy edge to them for once. They were warm and friendly, yet without the sparkle that Lisa had once seen. As his memories of her faded, his brilliant eyes began to dull, reflecting the pain he felt.
"…believed to be murdered by a woman," squawked the TV reporter. He had fallen asleep in front of the TV again. Pretty soon, he would be almost a replicate of Joe Reisert.
The drowsiness and sleep left him instantaneously. What was going on?
"A waitress was gunned down inside a nearby diner earlier for no apparent reason. There was no robbery or motive for this attack. A young woman was seen talking with the waitress before the shooting occurred and was also seen fleeing the scene with a gun in her hands. She is described as having dark red-brown hair that is very curly and a petite figure. She was seen wearing a suit jacket that was loose fitting on her.
"Someone said that she resembled a local missing woman named Lisa Rippner who was last seen over two months ago. When her father, Joe Reisert, was asked about the shooting, he replied that, "she would never do something like this unless she was threatened". Her husband, Jackson Rippner, was unable for comment," commented a reporter on the TV before Jackson turned it off in disgust.
Lisa. His Lisa had shot someone. Was she working as an assassin or had it only been an accident? Had the waitress been sent after Lisa? Lisa must have had a good reason to kill her.
But Lisa was in danger. The police would be looking for her as well as his enemies, who had been tracking her. She wasn't safe and now he would have to find her on his own. This would be his test. His way to win Lisa back.
Jackson got off the couch and gathered a few knives and a gun for Lisa to use from his weapons stash. Then he dashed upstairs and changed into a fresh suit. He was going to work. Not plotting an assassination this time, but he had absolutely no interest in killing. He just wanted Lisa back.
Lisa ducked into an alley. There was no sense in hiding anymore. She would be found out rather quickly, no matter what she tried. Besides, it was only a matter of time before the clowns behind this situation showed up again. She really did not want to face them alone.
She would need to sort this mess out with the police. Her father would believe her, and he would hopefully find a way to keep her from jail.
As for Jackson, she had not a clue.
She had stayed extremely close to home, even though Jackson could have easily found her. It helped her to keep an eye on what he was doing. She knew that he had barricaded himself inside their home. She worried about him constantly, and she wished with all her heart that she could be with him. Lisa missed Jackson insanely and every passing moment made it harder to stay away from him.
Lisa called a cab. She was making the hard decision to go home and by doing so, she would see Jackson, and put her life in danger. But she could not stay away any longer.
When the cab came, Lisa jumped inside and called out joyfully, "9320 Blossom Palms Lane, and hurry!"
The cab pulled up in front of their house, and Lisa went to let herself out after paying the driver, only to find that the door was still locked.
"Excuse me," said Lisa, trying hard to be polite. "But the door seems to still be locked. Could you please unlock it?"
"Nope," replied the cab driver without even bothering to look at her.
"I paid you," she reminded him.
"I know."
Lisa was being to wonder if she were dealing with Jackson or the cab driver.
"Why won't you let me out then?" questioned Lisa angrily. Cab drivers were supposed to let their fares go after payment and arrival at their chosen destination.
"I've got orders."
"So do I," snapped Lisa in reply, cocking a gun at the back of his head. "Let me out of this damn cab or I will kill you and let myself out."
"You can't."
"Watch me," hissed Lisa through gritted teeth. She had come too far and taken too much crap from people. This was it. She was so close to Jackson and she was not about to give up.
Bang.
A single shot was all it took. The bullet swept through the safety glass and into the driver's skull, instantly killing him. Lisa ducked, avoiding the glass and blood. She felt bad about killing someone, even if they had been intending to harm her. It was a necessary evil, when it came down to staying alive. Survival was the name of the game and she always played to win.
She released herself from the confines of the cab and stumbled down the driveway. She stepped up to the front door to unlock it, when the door flew open and Lisa caught sight of Jackson for the first time in months.
He seemed gaunt and thin, and his dark hair was in dire need of a trim. Luckily, he had recently shaved and was wearing a clean suit. Scruffy did not suit him.
"Jackson," she said breathlessly, and undeniably happy, if not a little scared.
"Leese?" Jackson asked in amazement. "Is that really you?"
Lisa nodded ad Jackson stepped closer to her. He was hesitant to touch her; for fear that she was an apparition and would disappear at his touch. It was hard to believe that she was standing there after all this time. He reached a hand out to cup her face and his fingertips were met with warm flesh. It was Lisa.
Jackson pressed his mouth to hers and kissed her for the first time in a long time. Lisa kissed him back until they had to stop for breath.
"Hi, Jackson," she whispered.
"I missed you."
"I missed you more," replied Lisa softly. She had, after all, been the one to make the heart-wrenching decision to leave him. It was not by choice that she left, but more by force of circumstance. Ha he not been acting like Jack, the man who once tried to kill her, but rather like Jackson, the man she loved, then she would have stayed.
"You can come home now. It's safe. I promise," whispered Jackson, a slight rasp to his voice, as he locked his blue orbs on Lisa's flawless face.
"I trust you."
Jackson gently pulled her inside their house, were they could be together. He wrapped his arms around her waist and seemed surprised. His face reflected his shock and utter confusion. Lisa asked, "What? Is something wrong? Need me to make a phone call?"
"Have you been pigging out on junk food?" Jackson questioned, unsure of how to politely convey his real question.
"No."
"Then why are…" Jackson began, his voice trailing off. "Are you really?"
"Three months, Jackson, three months," she said with a smile.
"You are not leaving this house for another six. Not after last time, you're not," insisted Jackson, putting his foot down.
"I understand, but what about work?"
"They can wait. Cynthia will work it out."
"Jackson!" protested Lisa.
"I'm sorry, Leese, but no chances this time. I'm not taking any chances with your health."
Lisa rolled her eyes. The next few months were going to be trying, but they would make it through. Jackson would take excellent care of her, seeing as he had nothing better to do. And this time around, there would be no jobs that put their lives in danger. This time, things would work—provided that Jackson had beaten his managerial side into submission.
If not, Lisa would beat it for him. She had no qualms about whacking the crap out of Jackson. She would feel bad about doing it, but she had done it before. Boy would there be some interesting stories to tell their children.
One of these days…
Author's Notes:
This is pretty much the end. I'm leaving it open for a sequel, if a lot of people are interested. I'm going to add an epilogue on Monday, and then the story will be over. It will most likely be short, like the prologue was, but I'm not yet ready to let go of this story. Almost, but not quite.
