Her mother had almost flipped after hearing what had happened on the red eye. She had promptly called her sister to demand to speak to her daughter; all the while rambling about pens, blown up buildings and a crazy couple.
Rebecca's aunt, Ruth had done her best to calm her sister down. "It was a contained incident. I managed to get Rebecca out of the airport before other passengers because she was traveling alone."
Rebecca, who had stood beside her aunt in her Miami house grinned at her elder cousin 16 year old Alexi. Ruth smiled at her daughter and niece while listening to her sister. "She's fine, honestly. I think its best to just let Rebecca stay here until the end of August just like we planned." A pause, "All right, here she is."
Taking a strand of her blond hair from her large blue eyes Rebecca took the phone. "Hey mom, I love Miami!"
Her mother knew her daughters delay tactics too well. "You can relax, I'll let you stay. But you're not taking any red eye back home."
Silently Rebecca agreed and continued to chat with her mother about everything she'd done and seen thus far in Miami. When she finally placed the phone back in its cradle it was to find her cousin sitting on the couch, her aunt off to do other things.
"Hey, the news is talking more about your flight!" Rebecca joined her cousin, who promptly turned the sound up.
".. Into the investigation of the Lux Atlantic Hotel explosion and attempt on Charles Keefe's life has revealed the participation of one Lisa Reisert."
A picture of a woman with curly dark hair, distant blue green eyes and smooth complexion appeared on the screen. "I've seen her!" Rebecca said as Alexi hushed her.
"..Who apparently authorized the moving of Keefe from his regular hotel room to a different one which would have facilitated his death." The reporter paused, shuffling his papers and clearing his throat. "Investigators' are currently questioning her."
The story continued but Rebecca didn't hear it, did that mean they thought perhaps it was this Lisa's fault? But that was impossible. What about that man? Unable to articulate her questions Rebecca remained silent as her cousin switched channels.
--------------------
The end of August found Rebecca at the international Miami Airport, going home. But not alone, oh no, not alone at all. Her aunt and cousin would be accompanying her home then flying back to their own.
It has seemed silly and extensive to Rebecca but her mother was honestly worried about her. Thus Rebecca had not objected. What she found unbearable now however was standing around in security, waiting. Always waiting,
"Mom, I'm bored." Alexi whined she was busying pulling out her cell phone for the security check.
"Hush, Rebecca's better behaved then you." Ruth replied.
Rebecca shook her head and turned her attention to around her.
Then quite suddenly, the world around her stopped. Fear and horror were the only things Rebecca could feel now, a familiar cold fear. Almost in agony, she managed to force her head to turn away. She wanted to cry out, shout for help.
Her cousin Alexi was looking rather transfixed as well. "Just look at those eyes." She whispered.
Something exploded in Rebecca, whatever Alexi found appealing about the horror standing mere feet away from them Rebecca could not comprehend it. Any sensible person would be running for their lives. But then again, that would look silly. For surely he was in prison, there was no way he could be out on the streets. There was no reason on earth for him to be here.
The news had given the man Rebecca had seen less then a month ago a name. Jackson Rippner.
It was Jackson Rippner who was standing mere feet away, looking perfectly calm and perfectly healthy.
It was in that moment Rebecca realized something; this man did not belong here. With out a doubt he had done some horrible things to Lisa Reisert, it only made sense he had been part of the plot to kill that Charles Keefe. In all rightness, he should be in lock up. It was also in this moment that Rebecca contemplated the notion that perhaps he somehow had managed to escape the law.
Thus is only made sense that he needed to be brought back in. But how was she supposed to do that?
Ever since she had been a little girl Rebecca had always been told to get help from an adult if ever she was in trouble. Telling an adult now seemed like the best thing to do.
The line through the security check was slow. Crowded bunches of people were removing their shoes, belts and various objects from their pockets for security. Removing her shoes Rebecca watched Jackson two rows down silently.
The moment she got to a security guard she would tell them what she knew, then they would arrest Jackson and everything will be fine.
This seemed like such a good idea that Rebecca, who was too busy staring at Jackson that she bumped into Alexi who was complaining again. "This is so stupid; do I look like a terrorist?" Alexi demanded of her mother, placing her purse in a gray tub. Ruth, tight lipped, placed her fingers to her lips to silence Alexi. "It's getting old dear."
Alexi folded her arms and said nothing to this. Rebecca had always been told pouting would get her no where but she couldn't understand why her elder cousin, who could almost drive was doing it. Rather silly really, her mother would never stand for it if she had been the one to act up in public like that.
Rebecca turned her attention back to Jackson who was almost done going through security. "Oh no," She whispered. Alexi looked toward where Rebecca was gazing and giggled. "He's kind of old for you." Rebecca rolled her eyes, one thing was for sure, and she could not go to her cousin for help. Oh if only she would get to a guard in time.
Rebecca ignored her aunt and cousin, the key thing here was making sure that she got to a security guard before Jackson got by. "Your next miss,"
It was a security guard. He was rather tall and imposing, and any other time Rebecca would have been too shy to talk to him. But things were too important for her to look for someone she felt more comfortable with. "Please, you have to do something. There's a man and he was on this same flight that I was awhile back. He helped blow up that hotel in Miami. And..." Rebecca paused at the look on the man's face. His eyebrows were raised but he said nothing.
"And the man, his name's Jackson Rippner, he's right here. You have to go arrest him!" Rebecca was suddenly feeling very cold and rather ill. Didn't he believe her?" Please, he was on the same flight I was!"
"Little girl..."
Frustrated Rebecca suddenly remembered telling the pretty flight attendant about what had been going on in the bathroom. Did they think she made this stuff up? "And for your information that killer's name was Jack the Ripper. You can at least get names right. I don't know what your parents have told you about talking to adults but you're not funny." The guard paused, looking satisfied that Rebecca was thoroughly deflated he led her through the rest of the security check. "Your lucky I'm not going to your aunt little girl." The guard added before leaving her.
As Rebecca put back on her shoes and gathered her things she felt tears of hot anger boil up inside her. Glancing up it was replaced with sudden terror. Where was Jackson? Where had he gone? No!