On Your Mind
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!
Chapter Thirteen
Philippe stared at the hand-written directions clutched in his hands. He was sitting behind the wheel of Christine's car. Her cell phone was also in his grip, which he was debating the usage of. He could call Jackson Rippner and get involved that way. Or he could wait and use the element of surprise to his advantage.
With a sigh, Philippe started the car and shoved the cell phone into his pocket. Surprise would be his only saving grace in the fight to save Lisa. Giving his enemy a warning would only place Lisa further into harm's way. He could not risk that.
You don't even know if she's still alive. She could already be dead. He might have just wanted to kill her…
Doubtful. Why go to all the trouble of kidnapping her baby and then her if all he wanted to do was kill her? He could have found a way to accomplish that in the hospital. He's resourceful enough to pull it off according to her. A little thing like hospital security would not have been an issue for him. So what does he want instead?
He remembered Lisa's tearful recollection of the crimes Jackson had committed. Her tormentor had sunk far below a human level. He was a monster that now not only haunted her dreams, but her waking hours. Philippe was the only one who knew; the sole believer of her tales.
Every time Philippe's eyes blinked closed he could see the image of the slender, dark-haired man in his car harming Lisa. The terror on her face was real. Her screams for him still rang in his ears.
He was the one responsible for allowing this creep to touch her. It was his fault that Jackson Rippner now had Lisa in his clutches. He had failed her. He had fallen into the madman's trap like a blind fool.
But if the directions held in his hand were correct, then Lisa could be saved. He could rectify his mistakes. It was a small comfort, but a comfort all the same. There was still hope.
"I'm coming, Lisa," he swore as he pressed the gas. "I'll stop him for good this time."
There was no margin of error any more. Philippe had used up his 'freebie' when he allowed Lisa to fall into Jackson's hands. No more mistakes.
Approximately twenty minutes later, he arrived in front of a mansion. Below the call box was a printed label reading 'J. Rippner'. He had found Jackson Rippner's hideaway. Somewhere inside those grounds was Lisa.
The iron security gates were, much to his shock and joy, wide open. He cautiously drove through and parked under the cover of a tree off to the side of the house. Hopefully, the car was semi-hidden and not easily detectable. He did not have a plan, but a mission. He had to get Lisa and her infant daughter out of that house and stop Jackson Rippner once and for all.
How, he did not know. All that mattered was that he achieved his goal.
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"Mr. Rippner?" Norma called after Jackson—for the sake of tradition—carried Lisa into the house.
"Yes?" his annoyed voice responded, causing her to cringe.
"There is a man waiting for you in your study. He wishes to speak to you."
Jackson turned to Lisa; his ice-cold gaze locking on her face. She shivered at the remorselessness hidden in the depths of his eyes. He was in a threatening mode. He could easily kill her.
"Go see to Abby. I will be up shortly," he whispered with a smile. Then he harshly stole a kiss from her, before sending her towards the stairs. He watched her stumble up the winding steps before swiftly striding down the hallway.
"What is it that you want?" Jackson questioned as he stepped inside the darkened study.
A sudden pain flamed in his head. He groaned as he was forced towards the floor from the impact. Someone had struck him. This is my home, my turf; I will defend it. I will protect my prize from this pitiful fool who thinks he can stop me.
"Let Lisa and the baby go," demanded the stranger. "And turn yourself in."
Jackson laughed and his hand reached for the knife strapped under his tuxedo jacket. "What has led you to these delusions? Lisa is my wife and she loves me. She would never want to leave me."
"She's right—you're a crazy bastard."
"Oh, hello, Doctor," snarled Jackson, quickly jumping up and thrusting the sharp blade at his attacker's throat. "I was wondering if I would ever get the chance to thank you for returning my wife."
Philippe froze; the lamp in his hands held mid-swing. He appeared to be weighing the risks of taking another swing at Jackson.
He wants my Lisa. He can't have her. She's mine—she loves me.
"She's not your wife," the psychiatrist choked out.
A broad smirk crossed his face. "Yes, she is. I have documented proof in my pocket. Would you like to see it? It clearly states that Lisa Henrietta Reisert is now Lisa Henrietta Rippner and is my wife. 'To have and to hold, and 'til death do us part'."
"Did you forge that too?"
"Whatever are you babbling about?" Jackson raised an eyebrow as he stepped closer.
"I know that the medical papers you sent me are fakes. You wrote them yourself. They were too perfect—"
The knife blade pierced Philippe's throat at the exact spot that Lisa had once rammed a pen into Jackson's windpipe years earlier. He closed his mouth.
"There is no such thing as too perfect," hissed Jackson angrily.
I should kill him. He wants to steal her from me. He's been trying to keep her from me all this time. He deserves to die for ever seeing her. She's mine.
"People will realize that I'm missing, even if you hide my body. I left notes as to my beliefs before I tracked you down. I know how you like to make people disappear. And your little employee that you sent to finish me off? Christine? She's dead. I killed her," Philippe taunted, daring the murderer threatening him to kill him.
Jackson's face grew contorted with his rising fury and he suddenly lashed out at Philippe's head with the blade handle. The other man groaned loudly before collapsing to the floor and he smiled brightly.
That's what you get for messing with me. You still must die, but your death must be a special event. A present…a wedding present for my Lisa. She will be pleased to watch you suffer and die after you kept her from me.
Yes… that's what I shall do…
Author's Notes:
That was not a smart move on Philippe's part. Jackson's scrabbled mind is not a fun place to visit. His version of reality is extremely distorted. Enjoy and thanks for all the reviews!
J-Bird- Philippe is always making mistakes because he doesn't quite understand who he is dealing with. Jackson's still got plenty on his mind and Lisa is going to be the one to suffer because of it. The one thing Philippe is good for is helping Lisa realize that Jackson's never going to stop. It's never going to end. Thanks!