Chapter Eleven
Salena and Ben showed Cynthia and Joe back into Mr. Reisert's home where the leader of the group, John Caldwell, was waiting at the door.
"Did you get the keys?" he asked.
"Piece of cake, Johnny," Salena yawned, tossing them over.
"Excellent. Once you get those two secured, come into the kitchen so we can go over tomorrow's logistics one more time," Caldwell told them. He shoved the keys into his pocket and walked off. Michael was dozing off in his chair when Ben loudly announced their arrival.
"Wake up, Mr. Foster, we've got a new friend for ya," he barked, tying Cynthia next to him, while Salena did the same to Joe. "She's a pretty one…and since Miss Lisa is taken…"
"Shut up…" Michael warned through gritted teeth. This earned him a swift punch in the stomach from Ben.
"Watch your mouth, pretty boy." A frightened tear rolled down Cynthia's cheek.
"Aw, cheer up honey, this'll be done with by tomorrow," Salena laughed before following Ben into the kitchen.
"Well, I'm guessing Lisa isn't on vacation," Cynthia sniffed.
"Nope," Michael sighed.
"What is going on?"
"Lisa was abducted by Jackson Rippner-"
"That bastard who tried to kill her!"
"Yes. Him. So, he's got her tucked away somewhere for his own twisted pleasure. His company used her to get floor plans, room numbers, and keys. They're planning another assassination - for tomorrow. Then, they're going to kill Jackson and possibly Lisa. And they'll probably kill us too," Joe explained grimly.
"Oh my God!" Cynthia cried.
"Shh…pull yourself together. I think I have a plan. Tomorrow, when this whole thing goes down, they're not going to bring us with them. I heard them talking about it the other day. They figure that we won't be able to get free, and if we do, it won't be in time to stop them.
"So, what is your brilliant plan? Stare them to death?" Cynthia snapped.
"Cynthia - shut up," Michael hushed, "Joe, go on."
"I managed to grab a pocket knife when I was in Lisa's office today," he whispered.
"Where is it now?" Michael asked.
"It's stuck in the top of my underwear…that was the only place that I'd have a possible chance at reaching it."
"But we can't do it now…" Michael reasoned, "There is no way they're going to leave us alone for much longer."
"Obviously. We'll wait until they're gone tomorrow morning. Hopefully, they're going to leave us completely alone. Once I cut myself free, I'm going to call the police and then come back for you two. And then we have to try and find Lisa."
"Joe, we have no idea where she is."
"I'm gonna see if I can get it out of one of them. What point is there in hiding it anyway…they're not going to need her after this."
"Wait…what if they kill us before they leave?" Cynthia stammered.
"Well…then we die."
Lisa had been groaning for the past hour. She wouldn't let Jackson move her anywhere and all he could do was pace back and forth.
"Are you sure they're coming?" Jackson asked finally.
"Of course I'm sure! I'm the pregnant one, you fucking moron!"
"But I thought you weren't due for another two weeks…" Lisa sighed in utter annoyance. Why did all men turn into complete idiots in times of womanly crisis?
"Well, they're comin' early!" Though her cramps weren't that severe yet, she knew it was only a matter of time before her water broke, "Why don't you call a damn doctor, DADDY?" she seethed. The thought of having her kids in a cabin came back to her.
"I can't, Lisa…they can't know…" he felt like such an asshole. Hell, I am an asshole. Lisa's face was completely soaked with tears. He couldn't bear to watch her. He knew he was going to have to bring these babies into the world himself, and he had nothing to give Lisa to ease the pain. He knew that it was possible that the house was tapped, and if he called a doctor, that he and Lisa could be in serious trouble. When he heard Lisa's sobs dying down, Jackson looked at her only to see that she'd passed out from the pain and stress. He took this opportunity to carry her over to his bed and put a wet cloth on her forehead. Then, he went straight to his laptop to Google "home birth." He read all about the different ways a child could come and just prayed to God that they came out headfirst.
"I should have gone to medical school instead," he sighed out loud. Of course, if he'd gone to medical school he wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. Jackson shook the thoughts from his head and went to reading "the stages of labor."
"The length of early labor depends in large part on how ripe your cervix is at the beginning of labor and how frequent and strong your contractions are. With a first baby, if your cervix isn't effaced or dilated to begin with, this phase may take about eight hours, though it can be longer or significantly shorter," he read aloud. "Well, isn't that peachy," he groaned, rubbing his temples. At this point he was really tempted to call a doctor. Maybe they wouldn't even care since the plan would be executed tomorrow. He kept on reading, and found himself becoming nauseated at the things Lisa would soon be experiencing. He'd wait until tomorrow morning…and then call the hospital. There was no way he'd be able to deliver these babies himself.
As night fell in Miami, Joe Reisert's anxiety was nearly getting the best of him. Ben had untied them, saying they were all going to eat pizza and celebrate the unfolding of the plan. He couldn't help but think, these people are completely sick. However, he knew the situation did have its advantage: Joe could use this "jovial" mood to coax one of them into revealing Jackson and Lisa's whereabouts. Ben escorted Joe to the door when the pizza came, acting like his best friend in front of the delivery.
"Hey man, how much do we owe ya?" Ben asked.
"Umm…$22.65…" he handed the pizzas to Joe while Ben paid him.
"Thanks guys," the guy said before heading back to his car.
"Have a good night!" Ben called after him and then shut the door, "Into the kitchen please," he instructed.
"I'm not stupid," Joe muttered, rolling his eyes. He set the pizzas down and then went to sit at the end of the table with Cynthia and Michael. John brought over a bottle of champagne and some glasses.'
"Champagne and pizza…aren't we eaten up with class?" Salena chuckled, but poured herself a glass nonetheless. "Do you want some?" she asked Cynthia who nervously accepted.
"Alright, I propose we make a toast," John announced, raising his glass. Salena, Ben, and Shane followed suit, "To tomorrow, to a successful job, and to getting rid of Rippner." They all drank. Joe sighed.
"Well, I will drink to the last part," he sighed, taking a sip.
"Yeah, me too," Michael agreed, gulping some down.
"If you don't mind me asking," Joe began, "What are you going to do to Mr. Rippner?"
"We've got someone up there, unbeknownst to him, who is going to kill him when this is all over," Shane explained.
"What about Lisa?" he asked, worried that this hitman might just kill her, too.
"What about Lisa? As long as she doesn't get in the way, he should leave her alone."
"Well, how is she supposed to get home? She's pregnant and stranded in the middle of nowhere!" Joe now didn't care about shouting at these bastards. They had no regard for anyone but themselves.
"Well, when this is all over…feel free to go rescue her. She's in a cabin on Lake Ontario with him. It's right outside of Lyndonville, NY in Olcott. I believe the exact address is 1236 Pendleton Lane. Good luck. It's well hidden." John chuckled.
"I can't believe you actually told him that," Salena snapped, "Our company uses that cabin."
"Not for long; after Rippner is taken out, they're going to abandon it and move somewhere else." Salena's shrill laugh filled the air and Joe once again felt that knot in his stomach.
"But anyway…let's not think about that now. Everyone eat," John instructed. The three captives could barely stomach any food, but ate anyway to keep the others from getting upset or suspicious. All three had only one thought: escape.
AN: I'm sorry about some of the graphic nature of the labor stuff. I read up so much on it, I feel like I could deliver some damn kids. Thanks for all the reviews for chapter 10! It's gettin down to the wire...