I thought about adding the view of the Keefe family in here, but then I realized I don't like the Keefe family so I didn't add them in. Anyway I hope this okay, I'll finally be adding action in the next chapter. Thanks for all the reviews.
Joe Reisert was getting sick of the comedy marathon. It wasn't that funny. But that wasn't the real reason he was sick of TV that evening. Joe was worried about his daughter, about Lisa.
What was wrong with her? Lisa didn't use to act so rash, she was very meticulous, very assiduous. Maybe it was the after effects of the rape, she was traveling by herself, and her grandmother had just died. He had insisted Lisa go to counseling after the rape but lately she had stopped. Joe would sign her up again when she got back.
A sudden noise distracted Joe as he sat in his comfortable old chair in the sitting room. What was that?
Walking to the front door Joe warily opened it to reveal an empty entryway. Ah, it was only the paper. Stooping to pick it up Joe watched as the car that had delieved his paper drove away. Behind it was a BMW.
The paper held limply in his hands Joe studied the car. If he was younger and more imaginative he would think that the man sitting in the car was contact killer or someone sent to kill him. But no he was too old for that and real life was scary enough. Even the news in the paper scared him.
Shutting the door Joe headed back to his chair and settled in. The comedy marathon was better then nothing.
For a moment all Lisa heard was voices.
"If we get a new flight in time we can head straight to my mothers and then to the wedding I'm sure-"
"Stop taking my pen you-!"
"This is horrible; Fresh Air is certainly going to hear about this!"
It was all so very strange, Lisa felt so calm, so relaxed. Yet something was gnawing at her core. It was terror and panic. But why should she be afraid?
Lisa shifted her position. What had happened? Had she fallen asleep? All she knew was she resting on someone shoulder and that felt she safe and secure. Or at least that was the feeling she wanted. She was so tired; it was so inviting to sink back into a black oblivion. But now the gnawing feeling was stronger.
Lisa sat still, her eyes closed. Her flight had been cancelled; she'd been talking to Jackson… Lisa opened her eyes and groaned. Her head was one big dull thudding ache, her conscience and the choices that lay before her bleak, she remembered everything perfectly now. But she was still lying on his shoulder
Sitting bolt up right Lisa instantly regretted it. He'd knocked her out! Jackson had led her back to the terminal gate with out a word. Lisa who'd been sure he wasn't going to do anything to her was shocked when he suddenly leaned in front of her. She'd assumed he wouldn't hurt her in public until her vision had gone black.
"It's really time to straighten up and fly right Leese." Holding up a hand to her head Lisa turned to see Jackson looking her, bemused but dead serious.
Swallowing, still horrified by the new realization that Jackson was deadlier and more dangerous then she'd known Lisa said nothing. As she rubbed her temples Jackson leaned forward beside her to rest his elbows on his knees and with that his head on his hand. He looked straight ahead rather then at Lisa.
"You tried. You looked for all the ways out. Now is the time to comply with what I want and in turn your fathers life shall be saved. Isn't that good enough for you?"
Lisa rubbed her eyes; the lights were still dim in the airport, what time was it?
"Did you hear me?"
Her luggage was gone, as well as her purse. Puzzled by this Lisa looked under her seat and around them. There was a jingling noise, Lisa turned to see Jackson dangling a locker key in front of her. He'd put her things in storage.
"Why can't you just comply?"
Mimicking Jackson's position Lisa held her own head with both hands as the pain grew stronger at the notion of what she was being asked to do. Finally she whispered, "I know him."
A sigh, "Know who?"
"Keefe, he's a really decent man."
Jackson folded his arms and sat back, "Well sometimes bad things happen to good people." There was a pause, "Like you."
Her breath caught in her chest, Lisa said nothing as she looked back at Jackson.
"You know I've known you for awhile now Lisa. . . Before tonight, I mean. And as far as I can tell your life revolves around your job, the occasional cocktail at the corner café, the classic late night movies. Oh, and scrambled eggs at 3 am."
Lisa looked away. Part of her was helplessly fascinated; the other part of her revolted that she'd confirmed he had indeed been following her. It embarrassed her that she'd made such a fool of herself in front of him. He knew perfectly well what her drink preference was, for the love of god he even knew well enough to tell her that she was too job oriented.
Jackson wasn't finished though, "What turned you into such a loner? Was it your parents divorce?" Lisa felt her self curling into a ball, if he started recounting the rape she thought she would die of shame, "Oh wait did someone break your heart?" Lisa felt her shoulders tighten as he said nothing else, Jackson was waiting for her.
Perched on the edge of her seat Lisa forced herself to remain stolid, "I have to go to the restroom."
Jackson tilted his head in response; Lisa relented, "Okay. You got me. I'll make the call when I can make the call. But right now you have to let me go."
She was good at lying, she did it all the time, "Okay, I trust you." Jackson nodded to the bathrooms; Lisa stood shakily and headed straight to them. She didn't want to run anymore.
The bathrooms were even more dimly lit. The place itself was fairly large and empty. Standing in front of one of the various mirrors Lisa waited for someone to come in, no one did.
Allowing herself to sink to the ground Lisa cried. She cried because of everything that happened to her. Lisa cried because she could not scream. Lisa cried because she could see no way out this, she had nearly lost herself when she realized something.
"Always look forward,"
Falling to pieces was not an option. She could not give up. Her family had taught her that, she had learned that in her job. She was after all, a manager too. She was a survivor, she was a daughter of a loving father, and she was Lisa Reisert. It may seem Jackson had the upper hand but Lisa still had yet to make that call.
She'd been tricked; Jackson had realized she was missing the romantic element in her life even if he had not known why. He'd stalked her, he had Joe hostage. But he was also human, just as much as Lisa was. It sickened her to realize he perhaps had actual feelings for her, but he was also self confident and a little desperate to get the call done.
She could use all that against him.
Buying an aspirin from the one of the vending machines Lisa took it and went to wash her face and hands in the sink. She was lost in thought. Soap was a funny thing. She needed to distract Jackson from the call to the Lux Atlantic. There was still the issue of Jackson's dog outside her house. Soap was a funny thing. How come no one noticed her get knocked out? Soap was-
Glancing at the mirror Lisa felt inspiration strike her. Someone was bound to come into the bathroom and Jackson wasn't allowed to.
When her masterpiece was completed Lisa washed her hands and bounded to the door. Hopefully someone was take it seriously.
The lights inside the bathroom really were dim Lisa thought as she headed back to the exit someone could be lurking in the shadows and she would never know.
"I wondering-"
Lisa screamed. It was really her fear that gave her away. Driving her backwards into the bathroom Jackson clamped his hand over Lisa's mouth as fear over took. She fought wildly and managed to dance backwards further into the bathroom.
Jackson had seen the words written across 4 mirrors. He looked back at Lisa and grabbed her wrist. "How creative, you get a gold star."
"Let me go-"
Suddenly Lisa was swung around back into where the counter and the side of the wall met. A paper towel holder banged into Lisa's head.
"Please just stop whoever's at my dad's house."
He made a noise that could have been laughter. "I already have by intercepting these little communiqués, if any one would have succeeded our guy in the BMW would have known about it." Jackson gripped her chin with a hand, "So do your dad a favor and stop gambling with his life."
How had Jackson Rippner come to this? Lisa wondered. The persona he had first presented her with should have been his real self. Was he as hopelessly trapped in this situation as Lisa was?
She gathered up her courage, offered him a chance," You don't have to do this, any of this,"
Jackson looked at her; he didn't exactly scoff or jump at her sympathy. Lisa realized getting out of his line of work wasn't piece a cake, his whole life was probably intricately lined but still-
Lisa was slipping down, she couldn't find proper footing with her heels and besides he was so close, none of this should be happening. Jackson wasn't responding.
His attention was else where. Slowly he pulled her shirt down a little, just to reveal something that had attracted his eye. It was her scar.
"Did someone do this to you?"
The tables were turned, now Jackson had Lisa on the spot. Couldn't he see how painful it was for her? The scar had long since healed but she felt the pain. "No."
His blue eyes grew colder, "Is that what it is?"
She was sliding down; she could feel it, why couldn't he just look away? Jackson leaned over her a little more to compromise for her practically sliding under him.
"No," It was hard to speak, she felt so ashamed, and he knew perfectly well what must have happened.
"You what I think?"
Lisa was suddenly lying on the floor, Jackson on top of her, throttling her. Lisa grasped his jacket then his hands as his grip grew tighter. His combined weight and pressure on her throat was unbearable.
"You know what I think?" Jackson was hissing in her ear. If this was his way of showing Lisa sympathy she didn't like it, "I think you're not such an honest person after all. Because I followed you for eight weeks now and I never once saw you order anything but a fucking sea breeze!"
He was punishing her because she lied in self defense? He was risking being caught while choking her on the floor all because she ordered a different beverage then her usual preference?
Lisa frantically tried to use her legs to push herself off the ground but soon gave up; instead she pulled at Jackson's hands. He was going to kill her; she was going to die lying on the floor while he strangled her. "I can't breathe… I can't breathe…"
Suddenly his hands disappeared and Lisa was left lying on the ground. Curling into a ball and massaging her neck Lisa watched as Jackson began to clean each mirror in the row.
"I never lied to you Leese? Know why?"
Lisa pulled herself to the wall shivering and still gasping for air.
"Because it doesn't serve me. We're both professionals when we have the will and means to follow through. And when we don't our customers aren't happy and when they're not we suffer and our lives go to shit."
Jackson threw the paper towels away and got down on his knees near Lisa who pulled away. "We're not going to let that happen, are we?" He pulled Lisa's face towards him and stood.
Was he talking about them both or just himself?
Jackson held his hand out to Lisa. If she took it would he resume his strangle hold on her? Reluctantly she grasped his in return. Jackson pulled her up and smoothed her hair.
"Are we?" He repeated solemnly.
Lisa smoothed down her skirt and refused to look up. Again her head was pulled up as Jackson used one hand to tilt her head up, the other to pull her closer to him so she wouldn't pull away.
"No."
Darkly Jackson said, "Peachy." Releasing Lisa he strode to the door to make sure no one would see him exit the women's restroom.
Seeing Lisa stand there where he had left her as though she were a docile kitten he added, "Thanks for the quickie."
As the two walked back to their seats Jackson looked over at Lisa, "I don't lie Leese, I've said it before. If you had just cooperated over this would be over. But no, you had to turn this into a little sojourn."
It took Lisa a moment to realize he was pleading with her. Lisa looked back at er captor and stalker and realized she felt sorry for him. She was tired of all this. Lisa remembered how she'd felt resting her head on his shoulder and felt a shiver run down her spine.
He'd choked her inside a bathroom not ten minutes ago.
But he trusted her, liked her even. Lisa knew she could use this, because he needed to her make that call she had one last chance to prove she wouldn't try to avoid it.
Several minutes Lisa found herself sitting down once again with Jackson. He was holding out his cell phone out to her. There was no way around it; she was going to have to make the call.
"It's time." Jackson said after dialing the Lux Atlantic. Lisa put his cell to her ear and tried to steady herself, she didn't want her voice to shake or reveal a fraction of emotion.
The phone was ringing. Dashing in her heels Cynthia rang to fetch it. "Lux Atlantic Resort this is Cynthia."
"Cynthia, its Lisa,"
Cynthia perked up, things had been going great so far, "Oh hey you, I called your cell but there was no answer. So I guess you still need that favor huh?"
Bending over the counter Cynthia picked up a pen and notepad. There was a pause on the other line.
"I was talking to Dan Young down in eminence and there's a problem with the plumbing. So if anyone uses the bathroom-"
"The shit hits the fan." Cynthia said nodding, "So, what room do we move him to?"
Once again a pause, "4080." Cynthia scrambled to write it down; this meant a whole bunch of things needed to be changed.
"Ah Leese, how am I going to explain this to his-"
"You know, your right, his people won't be happy. So just tell them I authorized it." Cynthia nodded as she put the phone on her shoulder.
"There's so much to do, I have to go."
Cynthia put the phone down and back into its cradle. Dan wasn't there, so why had Lisa referred to him? Surely she knew that. Shrugging Cynthia went to make the arrangements for Keefe.
Lisa held the phone to her ear even after the call ended. That was that.
"Outstanding." Jackson said with a weary sigh, "We're close."
She turned to Jackson and held his cell out to him, it was still open. He glanced at it then at her, "What?"
"You know what. My dad, make the call." Her hand shook, but she closed her hand on the phone as he tried to take it. "You're part of the deal." Lisa said as she allowed him to pull it from her grasp.
Jackson looked at it then put the phone away.
"You promised." Lisa accused in a hushed tone, Jackson leaned forward.
"I still need you," Lisa shook her head," I'll keep that promise as soon as the job is done I get confirmation I'll call my guy. Soon it'll all be over, the Keefe's will be history, and your dad will be safe-"
Startled from her stupor Lisa turned to face Jackson who said, "What?"
"You're going to kill his family too?"
Jackson shook his head and swallowed "Someone wants to send a big brash message, that's their business. I do my part and move on."
Lisa felt tears well up, she sniffled loudly. She had literally sold her soul to save her father. Jackson hadn't been fair; he hadn't revealed she'd be killing children! Furthermore she knew Keefes wife was pregnant again. Her heart was wrung at the thought of having to decide others fates.
Fate. Why had it done this to her?
She had never wanted any of this, when she had gone to her grandmother's funeral that morning she hadn't thought her evening would be this kind of nightmare. Always look forward, what a joke. She only got to look forward to death and Jackson Rippner bringer of unfair business.
Lisa felt a sob rise in her throat. Jackson who was looking pensive put his finger to his lips.
"Lisa, sh."