screams with mad laughter It is complete! After having writers block I have finished my story. Now I know there is still some lingering questions and that my Jackson needs some work his character eludes me so... as well my action sequences need some help… but its all good. Enjoy.
It was getting light out. The storm had moved on to reveal a light blue sky as the sun began to rise.
Lisa chose to watch the sky outside rather then watch as the airport slowly filled with people. The first flights were departing. The events of the previous evening seemed to have stretched over several evenings.
"Do you want some coffee?"
Lisa looked around as Jackson tilted his head to stare at her, "Oh so I get a choice now?"
"In terms of coffee yes."
Lisa shook her head," No thank you." Folding her arms she continued to gaze out the window. Jackson shifted around in his pocket to pull out a new flight ticket and pass. Dully he handed it to Lisa. "I got them while you out."
Lisa grimaced at this but accepted them anyway. 6:35, it was soon.
"Here comes your girlfriend."
Brian hated how immature his brother could be. Checking his watch Brian made sure not to watch the curly haired woman pass him by, a man leading her.
"Aw, why didn't you say hi?"
Brian rolled his eyes and opened his notebook. Sitting on the plane with Pat was going to be bane of his existence within the next hour. At least he could draw to pass the time."Hey what did you do with my pen jackass?"
Pat looked up, "I didn't do anything."
"That's bull; you've been stealing my pen all night."
"Well I didn't this time."Sighing Brian looked on the floor for his writing utensil. It wasn't anywhere, where had it gone?
Lisa and Jackson had barely sat down at the new flight gate when an eagerly grinning woman came up to them.
"I can't tell you how much I've been enjoying this book. It's gotten me through this long night."Jackson, who was smiling, glanced at Lisa. "I'm glad," She managed to spit out.
The nice old lady continued, " I had no idea this would be so much work though, there's all these surveys that you fill out about yourself before you go on to the rest of the book."
"Yeah, but it pays off I promise you."
The nice old lady nodded and waved with the doctor Phil book in her hand. Slowly she ambled off. "Er..." Jackson cast a puzzled look at the woman.
"I gave her the book earlier. She's a huge doctor Phil fan." Lisa explained, smiling in spite of herself. "Oh I saw that, very nice of you."
Lisa suddenly cast her gaze downward at the flight information. She'd already read it backwards and forwards. But she didn't want to have normal conversation with Jackson Rippner, not after all he'd done to her. She didn't understand how he could seamlessly switch personas as though it were nothing.
"I was wondering," Lisa began, "if I would be able to retrieve my baggage."
Jackson considered it; he couldn't really leave her possessions behind. "If I get it for you will you still be here when I come back?" Doing her best to appear obsequious Lisa nodded. "I'll come right back okay?"
"Okay."
&(&(
Hi, welcome to the Lux Atlantic." Cynthia hurried to shake everyone's hand and final met Keefe's head of security. "Welcome to the Lux Atlantic. Here are all your keys. We're putting you in suite 4080." She paused and added breathlessly, "Manager got that approved."
The man glanced back at Cynthia," 4080? We're in 3825." He said tonelessly.
4080. Beautiful suite." Cynthia said with a blithe smile.
"We're always in 3825." He replied blank faced. Cynthia swallowed.
"Except, we've got a bad plumbing problem in 3825." Cynthia made a quick motion with her hand, "4080 toilets are good."
The man turned to the Keefes, "They want us to switch rooms. We made redundant reservations. We can go to the Hilton. "
Charles hesitated, his wife broke in. "Charles. The kids are exhausted."Again Keefe hesitated," Who made the approval?"
"Lisa Reisert." Cynthia said hoping the mention of Lisa would smooth the whole thing over. It did, "It's OK, I know her." Keefe turned to his security and nodding, shifting his son who lay on his shoulder. The man sniffed.
"We need to sweep the room."Keefe nodded. "Well, get on it."
As the party went off Cynthia hurried after them doing her best not to fall over in her heels. That went well.
&(&(&(&
"Yes, sir." The guard stepped up to head security officer as they gazed out at the Miami waters. "Anything?" He asked.
He pointed at an object in the sparkling waters, "Not much. A yacht. Out there. Fishing, I think."The man stared at it for moment. It seemed pretty far off, but it was no use taking chances, "Call it in." He said turning away
"Right away."
&$
When Jackson came back he launched right into their preordained schedule, "We kill ten, 15 minutes till I get the call
That Keefe's been taken out. And then I walk outta your life."
Lisa tightened her grip on her reclaimed luggage, "Once I'm outta your line of sight, I'll call off Mr. Killer from outside Dad's and then you're free. Free to yell and scream, call your dad, tell him to run to the neighbor's. Sound good?"
Lisa's eyes were trained on the morning news report detailing Keefe's travels around the Southern states, she swept her gaze to Jackson, "Whatever you say."
His response was almost playful, "What, no questions?" Wryly she said, "What good have they done me so far?" "Best question you've asked all night." Jackson said at last.
Lisa lost in her thoughts and plans didn't reply. Suddenly she turned, "I have another request."
"And that is?"
"Call off the hit man now."
"Why should I?'
"I have nothing left, I've done what you want, I'll wait with you until you get that call but please-" Lisa broke off afraid her pleas wouldn't work. She'd thought that she'd developed some kind of trust with Jackson. She had no other way of making sure her father stayed alive.
But to her surprise, "All right, this time, I trust you."
&&
On the yacht, Rapture, its owners waited patiently as the coast guard performed a thorough search. "It's all clear down below."
The head of the team turned to the boat captain, "Catch much today?" The man grinned and adjusted his sun glasses, "Not yet, sir." As the men prepared to leave the last one turned to the captain, "Sorry for the intrusion, sir."
"Hey, no problem." The man said waving them off. ou guys have a good one."
"Thanks."
"Good luck, fellas."
"Thanks."
"Thirteen, sergeant one on central." As the boat sped away the man turned to his comrades, "All right, we're clear. Let's go."
&&
The head Charles Keefe's security was satisfied. Turning to his aide he said," Coast Guard says its all clear."
&&
4080 really was a beautiful suite. As the Keefe's reluctantly let their children run to the balcony they walked silently after. "Come on!" Their eldest daughter called to her brother.
Mrs. Keefe was wary, "Danny! Slow down, honey." Keefe hurried after his wife, the Miami sunshine shining down on his family. "Kids, be careful."
Over his shoulder Keefe heard his guards, "Keep two on the roof, two downstairs." Tentatively his wife grasped his shoulder, "Fantastic."
Nodding he said," Nice." Smiling his wife turned to their children as they stood looking at the yacht that was fishing in their line of sight, "Isn't this nice?"
&&
It was time; her stomach twisting Lisa positioned her luggage and purse carefully at her feet. Jackson sat next to her pensive, his hands in his lap.
"It happened in a parking lot."
Jackson's head swiveled as he looked at Lisa, she clarified by saying," The scar. Two years ago." She shook her head, her eyes closed at the horrific memory," In the middle of the day." Shaking her head now at how ridiculous that sounded even now she continued," He held a knife to my throat the whole time."
The pen was grasped in Lisa hand, the pen itself held at the ready as thought whirled through her mind like bits of sand in an hourglass. Could she really do this Jackson? He was no immediate threat to her, he was not physically attacking her that very instant. It was difficult for now Lisa to think deeply about her plan.
Jackson, both her tormentor and someone who understand her in ways she didn't even understand herself. Could things have ever turned out differently? By doing this did that maker her any better then him. After all she was a liar, she used alcohol sometimes as something to hide behind, and she was about to attempt to…
Pushing all her misgivings away Lisa smoothed a hand down her skirt as she spoke softly, memories flooding her mind," Ever since, I've been
trying to convince myself of one thing, over and over."
She heard Jackson breathe; it startled her to realize that he understood what she'd been through. "That it was beyond your control." He said softly. But as much as he thought he knew her Lisa Reisert had more then one dimension. "No."
Jackson looked back her, puzzlement at this conundrum filling his brilliant blue eyes; Lisa steadied her voice," That it would never happen again."
He gazed at her one moment longer before leaning back and looking up as he settled back in thought. Before she lost her nerve Lisa swung her pen up ward in one upward arc.
Gasping at the object she'd stuck in his throat Lisa forced herself to move toward him and snatch his cell phone. Wobbling as she backed away Jackson glared daggers at her as he fought rage.
Lisa turned and ran but not before Jackson threw himself from his chair and grasped her ankle. Lisa and Jackson both sprawled forward.
Lisa ran leaving him behind.
"Excuse me." Lisa said pushing herself through a group of tourists. Trying to keep a hold on Jackson's cell Lisa bumped into another man, "Lady!" Yelling over her shoulder Lisa shouted," I have a flight to catch. Sorry."
Assured that she was far away from Jackson she pulled out his cell phone. Her own phone was dead, that was why she'd left it with Jackson along with her purse and carry on luggage.
The phone had no signal.
"No, shit!" Lisa exclaimed then nearly dropped the phone. She could see security guards running straight toward her. She'd needed to find someplace where she could properly place a call.
(&(&(
"You all right?" The bleached blond kneeled near the hurt man. Jackson gave a kind of sigh and looked up at the woman and cocked his head to one said as if to say, what do you think?
The woman screeched, leaning back on her heels and looking around at the others around them, "Oh God! We need help here!" She looked around wildly as Jackson tired to push away her sympathetic arm," Is anyone a doctor!"
Annoyed Jackson pushed himself to his feet and pushed the woman out
Of his way, a mirror, he needed a mirror. Yes, Lisa would have one. Pulling it from her purse he threw the bag aside and examined his throat.
Watching the man with the pen in his throat Pat turned smugly to his brother, "There goes your pen, dude."
The bleached blond continued to shriek as she hovered around Jackson who was doing his best to control his breathing, he'd had wounds on the job before but nothing like this. "We need an ambulance! Someone has to stop that woman, she stabbed the guy!"
Oh great, security.
"We have an emergency. Security to the M-2 gate. Attention, Security. Request for assistance, code three, gate M- . Security, code three. "
"Sir!" Jackson whipped around as a young airport employee tugged the mirror from his hands. She gasped at the grisly sight but regained her composure,"OK, we have a doctor for you."
Jackson was startled to see the angry man from check in. Unable to contain himself the man rolled his eyes as Jackson resisted the urge to choke him. "Don't speak. You don't wanna damage your vocal cords." As he put on his glasses, swiping a hand at the same time to get the bleached blond away from them he added," it doesn't look bad. It's your windpipe. It's not dangerous really. "
Hearing these happy words Jackson ripped the pen from his throat," No, don't!"
The frantic young woman dashed around awkwardly in her heels, "Sir. Sir!"
Jackson tried to push through them, he needed to get Lisa back, and he needed to make sure he finished the job. Forget the fact he had a gaping wound in his throat and airport security hot on Lisa's trail.
"Hey, you need a hospital!"
"You're going to have to fill out a report to the police!"
Where had Lisa gone? Shoving the doctor and young woman Jackson's gaze lingered on the bleach blonds red scarf; she wanted to help him, fine.
"Hey, that's my scarf!"
(&(&(
They were going to find her. Then she would never be able to contact the hotel or find out if her father was safe. Pulling off her sweater Lisa tossed in the trash. Anything to help her avoid security. As far as she was concerned Jackson was out of the game.
Seeing two guards run in her direction Lisa headed straight to two girls sitting at a table. Pulling a clipboard from the café's counter she sat at the table breathlessly.
"Hi, I'm Wendy from airport food services. Have you dined at our terminal before?" One of girls finally managed to stutter out an answer, "Yeah. I use to…" The two guards ran by, the girls heads turned as they watched. Lisa slipped out of her seat, leaving behind only the clipboard.
Stopping by gate 35 Lisa pulled out the cell again, still no service. She might have to leave the building. Where was the exit?
Looking around Lisa saw a pair of blue eyes in the crowd. Jackson. Their eyes meeting Jackson began to run. "Heads up!" Running onto the travelator to put space between them Lisa fought to make herself go faster. It had been awhile since she'd done any running and her college days of field hockey were long past.
Stumbling off the travelator Lisa felt her bare legs slid across the carpet on the floor. Jackson was coming; forcing herself up Lisa ran again.
Around another corner, past the family of four with the two screaming children, then she saw something a way out of the never ending maze of the airport. A tram, it would lead to the main building and then hopefully the exit she had come in.
Staggering inside Lisa clutched onto a pole inside the tram. Ignoring the stares of the others inside with her Lisa stared out of the doors," Come on. Come on, close."
In slow motion Lisa watched the doors close as Jackson came into view. His head made almost comedic contact with the doors as the doors slid together. Gasping Lisa looked around at those standing around her. She'd made it. He would still come after her.
In the main building Lisa dashed out before anyone else, if she stayed too long in a single place she was bound to be caught and arrested.
Out the doors and into the sun, Lisa paused; her whole body was warming up from the Texas sun. Pulling out the cell again Lisa was relieved to see it had service outside.
Wasting no time in dialing the hotel for she had already wasted enough time Lisa listened as the phone rang. Oh please, someone, anyone pick up. It was Cynthia.
"Put me through to Keefe's room!" Lisa shouted as she moved away from the other people around her.
"Lisa, what's going on?" Cynthia asked blankly.
"You have got to get Keefe out of that room." Lisa exclaimed desperate to make Cynthia understand. She had not time to explain what had happened to her that evening.
Slowly Cynthia said," You already changed him."
Biting her lip Lisa cut in, "NO, it' got nothing to do with…" She paused and thought of something thing better. For she had no idea what the exact plan was it was better just to get everyone out," Look I think something's going to happen, you… Listen pull the fire alarm."
What the hell?"
She was wasting time, whatever was going to happen could happen any second. "Evacuate the hotel, get everyone out! You've got to up there and tell them. Tell them Keefe is a target."
"Lisa what-"
"Tell them that Keefe is a target, Cynthia, somebody's trying to kill him!" Lisa could not make it plainer then that. Hearing the click of the phone on the other line Lisa pulled the phone from her ear. Now to make one more call, just to be sure her father was safe…
"Watch where you're going!"
Lisa looked up in time to Jackson stop dead in his tracks. For a moment they stared at each other. With out thinking Lisa ran into the multilevel parking lot.
&(
Cynthia ran for dear life. She'd pulled the fire alarm, but she had to make sure herself that Keefe got out. Oh dear, what on earth had happened to Lisa? Pounding on the suite's doors Cynthia exclaimed. "Mr. Keefe!"
The door opened slowly and Keefe's own of security's head popped out," Hello, what's going on?" Breathless she exclaimed," Something's happened; we got to get Keefe out of here."
Unlike Cynthia the man didn't ask questions," Code Red, get him out of here!"
Cynthia hurried in after, she wasn't sure what she could do but she felt better just running aimlessly around the suite.
Keefe's wife was calm given the circumstance," Sarah we got to hurry," She turned up the stairs," Charles,"
"I got him!" The reply as Keefe hurried down, his sleeping son in his arms.
The head of security motioned to the elevator; he didn't know where the threat was, only that they needed to leave," Get in the elevator, let's go!" As the others gathered in the employee evaluator one guard spotted the missile being fired directly at hotel suite. Running from the window he shouted, "Get in! Get in!"
Time slowed for Cynthia, she had no idea what was going to happen as she cowered in the shaft. A loud booming noise silenced all of her thoughts and after an eternity Keefe's security filled in all unscathed."All right get him out, let's move."
Cynthia remained behind and crept back into what remained of room 4080. It was a mess. She could literally see the sky in the big gape in the wall. Running a hand through her hair she was startled when the phone rang again.
&&&
"Lux Atlantic Resort, this is Cynthia."
"Cynthia, are you okay?" Lisa, who stood in the shadows of the parking lot held the phone up to her ear, the suspense had nearly killed her.
"Yeah," Cynthia's reply was shaky. Lisa nodded though Cynthia could not see her, Jackson could have been feet away but she didn't care.
"Is everyone else ok?"
"Yeah, yeah we're all okay. You better get here; I have no idea how to explain this."
Lisa gave a meek chuckle. The new flight ticket Jackson had given her had been to a flight that would be leaving about now. But it didn't matter, it didn't even matter that Jackson was somewhere in the area looking for her. She'd saved both her father and the Keefe's.
"OK, I'll try." Lisa said at last ending the call. About to dial 911 Lisa let out a petrified scream as she saw who stood in front of her.
"Hi," Lisa backed up a step. She'd run into the airports multi level parking area hoping Jackson could not find her. It was like the other parking lot, the other horrible day in her life.
Jackson gestured around them to emphasis this as he saw the idea cross Lisa's features.
"You see Lisa, I never lie." Not sure what he was talking about Lisa looked around the cool, shaded and mostly empty space. It was then Lisa realized he was talking about the call to cancel the hit man on her father's house. Was he hurt that she'd used him?
Lisa looked back to face him, "Ok so is this personal now?"
"Just finishing the job." He rasped a hand at his throat.
"In that hotel every single person is alive," His expression changed considerably from malice to shock twanged with doubt," what didn't you know? You failed Jack."
Leaping forward Jackson landed on top of Lisa who momentarily panicked. It was the parking lot all over again, except this time she was going to be killed. Her words back at the airport of never again mocked her as she suddenly went still. Never again, never again, never a- with temoudous effort and not a moment of doubt Lisa kicked Jackson in thigh and backed away. Her shoe had come off, the force of her kick sticking the heel in his thigh.
As Jackson began to pull out the object Lisa pulled off her shoe and threw it at him too. Hobbling away in the dirty concert Lisa hurried away trying not to get anything in her feet.
"Ahh!"
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't-"The security officer glanced at the dishevel Lisa and asked in a concerned voice, "is something wrong?"
"Yes, this man is trying to kill me. He's around here someone; I stabbed him with my shoe." She left out the pen.
He didn't have a reason to doubt her, whipping out his walkie-talkie he called in for back-up then, "did you stab this same individual with a pen?"
"Yes but,"
"Its okay, as long it was in self defense, but we were told to look for you-"
"I'm sorry I-"Lisa said, yet she couldn't help but feel relieved, everything was going to be all right.
The officer reached out a hand to reassure Lisa when suddenly he crumpled to the ground. Jackson Rippner had smashed a bottle over the man's head.
Lisa gasped and made to check and see if the man was okay. Jackson picked up what remained of the bottle.
"Where's your male driven fact based logic now Jack?" Jackson didn't reply as he stood there, his breathing raspy, "I don't think that's what got you here."
Lisa bent down to check the man's pulse then looked up at Jackson, "Did you hear me?"
Once again Jackson's hands suddenly found their way around Lisa's neck, unable to scream bloody murder Lisa used a hand to pick up Jackson's abandoned bottle and do her best to hit him with it.
As he let go of her Lisa looked around, where was the officer's back up?
Jackson reappeared behind Lisa. Grapping her arms Lisa fought tooth and nail to be released again. When he finally got a good grip on her Lisa snarled, "You're pathetic."
He gave a kind of shrug and threw her away from him next to the officer who was still unconscious.
Lisa moaned hitting the ground like that had knocked the breath from her very core. Having fallen on glass shards she was bleeding all over, furthermore she was afraid she'd twisted an ankle. She couldn't move. It was all over.
Jackson picked up the bottle again and began to move slowly towards Lisa.
Lisa glanced back at the officer, her gaze finally falling on his gun. Pulling it out she turned and faced Jackson with it. Aiming it directly at him he stopped, not ten feet away from her.
"Don't move!" Lisa said, she had no idea how to work a gun but she just needed him to hold still long enough for security to come.
Jackson put a hand up to his throat, "We'll talk again."
As he took a step forward Lisa pulled the trigger, only for nothing to happen. Tossing the gun aside Lisa tried to crawl away determined not to give up, Jackson stepped over her, began pulling her by the hair –
"Hey!" A shot rang out.
Lisa lowered herself back to the ground, her hands over her head. The sound of Jackson falling over startled her, but not as much as the sight of a security guard standing in front of her.
"You came." She said simply. The man offered her a hand several others officers tended to their comrade and to Jackson.
He was still alive. Staring down at the blue eyes the gazed up at her Lisa found it amazing he still had a will to live. Perhaps he was right; perhaps it was as fate would have it.
Lisa turned to see a flood of law officials and others already filling in," Do you need anything miss?" A police officer asked.
"Can I get a flight home?"
&
It took several days for her to finally go home, but when Lisa Reisert saw her father the first words out of her mouth were, "Dad, Are you ok?"
Laughing Joe Reisert drew his daughter into a hug, smoothing her curls he asked, "Am I ok are you ok? I mean why wouldn't I be ok?"
Lisa laughed softly, wondering perhaps if she had to tell him right away of the plot on his life, "I just…are you sure you're ok?"
"Leese, I'm fine. We're fine."
&&
"—all in all I think we had a good night. All things considered."
Lisa beamed and folded her arms. It was good to be back at the Lux Atlantic, she'd missed it more then she'd ever known
"Cynthia you did so well. "
Cynthia returned Lisa's smile then quickly said, "Leese, about Mr. Keefe, you have no idea how grateful he was to you."
"I know I talked to him in person this morning." Lisa as the two looked around the lobby. Construction was already started on the hotel, so Lisa and Cynthia were shocked to see two guests came to. It was none other then Bob and Marianne Taylor.
"Lisa!"
"You back."
"Yes sir," Lisa straightened her tone professional.
"Well this was the worse experience we ever had. First the reservations were cancelled. Then the ceiling exploded. I got chunks of plaster all over me. I could get asthma."
Lisa glanced back at Cynthia; the Keefe incident had been several days ago. If the Taylor's hated it so much why had they stayed? To complain to Lisa?
Nodding in sympathy, for nothing could ever be worse then what the Taylor's had experienced she asked," I'm sorry, what can I do to help?"
"Start by cleaning house, get rid of her, she's completely incompetent." Marianne said glaring at the suddenly bashful Cynthia.
"And cheeky too," Bob added.
Lisa nodded again," I see. Well you can first fill out a comment card."
"A comment card," Marianne asked blankly.
Bob was revolted;" You want us to fill out a comment card?"
"Yes I do. And after that you can just shove it up your ass."
Their reaction was priceless. Seeing the Taylor's faces Lisa led Cynthia away as two fought the urge to laugh.
"That was brilliant."
"Thanks." Lisa said grinning from ear to ear.
"Want to open up the bar?" Cynthia asked grabbing Lisa's arm.
Leading the way Lisa replied," Anything but a bay breeze,"