Never…
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye or Batman Begins!
Chapter Fifteen
In Miami, a weary Joe Reisert answered his ringing telephone. He had long since given up hope of ever hearing from Lisa again and for all things considered, she could be dead at this very moment.
"Hello?"
"Joe, where is she? Where is Lisa!" demanded a very familiar voice.
"What?"
"Goddamn it! Don't play games with me!"
"I'm not. Who is this?"
"I know that she's not in Miami. I've already been to the house. Now, where is she?"
"Who is this?" Joe asked cautiously. Even if he happened to know the whereabouts of his daughter, he was not about to tell an irate stranger.
"I can tell you who it's not. I'm not Jonathan Crane."
"Then who are you?"
"Joe," the man was insistent. "Tell me where she is. All I want is to get Lisa and Amy back. I want my family and I happen to know you have some idea of where they are."
" Jackson?" Joe was shocked. I have to be hearing things. Jackson Rippner is dead… I saw him in the casket. Jim and I exhumed it sixteen years ago.
"The one and only. Now, tell me, where is my wife? Where is Lisa?"
The phone call had been a week earlier. Ever since then, he had been trying to trace his brother's movements and find his family.
Jackson Rippner had spent the past sixteen years working for the CIA. After his so-called death, as arranged by his demented twin, changing sides had been the only way for him to protect Lisa and their child from his former employers. If only it had protected them from Jonathan as well…
Amy. Lisa had bestowed the false name that he had created those many years ago in the hospital upon their only child. Amy Alison Rippner was the spitting image of him, with Lisa's fiery temper and innate beauty thrown into the mix. Yet her life, as well as Lisa's, was in danger. His twin brother had taken advantage of his absence to steal his family from him for the sole purpose of tormenting them for his own sadistic pleasure.
Jackson had to end Jonathan's reign of terror once and for all. He was the only one who could prevent his brother from destroying the only family he had.
He had been the one to entrust Lisa to his care and his faith in his brother nearly cost him his life. Now, it seemed that his brother had finally gone insane and was taking all of his rage out on his defenseless family.
That was of no consequence to Jackson because Jonathan would get what he deserved as soon as Jackson located Lisa and Amy. When he found out that Amy was still with Bruce Wayne, he felt some measure of reassurance. Hopefully, the rich playboy would keep his daughter safe from Crane.
Leese, where are you? Why are you hiding from me?
Jackson longing for his wife had increased over all the years as he was forced to break contact with them. It had never been easy for him to leave Lisa, and now it was only getting more difficult.
What have the years done to you? What has he done to you? Do you have more scars because of him? Do you even remember me?
The toxin that Crane had given him was supposed to erase his memory of his family. His contacts in the CIA had finally told him about his family when the effects began to wear off. His associates within the agency had kept watch on his small family for years. He was forbidden to come near them or even see photographs of them for the last sixteen years. But the downfall of his former employers had brought Jackson Rippner back from the grave.
He shed his persona of CIA agent Jeremy Rose (he could not bring himself to change his initials, because that would mean losing his wallet and the old photographs of Lisa) immediately. He was once again Jackson Rippner for the first time in sixteen years.
And his first order of business was to kill his brother.
" Jackson?" Lisa called out quietly. "Where are you?"
A fight between two men had broken out. One of them had black hair and was lanky. The other was Jackson and there was a dead body on the floor. It was someone from Jonathan's work and she was covered in blood.
" Jackson! Jonathan! Please!" she was begging.
A cloud of gas descended upon her. Lisa fell to the ground gasping and choking.
"I told you to leave her alone!" Jackson was yelling. "No one touches her!"
Jonathan's sinister smile appeared from the cloud. Lisa screamed because he was drenched in blood and so was Jackson
"No!" Lisa screamed as she snapped back to reality. It was only a dream, only a dream. It wasn't real. Jonathan and Jackson were never even in the same room together, let alone our house that terrible morning.
The front door swung open and in Rachel Dawes stalked into the room. She had never seen the attorney so enraged before.
"Get out," Rachel hissed. "Go see your precious husband. I hope you're very happy together once he kills your daughter!"
Lisa was startled. What is she talking about?
"They are releasing Jonathan on bail. You might want to hurry there with the money, Mrs. Crane. Wouldn't want Jonathan to be angry at you, now would we?" Rachel continued on, sarcasm grating throughout her voice.
"How did the hearing go?" Lisa managed to choked out.
"Peachy. Just peachy. Guess who hurt your daughter and drove her insane? "
"Peachy," Jackson told her in the confines of the airplane bathroom.
Lisa shook her head. Not now!
"Jonathan?" Lisa ventured. Surely he had not…
"Bingo! Now get out!"
Lisa did not get a chance to say another word before Rachel had shoved her out and slammed the solid oak door in her face. Something Jonathan had done had upset the usually even-tempered woman. But what?
All she knew was that an angry Jonathan was sitting in a jail cell, awaiting her arrival with the money to free him.
Now's not the time to worry about that. I just need to get Jonathan out before he hurts me again… Again?
Author's Notes:
That's right, Jackson's still alive. The truth behind his so-called death will be revealed in time. Poor Lisa is confused about the details thanks to Jonathan. We'll find out soon. And Amy will be back in the next chapter, I promise. Enjoy and major thanks to emptyvoices!
