"Lorelai, calm down," Lisa pleaded as soon as she arrived at her house half an hour later. Lorelai was sobbing as several officers, Luke, Sookie, and Dean attempted to console her. She'd called Dean before Lisa had arrived, desperate for answers. Despite the recent breakup he'd been out of his mind with worry.
"I called Paris, she's not at the dorm, I called Emily and still no," she choked out. "She was here before I left, she's not anywhere in Stars Hollow..."
"She'll be fine, Lorelai," Sookie tried to assure her weakly, but Lisa could tell that she herself had her doubts.
As her cell phone rang, she guiltily backed into the corner of the room.
"Jackson, you bastard."
"Hiya, Leese," he piped cheerfully.
"What have you done with her?"
"Who?" he replied sweetly.
"You know who."
"Well, see, the thing is, I didn't do anything, just provided a bit of encouragement. Jess, on the other hand..."
"Who?"
"You'll see."
"Let her go. Is this about me?"
"Not really. Just makes the thing that is about you a hell of a lot easier."
Lisa's stomach fell.
"So, do you like this kid? Care about her welfare? Proud of her accomplishments?"
"Yes," Lisa fought tears as Max showed up.
"Then be at 42 Sunrose Lane in ten minutes. Alone."
Lisa choked. "Fine." Click.
Lisa turned to the crowd surrounding Lorelai.
"Who's Jess?" she asked loudly. All heads swivelled to her.
"What?" Lorelai croaked as a policeman ran over.
"Look, Lorelai," he panted, holding up a strip of fabric.
"That's from Rory's pajama bottoms," Lorelai realized.
"We found it outside."
"What about Jess? Lisa, what..." Lorelai pressed.
"Jackson Rippner just called me," she explained. "He has Rory, with someone named Jess..."
"Luke!" Lorelai screamed, lunging at him. "What the fuck has your nephew done?" Sookie grabbed her arm to restrain her.
"I don't know!" he cried frantically. Then he turned to Lisa. "What did he want?"
"I have to go meet him," Lisa replied shakily. "Now. Alone."
"You're not going alone," several voices protested, Luke's and Max's being the loudest.
"If I don't, they'll hurt her," Lisa sighed. A policeman strolled over, handing her a tiny device.
"You'll go alone," he explained, clipping it to the waistband of her skirt. "But we'll be listening should anything happen."
With that, Lisa stepped out into the forboding darkness.
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"Why are you doing this, Jess?" Rory's tears slid down her cheeks as Jackson tightly tied her wrists. Jess didn't answer.
"Aw, now, in due time, my dear," Jackson whispered in her ear. She shrank away from him.
"And you," she pressed. "Why are you here? Why are you doing this to me?"
Jackson tightly grabbed her chin and forced their eyes to make contact. "For me, Rory, it's all about business. This is my company's business. Jess is my company's business. You are his leverage. But guess what? You also help me contend with a little personal business."
Rory blinked. "I don't get it."
"You're a bright girl. It has to do with your mother's friend."
"Sookie?"
Jackson slapped her in frustration. She gasped, and Jess angrily ran to Jackson's side. Jackson put a strong hand on his shoulder.
"No, not Sookie. Lisa. Lisa Reisert. You see, we have a little personal matter that needs clearing up."
"So when she gets here...you'll...you'll let me go?"
"No. When and if you get let go, it will be Jess's call." Rory looked desperately to Jess. He shook his head.
"I still want you, Rory."
"And you had to kidnap me to tell me that?"
He nodded sadly. "Unfortunately so."
At the knock on the door, everyone fell silent. Rory's heart rose in anticipation as Jackson flipped his hair and strode over, radiating everything cocky.
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As soon as Lisa knocked, the door was flung open. Jackson roughly grabbed her arm and dragged her inside the building.
"Let go of me, you little fucker," she screamed at him. He slammed her against the wall.
"Good to see you too, sweetheart," he greeted her. Her face was livid as she scanned the room, her eyes finally falling on Rory. Her wrists were tied behind a chair on the opposite end of the small apartment room.
A small machine beeped, and Jackson's face grew annoyed.
"Jess," he beckoned the boy over. He was cute, Lisa thought. Cute, but with the same cold, calculating face as Jackson.
"What is it, boss?" Lisa cringed at the terminology. What idiot would ever fall under Jackson's thumb?
"Sedate her," he gestured to Rory. Rory shook her head wildly.
"No," Jess refused. Jackson glared at him.
"Do it," he ordered, his eyes zeroing in on Jess's. Jess sighed, and held out a hand for the drugs which Jackson handed him. "We need her unconscious for the ride."
Jess nodded and begrudgingly inserted the syringe into Rory's arm. She screamed once, and then fell silent.
"Get her out to the car." Jess nodded again like a good dog and lifted Rory into his strong thin arms.
Once he was out of the room Jackson whipped out his Ka-Bar. Lisa fought against him, biting at the arms that gripped hers against the wall.
"No fighting now," he ordered, his free hand grazing her body. She restrained her tears as Jackson's hand stopped on her waist. He lifted the end of her shirt up and plucked the recording device from her waistband. She moaned in despair.
"Nice thinking," he nodded as he dropped it to the floor and crushed it under his foot. "But not nice enough."
