Hotel Business

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!

Chapter Three

Jackson tried his best to sleep on the plane. He knew that he had a very full day of work the following day and he would need to be awake for it. But due to the turbulence on the flight, sleep was impossible to come by.

The seatbelt sign finally flashed off and Jackson turned to glance over at Lisa. She seemed extremely upset and he could see the tear stains upon her cheeks. Something was wrong with her.

"Are you okay?" Jackson asked, leaving his seat to stand over Lisa's seatmate. He was concerned about her.

"I'm fine," she croaked, but something in her misty green eyes indicated otherwise. They had lost their spark and the vibrant woman that he had met now seemed dead.

"If you say so."

"Who are you?" barked her seatmate, glaring up at Jackson. His annoyance was apparent and Jackson decided that he did not like this guy one bit. And not just because he was sitting next to Lisa…

"Just a concerned friend, right Lisa?"

Lisa nodded her curly head in response. Her seatmate glared at her and then up at Jackson again. "I would appreciate it if you'd leave my wife alone," her seatmate said coolly.

Her green eyes went wide and her pretty mouth fell open in shock. It was rather obvious that this man was lying, but why? What could he possibly have to gain from moving Lisa to tears?

"Sorry," Jackson apologized and shuffled off back to his seat. I don't trust this guy as far as I could throw him.

But not before he caught one last desperate look from Lisa. Help me! It screamed.

Jackson swallowed hard. Lisa needed his help. There had to be something that he could do to help her out. She did not deserve to be hurt. This stranger was hurting her and he was the only one who could stop it. He had to stop it. But how?

"Smart move," commented her captor with a sly smile. "Thought that you'd pull one over on me, huh?"

"No, nothing like that!" she protested, shaking her head vehemently.

"I don't believe you," he snarled, grabbing her throat. Lisa gasped and clawed at his hand. "Now you will behave or he'll die too."

"I'll behave," she whispered softly. "Just don't hurt him."

He squeezed her throat tightly for another moment than released her. Lisa choked quietly in her seat, turning towards the window. He grabbed her by the hair and hissed in her ear, "Good choice. Now, just keep doing the right thing and you'll live through the night and so will your father."

"What do you want?"

"Make the call, Lisa. That's all I'm asking. You make the call and you both survive."

"Why me?" She wanted to know why she had picked for this lousy job. What did I do to deserve this? Wasn't two years ago enough torture for me?

"You're the only one who can do the job properly. Now make the damn phone call."

"I can't."

"Why the fuck not?" His dark eyes flashed dangerously, making her skin crawl.

"The phone," she motioned to the air phone that he was trying to shove in her hands. "It's dead."

He slammed the phone back. "Well, your death won't hurt—much," he smirked at her, hands reaching for her.

"Please," she begged pitifully. "Just give me more time. I'll make the phone once the phones work."

Her captor chewed on this thought. "And you promise to stop playing games?"

"Yes."

"We have a deal then."

Jackson risked a peek at Lisa. She was arguing with her seatmate and seemed more distressed than before. What did he do now?

Lisa was suddenly up and out of her seat, her seatmate allowing her to pass. She held her head low and was hurrying down to the bathroom. He watched her struggle with the door and slipped out of his seat when her creepy seatmate was not paying attention. Jackson slid up beside her.

"Lisa, are you okay?" he whispered quietly, just as the bathroom door opened.

In response, Lisa yanked him into the bathroom and slammed the door shut, the 'Occupied' sign flashing outside.

"I'm just peachy," she snapped.

"Lisa," Jackson said softly, reaching out to comfort her. "Who is that out there? What has he done to you?"

She was close to tears once more. "Please, don't make a scene if I tell you," she pleaded.

"What did he do to you?"

"He's gonna kill me, Jackson. If I don't do what he asks, he'll kill me and my dad."

Concern flooded his face and his eyes narrowed. I'll kill that bastard. "What does he want from you?"

"I need to make a phone call, so that he can kill someone!" sobbed Lisa.

Jackson wrapped his arms around the distraught woman. Her tears soaked his jacket and shirt, but he did not care. All he cared about was Lisa and her safety. He wanted to protect her.

I've never met her before, yet I'm willing to throw my life away to save her. Odd…

"I'll help you, okay? What do you want me to do?" he offered, his lips pressed against her ear.

Wet green eyes met icy blue. "Help me get away from him. I have to play along a bit, but I need to undo it. I need your help to warn them."

"Just tell me what to do."

Twenty some minutes later, a seemingly broken Lisa Reisert returned to her seat, where her impatient captor was waiting for her.

"What took you so goddamn long?" he hissed at her.

"I wasn't feeling good," she lied. She had been feeling fine once she was able to confide in Jackson and formulate a plan. Plus, kissing him had not hurt either…

He raised a hand to strike her and she cowered. "Are you lying?"

"No."

"Good. Now make the call."

Lisa's shaking hands took the air phone from his hand and slowly dialed the Lux Atlantic.

Author's Notes:

I'm leaving the exact details of the bathroom encounter to everyone's imagination. Yes, they did come up with a plan, but it's our two favorite people in a confined space… So, yeah. Enjoy!