Hotel Business
Disclaimer:I don't own anything related to Red Eye!
Chapter Four
Jackson tried to keep focused on staring straight ahead, and not at Lisa. It was a nearly impossible task, but he had to keep trying for Lisa's sake. She was what was important to him at the moment.
The air phone was clutched tightly in her hand and she was making the blasted phone call. Okay, breathe, Rippner, breathe. Remember the plan. No one is really going to die.
Lisa was in tears after she hung up the phone. Jackson wanted nothing more than to jump up and rush to her side, knocking out the stranger along the way. In a perfect world, she would have been sitting next to me and safe from that creepy bastard.
Given the chance, Jackson would kill this stranger. If Lisa did not kill him first…
The plane was preparing for landing. Any moment now, I'll be free of this man.
Lisa fingered the pen held tightly in her palm. Jackson had handed it to her in the bathroom. "Don't be afraid to use it," he had whispered in her ear.
"Well, that wasn't so bad, now was it?" her captor said cheerfully, grinning at her.
Lisa felt sick to her stomach. This stranger was a disgusting creep and he knew exactly what to say to make her skin crawl. He repulsed her and he took advantage of it.
His hot breath, like a burning fire, caressed her neck and she jumped. He laughed quietly, enjoying her reaction. Jackson, please…
The seatbelt sign flashed and she struck, sticking the pen in her tormentor's throat. Jackson had shown her how to stab him in the bathroom. Her captor choked and struggled as she clamored over him in an effort to reach the aisle. Jackson caught her and pushed her ahead of him and into the thickening crowd.
His touch was reassuring. She was safe with him. He would protect her from her crazed seatmate.
"Excuse us!" Jackson called out, shoving Lisa through the ruckus.
Cries of alarm echoed behind them and Jackson quickened their pace. Time was running out for their escape.
"We need a doctor!" a shrill voice called out.
She stumbled and Jackson quickly steadied her. "Come on, Leese, we can do this."
Lisa nodded and they reached the plane door. It opened finally and they darted out, hands linking them together as they ran. Jackson pulled his cell phone out with his free hand and passed it off to Lisa, who rapidly punched in numbers to no avail.
"I can't get any service!" she moaned.
"Don't worry. We're almost there," Jackson reassured her.
Lisa and Jackson raced out into the bright Florida sunshine, squinting at the light. She redialed as he searched for the company car. All he had was a description to go on.
"Cynthia!" she cried in relief as the redhead answered the desk phone. "You have to get Keefe out. He's in danger. Someone is trying to kill him!"
"Get in," Jackson announced as they reached his silver company car. Lisa let out an involuntary shudder. "My guy is in his silver Beemer parked outside 9321 Blossom Palms Lane…" her captor was telling her.
Swallowing hard, Lisa slipped into the driver's seat. "I think I'd better drive," she said and Jackson tossed her the keys from the glove compartment.
She started the silver Lexus up and was soon squealing away from Miami International Airport, determined to reach her father. Cynthia could handle the Keefe situation.
Who gave you a license?
Lisa was speeding around corners and driving recklessly. It was all Jackson could do to hang on, even with his seatbelt on. She was a maniac at the wheel.
Wouldn't you do the same in her place?
"Oh God," she gasped, yanking the steering wheel harshly and pressing the gas not long after they had turned into a neighborhood.
The whizzing of gunshots filled the air as a man in a suit opened fire at them. Lisa shrieked and Jackson reached out to steady the wheel. A crash now would mean certain death for them both.
The hit man grunted as he made contact with the car. The car in turn crunched as it slammed into the front of the house. All momentum ended and Lisa and Jackson both jerked against their seatbelts on the impact.
After a long moment passed, Jackson unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to Lisa. "Are you okay? Lisa? Lisa?"
She moaned and stared at him; a dazed expression upon her face. "What happened?"
"I think we hit something."
"Like a cement truck?" Lisa offered, laughing weakly.
"Actually, I think it was a house."
"A house? My dad…" Lisa unbuckled her seatbelt quickly.
"Slow down, Leese. Let me come around and help you," Jackson said, jumping out of the car and hurrying over to open her door. Lisa fell on him, resting her weight on him as she tried to get her bearings. He could tell that she was exhausted from her ordeal.
"Dad?" Lisa yelled as her and Jackson entered the remains of the front hall, carefully stepping around the dead hit man.
Please be okay, please be okay… I'll never forgive myself if you're dead…
Her father had to still be alive. What were the chances of the hit man already having killed him? Her captor no longer had a voice thanks to Jackson's suggestion of penning him. It had been cruel, but necessary for their escape.
He was going to kill you. There's was nothing else you could do.
Escape had been the only option. Jackson had to get her off the plane so that she could undo the phone call and find her father. Stabbing him had been her only choice to get her delivered straight to Jackson. It was the only way out.
He would come for her though, and she knew it. She had enraged him and he would want revenge. He knew that she would go straight to her father. She had walked into a trap and would pay dearly for loving her father.
But what else could I have done? This was my only choice. My only chance at survival.
Author's Notes:
Only one more chapter to go! I'm going away so my friend will be posting the final chapter for me on Tuesday. Enjoy!