One More

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

Chapter Three: Hunt

"Lisa? Lisa!" Jackson called loudly, cupping his hands around his mouth as he entered their apartment.

Night had fallen and he had been searching for hours on foot. He had gone to all of her favorite hangouts before even attempting to look for her at their place. He knew that it was possible that she had gone elsewhere to cool down before heading home, which was why he had delayed his own return and the continuation of his search. But the appearance of his car out front had confirmed that she had come home at some point.

"Lisa, where are you?"

His crystalline eyes swept the darkened apartment as he tracked towards the bedroom.

Why aren't you answering me? Are you ignoring me?

He flipped on the light and paused. The usually spotless and organized bedroom was in shambles. Clothes were strewn all around the room. A bedside lamp was broken and covered in wet, half-dried blood. The normally neatly made bed was rumpled and the pillows in a disorganized disarray. The room looked as if a fight had taken place.

"Lisa?"

The bedroom told him the story of an attack. He could see gruesome images playing in his mind. Lisa had fought back—she was always a fighter.

"What have I done?" he whispered; sinking down to his knees to caress a clump of ripped-out reddish hair on the floor.

Her assailant pressed her into the bed while she kicked and struggled; rumpling the covers. When he moved to assault her, she slid up from underneath him and snatched the lamp. She swung her make-shift weapon at his head.

Lisa then jumped up and ran for the door. He caught up to her and grabbed her by her shoulder-length curls. She screamed as a clump of hair is torn free. He covered her mouth with a hand; then muffled it with a scarf from her half-packed suitcase. He tossed her into the wall, where she cracked her head and passed out.

He went to work binding her ankles and wrists with stolen ties. He tossed clothes around to mess up the room. He closed the suitcases and tossed them, along with the unconscious body of Lisa, into her car.

There had been many times in the past where Jackson had arranged or participated in kidnappings like this. Kidnappings that more often than not led to a messy, pre-meditated murder. He probably knew more than a crime scene investigator about how to interpret a crime. His job had required it. He had even taken courses at a community college on crime as well as watched the CSI TV shows to keep up-to-date. It was more entertaining than the reality-based Forensic Files, which talked down to people of his intelligence.

Sometimes, people forgot that it was never smart to mess with Jackson Rippner. Years of training guided him as well as a strong gut instinct. He had been the best in the business and at the top of his game before the Keefe job. No one had beaten him or outsmarted him. No one ever could.

Now, some managerial reject was testing him; teasing him. Someone thought they could get away with stealing her.

"Who took you, Lisa? Who dared to hurt you?" he asked the silent space.

They won't get away. I promise that. I will get you back. No one hurts you and escapes my wrath.

His cell phone rang. A quick glance at the view screen before he flipped it open confirmed that it was Lisa's cell phone calling. His heart skipped a beat as he answered the call.

Please tell me that you've escaped, sweetheart…

"Hello?"

"Jackson! Jackson!" Lisa's frantic voice reached him through the phone and shocked him. She was upset.

"Leese, are you okay? Where are you? Who—?"

"Hello, Rippner. Missing something?" a male voice responded and a whimper reached his ear from Lisa.

You hurt her! How dare you! No one touches her!

"You bastard! Let her go! If you have a problem with me, then deal with me. Don't take it out on her."

"No can do. Remember, you still owe me for the Hart job. I think she's pretty good payment. Tell me, how is she in bed?"

Jackson's anger boiled. No speaks about her that way!

"If you touch her, I swear—"

"You are in no position to make threats. Now, listen closely if you ever want to speak to her again."

"Just tell me what you want," snapped Jackson, disgusted at this man's audacity. When he had last known David Greer, he had been a sniveling little coward.

"I need you to make a little phone call. I know that she messed that up, but I know you won't. You care too much. That's why you are gonna do exactly as I say."

"The call!"

He's getting sidetracked already by the lure of his so-called power over me. Idiot…

"I want you to try and find me. Put your legendary skills to use for once, Rippner. Find me and I'll tell you what I want. You have an unpaid debt. I'm collecting on it now…"

"So what are we playing? Some sick, twisted version of 'catch me if you can'?"

"Only if you want the girl back. She can pay your debt for you."

"No," Jackson said firmly. He would get Lisa back.

"It's settled then. Catch me if you can!" dared David Greer.

The phone disconnected. Jackson stared at it in his palm for a few seconds before he chucked it at the wall. The cell phone shattered upon impact, raining pieces of plastic and circuitry around the already destroyed bedroom.

David, David, you think you can outsmart me? Boy, are you in for a surprise…

"No one," he hissed through his clenched teeth. "No one touches her. No one hurts her."

He had made his promises. Now, he had to keep them. There was no backing down now; no turning back. Lisa's life was at stake.

Watch your back, or you might just find my knife in it.

Author's Notes:

Jackson has never fully shed his darker side, as evidence in this chapter. He's still very much an unstoppable assassination manager with a temper problem. The next chapter will either be short or a split between Jackson and Lisa's POV. Chapter Five promises to be semi-long. Enjoy and thanks for reading/reviewing!