"I've got it."
"The wallet?"
"Yeah. JR, right?"
"Yup. We played our cards right on this one, let me tell you." Jackson leaned to peer into Lisa's house. The lights were dimmed ever so slightly as she vacuumed through the house. Jackson frowned. Talk about proactive hangovers...
"So you're throwing it sometime this week, right?"
"Yeah. Just waiting for the right time."
"You'd better hurry. Boss is getting pissed."
Jackson's jaw clenched. He knew that much all too well from his phone call that morning.

"I need more time."
"Excuse me?"
"I think..." Jackson gnawed the end of his pen and glanced at the house. "I think there's more to her than I originally thought."
"Such as?"
Jackson paused hesitantly. He suer as hell couldn't tell his boss of his evening spent with little Miss America but how else...
"She's got some secrets. I think its crucial to this job that we know absolutely everything."
"Or is it that you're getting attached?"
Jackson's stomach twisted horribly. "No."
"Remember, Jackson..."
"I know. I don't get attached."
"That, and if you freak up one more job you're gone."
"Excuse me?" He was sick of employment termination threats.
"The murder of that girl's sister nearly got us found out. Because guess who's fingerprints were found in the house?" Oh shiite. Jackson cringed but didn't answer.
"Guess, Rippner."
"Mine."
"Right you are. So guess what that means, if you screw up again?"
"Um..." Jackson confusedly ruffled his hair. "I have no idea. No more medical coverage?"
"No, Jack. No coverage at all. As in...you go."
"I don't understand...I get fired?"
"Think of it as getting fired, yeah. But this time its not your job you'll lose. It's your life."
Jackson froze, his mouth going completely dry. Finally he cleared his raspy throat and spoke.
"Oh. Well..."
"Just hurry up." Click.

"I'm not going to screw up. Have you seen her picture?"
A sigh. "Yes, Jack, I-"
"So you've seen how small she is then? And I've watched her. She's a pushover, a people pleaser, a lightweight. So just...lay off me, okay?"
"Fine." Another click.
Jackson sighed and leaned back in his seat as Lisa began dusting. Suddenly, her phone rang and the tracker in his car picked it up. He sat back up, abruptly hitting his head on the roof of the car."Hello?"
"Leese, its Dad."
"Hey, Dad," Jackson could almost feel her frown. "What's wrong?"
"It's Henrietta."
"Grandma? What happened?"
"She died, Leese. Last night."
"Oh my god..."
"Your mom just called. She was trying to get through to you but you were online, or something..."
"Yeah, I was faxing some stuff to the hotel earlier. So when is the funeral?"
"This weekend. Are you going to go?"
"Yeah, I'd better. Mom will need me. I'll get on the first flight I can to Dallas. Oh, but crap...the Keefes are coming this weekend. Well, I'll just fly back right after the funeral."
"Okay, honey."
"Are you going?"
A pause. Jackson knew what that meant. Tensions were still high between Lisa's parents. "No, sweetie, I don't think so. Give your mom my best, though."
"I'll do that."
Jackson smiled smugly. This was just the kind of coincidence he needed.