Chapter 19

Jackson knocked on the door and it opened, a smiling Cherry stepping aside for them to pass. "Hi there. How is your back, Lisa?"

The absurdity of the situation ignited Lisa's polite reflexes, courtesy of years in the hotel business. "It's okay, thanks." She wondered how things would have gone if her and Jackson hadn't been able to agree on the deal. Would Cherry still be smiling? Or would she have calmly watched on while Jackson did whatever he would have done? Helped him, even?

Cherry led the way upstairs, followed by Lisa and then Jackson. It couldn't be anything but another safehouse as it was practically bare with only a few pieces of strictly practical furniture and not a hint of personality.

In a row they walked through a fairly long corridor, passing the entrance on the way and Lisa couldn't help but turn her head, an escape scenario burning through her thoughts like wildfire. Immediately, she felt a pang of guilt - like a cheater being caught - and she inhaled deeply before staring straight ahead.

"Good girl." The sing-song in his words held no small amount of mockery. "If you keep this up, we might actually have something."

It took a lot of willpower, but Lisa managed to swallow down her reply.

"Fantastic! If only you could have been like that on the plane, we wouldn't be here."

Lisa stopped dead in her tracks and faced him with a withering glare.

Jackson actually had the nerve to pout. "Oh no, don't give me hope and then take it away from me, that's just plain cruel."

It came out a hiss. "Tell me, do you want me to get angry? Because if that's what it takes, Jack, just say the words and I'll accommodate you accordingly."

"Careful, Leese, or I'll push you. Maybe even yank you … my personal favorite."

Lisa squared her shoulders. "Just you try."

"Should I organize some boxing gloves or can we proceed with business?" Cherry was obviously going for indifferent, but couldn't quite hide the snicker in her voice.

Jackson gave Lisa one last insolent grin before he shrugged it off and motioned for her to continue walking. Together they entered a living room that was crammed with boxes, electronic equipment, clothes and … Lisa's small suitcase. Everything was there! Even the TC shirt in all its neon glory, a bit worse for wear, but still - Lisa was ecstatic.

"If you need a bathroom - second one on the left." Cherry pointed towards the hall.

Lisa felt like a bird that had been trapped for too long and was now looking at the open cage door with cautious confusion. Was she really free to move around?

"Whatever you need to do in there, I suggest you get it done quickly, because we'll be leaving in about fifteen minutes," Jackson said with his back to her, rifling through one of the boxes. He must have heard her take a breath to ask a question, as he raised his voice. "Fourteen."

Lisa grabbed some clothes and her vanity bag and set a new personal record. In eleven minutes, she was showered and dressed and got back just in time to see Jackson pack several guns and knives into a black bag. She froze.

"Lisa?" Cherry beckoned her to come over. "Are you ready? Do you have everything you need?"

Lisa nodded weakly in reply, still shaken by the realization that had hit her full force in the doorway. "It's going to be Jackson and me on our own - you're not coming with us, are you?"

"Of course not, don't be silly. This is your job, I'm only the supplier." The other woman gave her a quick smile and touched her arm. "You'll do okay."

She held out a small purse and Lisa went through its contents. A set of keys, a driver's license, a passport, a wallet with some cash and a credit card … all in the name of Sarah Maria Lake and all with her picture on them.

"Good luck, Sarah." Cherry grabbed a suitcase and gestured for Lisa to take hers. "Let's get this show on the road."

Together the two walked down another corridor into the garage. A black Lincoln Sedan with tainted windows stood there, dimly lit by a fading light bulb.

"Just put the suitcase down, Jackson alone knows where everything is supposed to go." Cherry opened the passenger door.

Slowly, Lisa stepped around the car to her seat. This is it. She was just about to speak when Cherry cut her off with a grin.

"Don't say 'Thanks for everything.' unless you honestly mean it."

Lisa smiled sadly and got in without a word. The thud of the door gave her a jolt and for a moment, she struggled for breath, heart beating like a drum. Through the rearview mirror she saw Jackson enter the garage and take a cell phone from Cherry. Her vision was blocked when he opened the trunk to put the bags inside and she felt a shiver creep up her spine. This is really it.

Once he was done, the two business partners exchanged a few last sentences which Lisa couldn't understand. They hugged briefly, but friendly, and Jackson was smiling in a way that reminded Lisa of the TexMex. Cherry then waved at her before she turned around and left.

Jackson got comfortable on the driver's seat, toying with the keys. "Here we are … at the beginning of a new adventure."

The garage door opened and Lisa put on her sunglasses. "I can hardly wait."

They drove into the sunshine. It was like any other street she had ever known - kids playing, grown-ups talking on the sidewalk, a gas station with a small, dingy 7/11 on the corner … all so familiar, yet Lisa had never felt more removed from this world as she did now in the Lincoln, with Jackson steering her towards an unknown destination.

Jackson turned on the radio. "Did you say thanks to Cherry?"

"No."

"You should have, she risked an awful lot for me … for us, actually." He flipped through the stations until he had found the news channel. "Whitley has already contacted her and she's scheduled to go in today."

"What's gonna happen to her?"

Jackson seemed unfazed. "Not much, I suppose. She has two advantages: one, she's good and two, she doesn't exactly look like a weapons dealer."

"What if they find out she's involved?" All things put aside, Cherry had been kind to her and Lisa wouldn't forget it.

He paused for a second. "She'll be in deep shit."

"You sound concerned."

With his eyes on the road, Jackson pursed his lips. "Maybe."

"You looked like friends saying good bye." Lisa was determined not to let it go.

"Leese, it's impossible to survive on your own in my line of work. Everybody I know who bought that lone wolf crap from the movies is now either dead or as good as." They had stopped at a red light and he shifted his gaze to her. "Fact is, you need reliable backup, someone who always has your back, who you can trust."

"And for you, that's Cherry." It wasn't a question.

"Yes. Don't get overexcited, though, we're both pros." The memory painted a slight smirk onto his lips. "You could never pressure me by threatening her like I could pressure you with, say, Cynthia or Jay."

"I know."

He frowned impatiently. "What's that tone?"

"Pity."

Lisa leaned her head against the window and completely ignored whatever biting remark he spat at her. The outside world went by in a rush, but for Lisa, time had stopped.