Chapter 24

Lisa told him, the horror of her descent into the past lacing every word to leave her mouth. She felt so ashamed of how vulnerable she was to the two men standing in front of her that it made her narrative tumble with embarrassment and hurt.

"Interesting, Ms. Reisert, and quite unusual. Congratulations." Forbish cocked a brow. "Not many marks live to tell the tale, never mind win out." His gaze shifted to Jackson. "I expect you have learned your lesson."

Jackson just pointed at Lisa, a dismissive shrug rolling off his shoulders.

Forbes clicked his tongue. "Now if you will excuse us, Ms. Reisert and I are going to have a little chat in private."

"Fine by me." He shut the door behind him.

Forbes silently looked at her for a full minute and Lisa struggled up, growing anxious. She knew he was assessing her and she was deathly afraid of what he might find.

"How do you feel about Mr. Rippner?"

"What?"

"How do you feel about Mr. Rippner, Ms. Reisert?"

What the hell kind of question was that, Lisa wondered, trying to keep a straight face. Jackson had called Colin Forbish an almost preternaturally gifted judge of character and unfortunately, he hadn't exaggerated.

Forbish backhanded her and she crashed into the wall from the impact. Suppressing a sob, Lisa wobbled back and coughed. He waited until her eyes met his again and slapped her once more, harder even. Lisa slid to the floor.

"Ms. Reisert, do not judge my questions." His expression had remained the same indifferent mask throughout. "For the last time: what do you think of him?"

"I'm scared of him."

"Elaborate."

She hung her head in defeat. "He wrecked me … twice." The wounds she had inflicted on herself in her dark prison were still raw and she tapped into them with loathing. Then you bury your dad in a closed casket. "He threatens me and my family." Someone do that to you? "He violates me." Are you sure we have a deal this time? "And I'm scared every single minute in his presence." She couldn't go on.

Forbish tucked at the sleeves of his navy suit. "What could Mr. Rippner offer you that would enable you to forgive him?"

Lisa massaged her temples, fully expecting him to lash out at her for the delay. This wasn't at all how this talk was supposed to go! "I … I don't know. Nothing."

"Think, Ms. Reisert, and think quickly."

His contemptuous tone made something inside her twitch with anger and she forced herself back to her feet. "I have already answered your question."

"Nothing? Not money, not a painful suicide, not a life spent in repentance doing good deeds for others … absolutely nothing?"

Lisa allowed another wave of memories to roll over her. A parking lot in the middle of the day. "Mr. Forbish, I spend my waking hours wishing for him to suffer for what he does to me." The sheen of a knife. "I hate him with every fiber and I always will."

"What do you think will happen to you?"

Tears streaked her face. A merciless hand at her throat. Can't breathe. "He will kill me." Another time, another place, another hand strangling her into submission. She whispered, "I'm alone, what can I do?"

And that was the absolute truth. Lisa trembled with apprehension.

Forbish smacked his lips. "Focus, Ms. Reisert, we're not done yet." His voice returned to monotony when he went on after only a second. "Have you had any contact with Mr. Rippner's associates at the safehouse after the second abduction?"

The mattress made a sickening squishing sound when she accidently stepped into her own vomit. "No."

He cast a disgusted glance towards the window. "None at all?"

"No, none."

His eyes returned to hers in a flash and an ugly smile parted his lips. "That's a lie, Ms. Reisert."

Oh God. Her heart stopped - Lisa was sure Jackson had said no contact whatsoever! She racked her brain, staring at her opponent in a growing panic as he came closer with outstretched arms.

"Ms. Reisert, tell me the truth immediately."

Jackson wouldn't have … couldn't have changed his plan without telling her. Not without a warning. Lisa tried to move sideways and swallowed hard. "I am."

Forbish gripped her head and whacked it against the wall behind her. "Stop lying, it doesn't further your cause."

Pain shot through her in a white flash, bringing her to her knees. Lisa hunched over. No. No! He forced up her chin with the tip of his shoe and pressed her backwards, the sole of his foot firmly on her throat. She convulsed as he choked her.

"That is by far not the worst I can do, Ms. Reisert. I want the truth and I want it now." The apparent boredom in Forbish's voice chilled her to the bone.

Billows of black wafted in from the edges of her vision and Lisa wanted to yell for Jackson to come to her rescue, but pride and the nagging little voice stopped her. Stick to the plan. You can handle this. Come on.

"Snap out of it, Ms. Reisert! Who did you talk to?" He increased the pressure.

Lisa thrashed her cuffed hands against his leg and managed to wriggle free for a moment, but Forbish immediately kicked her in the chest, effectively driving out the last of her breath. Lisa cried out and rolled to the side, greedily gasping for air.

He jerked her up and threw her across the room. "Don't make me angry."

Lisa collided with the shelves. Think … think, damnit! Blood from a cut on her forehead mingled with her tears, tainting the world pink. Crawling away from Forbish, Lisa recalled Jackson's cover up story. Use different words, don't make it sound the same.

"Mr. Forbish, the truth is that Jackson smashed me against a window, I have the cuts to prove it. I can show them to you!" He had caught up with her and roughly pulled her up by the hair. Lisa screamed. "Please! He beat me black and blue and then I lost consciousness."

He jabbed his fingers into her skin and grabbed her by the collarbone. "I am aware of the fact that I am no spring chicken, Ms. Reisert, but I am skilled and well trained. I could break your measly bone with a single hit … do you have any idea how much that hurts?"

Lisa was terrified. "I'm not lying! I'm not lying!"

"Who did you talk to?"

Her defenses were waning and Lisa retched, spitting out the disgusting acid. "Nobody! I woke up in a dark room … somewhere … I don't know where! Please! You have to believe me!"

His grip became unbearable. "WHO DID YOU TALK TO?"

"Nobody … nobody! Please stop!" She went limp. Last one, I promise. Lisa stuttered out her story and each single word left her drained a little more. She was losing it. "It was a d-dark room with chains on the wall and … and there was a light bulb, b-but no toilet. And I just sat there and I … I was bleeding from my back and I didn't know what was gonna happen to me. And the d-darkness … I thought I was going insane, I was just tossing and turning and … and there was nobody. Nobody but J-Jackson. Argh!"

Forbish pushed her down and started to twist her neck, knees digging into her back.

Searing pain blinded her. "Yes, there might have b-been others at the … at the house, b-but I … I didn't see them or t-talk to them or anything… just Jackson. Please, you h-have to … to believe me! Stop! … You're killing me!"

Her joints cracked and everything faded to black.