Guilty As Charged

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

Chapter Seven

Washington, D.C. – Charles Keefe's Office

"I'm getting too old for this," Charles Keefe muttered to his reflection. He fiddled with the navy blue tie, attempting to straighten the knot.

Press conferences. He hated dealing with the over-hyped media circus. Many of the reporters jumped up and down, shouted too loud, and otherwise showed the result of their coffee and energy drink addictions. He could already feel a headache coming on and he hadn't even left his office yet.

Keefe popped two Excedrin tablets, hoping to stave off the oncoming migraine. He doubted that the two pills would do much.

Two decades ago, immediately following the assassination attempt at the Lux Atlantic, Keefe had considered resigning his post as Deputy Director of Homeland Security. Despite his wife's protests, he'd stayed.

On some days, he regretted his rash decision. His wife left him a few years later, complaining that his job meant more to him than his family did. He was estranged from his two children. His job had become his life.

Intelligence had reached Keefe, warning him that the same terrorist in charge of the attack against him was once again active. Lisa Reisert, the hotel manager who'd saved his life, had been hospitalized after a fight with her husband. Her husband, who just happened to Jackson Rippner, a suspected terrorist.

The Lux Atlantic attack had never been pinned on Jackson Rippner. The charming man had escaped the hospital he'd been placed in, launching a nation-wide man-hunt.

The actual terrorist group behind the attempted assassination was killed soon after, thanks to eye-witness testimony from none other than Lisa Reisert. She claimed that Jackson Rippner had kidnapped her, using her as bait for his employers. She'd survived the death trap, but Rippner had vanished again.

For twenty years, Jackson Rippner lived underground. Rippner lived far enough off the grid that even the National Security Agency couldn't even track him with their satellites and high-tech devices. Now he'd surfaced again. It was only a matter of time before the man was caught doing something illegal—in addition to nearly murdering Lisa.

"I've got you this time, Rippner."

There was a knock on his office door.

"Yes?" Keefe called, giving up on his tie.

"Mr. Keefe, there's be an accident. It's about your ex-wife."

In three strides, Keefe reached the door, yanking it open. "What happened? Is she okay?"

"She's dead. Her car exploded."

Miami – Rippner Vacation Home

Kyra tore through her father's office, collecting all the weapons she could find. She had no idea what the occasion would call for, and it was better to be prepared than sorry.

The drive north would allow her to take anything that she could fit in her car. She had no contacts in Maryland, where the hit would take place. She didn't even want to go back there. She had too many bad memories.

She fled to Maryland to escape her father. It was there she met Mark Ryder and fell into his trap. She couldn't stay in Miami back then, especially once she knew her father was hunting her. After shooting Mark, Kyra never expected that she'd voluntarily return to Maryland.

Charles Keefe needed to die. His death was the key to saving her parents' marriage, and keeping her father out of jail. Jackson might be violent, but he wouldn't intentionally harm Lisa. He would never kill her.

Proving his innocence would mean calling upon the darkness that lurked inside them both. Murder ran through their veins. Vengeance lived in their blood.

Bloodshed and death excited them. It was the awful truth. Her father carried this horrible rage on his genes, which combined with the skills he taught her, turned her into his protégé and a damn good killer. Because the Rippner thirst for blood bypassed Myra, Kyra did the only thing she knew would work to prevent anyone else for having to fight the impulses and insanity that she suffered through. After the events with Mark, she knew having a child was out of the question.

Her solution was a hysterectomy.

Never again would pregnancy be a problem for her. She could never have children. The Rippner line ended with her. Her blood was tainted; Myra's was not. Myra was more Reisert than Rippner.

I know you wouldn't approve, but I'm not going to let you rot in prison. It's not your fault. I'll fix things.

Charles Keefe brought her parents together. She wouldn't let one politician drive them apart. Not when she could even the score. She could kill him. She had to.

Frederick, MD – The Agency

Two decades. That's how long it took to take down Charles Keefe. The once cocky politician was still in the game, riding on the success of the failed assassination. The war on terror ended a few years back and several presidents had passed, including the nation's first black president. With each new president, Keefe remained. No one wanted to throw him out. Not when he was focused on preventing another 9/11.

A lot happened in twenty years. Jackson Rippner vanished overnight instead of dying in his hospital bed. He saved Lisa Reisert from the men sent to capture and kill her. The two enemies fell in bed together.

Rippner fathered a daughter that was a carbon copy of himself. Jacqueline Kyra Reisert Rippner, better known as Jack or Jackie, proved herself worthy of her father's job when she outsmarted Mark Ryder.

He could not have created a more perfect killing machine than Jacqueline Rippner. Between her skills, natural talent, and a taste for violence she inherited from her father, no one could match her. Even though she was still young, she was ready to join the Agency. To face her destiny like a good little killer.

Charles Keefe would be the final test. If she had the nerve and the brains to pull it off, then she would take her place in the company. If she failed, she would die.

Either way, her family had to disappear. A tragic accident here, an unexpected suicide there—it would be the end of the Rippners. Only Jackson Rippner and his daughter had a chance for survival. If Rippner refused, he could die alongside his wife and daughter.

He just hoped the wait for Jacqueline was worth it.

Author's Notes:

I have a feeling this chapter might be a little disjointed and repetitive. I'm trying to find my place in this story again and this chapter was half-written several months ago.

I can't believe it's almost been a year since I last updated! I'm very sorry about that and for anyone who's still reading, thank you very much for hanging in there.

I will say for the past year I have been rather busy—from graduating to moving away, from getting ill to moving back, and from learning to live with the pain. Some of you know that I've been in and out of doctor's offices since I came home in November and was almost hospitalized. During the past few months, my interest in writing disappeared. It's finally returning and I sincerely hope that I can get Guilty As Charged and Total Strangers finished in the coming months and begin some new work.

There is a poll on my author's page that I encourage everyone to participate in. It's essentially to find out what you are interested in reading next. Your input is very much appreciated.

Please leave a review. Thank you so much for reading. :)