I know I know...been awhile since I updated. Life is just kinda like that, ya know, things spring up. Anywho, here it is, more dialogue goodies, and I am somewhat content with this block of words. Please review, it makes my day! Keep throwing in some lumber to keep the fire going!
"I'll aim to please Leese. Besides, the whole never-seeing-each other scenario was going to happen regardless. A happily ever after for the both of us."
Jackson pulled out his hand for her to shake it, but she merely stared at it, looking dumbfounded.
"It's called a handshake Leese. Seals the agreement."
"I don't want to shake your hand."
Jackson laughed incredulously. "All right then, so what does your majesty want, a bow?"
"I prefer you shut up with the witty banter and tell me what we are going to do."
His eyes narrowed into slits as he stalked towards her, his previous humor withered into anger. "Don't think you can be a cocky bitch, thinking I'll just take it. The whole not-yanking-your-limbs-off is becoming very, very conditional, so stop thinking that you have it all planned out."
His icy stare caused Lisa to lean backwards, her fingers digging into her clutch bag. Still, she felt the need to put her foot down and make it clear that she wouldn't get shoved into whatever direction she wanted. "Whatever. Just tell me what you planned out. Where do I go from here?"
"Right. Well, after I feel that you got the necessary information through that thick skull of yours.."
"Excuse me?"
"...strong-willed skull of yours, I'll drop you off at your little car at Coral Square, give you a night to pack, and next morning you go to work, demand the vacation you oh so deserve. Then, you scoop up all the files and then we take off."
"Take off where?"
"Should it matter to you?"
"Yes, it should, considering I am a temporary partner."
Jackson grimaced, growing uneasy and, ironically, a bit amused with her self-proclaimed title. "Aw, but it's still too soon Leese. I still think we need more time to get to know each other..."
"Oh stop it with all that crap! Stop and make your point!"
"A safe house. Location can't matter to you."
"Why not?"
"Because then it wouldn't be called a safe house."
"Then what? Rent movies, eat Chinese take out and just wait for people to come kill us?"
Jackson huffed at her mocking theory. "My boss will come and retrieve the files, you behave like a good little girl, and if we are lucky then the deal cuts off quickly and you get to go home once things cool down."
The speed in which he described the job provoked suspicions within Lisa, causing a trickle of unease to dampen his explanation. "It can't be that easy, you're just telling me the best case scenario Jackson. What's the real deal?"
He pursed his lips in annoyance, his eyes regarding her condescendingly. "You know what, you're absolutely right. Chances are that my old company will try to stop us on several occasions, a few gun shots may break out, they may possibly break into the safe house if they track us down..."
Lisa laughed dryly. "And you can do better than Keefe...?"
Her sarcasm caused Jackson to spin around, a cloud of sand and gravel spewing from his angry strides as he shoved his clenched fists harshly into his pockets, trying to control his barely masked temper.
Just don't look at her.
"Leese, I don't think there is a one-hundred percent safe house anywhere. My old company were smart, capable people. Keefe would only ship you off in some remote location and throw in some second-hand guards to 'protect you'. I know my own kind and know how they work. Your chances are better off with me, as long as you comply and do as I say."
Lisa watched him pace back and forth, reminding her of a disgruntled little kid trying to fight back a tantrum. A shame, it would have been a funny sight if only he didn't have the fate of her life in the palm of his hand.
Realizing that he was waiting for her to respond, she spoke up quickly.
"I don't think you've given me enough leverage to trust you Jackson..."
Another incredulous chortle from Jackson. "Ha, I really don't care if you trust me or not: you're going. This is the easy way out, the way that won't worry your father or anyone else, the way you can make a proper goodbye. You don't want to go, fine. I'll just sedate you later and take you anyway. You can run to Keefe, sure, and tell him everything that happened, but he won't find me or my company. Instead he'll be focusing on the roots of the guy I took down earlier today, the one who was tracking you. In the end, it all amounts to this: If you don't go with me, you're dead for sure."
A tense silence came. Jackson was at a standstill, watching Lisa squint her eyes, deep in thought.
"...okay Jackson. Give me two days to get ready."
"Too much. One."
"C'mon Jackson, you really don't expect me to do all of this in a day."
"Of course I do. You're a resourceful woman; you figure it out."
Lisa groaned, massaging her temples at the impossibility and frustration of the situation.
Stupid, arrogant, demanding son-of-a...
"Leese, these people aren't going to say 'Hey, let's give the poor little hotel manager a head start, hm?' No, they need you now. The sooner we leave the better."
Lisa raised a disapproving eyebrow at him. "Won't it just be awkward just leaving like that? What if I'm gone for too long? Will my boss really let me go? People are going to question that! You know about my father as well!"
"Like I said, you'll figure it out. I really don't care if you get yelled at, questioned, or even fired. In fact, getting fired would do you some good...makes you worthless."
Lisa's eyes widened, mouth agape. "Worthless?!"
Jackson chuckled, finally turning around to meet Lisa's outraged glare.
"That's a good thing Leese. Just another civilian, with nothing to profit from. All I ask is that you make it sound convincing. You're good at lying, even better at impromptu actions, so don't disappoint me. And hey, you got the rest of tonight to figure out your little alibi."
Lisa closed her eyes, frustration clouding her better judgment. There was an internal storage room of suppressed insults and yelling that beckoned to erupt, but she diverted her thoughts to more productive things. All in all, they needed each other. And because of that, she could put her foot down as well and spark up more compromises.
"Still, two days." She finally said, eyes still closed.
"What?"
"You're giving me two days or else, no deal."
"This is your life Leese..." He taunted.
"And this is your job Jack, and I know you can't afford to fail again." Her eyes opened to see his head had cocked, with murderous blue orbs piercing her with an eerie coolness that made her stomach flip.
He spoke, but his voice was low, almost soft. "Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I really did finish you off in your father's house...I really do."
Danger. Lisa's breath hitched, her legs growing weak as she remembered their infamous quarrel. A gurgled growl, a vicious smile, then falling, spots of colors clouding her vision as each stair step pounded her head. The ache of battered ribs, watching him prowl down the stairs, his eyes predatory and eager...
"Would you have really?" Lisa said quietly before gulping. The bile in her stomach threatened to make a come back.
"Oh, absolutely. In that point of time, all I wanted was to see you in pain. I wasn't going to just put you out of your fucking misery so quickly."
He took one slow step towards her, his jaws clenched, causing his cheekbones to raise into an unnaturally high arch that were only emphasized with the dim lighting. Lisa felt herself bump into the side of his car, and frantically her hands dug through her purse, fingers finally gripping the gun. She shoved it out, hands trembling as she aimed it at Jackson, who seemed unaffected by her threatening stance. He took three more steps onward, until he was a foot away from her, watching her shoulders quake with fear as the gun pointed to his head.
"Don't." She whispered, her fingertip lightly stroking the trigger nervously.
He took a deep breath, turmoil and indecision apparent on his face.
How are we going to survive this if we can't even control ourselves from trying to hurt each other? Job...or self-gratification?
Then, his jaws eased. Arms relaxed, he rose his head up to examine the stars above, watching Lisa's aim falter slowly from his peripheral vision. "I won't Leese, not now, but lets get one thing straight, shall we? Don't make an enemy out of me, don't you dare press my buttons... because after all of this, once you no longer matter to my company or anyone else, I can always come back... and get you."
Only the sound of the waves crashing in the distance and Lisa's barely audible whimpers were heard. He glanced quickly at her, one of the thin straps of her shirt was slowly dropping from her shoulder to the side of her arm, exposing her shivering collar bone. Amid all the chaos, her face was still struggling for composure, a lower lip that refused to quiver, eyes glossed in tears too stubborn to fall. His anger dismantled at the sight, and after a moment of examination, he decided to ease the blow.
"But that's only an "if" statement Leese, it's all up to you whether it stays that way or not. I'm not really a vengeful person, but I've never had anyone screw things up for me in my life like you."
"Likewise." Lisa choked the words out, her hand retreating inside her purse, placing the gun back. She felt a tear roll down her left cheek, but she gave it no heed. Realization had struck: what made Jackson a monster wasn't his physical abilities, but the fact that he could strike in places she thought were immune, laugh at her misery, tap into her past and, worst of all, made her remember how much it hurt to be dominated by a death threat. Like that monster who had defiled her years ago, Jackson kept holding that figurative knife against her throat.
"We are clear though, about what you need to do Leese. That's fine, a day and a half, but no more than that. One I come to pick you up, you go. No 'Oh, but I forgot my wallet', none of that. And don't pack heavy, pack clothes and essentials only. I can't give you a specific time frame of how long it's going to take, but you need to be prepared."
"All right." Lisa said grimly, grateful that she had the support of the car behind her, otherwise she wasn't sure if she could stand. Jackson stepped closer, peering down at her impassive face.
"Look at it this way Leese, if you're good to me, I'm good to you. You comply with my rules, I'll comply with yours," Gently, he tugged her fallen strap upright onto her shoulder with his index finger. "I'm the bad guy, I know. But unfortunately, I'm not the worst. There are plenty of other monsters out there who will do far more worst things than I ever would, believe me. As for now, lets use what we have to the best of our abilities and get out of this alive."
"I want to go home." Lisa mumbled, her voice resembling the innocent plea of a small child. Her body ached for the comfort of her bed, the sight of her walls, which were now full of framed photographs of her friends and family.
Jackson was still relentless. "Only if you tell me what you plan to do. The short but accurate version."
Sniffing, she allowed another tear to stream down her face. "I'm going to go home, cry until I feel the need to stop...go to the Lux and tell them some crisis..."
"Personal crisis. '" Jackson corrected.
"...personal crisis came up, and I won't be able to go to work for awhile."
"Tell them two weeks or more." He urged.
She merely nodded in response. "If they ask for more information, I'll just say it's private. Keep it as vague as possible. I'll retrieve the files before I go, then go home and call my friends..."
"No. Don't call them with your phone." Jackson said flatly. "I'm sure its been bugged. Go to wherever they work or live, and keep it brief. Tell them your "crisis" story and don't make a big deal about it. Don't cry, act yourself."
Lisa turned her head, unable to bear his intent eyes, as they seemed to further press the overwhelming sorrow to her crackling heart. She couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't cry.
"Then after I...I..." Her voice faltered, breaking hoarsely as she fought back the strangled sob. "I'll spend whatever time I have left with my father, and meet you wherever you tell me to."
Jackson's attention seemed to have been captured by the stars again, and with one approved nod, he smirked. "You'll go to the Mynt Lounge...heh...and meet one of my co-workers at eleven o'clock, two nights from now. Repeat after me: Mynt Lounge, eleven."
"Mynt Lounge, eleven."
"Right. Now since there ought to be another guy watching you that night, another shark from my old company, we want to make it look like that our co-worker is picking you up. Act flirty, happy, etc. When he tells you it's time to leave, it's time to leave. He'll escort you to his car, take you to 'his' place, where I'll be ready to pick you up. If we get it right, my old company won't know your gone until noon the next day, which can get us pretty far. But don't screw it up."
"I won't." Her voice was still shaken, but she refused to break down...in front of him at least.
Jackson peered down, examining her face, a bit thankful that she was containing herself so well in his presence. He might actually end the night without a few claw marks or scratches on his face.
Easier than I thought...
Sighing, he gestured his hand towards the door. "Come on. It's getting late and you need to prep up." Swiftly, he opened the passenger seat.
As she trudged dismally towards the door, an alarming question stopped her dead in her tracks. "Wait a minute Jackson, how will I know which guy is your co-worker?!"
Jackson flaunted his crooked grin, reveling her puzzled face. "He'll order you a seabreeze."
Whew! There you go fellas...review the good and bads. Go ahead man.