Chapter 23

Lisa sat on the edge of the large guest bed, her white knuckled hands gripping the bedspread beneath. She attempted to keep her breathing calm and measured as she tried to process her current situation behind tightly closed eyes. Jackson still wasn't back yet, having been summoned early in the morning by the large man named Derek. Despite the fact that she was running on thirty six hours without any sleep, she was wide awake. It would have been hard enough to get any sleep in this new and disconcerting place on its own but having Jackson in bed next to her all night ensured her sleeplessness. She was certain that her bedmate had gotten the same amount of rest that she had.

A light smile crept onto her lips as she realized that he had been just as uncomfortable with the situation. The one time she'd gotten up from bed to use the restroom, he'd been on tenterhooks from the moment she'd stirred to the moment she slid back into bed. Undoubtedly he was concerned she'd try and bludgeon him to death if he fell asleep. The thought made her open her eyes and survey the room and examine its contents for the first time. She'd been too much in a daze last night to do so. It looked like the kind of guest room you'd see in some home decorating magazine. In fact, from what she remembered of the night before, the study where she'd watched Jackson get throat punched and tossed to the ground had the same rich, luxurious feel to it. It was a sharp contrast to Jackson's much more Spartanly decorated home.

Lisa shook her head. What a stupid thing to be thinking about, the decorating tastes of these two people. Who cared that they have different styles? They were both monsters. They both killed people for a living. The beautiful, undoubtedly real Persian rug, the books on the shelves, even the very bed she'd been forced to share last night had all been paid for with people lives. She'd known all that at Jackson's but the horror of it seemed more real here. She shot up from the bed. The feel of it on her skin and what it symbolized suddenly too much for her to take. The forced calm she'd been tentatively maintaining for the past twelve hours suddenly evaporated. She ran for the door, living only in the moment. She'd figure out what to do after getting through the doorway.

Lisa grabbed for the doorknob only to have it move the split second before she could grasp it. The bridge of her nose collided with the now opening door releasing a flash of stars behind her eyes. She fell onto the ground with a hard smack to her behind.

"Oh shit." Angie quickly knelt down next to Jackson's bird. "What were you doing Lisa?" Her voice contained a mixture of concern and amusement.

"I… needed some fresh air." Lisa managed lamely.

Angie couldn't keep the chuckles at bay. As soon as she saw that Lisa wouldn't develop so much as a bruise, she laughed. It was immediately apparent that Lisa did not find the situation nearly as funny. Though it had served to knock the sudden need to flee right out of her.

"Well I'm sorry for hitting you with the door, I certainly didn't intent it." Angie was finally managing to get her giggles under control. "I just finished with Jackson and though I would come and check on you." She stood and offered an outstretched hand to the woman who was still holding her nose and sitting on the floor. "We can get you that fresh air." She left her hand out and waited for Lisa to take hold of it.

Lisa hesitated for a couple more moments but finally couldn't think of anything better to do. She finally took the offered hand and stood up a little shakily.

"Good. Let's go for a walk."

The two women made their way out of the small home and into the muggy morning air. Lisa watched as Angie walked slightly ahead of her as though she had no cares in the world. I aggravated her slightly. They walked along what seemed like little more than a game trail for several minutes in silence before Angie finally decided to break it.

"So, since I've never actually conducted an interview like this I thought I'd try something new." She turned her head slightly so she could see if she had Lisa's full attention. Satisfied, she continued. "Do you have any questions for me?" She heard Lisa pause for a split second.

"Like what?" Her voice contained more of her aggravation than she would have liked to let on.

"Oh, I don't know. But I'm sure you have a million questions if you gave it any thought."

Lisa didn't miss the tiny amount of condescension in that statement. They walked for a few more moments before she finally thought of what to ask.

"How am I different? You said you've never conducted an interview like this before."

Angie smiled. It was a good question but she wasn't sure how to go about answering it. "Oh what the hell? Why not?" She stopped suddenly and faced Jackson's bird. "Jackson did something no one has done before. He's the only one insane enough to go against company policy."

"What do you mean?" Lisa was getting that desperate feeling again but just kept her hands balled tightly at her sides. This was something she wanted to know.

Angie took a moment to lean against a tree at the edge of the path, giving herself a couple of moments to decide just what to say next.

"Well… you've seen Derek right?" She waited for Lisa's nod. "Well, the man you know as Derek, I once knew as Alex." She kept a close watch on her companion's expressions. She had no idea if divulging this information would make the woman crack. "You see, the man you met didn't exist five years ago. Now that fantastic body did but someone else lived in it." Lisa shook her head, she didn't understand. "Every other person in the company that has acquired a bird has done the usual; clip their wings."

"I…" Lisa started before Angie just cut her off.

"And by 'clip their wings' I mean, do a complete mental overhaul. It's done with drugs mostly and a few other techniques but in the end, who you start off with is not who you end up with."

"How can you do that?" Lisa had turned pale.

"It's actually a fairly easy process. Not like what Jackson has decided to do." Angie let out a sardonic laugh. "So in a way he saved your life."

"Saved it…" She looked incredulous; all of this information was beginning to be too much for her. But the mention of Jackson saving her, a completely contradictory thought to any she'd had since he stole her, shocked her and kept her rooted to the spot.

Angie didn't waste the opportunity. She killed people for a living, directly or indirectly; it was rare for her to have the chance to perhaps save one.

"Think about it. There was no scenario where you got to keep your life as you knew it. Not one. The moment our company got involved in the Keefe job was the moment your life stopped being your own. We needed you and he had to use you directly. Any mark that is dealt with directly is eliminated. Can't have loose ends."

Lisa didn't move an inch, she was so transfixed by the tale coming out of Angie's mouth.

"The only way you stayed alive and remained who you are was for Jackson to do what he's been doing for you."

"For me…"

"Clipping wings on a normal bird takes a couple weeks at most but you have been a work in progress for almost 13 months now. That's a lot of effort for one person. You still get to be Lisa Riesert instead of… I don't know, Amy or Sarah." Angie let a moment pass before delivering the final blow.

"Jackson has given you the only life the company would let you keep. Hate him forever if you have to, I'm sure it's deserved, but never forget that."

AN: Oh how long have I been away? Far too long you say? Hate me if you must, I'm sure I deserve it, but never forget that I never forgot you.