I realize that both Lisa and Jackson seem to be making "final" decisions only to revert right back to what they were doing before, which I understand can be irritating, but the way I see it is that most of the time, there are only a few hours (if that) between chapters. I think bouncing around is perfectly reasonable. :) They're slowly making progress though.
Trudes193- Caleb is fairly great at explaining stuff. But even he is can't stay logical all the time. :(
pinky's creature feature- Oh, he will be...even if he doesn't acknowledge it right away. Our characters are creating quite the mess for themselves.
Knoknayme- NO- and trust me, you're not alone. I totally didn't intend for them to have such chemistry, but I really have to fight to not let the story go there. :D
Pirate Gyrl- Aw, thanks. I was a little nervous about it. I always get antsy when there's not much action, like people will find it boring. :( I liked writing the little side story (as twisted as it got in some places)- I wanted to give Jackson a reason to be a bad shot, and it's always fun for me to write a little backstory. As for Cheryl, I doubt I'll get much into it in the actual story, but in my mind, she's a woman who majorly screwed up, but still thought that she was doing the right thing for herself. She isn't the nicest woman (to say the least), but nice women do not become assassins. But no, she isn't likable, and she definitely isn't trustworthy. We'll see what part she plays...and don't worry- her time is definitely coming to an end.
Warning: Shit is getting real.
Chapter 26: Calm Before the Storm
Lisa and Caleb sat at the kitchen bar, waiting for Ben to return. Lisa groaned in frustration and dropped her head onto the counter.
"I want real food," she announced, rolling to rest her cheek against the cool surface.
"Ouch," Caleb replied, not looking up from his crossword puzzle.
Lisa scowled. "I mean nothing with bread. No burgers, no sandwiches. I want pasta. Or steak. Or...something." She sighed. Really, she was getting anxious. She wanted the day to pass quickly and for the night to already be over. She was ready to move onto the next step. "Does it always suck this much?"
"Mhm," he replied, scribbling on his puzzle. Lisa leaned over and scanned the clues. She gaped at Caleb when he pulled the puzzle away from her. Apparently, he was one of those people, who had to do a puzzle on their own or it didn't count.
"What kind of doctor are you?" she asked, trying to distract herself. Caleb eyed her with amusement.
"You're really that bored?" he asked, taking a drag of his cigarette.
"I'm not bored," she insisted, even though it was mostly a lie. Well, partially a lie anyway- she was bored, yes, but the problem was that when she was bored, she obsessed about her own problems. "I'm going to be your wife. Can't I know what you do?" She teased, nudging him with her elbow.
"I'm in residency to become a surgeon," he replied casually, filling in another blank. Lisa raised an eyebrow. Was he actually qualified to operate on any of them?
"How did you get time off?" she asked. She didn't know much about medical school and residency, but she couldn't imagine that students could just take off for weeks at a time. She recalled Jackson mentioning something about it previously, but it seemed that he had been wrong.
Caleb took a drink of coffee. "We get three weeks off each year, but I opted out. No point in hanging around at home." Lisa frowned- he wasn't even bothering to hide his bitterness about Cheryl. How bad had their marriage been? "I asked to take them at once- told them my mom had a stroke and I wanted to be there for her. I guess they like me." He took another drag. "As far as they're concerned, I'm in Wisconsin."
Lisa nodded. She started to count the speckles on the counter, trying to avoid the next question that she wanted to ask. Caleb had given her information about his and Jackson's parents back at Jeff's house, but she could tell that he hadn't wanted to talk about it.
"Just ask," Caleb prompted, still not looking at her. Lisa shook her head. Asking for information about their parents and how Jackson handled it was one thing, but she was oddly curious about how Caleb felt. That was very different to her, and she didn't think it was her business. She realized that most of the questions that she asked Caleb were either about the agency, the current situation, or Jackson. She felt a twinge of guilt as she thought about how little she had asked about Caleb himself.
"I'm sorry," she finally blurted. "I've been using you, haven't I?" Caleb finally looked up from his puzzle, slight amusement still showing on his features. He nodded once.
"A little," he replied. "It's fine, though." He took another deep drag. "I get it, and it's not a big deal. Promise." Lisa smiled weakly, but she still felt guilty.
"I'm still willing to listen if you want to talk about Cheryl," she reminded him, lifting her head and reaching over to take a drink from his mug. Caleb nodded, putting out his cigarette in the ashtray.
"I don't really-" he cut himself off as the apartment door opened. "Rain check," he whispered in her ear as Ben entered the apartment, carrying multiple bags on his arm.
"Finally done being your bitch," he announced good-naturedly, dropping the bags at Caleb's feet. He poured himself a mug of coffee. "And how is Miss Brains today?" he asked, leaning against the counter, facing Lisa.
"Caleb proposed," Lisa responded, waiting until he had started to drink. She smiled in satisfaction when he choked on the liquid. "I'm taking Cheryl's ID." Ben pounded on his chest to suppress a cough.
"That's fucking crazy," he told them, laughing, "and so twisted. But I love it. And it will save you from indentured servitude, so right on."
Lisa turned her attention to Caleb as he tossed a small white box on the counter in front of her. Plan B. "Oh my God, you guys," she groaned, mortified. She dropped her head back onto the counter.
"Just take it," Caleb instructed as Ben filled a glass with water and set it in front of her.
"We're all adults here," Ben added with a hint of condescension. "Why do you think we went outside? Jeff's place isn't exactly soundproof."
Lisa shook her head, wishing that she could just disappear. Ben was right of course, but she was more upset that she had been so reckless. How could she not think about the risks? She opened the box and pulled out a pill, washing it down with the water. "Thanks," she muttered, burying her face in her arms.
How? The question kept repeating itself in her head. She flinched when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"You'll be fine," Caleb assured her. "And if you're not, well..." Lisa shook her head again.
"No," she replied, her voice muffled. Abortion was not an option for her. She didn't care how inconvenient a baby would be- it just was not an option.
"No point worrying now," Ben offered, surprisingly supportive. "Those pills work- trust me. Everything will be okay, yeah?" Lisa raised her head slightly, studying him. "And hey, since you and Cal are shacking up, just tell the kid he's the dad if you don't want Jackson around or if he dies or something."
Lisa rolled her eyes. So much for serious and supportive. "I mean it," Ben continued. "I read that you can't tell the difference between identical twins in paternity testing, so-"
"Oh shut up," Caleb interrupted. "It's not going to even be an issue, so stop freaking her out."
Ben held up his hands in surrender. "Seriously though," he said, putting a hand on her arm. "This isn't health class. You're not going to get knocked up just because-"
"Shut up," Lisa mumbled. She knew that the morning after pill was effective. She just wanted the discussion to be over. She knew that she was being paranoid. At the same time, there was a tiny part of her that hoped it would happen. She dreamed of having kids for years, but had written it off as unlikely considering how hesitant she was about getting involved with men. And how fantastic would that be? A fake husband, a false identity, and an illegitimate assassin baby...maybe she could get him a set of throwing stars on his first day of kindergarten. Stop.
Lisa lifted her head, turning her attention to the bags at Caleb's feet. "So what else did you get?" she asked, forcefully changing the subject. She was done thinking about something that wouldn't happen anyway.
"Guns, ammo, flint, and reloading equipment," Ben replied, taking the hint. "And a throwaway cell for Cal. Oh, and I got you a phone charger." Lisa smiled in thanks- hers had died while she was sleeping.
"Oh, could you text Jackson and let him know to check into the hotel?" Caleb asked, picking up the bags as he got to his feet. "We have to go shopping and get checked in. We don't have that much time before tonight."
Lisa watched Ben pull out his cell phone. "How are we going to get Cheryl out?" she asked, walking to get their bags from the bedroom.
"We're just going to go to Jeff's place," Caleb called out. "Ben already called Jeff and let him know that we're going to take care of her."
Lisa walked back into the living room. "Does he know that I'm still here?" she asked nervously. She didn't want him to be able to thwart their plans. Caleb shook his head.
"Not yet," he replied. "But he will when we get Cheryl. There's no avoiding it." Lisa understood, but it still made her nervous that Jackson could step in. Other than that, she wasn't nervous about seeing him again. She wasn't afraid of him- he might put up a fight at first, but she was sure that if she stood her ground, he would accept her decision.
"So I talked to him this morning," Ben announced, interrupting their conversation. "He requested his trainees, and Nikita will be here tomorrow morning. So I was thinking..."
Lisa followed the two men, lagging slightly behind. She was too involved in her own thoughts to listen to Ben. Even though she knew that Jackson wouldn't hurt her, she couldn't help but wonder how he would react to their disobedience. She swore that if Jackson wanted her to leave, he was going to have to drag her by the hair, kicking and screaming to the airport and personally put her on the flight. And even then, she wasn't going to let him go.
"What the hell are you doing?" Jackson set down his newspaper to focus his attention on Cheryl's outburst. He watched Jeff attempt to pull off her wedding ring, his efforts prevented by her curling her fingers.
"Cal called. He wants it," Jeff replied matter-of-factly, as though it wasn't a strange request.
"No," Cheryl said stubbornly, trying to pull her hands away. "Why would he want it?" Jackson took a slow drag of his cigarette. He was wondering the same thing. He couldn't imagine Caleb trying to pawn it- he didn't need the money. If it was something weird like sentimental value, why not wait until he saw her again?
"He didn't say," Jeff replied, frustrated. He turned to face Jackson, who raised an eyebrow. Was he expected to mediate like some father with two fighting children? "Ben sent me a text," Jeff explained to Jackson. "Cal wants me to meet them with her ring and purse."
Jackson shrugged. He wasn't all that concerned with what his brother wanted at the moment. He knew it was childish, but he wasn't happy about hearing that Caleb had decided to stick around. He knew that his brother was going to try to involve himself in the Keefe business, which was exactly why Jackson had sent him away in the first place. He studied the embers of his cigarette, chewing his lip. He wanted to find some way to get Caleb out of Miami, but they were at the point where there wasn't anything he could do about it. Maybe he could talk him out of it.
"I'll take them to him," he offered. He needed to get out of the house anyway- he was feeling too anxious about things, and some air would help. "Where does Ben live?"
"Camden Brickell," Jeff replied, tossing Cheryl's purse next to Jackson. "Oh yeah, they're not there anymore, though. I'm meeting them at Armani." Jeff's second sentence fell on deaf ears. Camden Brickell. Lisa's building? Ben and Lisa lived in the same building? Jackson furrowed his brows, pulling out his cell phone. He had had enough of this shit. He quickly dialed Ben's number and got to his feet.
"Give him the ring or I'll shoot off your finger," he told Cheryl calmly as he walked out the front door and into the sunny afternoon. "Why didn't you tell me you live at Camden Brickell?" he demanded when Ben answered the phone.
"You never asked," Ben replied flatly. Jackson clenched his jaw, pursing and relaxing his lips. He didn't reply, knowing that Ben was well aware that his answer was unacceptable and unappreciated. He took a drag of his cigarette, dropping onto the front steps. "It's irrelevant now anyway. And I'm busy, so I'll talk to you later."
Jackson stared at his phone in disbelief. He debated calling back, but quickly dismissed the idea. He wasn't used to feeling so...ignored. He and Ben rarely got along in the last few years, but Ben knew his place. And Caleb...Jackson shook his head. Why didn't Caleb understand that he was in danger?
He glanced down as his phone rang in his hand. Marie. Jackson frowned, flipping open his phone.
"Hey," he greeted. What could Marie possibly want? He was greeted by cold French.
"What is Ben's real name?" she asked, all-business. Jackson's frown deepened.
"I don't remember," he lied. He couldn't explain it, but something told him that he needed to play dumb. "Why?"
Marie sighed deeply. "He has betrayed us," she replied. "He is part of Odessa." Jackson crushed his cigarette under his shoe. He was well aware of Ben's involvement in the Russian mafia back in Brooklyn. Ben had told them back in college that his uncle was high up, which was why he was one of few people who went into the agency already using a false identity.
"What?" he asked, feigning confusion. Jackson and Caleb had sworn years ago to keep Ben's secret, since the agency had never been on good terms with the mafia. Under normal circumstances, despite Jackson's dislike for Ben, he would never believe that the other man could be any kind of traitor to the agency. After what happened with Cheryl, he wasn't so sure, but he decided to hear Marie out before laying down his cards.
"Just what I said," Marie replied. "He was part of the plot." Jackson's eyes narrowed as he lit another cigarette. He was smoking so much more than he normally would. He fought back an urge to laugh. The Odessa Mafia had no interest in the agency, and vice versa. They never conflicted. Odessa also had no ties with the Russians Robert had been working with, and to suggest so was ludicrous. However, the situation wasn't at all funny because Jackson knew Marie was smarter than that. She was definitely up to something. He heard a notification of an incoming call, and moved the phone from his ear to check the ID- Trudi. She would have to wait.
"So what do you want me to do?" he asked, although he knew the answer already. He felt guilty playing Marie, but something in his gut said that he shouldn't trust her. On the other hand, Ben's lie regarding Lisa was nagging at him. Even if Marie were lying to him, maybe there was something more to the situation that Jackson wasn't seeing yet.
"I assume that he is helping you with Keefe," she replied. "When you finish the job, keep an eye on him. Do not let him out your sight. Then kill him." Jackson exhaled deeply, shaking his head.
"Alright," he said, pinning his phone between his cheek and his shoulder as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'll take care of it." He closed his phone, setting it next to him before running a hand through his hair in frustration. What a mess.
Jackson picked up his phone again. He had to forge ahead with the plan. He couldn't decide what to do about Ben until he had a chance to figure out exactly what was going on, and he couldn't afford to obsess about it in the meantime. He dialed Trudi's number, waiting for her to answer.
"Hello," the cherry Brit greeted him. Jackson sometimes wondered how could she could always been in such a good mood. "I just wanted to let you know that the trainees are on their way. They should be in Miami by six."
"Good," Jackson replied. Then curiosity got the better of him. "And how's Lisa doing?"
Trudi was silent for a moment. "What are you talking about?" she asked, obviously confused. Jackson frowned.
"Didn't you arrange a pick up from the airport like I asked?" he asked, irritated. Did Trudi really leave Lisa stranded at La Guardia?
"She never showed up," Trudi told him. "I thought you changed your mind." Jackson froze midway through his drag. He exhaled quickly.
"Oh yeah," he lied. "I must be overworked or something." He smashed his cigarette. "Thanks, Trudi." He quickly hung up, getting to his feet. Did Lisa disobey him too? Jeff had told him that Ben was taking her to the airport. Did they lie? No, his guy must have just missed Lisa in the airport. That had to be it.
If Lisa was stuck at the airport, he had to help her. Even as Jackson quickly dialed her number, he knew full well that she wasn't in New York. That's what she had meant with her parting words in the bathroom. She was so stupid sometimes. Jackson's jaw clenched when his call went straight to voicemail. Either her phone was dead, or she had shut it off. He paced in a small circle. Caleb had ditched Jackson's phone at the hotel, so he couldn't get ahold of him. Ben wasn't going to answer.
The more he paced, the more Jackson's frustration grew. Lisa, Caleb, and Ben had obviously formed some little alliance against him. Marie wanted him to kill Ben. Ben was up to something. And he was still stuck babysitting Cheryl while he waited for his cannon fodder to arrive, the dumb kids that he was sending to their deaths.
His internal temper tantrum was interrupted by Jeff appearing on the front steps. "I have to meet Cal and Ben now," he said hesitantly. "So..."
Jackson nodded abruptly, regaining his composure. "And Lisa," he added, shaking his head at the other man's confused expression. "Never mind. Tell Ben to call me. And get me some clothes while you're out- nice stuff. Hurry back." He walked past Jeff and back into the house, dropping on the couch in front of Cheryl.
He sprawled out on the couch, sighing deeply as he rolled his neck. Everything was falling to shit around him.
"That was a genius plan," Ben told Caleb as they pulled away from the salon, leaving Lisa behind. She had decided to get her hair done to help look the part of the rich woman. "Are you sure it's okay?"
Caleb shook his head, sighing. "No, I'm not," he replied. "But what else could I do?" Before Ben had left that morning, he had told Caleb that Marie had called him the day before, ordering him to kill Lisa when she arrived in Miami.
"I do not need her in the way," Marie explained to Ben. "She is a distraction for Jackson, and he might leave." Ben scoffed.
"And how am I supposed to do that?" he asked condescendingly. "I doubt that he's going to let me babysit her."
"That is your problem, not mine," she replied sharply. "If you recall, you are part of a team that has been plotting to destroy part of my agency, and you lied about who you are. You need to earn your place again, Benjamin." Ben brought his fist down hard on the kitchen counter.
"And if you recall," he snapped back, "I warned you not to get involved with those guys." The Russians that Robert was working with had claimed to be part of the government, but Ben knew that they were in a new group of organized crime, a growing rival to the mafia. He hadn't trusted them for a moment. He had taken a chance, had told Marie about his connections. He had explained that from what he knew, the information regarding the Georgians was correct, but their contacts weren't who they claimed to be.
Instead of listening, Marie had ignored him and was now throwing it back in his face. "Benjamin, listen to me." Ben shook his head.
"No, you listen," he spat. He had had enough. "I'm going to help Jackson with Robert and Keefe," he said, talking right over the director. "But after that, I quit. I'm fucking done with this." Marie was silent, but not for long.
"Think about this for a moment, Benjamin," she said coldly. "Do not forget that we can destroy you. We can-" Ben abruptly closed his phone, and poured himself a glass of whiskey. He had heard stories about getting a high from quitting a shit job, but he didn't feel any kind of adrenaline- only fear.
"Well, it was still a good thing to do," he told Caleb. The other man nodded, but remained silent. He knew that he had sold Lisa on the idea, but he wasn't as convinced as he had sounded. He didn't dislike Lisa in any way, but he wasn't sure that he wanted to have her stay with him. Any woman would be bad enough, but Lisa? She was involved with his brother and assassins were after her. In a cruel twist of irony, the same reasons that Caleb didn't want her staying with her were the exact reasons that he had to allow it.
"I still think you should tell Jackson," Caleb reminded him. Ben had already refused to twice, insisting that Jackson wouldn't believe him, but Caleb still wasn't sure. Sure enough, Ben shook his head. "Well, I will," Caleb insisted. It would have to wait, though- it wasn't the kind of conversation he wanted to have over the phone. After all, the worst thing Jackson could do was not believe them. "And I'm telling Lisa- she has a right to know."
Ben shrugged. "Do what you want." He stopped at a red light and gripped the steering wheel tightly, rotating his hand around the leather nervously. "Do you think she'll have him do it?" Caleb frowned, resting his hand on the window frame and drumming his fingers.
"Probably," he replied glumly. Jackson was the only capable agency employee in Miami- Marie definitely wouldn't leave this kind of a hit to trainees. The only real question was, would Jackson actually do it?
"Then it's him or me," Ben replied darkly. "He obeys her like some puppy. It's disgusting." Caleb rested his head on his palm. He thought Ben was exaggerating, but he had been out of the game for almost six years. When he and Jackson did talk, it was almost never about the job, so Caleb couldn't say anymore exactly how devoted his brother was to the director. He knew that Ben and Jackson didn't get along, but they had known each other for ten years and had been roommates for six years, spending two of those years as teammates. Caleb couldn't imagine that Jackson would kill Ben just because Marie ordered, but he just couldn't be sure.
What would his role be, when the time came? Would he have to stand back and see which person came out on top- one of his best friends, or his own brother? Or would he have to take a side, help one of them kill the other? Normally he would side with Jackson without question, but Ben just didn't deserve a hit.
Caleb rubbed the back of his neck, feeling an oncoming headache. There was no avoiding it- he was bitter. He was angry about everything- Cheryl, Lisa, Ben, his parents, the despicable things he had done, and Jackson. He had walked out of the agency so long ago. He had been out three times longer than he had been in, and yet here he was, entrenched in this mess. He had had the option of walking out, but the option was a formality. It didn't really exist. And why was he stuck? Jackson. Maybe his brother had the right idea- maybe Caleb was better off without him.
Lisa followed Caleb through the airport. She practically had to run to keep up with him. He had been moody since they picked her up from the salon, and had hardly said a word throughout their shopping excursion. She had wanted to ask what was wrong more than once, but she knew that the response, whether or not he actually said it, would have been 'take your pick'. So she stayed quiet, trying to give him space.
Ben had dropped them off at the airport before heading to the hotel himself. Since they were going to use his room card for their plan, Caleb and Lisa could not be associated with him. They were heading for the exit to catch a town car, pretending that they had just arrived in Miami.
Caleb stopped abruptly, and Lisa almost barreled into him. He ushered her to a more secluded area, and opened his shoulder bag. "Here," he said shortly, handing her Cheryl's purse. "In case they ask for an ID- hopefully they won't look too closely." He fished in his jacket pocket, and pulled out a diamond ring. His eyes lingered on the band for a few moments before he took her hand, sliding the ring on her finger. After a few more moments of hesitation, he dropped her hand, zipping up his bag again.
"Caleb," Lisa began softly. She could see how much pain he was in, and wished she could help. He shook his head.
"Not here," he said, cutting her off. He glanced at her hand once more before turning around and walking again. Lisa sighed sadly and rushed after him. Hopefully when they were in their room, she could get him to open up. She knew that there wasn't anything she could do to fix his problems, but maybe just talking would help him. He had been there for her many times in the last two days, and she felt like it was her turn.
The drive to the hotel was nothing but awkward. Caleb had perked up, trying to pass for a young husband on a vacation in paradise with his wife, and he was actually doing well, but Lisa could see through it. She attempted to match his behavior, but doubted that she was as convincing.
At the hotel, Caleb played the part of the gentleman to perfection, taking her arm as he escorted her to reception. Lisa thought about her time as the manager of the Lux Atlantic, remembering all of the rich women who had passed through the lobby. She tried to imitate them, keeping her head held high, barely glancing at her surroundings as though luxury had become blasé. She didn't acknowledge the bellboy that took her luggage as they arrived at the desk.
She hardly noticed Caleb's conversation with the receptionist- she was too nervous. They were finally at the Pointe, and Keefe, someone who could easily recognize her, not to mention someone that she was going to help murder. was around somewhere. She was completely in public, and if anyone asked to see her ID...she wasn't that similar to Cheryl. She could feel the tension in Caleb's arm, and knew that he wasn't any more comfortable than she was.
"Lisa?" Lisa turned her head in reflex at the voice behind her, only to find Caleb's fingers on her cheek, preventing her from moving. Thinking quickly, he leaned in and pressed his lips firmly to hers, wrapping his other arm around her waist. When Caleb gently deepened the kiss, Lisa tensed, but she didn't attempt to pull away, bringing up her hand to rest it in his hair. He finally pulled away from her, and she saw his eyes dart around before he flashed a smile. Lisa feebly returned the smile, but her insides were churning. She slid her hand down to grip Caleb's hand tightly, silently begging him to get her to their room.
Caleb gave her hand a quick squeeze as he pulled her toward the elevator. As the doors closed around them, Lisa's knees practically gave out from under her.
"How could someone recognize me so quickly?" she cried, leaning against the elevator wall. Caleb's smile had faded, and he watched her with a deadly serious expression.
"No one recognized you," he explained flatly. "That guy was calling for a different woman." Lisa pulled her hand from his, hiding her face. She had almost ruined everything.
"Shit happens," Caleb explained calmly as he stepped closer to her, his face now full of concern. "But you can't let it throw you off- that's why we work in teams, to back each other up."
Lisa shook her head. "It was so stupid," she argued. "A stupid mistake." The rational voice in Lisa's head reminded her that she had spent twenty six years responding to Lisa, and it wouldn't be that easy to stop. She glanced up at Caleb, her face suddenly warmer as she sucked her lower lip.
"Um," she began awkwardly, shifting her weight to her other foot, "sorry that you had to kiss me."
Caleb tried to remain serious, but Lisa could see a mischievous grin fighting its way through. "Yeah," he replied, clearing his throat in an attempt to hide his amusement. "Totally uncalled for. Don't make me do anything like that ever again."
Lisa's face flushed deeply, but she still grinned in spite of herself. Caleb nudged her with his elbow, and the two broke out into soft laughter. Lisa was happy to see him lighten up, even if his amusement did come at her expense.
They were barely in their room before being met by the bellboy with their luggage. Caleb tipped him and sent him on his way. When they were alone, he turned to Lisa, his expression serious again. "We need to talk."
Jackson tucked his newspaper under his arm, sliding off the bar stool. He had watched the scene unfold in the lobby, and was attempting to make sense of it. It was lucky for them that Caleb had stepped in so quickly- Lisa could have given away their position.
Stepped in? He stuck his tongue down her throat. Jackson quickly finished his glass of whiskey, and straightened his tie. He knew that Caleb had done the right thing, and that he probably would have done the same in his place, but jealousy still nagged at him. That kiss looked too real for Jackson's comfort, despite his best efforts to convince himself that it was part of the act.
He had seen the ring on Lisa's finger- Cheryl's ring. It was getting more and more confusing. Obviously they hadn't run off and gotten married- Jackson wasn't insane- but why was Lisa wearing Cheryl's ring? Jackson headed for the elevator, where Ben stood, waiting. He was through with being undermined, and determined to get some answers.
He casually entered the elevator, waiting for the doors to close before turning to face Ben. He remained silent, waiting for the taller man to speak first. "They make quite a pair, don't they?" Ben asked, barely suppressing a grin. Jackson rolled his eyes. The day Ben was straight with him was the day Jackson became a professional florist. "Oh, relax," the other man admonished, checking his watch, "Caleb offered Cheryl's identity to Lisa so she wouldn't have to be trapped by you."
Jackson raised his eyebrows, taken aback. "'Trapped' is a strong word, wouldn't you say?" Ben shook his head, turning to look Jackson in the eye.
"No," he replied coldly. "When you deliberately give a person a fraction of an identity when you know full well that we could find something better for her, just so she has no other option than to stay with you, I would say that 'trapping' is putting it mildly."
Jackson turned to face the elevator panel. "Don't be dramatic," he snapped. "She wouldn't have known what to do with a full identity." Jackson could try to convince himself of this, but even he knew that it was bullshit. He had fully intended to give her a completely new life and send her on her way, but even as he reminded himself early on that the idea of them together was absurd, he had wanted to make sure that she stayed close to him.
Ben laughed. "Okay, sure," he replied, obviously unconvinced. "But while you work to keep her stuck with you because it's what you want, Cal is helping her to be able to stand on her own by letting her, not forcing her, into his life, which isn't what he wants." He sobered again. "They probably would make a good pair, but luckily for you, Lisa sees Cal as a way to find out more about you, and he's too wrapped up in Cheryl to think about other women." He laughed bitterly. "And you pretend to care about what they want."
The elevator came to a stop, and Jackson followed at Ben's heels. He knew that Ben was wrong- he did care. Why else would he have been trying to send them away? It wasn't his fault that they chose to stick around. "Why didn't you tell me that you know Lisa?" he demanded, conveniently ignoring Ben's dig regarding Lisa and Caleb as some kind of couple- he refused to even consider it.
Ben slid his key card into the door, stepping into his room and pushing the door open to allow Jackson to follow. "Don't worry," he said, tossing the card on a nearby table. "I won't tell Lisa shit. It's none of my business." He pulled a bottle of water from the mini-bar, sitting in a chair near the window. "I didn't tell you about where I live because I didn't want anything to do with your little plan." He unscrewed the lid and took a drink as Jackson sat in the chair across from him, crossing his arms. "She's my friend, and I didn't want to be the one to hurt her."
Jackson ran a hand through his hair. "It wasn't my plan," he reminded the assassin. "And you know Robert would have been worse with her." He was used to jabs from Ben, and had learned years ago that it was better to not acknowledge half of what the man said.
Ben nodded. "True," he conceded, "but that's my reason. Good enough?"
Jackson eyed him for a moment, studying his former friend. He finally nodded, deciding that Ben's explanation was reasonable. He still had questions, but there were other people that he would rather be talking to. And it wasn't merely a question of whether or not he should kill Ben- he also had to consider the consequences of deciding not to, and that kind of decision just couldn't be made after one discussion. He got to his feet, deciding to postpone their conversation for the time being. He had read Lisa and Caleb's room number from the receptionist's lips in the lobby- it was time to pay the Rippners a visit.
Jackson headed for the door, and heard Ben following him. "I know Marie's orders," he announced, causing Jackson to stop in his tracks. "And you do what you have to, but I won't run." Jackson crossed his arms again, trying to keep a neutral face as he leaned against the wall, but it was difficult to pretend that the aspect of killing a man who he had once called a friend wasn't eroding what was left with his sanity. "If it comes down to that," Ben continued, "when the job is over, we're going to settle this."
Jackson forced a smirk. "Pistols at dawn?" he asked with light sarcasm.
Ben grinned. "Something like that," he replied dryly, and walked away. Jackson turned to walk out the door. "Oh," Ben added from behind him, prompting him to turn around again. "A couple of thins you might find interesting. I was going to take Lisa to the airport like you wanted. I thought she was useless, but she talked me out of it." He shrugged. "Technically Cal did first, but she sealed the deal. And our plan for Cheryl tonight? It wasn't my idea, and it wasn't Cal's...Lisa came up with it, and it's pretty good. And she's helping to get a back up plan for you tomorrow. Maybe she isn't as helpless as you think."
Jackson nodded shortly. "Fascinating," he replied coldly, and walked out. He shook his head as he walked down the hallway. Ben was wrong about one thing- he had known Lisa wasn't helpless since their first flight. But he did realize that he had underestimated her yet again. As much as it irritated him that she insisted on putting herself at risk, it made him love the fiery former-redhead even more.
Jackson stepped in the elevator, pressing the button for the twenty-seventh floor. He sighed deeply. He had prided himself for years on being able to read a situation and know the solution, but she was such a game changer. When it came to Lisa, nothing he did was right- if he opened up to her, he was pulling her further into his twisted world and putting her life at risk. If he pushed her away, he was an asshole.
He had to face facts. A few days ago, sending her on her way would have been the right thing, and probably would have worked. Instead, he had let his emotions get the better of him, second-guessed everything, and now that opportunity was gone. She wasn't going anywhere unless she decided that it was time. Unless...well, unless he made her hate him. And he certainly knew how he could do it. But no- Jackson had done many disgusting things in his life, but he didn't have it in him to hurt her like that.
Jackson exited the elevator, and made his way to 2701. He raised his fist to knock, but leaned forward, gently resting his forehead on the door, his palm flat against the polished wood. He finally figured it out. His actions kept coming out wrong because he was making the decisions himself. He thought back to the airport, when he had finally broken down and kissed Lisa. He had realized that what he wanted was a connection, but a connection required two parts coming together on equal terms.
He loved Lisa, and she loved him. So it was too late for him to make a unilateral decision. He had to lay it all down, and let her decide what she wanted to do. Hopefully he could make her see reason, and she would leave Miami as quickly as possible. And hopefully she would refuse.
Okay, I promise that we're reaching the end of Jackson's little seesaw. He will go out with a bang though. :D
R&R- I've already started working on a little side story for those who review this chapter...but I'm not telling what it's about. :P They tend to be longer than a PM, so if you guys could PM me with your email addresses, it would be easier to send it. If you want to stick to PMs, it's totally fine, but if not, please write it like this: dick0382 umn . edu or the censor will delete your email address. is mean like that.