Innocent People's Lives
Chapter Seven
It wasn't. Not by a long shot.
First, Jackson woke her just after daybreak to hit the road. His version of a wake-up call included a cup of water to the face, which left her sputtering and damp. He didn't seem to notice or care.
Breakfast was a stale bagel and lukewarm black coffee. Jackson's generosity left a lot to be desired.
They hit the road, heading north again. Jackson's plan was to slowly drive them back into the lion's den, where he hoped she could use her access to get them into Keefe's office. She told him it was absurd many times and he still refused to listen to her.
They were on the road for about two hours before there was a loud pop and the car started to spin.
Jackson barely managed to guide them to the shoulder and avoid a guardrail. After they stopped and her heart resumed beating at a normal pace and rhythm, they got out to see the left rear tire had blown.
Lisa was treated to the sight of Jackson trying—and failing spectacularly—to change a tire, all the while cussing.
He'd stripped out of his usual jacket to struggle with the tire, but stayed in his button-up shirt with the sleeves carefully rolled up. He looked very out of place on the roadside, dirty and mussed. He almost looked human. Almost.
After about twenty minutes and two lug nuts, she finally caved in and reached for the tire iron. "Let me."
"Let you what?" he asked, grease high up on his right cheek. She didn't know how he'd managed that since the shredded tire was still on the car. It was probably because their "rental" was a good twenty years old and five years past due for a wash. His hands were practically black.
"I can't believe you don't know how to change a tire."
"I never had to. I buy quality."
She rolled her eyes and jerked the tire iron from his hand. "Scooch."
He moved a bit to the side.
She got the next nut off easily. The fourth one was stuck so she skipped it and went to the next one. "Got any soda in the car?"
"Soda? Why? You thirsty?"
"Coke would be great. There's some rust and it's going to make changing it out a bitch. The acidity would help with the rust."
"How do you know all this?" Jackson asked.
"My first car got a flat on the highway about two hundred miles from home. It was an older car with hardly any maintenance done to it. I got the bolts off but the tire was rusted to the wheel. Turns out I was still running on the original tires. I had to call AAA to get it changed and that's what the guy recommended."
"Your dad didn't come running to your rescue?"
"I was in Texas at the time. It would've been a plane flight and then some for him to help me."
Jackson nodded. "You're making me look bad, Leese."
"That's my secret plan. I sabotaged the tire just to make you feel less like a man."
"It's working."
She smiled for the first time since this entire mess began. "Good. Now, soda?"
"Think I've got some." He went around the side and opened the backseat door.
She undid everything except the stubborn nut and waited for him to hand her a can of Coke. Sure enough, it worked like a charm and after a moment she was able to get the last nut undone. She poured some more on the back of the tire and waited.
Then, with Jackson's help, they wrestled the old tire off the axle and rolled it toward the trunk. Jackson lifted the spare out and rolled it toward her. They were working together as a team and it secretly amused her. It also helped that she was clearly the leader in their little project. Jackson didn't know what he was doing and it had to be driving him crazy.
Together they got the spare in place, lug nuts tight, and loaded the tools and the ruined tire back into the trunk. They were both greasy and dirty. But it was done and they were back on the road again.
Ten Years Ago
"There's been a change in plans."
Jackson looked up at the board full of details he'd been triple checking for the past two days. "What do you mean there's been a change? What?" he hissed into the phone.
"My secretary called the hotel to confirm our plans the other day. When she asked for our girl, she was told that she's on leave for a family emergency. She's not due back until after my trip."
"I'll look into it. See what I can do from this end. What's important right now is for you not to panic. Do you understand? Do not panic. I have everything under control."
"Are you sure?"
"Trust me. It's why you hired me. I'll find a way around it."
And find a way, he did.
Author's Notes:
Just a short one today. Keefe in the next chapter, which I plan to post tomorrow.