Innocent People's Lives

Chapter Sixteen

"Are you sure about this, Sir?"

Keefe tried not to glare at the young staffer before him. "I'm certain."

"It's just… no one's ever done anything like this. Is Miss Reisert a suspect?"

"No, Kyle, I'm just worried about her. I'm also worried the police aren't investigating her disappearance seriously. Hospital footage shows her with a man. It's very possible that her life is in danger."

"If you're sure, Sir… I will call the studio right away."

"I'm very sure. Finding Lisa is of the utmost importance. She was there when the bomb went off. She may have seen who killed my wife. We have to find her. Unharmed."

"Yes, Sir."

Jackson woke shortly after eight to find Lisa still curled up beside him. He felt the ghost of a smile cross his lips at the closeness. He didn't want to get up and leave her, but his stomach growled. He needed food and coffee, not necessarily in that order.

He slipped out of bed and tucked her back in under the covers. Lisa didn't move, still asleep.

He turned the TV on low and changed clothes. He would just run down the street to McDonald's, grab food and bland coffee, and be back before she woke. At least that was the plan.

"Jack?" she called, sleepy.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

He inclined his head. "For what?"

"Last night…" she said softly. "And before. For helping me. For being here for me."

There was a slight smile on his face. "I wasn't going to let you die, Leese. I'm not a monster."

"I know."

"You don't need to thank me."

"But I want to." She sat up. "I want to thank you."

The TV came back from commercial break and Jackson glanced at the screen, which had a picture of her. He reached for the buttons, turning up the volume.

"…Presidential Candidate Charles Keefe is offering a reward for information leading to the location of Lisa Reisert. Miss Reisert was injured in the bombing that killed Sarah Keefe and has been missing since. There is reason to believe that she was the target of the terrorist attack, not Mrs. Keefe. If you have any information—"

Jackson muted the sound.

"What does that mean?" she asked him.

"It means we're running out of time. People will be looking for you. Police will try to intercept you. It also means that I'll be shot on sight. He's either setting you up as the bomber or as a victim. Which means I'm the captor."

"But you didn't do anything. I didn't do anything."

"We know that, but he has the power right now. He can tell whatever story he wants and it is his word against ours."

Lisa crossed her arms. "So what do we do?"

"Right now? I'm going to get some breakfast and think. When I get back, we'll talk about our next move. Okay?"

She nodded. "I guess."

"Just stay here and keep the windows covered. I'm just going across the street. Don't do anything rash."

"I won't."

He shot her an encouraging smile. "Don't worry, Leese. We'll find a way out of this. I promise."

"You have a plan?"

"It's getting there. Just… I'll be back, okay?"

"Okay."

He unlocked the door. "No more than thirty minutes. You can time me."

"I'll be here, Jack. I promise."

She felt his eyes on her as he backed out of the room and closed the door behind him. It was strange how they had fallen into a routine in such a short period of time. It felt wrong to actually be alone now.

She climbed out of bed and scrambled through her suitcase in search of a change of clothes. Her outfit from yesterday would have to be trashed. She pulled out a clean set of jeans, a t-shirt, and a sweatshirt. As much as she knew she should change into real clothes, there was something comforting about wearing his shirt. It faintly smelled of him, which relaxed her instead of repulsing her.

After spending ten years despising Jackson Rippner, she found herself needing him. He saved her life and then she had saved his. They were even now.

But she had no idea when her life would get back to normal or if it even would. Her boss had his wife killed. He wanted her dead and he'd hired Jackson to do it. And now he was on the news, offering a reward, and pretending to be concerned her well-being. All Lisa could do was count her blessings that Jackson wasn't on the news too.

And pray that he had a plan.

Stopping Keefe would be nearly suicidal. He had come to terms with that.

This was no longer about his job or even his reputation. It was about her. Lisa Reisert. She had gotten under his skin in a way no one else had. She had only been a pawn in the beginning, but now, after ten years, she was part of his life.

She was the key to stopping Keefe once and for all. She was the man's weakness. She also had access to files. And he had Mark's keys. He could get the evidence he'd been longing for.

Jackson also knew he was the only thing keeping her alive at the moment. Had they split up, she would've gone to Mark. And Mark would've led her right to her death. Hell, he probably would've pulled the trigger or pushed her in front of the Metro.

In a strange way, Jackson was responsible for the entire mess. He had been the one to take the assignment to look into Keefe. He hadn't balked at the suggestion to manipulate and use Lisa. In fact, he hadn't hesitated when he learned about her ill grandmother. He didn't stop to think when he chased her with a knife.

What he had done in the past was unforgiveable. Maybe she should've let Mark kill him.

Jackson shook his head to clear his thoughts. Lisa wouldn't be safe until he took Keefe down. And it would have to be public. That way Keefe could never hurt her again.

He would need help to pull it off. As much as he hated to involve others, he needed his team. They were the only other people he trusted. And somehow, he didn't think Lisa would approve of the plan taking shape in his head.

Lisa pinched the bridge of her nose a few hours later. "Let me get this straight. You want me to walk, unarmed, into a trap? A trap that Keefe is running?"

"Yes and no. Keefe won't kill you on sight. He has no idea how much you know and who you told. He won't kill you right away. But I need evidence. All you have to do is get him talking."

"He's not going to incriminate himself."

"He will if you insinuate we have evidence."

She shook her head. "Charles is smarter than that. He'll see right through me."

"I'll be using Mark's access keys to get files. I just need Keefe to admit his guilt. To admit he had Sarah killed. That alone guarantees that he's done."

"A fake terrorist attack?"

"Homicide, Leese. It might just be enough to get the rest of his deeds to come to light."

"I don't think so."

"I'll be just a few hundred feet away at all times. If you're in danger, I'll save you. No one is going to hurt you."

She paced a short line. "Your plan isn't going to work."

"It has to."

Lisa shook her head. "You're onto something, but it's not right. What if I could get Keefe to admit everything? The flight, Sarah…"

"That's not possible."

"He won't kill me on sight. You said that. What if I convince him that I'm a victim? He's already playing that card for the public. I can stage an escape."

"It won't work. I'm sure he has footage from the hospital by now."

"I will tell him I was sacred for my life," she said, which was in fact the truth. At the time, she'd been terrified. In the end, she had chosen the evil she knew over the evil she didn't. "That you threatened me. That I had no choice."

"And why didn't I kill you?"

"You wanted to turn me against him. You made me exploit my link to Mark. To try and gather evidence."

He sighed, sinking down into a chair. "This might work. It actually might work…"

She smiled a bit. "Of course it will. I will tell him everything he wants to hear. Then he'll confide in me and you'll get it all on tape. The end."

"We can't do this alone."

"Who else would help us?"

"My team," he said. "I can call them in for back-up. That way we can arrest Keefe on site as soon as he confesses. It will give us a chance to really, truly nail the bastard."

"I don't…"

"Do you trust me, Leese?"

She frowned. "Yes… but…"

"I trust them. With my life."

"I trusted Mark and we both know how well that worked out."

He ran a hand through his hair. "That was different."

She sat across from him and leaned forward. "How do you know that Keefe isn't controlling them? You told me that you've been working this case for over a decade. How come you don't have a solid piece of evidence yet?"

"He uses intermediaries."

"Not with you. You've seen him face-to-face, right?"

"Couldn't risk a wire."

"You were a witness."

"Hearsay. He was a powerful government official. No one wanted to start that particular war. Certainly not my superiors."

Lisa sighed in frustration. "This can work, but I don't want just any guys helping us."

"They're my team, Leese. My family. I trust them with my life."

She looked deep into his eyes. So very blue and sincere. She knew he would never deliberately put her at risk. Not anymore. He cared too much.

"And I trust you," she said softly.

"Good."

"Just… tell me one thing, please?"

"Anything," he said without hesitation.

"What's your real name?"

Author's Notes:

Not as long as I had expected and certainly wordier, but there's some good stuff to come. They're at a crossroads now.

But trust me – you guys are gonna LOVE chapter 17. I think it will go up tomorrow.