Hey guys! Thanks for all your comments! Here's the next chapter, sorry it's up so late. I hope you like it!
Conditional (aka Smooth Jazz) Chapter 12
Jackson clenched and unclenched his fists as he started towards the Captain’s quarters. The cool night air lingered on his features, making him tense further. In the surrounding darkness he thought about how easy an escape would be, and several times his eyes darted to the evenly spaced lifeboats on the side of the deck. The only problem was Lisa’s absence, and Jackson firmly told himself that he wasn’t leaving without her. Besides, he was intelligent, charming, handsome; couldn’t he talk his way out of whatever predicament the captain would undoubtedly put him in?
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Jackson took a step back, waiting for an answer from the other side of the door. Sure enough, it didn’t take but three seconds before the door was swung open, and an older employee raised an eyebrow at him. “Jackson Rippner?”
“The one and only,” he tried to smile.
“This way,” the man said, and ushered him in.
The captain’s work station was a compact room with a table, a few devices linked to the ship, and three cushioned back chairs. “Mr. Rippner, thank you for coming,” an older man greeted him. He had a round gut that looked surprisingly fine when fitted around his captain’s uniform, and an exhausted, albeit genuine grin.
“So,” Jackson began, clapping his hands together, “what am I here for?”
“Sit down, Mr. Rippner,” he replied, gesturing towards the open seats.
“Thank you,” Jackson said, doing as told and adjusting himself on the chair.
“Now, I need you to help me with a little identification,” the captain said, and took up a manila folder. He set it down on the table, and spread out the four black and white snapshots from inside. Jackson tensed instantly, but tried desperately to hide his reaction.
“Here you are, Mr. Rippner,” the captain continued, pointing out Jackson’s small self among the many other passengers who all waited to for the cruise ship to dock. “And your wife, Lisa,” he said, giving him a quick, strange glance. “Now, this is all fine. You’re just passengers on a cruise ship, right? But who’s this?” he pointed now to Lecton, who looked rather annoyed as he was being tossed the keys.
“This man, Edward Lecton, was caught earlier this morning on charges of possession of illegal weaponry and supposedly planning to assassinate the leader of Mexico.” He paused, allowing Jackson to draw in a steady breath. “Now, I’m sure we both know that with the upcoming elections, an assassination would be very dangerous not only on the polls, but on the country as a whole. That’s why we’ve been asked to take special precautions and watch over our passengers. We’ve never had a problem until now.”
The captain eyed Jackson, who at the moment was having a hard time remembering how to deal with this certain situation. He was no longer in control; not of the plans, not even of Lisa. “This man is an associate of mine, yes,” Jackson tried to explain, “we use the same company car. Why do you think I was giving him the keys? He has to drive to work somehow. I don’t think you have any right to badger and accuse me in this way. My wife was worried enough when you—”
“Well, she won’t be in the dark for long,” the captain cut in. “Guards!” he shouted.
Lisa was ushered in, walking slowly and looking slightly wide-eyed. She turned to Jackson, who looked evenly, almost warningly at her.
“I’m sorry to drag you all the way up here, ma’am,” the captain apologized. “Please, have a seat.”
“What—what’s going on?” Lisa asked. She sat down cautiously, keeping her eyes on the man talking to her.
“Is this man your husband?” he asked, gesturing towards Jackson. Lisa also tensed, but recovered quickly. Her lips parted.
He must know, she thought.
And if I tell him… I’ll be free. And Jackson…Lisa turned towards her captor, and though his face was falsely calm, and his eyes were holding her gaze in a mute warning, she saw him as helpless. He was bleeding atop her stairs again, and she was holding the gun in her hand. But if she pulled the trigger, what would become of him?
He would go to jail. He would die.
Why did she suddenly care?
“Yes,” she said softly. Then, more loudly, “Yes, he is.”
Jackson’s shoulders slumped slightly, as if in relief, but Lisa didn’t dare to even glance at him. The captain simply nodded. “Do you know this man?” he asked, pulling out the picture that Jackson had been shown and pointing out Lecton with a fat finger.
Lisa finally glanced up at Jackson, who spoke for her. “I already told you he’s my arseociate,” Jackson began in annoyance.
The captain put a hand up. “I want her to tell me,” he said.
“That’s Lecton; he works with Jackson,” Lisa responded. “What’s going on?”
“Your husband is being questioned about the illegal weapons Edward Lecton was transporting, along with a planned assassination that he failed to carry out.” The captain looked grimly as Lisa. “Any information either of you could provide would be very useful.”
“Assassination?” Lisa asked in surprise.
“My wife and I had nothing to do with this. If what you say is true, I can assure you it was a sick plan I took no part in.” Jackson looked at the man, his piercing blue eyes cold but seemingly honest. There was a tense moment of deliberation before the captain sighed.
“I’m not used to this kind of criminal activity taking place on my ship,” he admitted. “So I’ll take your word, for the moment, and let you return to your cabin. You’ll most likely be brought in for questioning tomorrow morning, though.”
Jackson stood up. “Thank you,” he said, and shook the man’s hand firmly. Lisa nodded, and attempted to smile. Few words were exchanged before they breathed in the cold night air.
Jackson linked her arm in his, and they walked brusquely towards their room. “You lied for me,” he said in quiet voice, one they were in the hallway.
Lisa raised her eyebrows. “For you?” she whispered back. “Since when do I do anything for you?”
“Since you became more than my job,” he said, and his eyes looked straight ahead, his mouth a firm, unwavering line.
He swiped his card through the lock, and craned his neck to scan the hallway behind them before entering the room. After flipping the light switch on, he did a slight jog over to the bed, and hurriedly grabbed his suitcase. “Get your bags, we’re leaving,” he said, not bothering to turn around.
“What?” Lisa asked, walking over to his side.
“We can’t stay here. I’m guilty, and it won’t be long before the captain calls in the navy to cuff me and lock me away.”
“But…” Lisa began, and picked up her duffle bag slowly. “How are we—”
“There are lifeboats stationed every few feet around the deck,” Jackson informed her, “I’ll need you to help me cut a few ropes, but after that…” he smirked, “It’ll be smooth sailing.”
“It’s the middle of the night!” Lisa protested. “And in case you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean!”
“Oh, believe me—I noticed,” he quipped. “But we’re not that far from the coast. And I’ve got enough supplies to last us as long as we’ll be out there.”
“I’m not going!” Lisa announced, dropping her bag to the floor. Jackson stopped packing and turned halfway to face her. He narrowed his eyes.
“You know, I’m surprised you’re not more worried about the consequences of not cooperating. I control dear mother’s fate, remember?”
Lisa’s features dulled, no longer angry, but serious. “Are you going to kill her, Jackson? Would you really have one of your dogs stab my mom with his sharp little military knife?” Her eyes were defiant, and she waited for an answer.
“Do you really want to test me?” he asked.
“As a matter of fact,” Lisa said, giving her bag a good kick before setting herself down on the bed, “I do.”
Jackson gripped the end of his suitcase tightly. “I don’t have time for this, Lisa. We have to go
now.”
“Well, too bad, because it looks like you’ll be sailing alone.”
Jackson let out a slow, calming breath, shutting his eyes while his hair fell across his vision. Lisa glanced at him for a moment, then looked away to fix the end of her skirt. She waited almost patiently for his anger; for a threat or a rough tug at her arm. But it never came.
“Fine. Stay here, Lisa. You can get off in Mexico,” Jackson said, his voice hiding all traces of emotion. He snapped the locks on his bag and stood up straight. Their eyes locked.
“Well, I guess this is goodbye,” he said, giving her an almost fond half smile.
“What?” Lisa said quietly, her brow furrowed in confusion.
“Hey, even I have to save my arse sometimes,” he smirked. “You’re not necessary to the job anymore, so if you don’t want to come, don’t.”
Lisa’s lips parted, but even as he inched closer to the door, she couldn’t find the words. His hand gripped the handle, and all she could say was, “Fine. I won’t.”
He was halfway out the door when he stopped. His eyes traced the lines on the wooden floor before he brought his head up to meet her gaze. “You know,” he said, “I really did want you.”
And then he was gone.
Lisa sat up quickly and jogged to the door. She pressed a palm against it, staring at the barrier in disbelief. Then she backed away from it, glancing all around the room. All signs of him had vanished, expect for that tiny scent which lingered around the bed.
“I’m…” Lisa began, and brought her fingertips up the smooth redness of her mouth. “I’m free.”
But alone and confined and thoroughly shocked, she still thought of him, only seconds after he left. She saw his frightening gaze, heard his angry tone, both of which melted into the rare smiles he would give her, and the laughter they had shared. She felt his lips on hers, felt the way he needed her when his body was pressed so constricting against her own. And he wanted her—a fact he had confessed on several occasions. Not the type of wanting where a person looks at something to be used, but rather the kind that is inclusive to everything a person is. Jackson didn’t just want her body, he wanted her.
Lisa wasn’t used to that. Not anymore, anyway.
But she would never get a chance to, because he was gone. He had left her, and all for the better, she assumed. He was a killer, and after he had dirtied her hands in this new assassination, there would have been nothing left in him that she could believe was truly human.
But there wasn’t an assassination. The plans had been destroyed by one man’s carelessness.
“You know…I really did want you.” Lisa’s head snapped up. Tears she hadn’t known were brimming fell unchecked down her pale face. She grabbed her suitcase, put it back down, and picked it back up again. “Forgive me,” she whispered. It was a plea to everyone her absence would continue to hurt. Lisa swallowed, her stomach muscles aching from the tenseness and stress.
Then she too fled out the door.
“Jackson!” she whispered into the night air. Her eyes checked each of the lifeboats as she passed, and lingered on the lapping ocean water as she continued her search. She had managed to circle the deck twice before she stopped, fear gripping at her. The cool wind stung her face and unclothed arms and legs, but she stood still against it. She walked slowly over to the edge and peered out.
Nothing; not even a black spot she could identify as him.
A strong hand grabbed her roughly by the upper arm, spinning her around. Lisa stared, wide eyed, into Jackson’s piercing blue gaze. Time seemed to stand still as he searched her features, his eyes hard and relentless. The lights were dim around them, and his touch was freezing. Lisa breathed out uncomfortably and parted her lips to speak.
Jackson swooped down, his mouth falling over hers. There was so much necessity in his touch, so much raw relief in the way his arms wound around her. Lisa found herself growing dizzy from the contact.
And then, she realized something she couldn’t come to terms with before. She wanted him, possibly as much as he wanted her.
And she began to kiss him back.
Aug 31, 2018 5:37:36 GMT -5