Chapter 15

"Ok, this is weird", Jackson says to her.

He didn't know what to say. He had seen this woman lastnight. Given her a ride home. Realizing the next morning that she was his next target. Now here he was trying to get to the bottom of this and she was standing here looking at him like he was crazy.

"Theres a coffee shop right up the road. Its a public place, lots of people. Please do me this one favor and sit down and talk to me. Give me 30 minutes of your time at least and I promise, I wont ask you another question."

She continued to look at him strangely but she slowly nodded her head.

"Ok. 30 minutes and thats it."

"My cars right there", he said as he pointed across the street.

" I think I'll walk, its not that far."

"Well, can I at least walk with you?"

"Yeah, thats fine."

They walked in silence. He wanted to wait until they were seated to ask her anything. He wanted to be able to look into her eyes to see if she were lying. Five minutes later he was holding the door open for her. He was thankful that she walked toward to back and sat in the booth in the corner.

Apparently she didnt want what she said to be heard either. Sliding in the booth across from her, he leaned forward. Crossing his arms on the table in front of her, he cleared his throat. Readying hisself to do the most difficult line of questioning he ever had.

Chapter 14

Jackson was standing at Orchid's door. Still struggling with the questions that rang out in his head. Knocking hard on the door he waited. A few seconds later he heard shuffling behind the door. A soft voice whispered,

"Who is it?"

He was thrown back for a second. He looked around, making sure he was at the right place. Certain that he hadn't made a mistake, he lifted his hand to knock again, but stopped when she asked again, this time a little louder,

"who is it?"

"Its Jackson", he said loudly.

It was quiet behind the door for a moment and then he heard the lock on the door being turned. He looked up as the door eased opened slowly. She didn't open it all the way, only slightly, yet wide enough to see her face. It was definately her. She had sounded different thru the door.

"Hey. You said that I should stop by today."

She squinted her eyes at him.

"What?", she asked.

"You remember lastnight, I gave you a ride home.."

"Oh! Lastnight. Im sorry...I...I dont remember. Lastnight was..I think..who are you?", she stumbled.

"Jackson. I mean we dont really know eachother but we met lastnight."

"Lastnight is kind of a blur", she said.

"You mind if I come in?", he asked.

She shook her head wildly.

"No, no..you cant come in."

"But you said lastnight.."

"I already told you I dont remember lastnight!", she yelled.

He held his hands up quickly as in surrender.

"Look Orchid, I know you dont remember me but I really need to talk to you, its very important."

"What did you call me?"

"Orchid."

"Are you sure you've got the right person? My name is Amy."

Chapter 13

Jackson was back at the hotel now. Not long after arriving he was fast asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He woke up the next morning to a knock on his door. Looking out of the peep hole he didn't see anyone. Grabbing his .22 from the dresser drawer, he held it close to his side as he slowly looked around the corner. Noone. But a package was sitting outside of his door. Snatching it up as soon as he saw it, he rushed inside. Ripping it open he quickly read over the information on the top sheet. Name, Address, location, directions. He stopped when what he had just read sunk in. It was the name. Not a name a person could mistake. In big bold print the name read "Orchid". He didnt want to see anymore, but he had to look. The picture. There was always a picture, identifying the target. Maybe there was a slim chance that it was someone else. He took a deep breath and flipped to the next page. It was exactly what he was dreading. There in black and white, a photo taken of Orchid. The girl he had just met. What cruel act of fate was this. He was starting to feel like the butt of somebodys sick joke. A joke he didn't find funny at all. He didn't know what to do. His first thought was to call Killer, but he decided against it. No, he'd deal with him later. First he needed to talk to his next mark. He had been looking forward to taking her up on her invitation. Now he was confused, but anxious to get to the bottom of things. He wasn't sure how soon he should go over, yet he didn't know how long he could wait it out. In the span of 2 hours he had smoked 3 ciggerettes and itching for a fourth. Deciding he couldn't take it anymore he rushed out of his room taking long strides down the hall, rounding the corner so fast he almost knocked two women over. As soon as the elevator opened he was pushing past a chubby bald guy and a tall lanky fellow that seemed to be taking their time figuring out if they were getting on or off. He counted to 10 in his head and exhaled.

"Is this your floor", Jackson asked the men.

"I dont think so", the bald guy replied as he pushed the button for the 1st floor.

Jackson didn't wait for the men to move, quickly shoving them aside, he bounded across the lobby floor, people in his way scattering left and right. He fingered his .22 nuzzled snug in his pocket as he went. He didnt know what he was going to do or say but he had to see her now. This was one thing that just couldn't wait.

Chapter 12

Orchid Caressed the blade in her hand. Gentely, careful not to cut herself. She liked to cut. Clean straight lines opening skin so seemlessly. The slow forming of red leaking thru. She liked to cut other people, not herself. It would be a shame to mark up her pretty skin. So she used other people as her canvas. Most of her subjects were willing, sometimes not. She cringed as she thought of the mess she'd made with the last one. She had gotten a little carried away, it was a mistake. Everyone made mistakes right. She shook her head, trying to shake away the memory. She had to move on. There was nothing she could do to change what happened. Apparently saying Im sorry wasn't good enough. Tossing the blade onto the table she sighed. The inspiration was gone now. No longer feeling like looking for a new toy to play with, she started to fumble with her clothes. Too many buttons. She rolled her eyes as she finally shrugged out of the ugly brown top. Slidding off the matching skirt, she bundled up the clothes and tossed them in the laundry basket. Smiling as she looked down at herself, checking herself out in the mirror on the bathroom door. "At least she has cute bra's and panties", she said to herself. Going back to her room she lay across the bed, tucking a pillow under her head. The last thing on her mind before she passed out was Jackson.

Chapter 11

Jackson was smiling as he drove down the road. Thinking of the strange but unique encounter he just had. He had the strongest urge to turn around and go back. He didnt know why but he felt compelled to satisfy this urge. So he turned around and drove back to Orchids house. He was surprised to see her squatting down on the side of house. He couldn't see what she was doing. He decided to get out of the car to make sure everything was ok. He walked up behind her. She must have heard him coming because she jumped up, holding her right hand behind her back.

"Is everything ok?", he asked her.

"Why are you still here? I thought you left."

"You didn't answer my question."

"Well, I wasnt aware that I had to answer to you."

Jackson laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "You dont have to, I was making sure you were ok."

"Im fine", she said.

"What are you hiding?", he asked.

"You ask alot of questions."

"Well, you do alot of questionable things."

"This is probably true, but we already decided that I dont have to answer to you."

"We did. Its just so obvious that your hiding something."

"It should be just as obvious that Im not going to tell you what Im hiding."

He watched as she slid something into her pocket. It was too dark to see exactly what it was but it was definately something small.

She walked passed him and he followed her up the stairs.

"Did I invite you in?", she asked.

"Not yet."

"Then I wouldn't hold my breath. Its late and I dont know you well enough. You could be an axe murderer for all I know."

He laughed and said, "Your right, I could be."

She squinted her eyes at him as if she were trying hard to see him clearly.

"Are you..an axe murderer."

"Do you really think I'd admit it if I were?"

"No. But answer the question anyway."

"No, Im not an axe murder."

She tilted her head to the side and squinted her eyes again.

"I dont know if I believe you. You seem like the dangerous type."

"Right. So you should probably stay away from me then."

"Probably.

"But you wont", he said.

"No. Not if I can help it."

"Are you inviting me in now?"

"No. Your a stranger and its late.."

"Stubborn."

"As a bull."

"But cute."

"I know."

He laughed again and turned to leave.

"Wait. Where are you going?", she asked.

"Doesn't make sense to keep standing here since your not inviting me in because Im a stranger and its late."

She laughed this time.

"You should stop by tomorrow, maybe I'll invite you in."

"Maybe I'll stop by."

He turned again to leave. Silently hoping that she would stop him again but she let him leave. Stopping at his car, he looked back to see her closing the door behind her. As he got into his car and drove away he thought how weird it was that he felt so good about something so simple, when his life was anything but simple. Maybe, that was exactly what he needed.

Chapter 10

Orchid smiled at Jackson flirtatiously. He looked kind of cute. But it was hard to tell in the dark. He seemed to be the mysterious type, and that she definately liked.

"So where are you headed", he asked her.

"Home. I need to get out of these clothes".

"And into what?"

She laughed at his two sided remark.

"Wouldn't you like to know."

She folded her arms across her chest as the wind began to make her shiver from the chill.

"Here", Jackson said as he took off his leather jacket and handed it to her.

She waved it away at first, but after he insisted, she accepted it. The over sized jacket swallowed her in, warming her instantly in its cocoon.

"Thank you", she said as she pulled it tightly around her.

"No problem. You need a ride home?"

"Actually..I do."

She followed Jackson back to his car. Once inside she thought for a second that maybe she should just walk back. In the very next second, she thought how exciting this was. Accepting a ride late at night with this mysterious stranger. Definately a dangerous thing, yet she wasn't moving. Before she could think again he was pulling off, asking her what direction to take. The ride back home seemed to be really short. She sat inside his car a few seconds longer than necessary. Hoping he'd say something. Starting to feel silly, she told him thanks for the ride and opened the car door.

"Maybe I'll see you around sometime.", he said.

"Maybe."

Before she closed the door she remembered that she had on his jacket. Before she could take it off he shook his head and told her to keep it. She smiled and thanked him again, carefully closing the door. She walked away, trying very hard not to look back.

Chapter 9

"Ugh! Not again!", she said to herself as she got up from the floor.

Once again she had woken up in one of the most unlikely places. She felt disgusting as she looked around.

"Gross..is this a bathroom? When was the last time anyone cleaned it?"

She was annoyed. She didn't enjoy the lapses of times. So many things she missed out on. So many things she had to make up for. But, she did love a challenge. She looked down at herself, turning her nose up at the clothes she was wearing. The first thing she had to do was take a shower and change out of these dreadful clothes. She walked over to the sink and washed her hands careful. After drying her hand she used a paper towel to pull the door open. He eyes widen when she realized where she was.

"Great, I would be in the one fastfood joint I hated".

Walking as fast as her legs could take her she sped to the door. Using her paper towel to open yet another filthy door. Once she was outside she dropped it on the ground. She stretched as the cool breeze danced around her. She felt as if she'd been asleep for days. She turned as she heard a car door open in the parking lot. She couldn't see clearly who it was but she could tell it was a man. He wore dark clothing and dark glassed covered his eyes. He was walking toward her. She knew she should be leaving. This was the last place she wanted to be. But she was curious to see who this person was. Instead of walking passed her, he walked right up to her and stopped.

"Do I know you?" she asked

"No. Not yet anyway. Im Jackson."

"Nice to meet you. My name is Orchid."

Chapter 8

Amy sat in a booth across from Kasey at Brusters Burgers. She watched her friend devour a burger, large frie and a pecan pie. All she had was a large Cocoa-cola. She was still to nervous and on edge to even think about trying to digest anything solid. Looking at Kasey stuff a hand full of fries into her mouth was starting to make her stomach turn.

"You ok?", Kasey asked her.

"I dont know. I think I need to run to the bathroom."

Kasey nodded as she continued to eat. Amy walked as fast as she could to the bathroom. Not wanting to make a spectical of herself. Pushing her way into the bathroom, she looked around, checking to see if anyone else was there. Certain that she was alone, she leaned back against the wall, slowly sliding down to the floor. She was feeling dizzy now. Holding her head between her legs she tryed to steady her breathing. It wasn't helping. She held her hand up to her chest, her heart beat was racing. She inhaled one last time before she passed out on the floor.

Chapter 7

The last song had ended. And now she was gone. He looked around hoping he'd catch her on her way out. But it was hard to see with all the people crowding around the dance floor as the music blasted louder from the DJ's booth. He noticed a girl getting up and walking to the door. He remembered that she had come in about 5 minutes before the singer walked out on stage. Thinking that maybe they had come together, he got up, pushing past the crowd of people, fighting his way to the exit. A burst of cool air hit him as he stepped outside. It was a welcomed feeling compared to the stuffy atmosphere he had just left. He looked around quickly, hoping that she hadn't left already. He spun around when he heard the engine of a car. He spotted it just as he was pulling off. He raced to his car and jumped inside, waiting a few seconds before pulling off behind them.

Chapter 6

Jackson sat out in front, sipping on a gin and tonic. The guy playing the saxophone looked familiar, but he couldn't place him. It was probably best that he didn't. The people he knew were usually people not worth knowing. Feeling on the edge of boredom, he was about to leave when this girl walked out on stage. You didn't expect to see a girl like her in a place like this. There was something different about her. The intensity in her eyes as she stared into the audience. It seemed as if she were startled by the spotlight that surrounded her. But that only lasted a moment. When she opened her mouth and started to sing, he couldn't help but stare in amazement. An angelic voice singing Mariah Careys "My All". He hadnt heard that song in so long. But hearing it now, the words tumbling from the lips of this gorgeous stranger, it was like hearing it for the very first time. He didnt like what he was feeling. Yet he couldnt stop it. He didn't usually get caught up, his job didn't allow it. He knew he should just get up and leave now before he did something stupid. But he didnt move, couldn't. All he could do is sit and stare as she sang the words that seemed to pierce his heart.