"They said you would come here and I'm tell them when you did." He replied.
"Tell them that if they hurt her I will kill them, every single one of them. Then I'll come back here and I will kill you too." Jackson's lips snarled like a pit bull's ready to attack. "I will ask you just one more time. Where do they have her?" The boy looked down at his feet and now Jackson really could see his hands shaking. This kid was too young for this.
"They have her at the store house. It's two blocks directly behind this house." He said not meeting his gaze.
"Let me give you some advice kid. Get out. Do not look back and just leave. When I'm done here, you won't have to worry about someone coming after you. Just leave." Jackson turned and left the door wide-open. He looked at his car and decided against driving over there. He was sure that the boy wouldn't be calling Lincoln at the other house but he didn't want to give them any kind of warning that he was coming. So he pulled himself up over the fence dropping down onto his feet and repeated it on the back of the yard. He dropped into the neighbor's side and slide along the fence. In the dark the neighbors would not likely see him but he did not want to risk it. He opened the gate and crept across the street. Though a window he could see Lincoln smoking a cigarette on a couch. A few other members stood around laughing by the TV. He didn't see her through in the living room; he walked around the house and found a loose basement window. Jackson pulled it open and slides his body down and land backwards into the dank basement.
"Whose there?" A voice asked from the center of the room. Jackson turned slowly and saw her tied to the chair, blindfolded. A purple bruise that had formed around her eye peeked out from under the black fabric. She'd been crying, he saw the streaks running down her cheeks.
"Leila." He breathed her name and she couldn't contain herself.
"Jackson!" She shouted out his name causing him to leap towards her clasping his hand around her mouth.
"Shh, I want to get you out of here before they find out." He whispered to her, pulling the blindfold away from her eyes. "Be very quiet okay?" He asked her before moving his hand away. Leila started silently cried she wanted to hug him and kiss him. He moved behind her and undid the ropes binding her to he chair. She stood and wrapped her arms around his neck. Jackson captured her mouth with his as they embraced. He was so happy to have her back.
"How did you find me?" She whispered. Jackson shook his head.
"Not now. Let's go." He pointed to the window and lifted her up and out of it. He was about to jump up himself when the door banged open. Jackson slowly turned and faced Lincoln.
"I sent someone to check up on the house. They said someone's hotrod was parked in our yard and Melvin was nowhere to be found. I'm guessing that was you. What did you do to him?" Lincoln said his words coolly, barely even regarding Jackson.
"Does it matter? You're never going to go after him." Jackson glared back at him.
"I always get my revenge, even if it takes eight years." Lincoln replied. "I hope she's a fast runner because the boys upstairs will be chasing her and if they catch her this time they won't be so nice a second time around." Jackson balled his fist by his side. "What's wrong cat got your tongue?" Lincoln asked before he launched himself towards Jackson who swiftly sidestepped the attack. Jackson aimed his fist low in Lincoln's abdomen and shoved his palm up his nose. He went down and stayed down for enough time that Jackson moved to the other side of room. He bounced on his feet waiting for Lincoln to get back up but the sound of sirens blared outside of the house. They could hear the sound of a wooden door splintering as it crashed open.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Leila sat on the back on an ambulance bus an aluminum blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She stared down at the road below her feet. The police were still talking to Jackson, confirming the story that she'd told them three times already. Once she'd made it through the window, she ran to the neighbor's banging on door after door until one opened up and let her in. They let her use their cell phone to call the police. From there she waited until the sirens sounded, until from the kitchen window she saw Jackson walking out the door with two officers in handcuffs. Leila ran so fast back to the scene demanding that he be released.
The emergency medical technician came back and asked her to lie back down. He wanted to do a fetal monitor check; Lincoln had been oddly respectful of the baby after she told him that she was in fact with child. She didn't endure torture. Now Leila stared at the monitor screen, the baby's heartbeat once again filled her ears just as Jackson was released to join her. He took her by the hand and kissed it gingerly.