The Lies I Believed

I'll Take My Leave

The desert sand was irritating Asher's eyes as he and Jackson waited for Aaron to arrive. Aaron had already informed his boss that he was leaving immediately for France after the meeting. He had shut down his hideout, hoping it would be fine the next time he returned to Palm Springs. Even that was a farfetched miracle. Jackson had already sent Jenni and a few others to arrest the men responsible for Lexi's kidnapping.

When Aaron's car finally pulled up, Jackson put his remaining help on standby. As soon as the exchange was finished, he would follow Aaron. No one was getting away today. They had been perfecting their plan for two days. If things didn't go as planned, Lexi wouldn't be the only one in danger.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here." Aaron leaned against his car. "If it isn't the infamous Jackson. I've heard so much about you."

"You don't seem excited to see me, Aaron."

"Why would I be excited? The very man I've done work for wants me dead."

"No, I don't want you dead."

"You don't?"

Jackson smiled. "Now why would I want you dead? There's so much we can accomplish together. I just want you to do one thing for me."

"And what's that?"

"Return Lexi to her family. We know you didn't kill her."

Aaron barked out a laugh, genuinely surprised they thought he hadn't ended Lexi's lie already. Yeah, maybe he did play off everyone's emotions, but that didn't mean he didn't go through with it. He had fun playing with Lexi, but good times eventually come to an end. Her life was surely being reviewed by someone up above.

"Okay, so I did pretend I'd killed her a couple of times, but I always follow through in the end," he said. "Why would I keep her alive?"

"You still haven't gotten the files, Aaron."

"So? I can't take back what's already done. If you don't believe me, then just turn around. That spot behind you is where I killed her."

"Aaron, even if there was evidence here that proves you killed her, we don't have the body." Asher crossed his arms. "Don't play with me. Where's my wife? The sooner you give her back, the sooner you can ride off with your files."

"I like that idea, but I can't do that. I'm sorry, but she's really dead."

"Let's say that's true," Jackson took a step forward. Aaron frowned. "Why did you wait this long to do it? Usually, you get a job done in...record time. I'm sure if I had called and said I wanted her dead, you would have killed her right then and there. Am I right?"

"Yes, of course. I have an agenda too, you know."

"Yeah, but yours was a bit messed up this time. I think we all know you're lying through your perfect teeth about killing her."

"Aww, you think my teeth are perfect?"

The urge to kill Aaron came on strong. Jackson had to take two steps backwards to save the man from an early demise. He didn't want him dead.

Asher, on the other hand, he was ready to kill anyone else who got in his way. Aaron was testing his patience. He wanted his wife back. He had a feeling Lexi was dead. If only there was a way he could prove it.

"You know what..." Aaron threw his hands in the air and walked around his car to the trunk. "I have a flight to catch. If I miss it, the whole world is going up in flames. You can have your wife back, but I'm going to need those files."

"That was the deal, Aaron. I want to see her first." Asher crossed his arms.

"Sure, I can do that."

Aaron opened the trunk and looked at the woman. Now that he was looking at her, she looked nothing like Asher's wife. From where the two men were standing, they wouldn't be able to tell the difference. It would be too late for them to do anything about it.