Ross noticed that everything was not alright.
"Mr. Pole? Is everything alright?" Ross asked.
He wanted to yell that everything was far from alright, but he just sat there and stared into space.
"We don't have time. It's either Cassandra or Amanda". He finally said.
He heard Ross sigh. No one could be more frustrated than him.
"What do you plan on doing?" Ross asked.
"Bringing security or the law emforcement could threaten Amanda's life. I can't risk that". He said, rubbing his eyes.
"Does that mean you plan on going alone, Mr. Pole?" Ross asked, his voice full of concern.
Jack looked up at him. The lunatic might just decide to kill them all.
"No. I need to pay someone a visit." He said with a crooked smile.
"Should I get the car ready?" Ross asked, half standing.
"No. I want to drive myself. Monitor Miss Wilson".
He picked up his jacket and left.
He got into the car and fastened his seatbelt. He took out his phone and dialled a number.
"Hello". The person on the other end said, almost immediately.
"Hello". He responded.
"How can I help you?" The person asked.
"I want to book an appointment". He said.
The other end went silent.
"Just say when and where". The person said after a brief interval.
"I'll text you the details right now. Don't keep me waiting". He said and hung up.
He drove toward the hill. There was a house there. His house. It was a long way from the hospital.
He got there and waited by his car. He didn't want to go in just yet.
The field around was filled with lilies and primroses. It was a beautiful sight, but he was too disturbed to enjoy it.
A lamborghini pulled up close to where he waited. He watched as the tyres of the car mercilessly murdered flowers.
The door slid up and a leg slipped out. He saw a nice pencil heel. Another leg slipped out, then the body followed suit.
She was wearing a tight short dress. Her hair looked like it had been freshly curled. She looked stunning, but in a slut kind of way. Her eyes were dark with mascara and her lips were a dull rouge. She wore pearl hoops on her ears.
He watched her as the wind whipped her hair to the left.
"You're on time". He said when she approached him.
"You said I shouldn't keep you waiting. I didn't want you to lose interest". She said with a seductive smile.
The wind kept throwing her hair in her face.
She pulled it behind her ear.
"Shall we?" He asked, nodding towards the house.
She followed him. He disabled the security system and they went inside.
"Coffee or you prefer something strong?" He asked when they were in the kitchen.
"I don't like to drink on the job. You can go ahead". She said.
He closed the cupboard and sat down across her on the breakfast table.
"So how did you find out about me?"She asked, looking directly into his eyes.
"A friend recommended you. Why do you ask?" He asked.
"I usually hand pick my clients, but I made an exception for you". She said, tapping her fingers on the mahogany.
"And why the exception?" He asked, playing along.
"Time is money. You gave me the impression you had a lot to offer". She said and looked at him from beneath her lashes.
"That sounds a bit rehearsed, if you ask me. Do you say that to all your clients?" He asked.
She was shocked at first, but slowly smiled.
"I like you already". She said and bit her lower lip.
Her actions were quite distracting so he had to look away.
"I want you to accompany me to a party". He said.
"Why should I do that? Don't you have someone more important you would like to take?" She asked, her eyebrows quirked in confusion.
He opened his phone and showed her an image of Cassandra in the hospital. He had taken it when she was asleep.
"I have someone. But her life is in danger. I can't risk it." He said.
"Then don't attend the party". She said, shrugging.
"My sister's life is in danger if I don't bring the girl in that photo". He said.
She looked back at the photo and touched the face.
"She looks exactly like me. Who is she?" She asked.
"Her name is Cassandra Wilson".
"Cassandra? Why does she look exactly like me?" She asked.
"I don't know". He said.
"So you came looking for me because I look like her? Who are you?" She asked.
"Calm down. This is a lot to take in. Yes, I called you because you look like her. You would make a good decoy. I'm Jack Pole". He said, looking into her eyes.
"Jack Pole? The Jack Pole. Are you kidding?" She asked, shocked and a little too excited.
"That is me".
She offered her hand for a handshake.
He took her hand and kissed it instead.
"So do we have an agreement?" He asked, still holding her hand.
"Don't you want to know who I am?" She asked.
"I already know who you are, Camila". He said.
She wasn't so shocked.
"So what's in it for me? What's the catch?" She asked, leaning forward on the table.
"You understand this is dangerous, right?" He asked.
"I expect you to conpensate for that generously".
"Also, your hair is too long, I want you to cut it shorter". He added.
"Done. Anything else?" She asked, drumming again.
"I will tell you what to wear."
"Deal. Let's talk cash now".
"A hundred thousand dollars". He said.
She looked like she was expecting much more.
"Fair enough. It's a deal". She said with a crooked smile.
"So what's the plan?" She asked.
"You will attend the party with my decoy. I will send in security and the law enforcement to protect you. If everything goes well, we catch the culprit and jail him, but, if everything goes south and he captures you..."
"Captures me?" She cut him off to ask.
"I'm not finished. If everything goes south, you would have a tracker. We would insert it in your mouth. We would track you and get to him".
He handed her a picture of the culprit.
She looked closely.
"He looks familiar". She said.
"How?"
"I don't know. Where would you be?" She asked.
"I would fly Cassandra out of the country".
"Why does he want Cassandra, anyway?" She asked.
"I'm not paying you to ask questions". He said.
"Just tell me the when and where".
"After you get your tracker on, you will fly to New York tonight". He said.
"Then let's get to it, shall we?"