“I see what you mean, Rachel,” Jian said. He pointed warningly at Jean, who was gearing up for a smiling addition for Jian. “Do not disrespect your elders.”
Nick leaned toward Jean, passing Quinn over to Rachel. “What he said, only double. Are we clear?”
“Yes, Sir,” Jean answered in crisp, respectful tone.
* * *
Nick finished ‘Hell Zone’ with a satisfied flourish while typing ‘The End’. He leaned back gazing at the darkening skies. Jean and Sonny worked on their homework. Nick had promised to play piano for everyone after dinner. He smiled at the sense of excitement he had even playing for their small group. His phone buzzed. The Dark Lord in Muerto t-shirt appeared on his screen, drawing a laugh from Nick.
“Oh my… you’ve really gotten into the Muerto mood, huh John?”
Silence. Then scurrying around with Jafar yelping in the background amidst much amusement. Harding came back on the phone a few moments later. “Sorry, Nick. I had to rearrange the disrespectful attitude of my IT worker who decided to prank my caller ID.”
Nick heard the loud cheering in the background, yelling encouragement to Samira. “It sounds like a party.”
“Samira is trying to choke me out in defense of her husband, Jafar, the IT prankster stuffed upside down in our trash barrel. She’ll give up in another few moments.”
Nick heard an ‘Arrrrrghhhh’ of disappointed assault. Lynn called her off, having trouble speaking. “Tell Lucas, that was the best! I can’t even explain the amount of chaos he caused here in his Muerto pajamas.”
“Believe me, Muerto, he knows. I have a problem. Eugene fought Darius last night to a draw, even in the Emirates. It was an incredible match. After the match was the problem. Eugene disappeared. Alexi has every contact he knows decorating the streets with money to find him. Eugene’s wife called me.”
“Oh boy… I just finished promising I wasn’t going back into the Sand. What do you need, brother?”
“It’s a trap. Unfortunately, it’s in the Emirates’ territory. Our government has no interest without proof of foul play. Believe me, Denny and Paul are not happy with this obvious setup. Do you have anyone you trust in the territory.”
“I did, but I used them on my last mission there. I relocated them forever with their families. I can make a call to him and see if anyone else he knows would like the same deal. I heard you made an approach through the desert with Claude Chardin’s help so as not to be seen in the country while acing Ahmed Quadir. He took you by way of Saudi Arabia. I’m afraid that approach would be my death warrant and yours too after what we did to Cafrey’s Isle of Darkness.”
“Very true. You’re well informed about past missions.”
“I found out everything I could about your team after our first meeting,” Nick replied. “If I might suggest something, it’s possible Claude could help us track down the only one we know could be responsible for this: Amir Mohammed Kostler. Most of these kingpins have wives, lovers, sons, daughters, etc. If Claude located an offspring or loved one of Kostler’s, perhaps living here in the states, going to school, or whatever, we snatch them and get Eugene back. Then we deal with Amir down the road at the first opportunity.”
Nick listened to the chorus of agreement in the background. “It would be safer than our teams returning to the Sand for another excursion into ‘Mission Impossible’ territory.”
“You’re right as rain on that,” John agreed. “It seems the Monsters like your idea a lot better. Claude owes you. If I namedrop you into the mix, he’ll root out whatever he can. I’ll call you back. If we can’t find a hostage, I think I’ll work on grabbing Kostler. The Rattler getting taken is on my head. I should have told Alexi to ignore the Middle East. If those assholes want a fight, they’ll need to bring it to Las Vegas or one of the other UFC venues. Talk with you in a bit. Thanks for the input, Muerto.”
“Don’t you say it, boy!”
Nick chuckled at Lucas’s warning. “Live up to the Legend!”
“That sounded bad,” Jean remarked.
“Not really. One of our good guy acquaintances has been taken. John’s looking into my idea of taking one of the bad guy kidnapper’s loved ones. I should have taken the call out of the room. I’m invoking our secrecy clause, kids. There really isn’t anything to talk about anyway until John investigates my problem solution.”
“You won’t go overseas again this soon, will you, Dad?”
“Not by choice, but some people I can’t say no to,” Nick replied. “John won’t take this lightly. He knows the dangers of going into the Sandpit this soon after our intervention there, and this latest trap set for him in the United Arab Emirates.”
“What will you do, Sir,” Sonny asked.
Nick moved over to the piano. “I’ll sing and play. Sand problems will all go away. Then, I can surely stay.”
“Oh barf!” Jean made gagging noises while Sonny enjoyed the interchange with Deke giving out a short bark at Jean’s playacting. “Please don’t do that rhyme in front of anyone.”
“You mean like, ‘Once there lived Jean, who craved danger. She treated her dad like a stranger. He trained her not to be so hyper, but she still turned into a Viper. Her friend, Sonny, knew not what to do. He followed her lead without any clue. Throughout her life she got him in trouble, until finally their lives were in turmoil and rubble.”
By the time Nick finished his rhyme, Jean was trying to strangle him with Deke tugging on her jeans, growling and nipping. Sonny knew better than to get in the middle of a McCarty family rumble. Rachel entered with a serving tray of veggies and dip.
“What the hell is going on up here? Sonny?”
“No comprende, Senora McCarty.”
“Okay… break it up. We have guests coming over.”
“Dad’s doing rhymes. It was horrible!”
“I shall play piano tonight in honor of my finishing ‘Hell Zone’.” Nick stood to embrace Rachel. “You can sit next to me.”
“Just so she doesn’t sing,” Jean inserted, trying to placate Deke.
“Very funny, Daughter of Darkness. I’ll have you know my singing voice has brightened the day for many people.”
“Maybe in Zombie-land. Deke can carry a tune better than you.”
Rachel turned to Nick. “Do you have a rhyme for this disrespectful turd.”
“Daughter of Darkness, still thy mouth, or I see all your electronics going South. Like buggy whips and hippie style, your iPhone and iPad will be in exile. Gone will be guns and knives, replaced by notepads, pens, and boring lives.”
Rachel giggled. “What he said.”
“You were in the Sand too long, Dad. It melted your brain.”
“You need to fill your mouth with food before anymore tidbits of sarcastic, lifestyle changing crap spews forth,” Rachel warned.
“C’mon, Sonny, let’s eat before I get locked in a dungeon.”
* * *
Nick finished the old ‘Four Tops’ song ‘Reach Out’ with Quinn in a swing next to him, gurgling along. Gus, Tina, Johnny, Cala, and Rachel teaching Jian how to dance, filled their huge balcony’s makeshift dance floor. Even a very uneasy Sonny swayed with Jean, trying not to misstep, or do something that could get him killed. Nick enjoyed the hesitant Sonny the most as the kid looked at him during each move. As Nick sipped an iced Jim Beam, his phone buzzed with the back to normal Dark Lord on the screen.
“Hey, Dark Lord, what’s the good word?”
“I hear laughter and the muttering of people who have been enjoying Muerto the Musician. I am pissed Lora and I aren’t there with you.”
“Easy, DL. I will come visit my new home in ‘The Bay’ very soon. You and the Monster Squad, along with the Snow White Auxiliary are invited to hear the dulcet tones of Muerto anytime down here in the ‘Grove’, brother.”
“Yep. We need to do much more of that and less world saving. You were spot on with suggesting Claude be read in on this. He knows Amir Mohammed Kostler personally
. He stopped doing contracts for him a couple of years ago, because Kostler stiffed him on a million-dollar sanction for a Saudi oil executive’s demise. Claude warned him, Amir would not be the only one in danger. Someone advised Amir to pay up and shut up. He did, but Claude refused the offers he’s received since then from Kostler.”
“Nice,” Nick replied, seeing right where the conversation was heading. “During the time Claude thought he might get stiffed, he catalogued some relatives of our buddy, Kostler.”
“Exactly, my brother, and guess where Amir’s number one son goes to college.”
“Oh… tell me it ain’t so. Picture me with my hands making ‘Great Kreskin’ gestures of mind concentration. I…I see… the esteemed dreadnaught of higher education, perversity, treason, and snowflake creation laboratories at the California State University at Berkeley, sometimes known as CSU-Berzerkeley.”
“Great Muerto Kreskin… you have so nailed it. Amir tried to hide everyone from sight. Claude found them all. He focused on the first son, who goes by the name of Barry Rowlings on the internet. He doesn’t seek snowflake degrees. He’s in his last post year of med-school and has already completed an internship. Jared Amir Kostler wants to be a surgeon.”
“Outstanding, DL! You and the Monsters can collect the seed and get your buddy, Eugene, back safe and sound. Thanks for the update. I’m sure Rachel will be glad.”
“Woe… I say woe!”
Nick laughed at John’s reference to the ‘Foghorn Leghorn’ cartoon, complete with voice imitation. “Okay… what’s my connection, Dark Lord. Make it vital or the next time I see you will be when I’m playing piano and singing at a chosen meeting spot.”
“You number one assassins are kind of needy.”
“That’s us… or me… as you like it.”
“You’ll never guess… or yeah, you will… who he watches on YouTube multiple times.”
“It must not be the Dark Lord, or this call would be an afterthought. Young Jared would be sharing cells with Mario Garcia, the former agent for violent events involving the MS-13 gangsters.”
“We gave Mario a hundred-grand stake to go straight somewhere, along with a new identity. He’s a Cruella Deville pet project. We all liked the weasel. You’re right. If I was his hero, young Jared would be with me now. His hero is Muerto. We’re not sure whether it’s your scalpel skill or your absolute emotionless torture unto death of the targets. Jared has an obsession with you.”
Nick’s mind imagined and projected at breakneck speed. “I’m in, DL. Let’s grab him. I won’t insult you by asking whether he’s under surveillance. I need to deal with this kid out of the shadows in my Muerto persona with Payaso and Kabong. I have plans.”
“Please tell me those plans do not involve us in allowing Amir to go free. If they do, you will need to square that with Cruella Deville. She’s beginning to dream of an Amir meeting.”
Silence.
“Uh oh.” John handed the phone over to Lynn Montoya Dostiene.
“Hello… Muerto.”
Nick smiled at the slow expulsion of feeling in those two words. “I will explain the nuclear option to you one time, my beloved sister of violence. Please turn to your husband, Clint, and ask him what became of the last couple who thought they could threaten me with extinction. I’ll wait.”
Nick grinned as he heard Clint whispering rapidly in Lynn’s ear. This interaction could go either way. He heard bits and pieces Clint tried to explain to Lynn.
“You do know Clint and I fear nothing right?”
“That’s a lie, Sis. You fear for Clint Jr. I fear for Rachel, Jean, Quinn, Deke the dog, and everyone else in my care as the Terminator. To progress in this operation, you need to know I will allow Amir to live at this time, until I see in the soul of Jared. Our mission is to get Eugene Cummings alive, and back to his family. From that point, some options are open. Others are not.”
“Did you torture Kate Fuller to death in front of Jean?”
“Jean was in a limousine, driven by Payaso. They sped away after I pulped Kate’s paramour, Sam Jessop’s head, and put a .50 caliber round through Kate’s shoulder. She did not see what followed, although I realize rumor states differently. You can ask her.”
“You had an affair with Kate.”
“So… what’s your point, Lynn? Kate was ready to kill me after our group action in Oakland, John called me into. I warned her and Sam to never come after me once that gig was over. They ignored my warning. You and Clint understand this as I do. I go full bore until I know everyone is safe or I have lost everything. Then, the closing round bell rings. Nothing in creation will be safe after that happens. No words, no promises, no begging, pleading, or monetary recompense ends until my heart stills.”
“Kate was like me, wasn’t she?”
“Nope. Kate didn’t have your skills, your intelligence, or your loyalty. That fact cost her. Kate lost the rather narrow life she had carved out doing killings without feeling, purpose, or passion for what she believed in. She died of stupidity. Kate probably talked Sam into taking the hit on me from Frank Richert.”
“This isn’t a threat then, right?”
“Only if you make it so, Lynn. If I give my word to someone that another human being will not perish if they do as I say, that word carries weight. I will never kill you or Clint. We’re family. If you take out Amir Mohammed Kostler, after I promise he won’t be killed to his kid, I will never contact John’s Monster Squad again. I will kill Jared to leave nothing and no one at my back. Then, we part ways.”
Lynn chuckled. “That leaves it that if Amir doesn’t go straight and narrow, he could meet with an accident, right?”
“Absolutely. I’d make that a stipulation when dealing with young Jared.”
“What’s the long view in this you have plans for?”
“Our new City of Hope needs doctors. I’d like to see where Jared’s head is at. If he wants to heal people while observing how former Muslims live from the same background after throwing off Islam, the City of Hope can use him.”
“Well hell… that’s a damn good plan. Maybe I won’t need to carve you up after all.”
“Gee… thanks, Lynn, I appreciate that.”
“You handled that nicely, Muerto.” John took over the call again. “Jared lives off campus, which helps us immensely. I would like to do this snatch quickly and quietly in the night. We’ll EMP the outside to make sure nothing gets recorded. It’s a gamble using the electromagnetic pulse rifle. We would like to take a look at his electronics inside, but that can’t be helped. You, Payaso, and Kabong will pluck him after a sleepy-time syringe shot, letting Jared see who is taking him. At Pain Central, you guys can explain the situation to him while I get Amir on the phone. Claude has both his email address and his private cell-phone number. Unfortunately, he uses an ancient phone without GPS, or we’d be wheels up, going to get him.”
“I like the plan. When would you want to do this?”
“We would like to watch his every move for a couple of days, especially his night moves. Would Friday night be okay with you?”
“Sure, John. We’ll fly up for the weekend. Has Amir contacted you in any way?”
“Not yet. We think he was waiting for us to fly into his trap inside the Emirates first. We figure he’ll contact us through Alexi in the next day or so. We may even have his son by the time he contacts us. That would be very convenient and intense. By the way, Denny had the Ranger steamed down into our port. She’s huge. We all wanted to see her since the improvements. Besides, Lucas is hot to take her out on a real cruise. It would be great to have Gus and Lucas piloting us somewhere with everyone on board.”
“It would indeed,” Nick agreed. “I’ll tell the troops we’re heading for ‘The Bay’ Friday after the kids get out of school. Jean and Sonny are here with us. As you heard, we were having a small celebration.”
“Does Sonny ever go home?”
Nick glanced at Sonny’s grim face. “Not much. His folks have
some other plot in the works I’m hoping is just one of their usual schemes. I have their house bugged because those two are dangerous. Sonny and Jean handle the investigation. Sonny goes over the audio at the end of the day with Jean taking notes on anything questionable.”
“Phil and Clarice are quite a pair. I bet it makes you think the stork delivered Sonny.”
“Rachel believes he was stolen from the maternity ward,” Nick answered. “California is due for another dry spell. Have Dev call down the rain.”
Nick listened to his audience in Pain Central enjoying Nick’s solution to California drought season.
Chapter Four
Home Fires
Nick’s audience awaited word with intense anticipation. “No Sand. You probably heard we need to journey to ‘The Bay’ for the weekend. Cala can pilot with Johnny working co-pilot for practice. The UH-60 will get us there in no time. We’ll visit the 7D Experience and kill some zombies. I love our house there.”
“You’re avoiding the elephant in the room,” Rachel said. “I know you have a mission to help the Dark Lord with the cartoons, but what was the discussion with Crue? I heard you mention Kate and Sam.”
“Lynn had other ideas for Amir Mohammed Kostler. I needed to make it plain if I promise his kid the dad lives if Eugene Cummings isn’t hurt, then I don’t want him getting the Dr. Deville exploding blood vessel treatment. Crue decided to bait me a little. I had Clint tell her what happened to Kate and Sam. I needed to clear the air about what I will do and what I won’t.”
“Understood,” Rachel replied. “Do you believe after what Amir did you’ll be able to save him? He planned to entrap and kill Harding’s crew, and as I understand it, that’s what he tried to do by taking Cummings as a hostage.”
“It will be delicate. Sometimes, these Middle East idiots with high sounding titles think because they have a lot of money, they can’t be reached. We’ve already nicked them, but they don’t pay attention. When they learn their offspring can be reached, they many times have a change of heart. You heard my City of Hope idea. They have people there with some medical experience, but they would need to see a doctor or surgeon in one of the nearby cities if something serious happens. Amir’s kid graduated from Cal State Berkeley. Through them, he has completed his internship, and continues while a resident. I’d like to see how he feels about life without Islam.”
Rule of Nightmare Page 7