“Has Dimah spoken of a theme or venue for the wedding?” Gus looked less than enthused by Nick’s suggestion. “Women are also incredibly cement headed about what they want for a wedding. Think of Tina.”
“John has balls though. That automatically eliminates you from this discussion, Payaso. Dimah and Cala will act on my suggestion of a wedding planner. I have another idea as to how we can separate the Kader family from Dimah and Cala so we don’t have to put my preventative maintenance extermination plan into effect. It will also separate the Kader family from Fontaine. If he decides to pursue this vendetta to get Cala as one of his wives, I’ll know who to target.”
“And how, oh master of unintended consequences do you end the Kader family values curse,” Gus asked, giving John a head slap for chuckling over Nick’s remarks in regard to Gus’s opinion being worthless in the discussion.
“I’ll buy them off. We have more money than we know what to do with. I’ll meet with the heads of the Kader family, and find out what price they’d take to tell Fontaine Cala is spoken for. If they agree to end the Fontaine contract and simply stay away from Dimah and Cala, I won’t have to start picking them off one by one until they stop.”
“That is not bad, Muerto,” John remarked, “but would you not feel pessimistic about what the Kader family would then do with the money? They could hire an army of assassins to hunt you down and kill you.”
“That part does bother me,” Nick admitted. “I could add a clause they have to abide by the United States Constitution and not Sharia Law, or I would come and take my money back with many casualties.”
“I don’t think they’ll go for it, Nick, but it’s worth a try,” Gus said. “There’s a lot of those bastards in the East. It would be hard to wipe out the Kader line, but it could work if you did do them one at a time until they agreed to back off. That would be the way to warn them off if your payoff doesn’t work. If their family elder throat slitters start dying with their heads blown off one at a time, they might listen to reason if they have to get new elders every week.”
“There’s no harm in trying. John, it’s time to pop the question. You’ve had two Bushmills’ doubles. That should be sufficient to elegantly ask the beauteous Cala to be your wife. Do you have a ring?”
“No, Muerto. I did not plan on this wedding to proceed quite so fast. We could get one tomorrow before we leave.”
“An excellent idea. That way, you can ask for her hand before we leave to go home. Then I can enlist her to my side in the wedding planner scheme. Cala can sell the idea to Dimah. I’m certain Bill will be thrilled.”
* * *
The Unholy Trio, plus wife Rachel stopped at a jewelry shop in Seattle. It was a quaint family owned shop one of the mansion rental owners knew and recommended. The foursome arrived at the shop near opening time. They were the first and only customers in the store. A balding older man greeted them cheerfully, beckoning them in as he opened.
“My name is Saul. If I can be of any service please let me know. Is there anything you had in mind to hunt for?”
“We are looking for wedding rings. My friend, John, would like to purchase one for his soon to be fiancé.”
John shook Saul’s hand. “My friend Rachel will be assisting me with the choice, Sir.”
Soon, the four were perusing a wide selection of wedding rings in numerous price categories. Rachel delightedly gave John all the parameters of picking out an engagement and wedding set of rings. She explained the drawbacks gaudy rings caused when worn and shown.
“You must think of Cala and your love for her, and what you would love to see on her finger every day of your lives. If you keep that in mind instead of what one would impress her, it will then be a true wedding set.”
“Wow, Rachel,” Nick said. “That’s a lovely piece of advice. What do you think, John?”
John heard nothing after Rachel’s small speech. He appeared mesmerized at a set in the first box of sets. When he noticed the quiet smiles on his companions’ faces John pointed at the set three rows down and two sets over. “That set will look beautiful upon Cala’s finger.”
Saul set the rings into a display holder for everyone to look at. “It is a wonderful choice if I may say so. They are as your friend Rachel says, a gift of love, elegant and unique.”
“Saul is right,” Rachel said, brushing away tears. “Those are gorgeous.”
The bell over the door chimed and three masked men ran into the shop with hammers and Uzi’s. The next thirty seconds lasted an eternity for the masked men. They arrived, having cased Saul’s shop many times, knowing the old man worked alone in the early morning hours. Unfortunately for them, they had picked the wrong morning with the wrong customer in the shop – a killer without peer, fear, or hesitation. Gus and John knew. They grabbed Rachel and Saul, taking them to the floor instantly, covering them with their own bodies.
The masked leader fired into the ceiling as a warning threat. At least that would be the guess because in the next instant, Nick fired six times with his Beretta, striking head and chest on the three would be robbers before they realized someone fired at them. Weapons, hammers, and bodies fell to the floor. Nick then fired one more round into each of the robbers’ heads. Only then did he glance at the people he hoped to protect. Nick switched attention to the door again with a grin upon seeing Gus and John protecting Rachel and Saul.
“Well done, guys. We have a driver out there somewhere. Let Saul show me the back door to this place, John. Everyone stay away from the windows. I’m figuring the driver will allow for five minutes. C’mon Saul, old buddy, take me through your back.”
John lifted the shocked Saul to his feet, guiding him where Saul pointed with a shaking finger. “Straight… out to a side alley.”
“Watch the door,” Nick told John while running through the curtain separating the rear of the shop with the front display section.
Reaching a dead bolted doorway into an alley beyond, Nick kept stride until nearing the sidewalk section of street at Saul’s shop front. He slowed at the alley wall, scanning the street beyond. A white Ford van with sliding side door waited on the street in front with a very nervous driver wearing a black hoodie with ball cap under it. Nick watched carefully. The moment the driver glanced toward the street side traffic, Nick streaked to the front of the van. He then crept along the driver’s side front wheel well to a position under the driver’s window which was open. Nick popped up from under the window. He jammed the barrel of his Beretta into the side of the driver’s head, having decided he would need a live prisoner for the police. Grabbing the driver’s hoodie front in his left hand, Nick pulled the driver’s head closer to the open window with the Beretta barrel against his temple.
“Hi there. Do anything other than open the door and I blow your brains out through the other side of your idiot head!”
“Don’t shoot!” The driver scrambled to work the door handle.
A moment later, Nick opened the door, swinging the driver out with it before switching his left hand grip to the back of the driver’s neck. Roughly forcing his prisoner face first to the street surface, Nick made sure where the driver’s hands were at all times. They were feminine as had been the voice.
“Relax face down. Clasp hands behind your head!” Nick waited for her to follow his command. He then gripped her wrists while doing a thorough body search. When finished, he retained his grip on her wrists, but put away the Beretta for a moment. Nick called Gus. “I have the driver, Gus. Call the cops. There’s been a robbery!”
“Very funny,” Gus replied. “I’m glad we brought along our ID’s. You are most definitely a magnet for this kind of crap.”
“That’s hurtful, Gus.”
* * *
Hands in plain sight, Nick awaited the arrival of blasting sirens and lighted police cars. He kept the driver on her knees while holding on to her behind the head clasped hands. In his other hand, Nick kept his US Marshal’s badge ID held where the police officers could se
e easily. The first squad car’s occupants spilled out with weapons in hand. They assumed hostile positions behind their doors while assessing Nick’s grip on a kneeling prisoner.
“I’m US Marshal, Nick McCarty. There are three dead jewelry store robbers inside the jewelry shop and I have the driver prisoner here.”
“Did you say three dead inside?”
“Yes Sir,” Nick answered the squad car driver’s question. The woman he held broke down into angry sobs, complete with epithets and threats.
“You…you killed Lou, Craig, and Terry… in cold blood? You bastard! They weren’t going to hurt anyone!”
Nick increased pressure on the woman driver’s wrists until she cried out in pain. “Stay quiet and let these officers do their job. What’s your name?”
“I’m not saying anything until I get my damn lawyer!”
“Okay by me. I’ll call you Mutt-face.” Nick’s name creation gave the initial two police officers a laugh as they drew near.
After checking Nick’s identification, the first police officer cuffed the female driver. “I’m Sergeant Larry Boniface. My partner’s Cal Drury. Nice meeting you, Marshal. I’ve read of your novel writing and exploits as a sniper on the Kensky bust. Why didn’t you put a bullet in the prick’s head while you had a chance?”
“We had an iron clad case until my prime witness was killed during a home invasion. Besides, I had orders I followed during the negotiations working with the Kensky task force.”
“I’m sorry he got away, pal.” The patrolman called in the robbery and the resulting aftermath as more police officers arrived. “Anyone else hurt in the store?”
“No Sir. The bodies in there arrived shooting and carrying Uzis. My two companions covered the bodies of my wife and the store owner while I returned fire. Would you like my firearm now, Sergeant?”
“Yes.” Boniface took out a crime scene bag to accept Nick’s Beretta after Nick popped the clip and cleared the chamber. “We’ve had a rash of ‘smash and grabs’ with the same M.O. so maybe this is the gang of assholes that’s been doing them.”
“I hope it is,” Nick replied as other officers clustered around with Boniface handing the prisoner over to one of the new arrivals. “That happy coincidence would cut my time down at the precinct to a short stay.”
“I’m going to kill you!” The female robber/driver screamed at Nick. “Bank on it! You’re dead!”
“Sergeant Boniface,” Nick addressed the smiling police sergeant. “Isn’t it a felony offense for a criminal to threaten the life of a federal agent?”
“It is indeed Marshal. Shall I add that to the charges?”
“Wait… wait a minute. I was threatened, manhandled, and held in fear for my life by this guy for doing nothing but parking on the street!”
Boniface laughed. “You do realize you’ve already admitted to knowing the three jewelry store thieves by name in front of two police officers and a federal agent whom you threatened to kill. Three people died in the commission of an armed robbery, so you will be charged with their deaths, the attempted armed robbery, and threatening the life of a federal agent. Read anonymous her rights, Cal. I’ll go in the shop with Marshal McCarty.”
Nick led the way inside Saul’s jewelry store where Gus, John, and Rachel were trying to calm a very upset Saul who was sweating profusely. John held a glass of ice water he had procured from the back to Saul’s lips. Nick waved at his companions and let Sergeant Boniface do an initial examination of the three dead robbers. After a few moments of cursory inspection including Nick pointing to the ceiling where the lead robber fired his Uzi, Boniface shrugged.
“I see no discrepancies with your version and my initial crime scene inspection. We’ll be having detectives on scene shortly, but I will get the initial interviews done with your wife, friends, and the proprietor. That was some damn fine shooting, Nick. My guess is you gave them one to grow on.”
Nick smiled. “They had Uzis, Sergeant.”
“Indeed they did. You saved the taxpayers some money here. The driver will be booked as caught red handed, and I’m certain she will have numerous provable connections to the robbers. Introduce me to your friends and wife. I’ll get started.”
* * *
An hour later, the detectives arrived on scene. They did a cursory look at an already marked and photographed crime scene. The tall thin one Nick noticed left his sunglasses on. They talked over the details with Sergeant Boniface, glanced Nick’s way and left, leaving Nick with the distinct feeling they would be having a lot more to say to him in an interrogation room. The Sergeant joined the shooter, proprietor, and three witnesses with a smile. He noted instead of being terrified wrecks, they were in the middle of a purchase with the proprietor trying to shove a ring set at John as a gift. He watched Nick put an arm around the old man, wink at Boniface, and explain he would be paying the very fair price for the ring set – no freebies accepted due to his US Marshal’s position. He waved over Boniface.
“I’m explaining to Saul that our positions as law officers makes it impossible for us to accept any form of gratuity. Is that not true, Sergeant?”
“Marshal McCarty is correct, Mr. Rothman. We can’t accept gratuities,” Boniface went along with the true explanation of policy. “He could get into a lot of trouble if he did.”
Saul hugged Nick. “Thank you for my life and shop!”
“Don’t give it a thought, Saul. My friend loves the ring set. Wrap the set, and let me pay the invoice. I believe the Sergeant is about to ask me downtown for a visit.”
“I’m afraid so. Whenever you’re ready, Nick. Your friends can go home. We’ll contact them if there are any further questions. The detectives need you to do another repeat of the details for them officially.”
“Let me take care of Saul. I’ll be right with you.”
“Of course.”
Nick joined Gus, John, and Rachel. “I have to go downtown after I settle with Saul.”
“We’ll see you at home,” Rachel kissed her husband with passion for a long minute. “Am I getting as bad as you in that I could give a shit less whether you just wasted three banditos?”
“Thousands of hours practicing should at times pay off,” Nick replied. “As to your descent into darkness, I think we met half way and now we’re the Ozzie and Harriet of death.”
“Who?” Rachel smiled at Nick’s look of annoyance. “I don’t keep track of every old movie you’ve ever seen.”
“It was an old TV show where… ah never mind. Gus… you’ve heard of ‘Ozzie and Harriet’, right?”
“Who?” Gus enjoyed the opening given him immensely as he watched Nick’s realization he was being punked by his best friend.
“I know of ‘Ozzie and Harriet’, Muerto,” John said proudly. “We had very little as children other than old American movies and TV along with sermons condemning everything those shows espoused. I liked Ozzie very much.”
“Suck-up,” Gus said.
“Thank you, John. At least someone in this crew has some culture. Are you going to propose before we leave for Pacific Grove?”
“Yes. I cannot wait,” John replied excitedly. “Then we will be together through the entire trip as betrothed mates for life.”
“I like your thinking.” Nick accepted the invoice from Saul as the old proprietor brought over the ring set and reluctantly handed the invoice to Nick.
“Are you certain I cannot gift this set for you, Marshal? Am I not allowed to give gifts to anyone I wish?”
“We’ve talked about this, Saul. Run the invoice and my debit card, my friend. Wish my friend John many years of happiness, and give him your blessing. I’m certain that will make this purchase a lifetime of commitment and joy.”
Saul gripped John’s hand in both of his. “My friend John, may the new life with your beloved be shared, not endured. May your many moments together comfort each other, and not breed complacency. May your dreams and ambitions together bring strength rather than satisfaction. May
God bless your union.”
“Thank you, Saul. I will share your blessing with my Cala today when I propose to her. She will surely love your wonderful words.”
“I see everything here is in good order,” Nick said. “I’ll go see if I can fix everything at the precinct for Sergeant Boniface. I don’t think the detectives were quite as thrilled with my actions and story as they could have been.”
Rachel hugged Nick. “Stay out of trouble, Nick. I want to go home.”
“I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear you say that. I thought you’d get hooked on mansion living.”
“It’s nice, but I love everything about our house and the walk to the beach.” Rachel pulled away, framing Nick’s face with her hands. “You do know that, right.”
“I do now, baby. I’ll be right back.”
Sergeant Boniface waited for Nick by the door. “You seem to lead a very interesting life, Nick.”
“I write a lot. Lately, I’ve been consulting with agencies more than my usual norm,” Nick answered, knowing he’d be getting the same type of questioning at the precinct, only without the kind attitude.
“The detectives will be giving you a bad time, but I have a feeling you’ve handled over officious idiots before. The tall, thin guy with the ‘Miami Vice’ clothing look thinks he’s that red haired guy that plays in the Miami CSI show, David Caruso. You didn’t get to see him do his staring act and four word lines about the crime scene yet. His name’s Tony Donatello. Tony’s partner is his opposite. Floyd Samson’s the talkative one. He’s easy to get along with, but if you backtrack on a statement, or have two answers to the same question, Floyd will make this a long interrogation session.”
Nick recalled his first impressions when seeing Donatello and Samson. They matched Boniface’s descriptions closely. Donatello in particular seemed upset at the crime scene as if he would have rather found Saul and three customers dead on the floor. Samson, a heavily built, ebony skinned man with smiling disposition had seemed to be disinterested in the scene. In reality, Nick figured Samson noticed the three shots in each man and their positions on the shop floor in a glance. Their manner of dress made no lasting image with Nick, although the open collared white shirt with tan sports coat worn by Donatello did remind Nick of TV show detectives. In a perverse way, Nick thought about ways he could get Donatello to do his David Caruso imitation.
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