Sonny looked startled for a moment, but then grinned and shrugged. “Great French Toast, Sir. Yes, he called. Are my parents that easy to read?”
“It depends on the subject. I don’t believe they’re bad. They do have an agenda though most people would not understand. They miss DC. I can understand that. It was a wonderland place for them with parties, famous people in power positions, and-”
“Dishonest people,” Sonny filled in for Nick.
“It’s impolite to finish a person’s sentence, young man. I was going with other folks with similar interests.”
“Very kind of you, Sir.”
“You’re very understanding of human frailty, Sonny. You seem quite capable of observing and dealing with it. That will serve you well. Jean can spot human frailty easily too, but she has a tendency to be impatient in dealing with it.”
“Proud of it too,” Jean stated. “I want to be a Ninja not a social worker.”
“Oh boy…” Nick muttered as the kids ran off.
* * *
The procession of Nick, Deke, Jean, Sonny, and Quinn in a baby pouch at Nick’s chest walked with deliberation down the hill toward Dan and Carol’s beach. Nick also had his specially designed pack with lightweight beach chairs, coffee, sodas, food, and Bushmill’s Irish Whiskey. Sonny was in charge of the carriage for the return trip while Jean handled Deke. Only a street away from the coastal road, two dark men appeared at the hill’s bottom. They wore dark windbreakers with hoods tied around their necks over ball-caps. Nick stopped.
“Well, this doesn’t look good.” Nick put the brake on the baby carriage and put the sleeping Quinn down inside. Never taking his eyes off the men, he stripped off his pack. Nick called Gus. “Payaso. I have a problem. It seems I have been negligent in repeating my usual approach to the beach. I’ve grown a couple of idiots at the turnoff. If you have your range finders you may be able to see them.”
“I see them. We’re getting in John’s car now. We’ll intercept the two on the road. Do you think this is a trap?”
“We’re too in the open to take a chance. The two down there could be decoys. I’ll wait with the kids. I have Sonny, Jean, and Quinn.”
“We’ll make it quick and head right for you.”
“Gracious.”
Nick moved his coat aside, uncovering the belt holster with his .45 Colt. “Sonny and Jean. Lay flat out on the sidewalk at the approach of any car with Deke between you. Gus and John will be here shortly.”
“Understood, but what about Quinn?”
“The carriage material is Kevlar, honey. Don’t tell your Mom. I had it specially made, but I didn’t want to worry her.”
“What’s in it for me?”
Nick pointed at her. “You not funny.”
Nick glanced down in time to see John screech alongside the two men with Gus’s MP5 covering them. John left the driver’s side ran around and zapped the nearest man to the ground without a word. John then pointed at the ground and the other man dived onto it. Moments later, they were restrained in the vehicle’s back. John drove slowly toward Nick. Three men dislodged from two houses down the street perpendicular to where Nick had been headed. They approached Nick with hands in plain sight. As they came in sight of where they obviously hoped to see their two down the road companions, the three stopped at the sight of John’s car with Gus pointing an MP5 at them. The lead one of the three was Jacob.
Nick walked across the street into Jacob’s face. “You are a very lucky man. If the kids would not have walked with me this morning, you and these two with you would have bullet holes in your heads. I don’t know what you wanted, but whatever it was is done now. Don’t talk. I’m going to frisk each one of you, scan your ID’s, and send you all on your way. If I ever see any of you in the future I will kill you on sight. You first, Jacob. Put your hands behind your head.”
“We do not know how you did it but we know you killed Mohammed, you jackal! You threaten him and the same night he dies of something for which he had no medical history!” Jacob began gesturing at Nick. “You will pay for his death!”
Nick’s knee to his groin ended all conversation attempts. Nick then frisked Jacob, confiscating a 9mm Taurus. He scanned his driver’s license, taking a picture of him with the weapon. Nick repeated the process with each of the other men, who had immediately put hands clasped behind their heads after Nick’s adjustment of Jacob. He retrieved more weapons.
“We’ve done the same to the two in the car, Nick,” Gus said.
“Let them out. We’ll watch while they leave the area. Thanks for the arsenal boys. I hope none of your weapons were used in any criminal activity because I have your pictures with your weapons. If they were used in a criminal manner, you can expect to get a call from the local or federal police. One of you go get your vehicle. Drive it very slowly alongside your other nitwit friends.”
Nick pointed at a man in the group clearly uncomfortable with the situation. “You go. From your appearance you look to be the least insane member of this party. Get moving. I don’t have all day to play.”
The man Nick singled out accepted vehicle keys from another man in the group. He jogged down the street where they had been working their ambush. Nick pointed at another man on the end, his features tensed as if he were ready to rush Nick at the first opportunity. Taller, with lean featured short bearded look, Nick noticed the glare of violence raging close to the surface in his eyes.
“I can tell you have evil thoughts. Rest assured, if you move, I will shoot you in the head,” Nick said in Arabic.
“You have no right to hold us or take our weapons. Return them at once!”
Nick heard Gus and John enjoying the man’s demands. Nick drew his Colt as a gray Ford Expedition rolled slowly towards them. “I will kill you all if your friend does anything goofy or threatening with your Ford. Pray he simply halts next to you.”
The one sent to get the vehicle kept his hands on the wheel while stopping next to the group. Traffic was beginning to increase with a car or truck passing slowly until the driver noticed the weapons displayed. When the bad attitude man was the last to get in the Ford, he turned toward Nick, who had holstered his Colt after the Ford halted. Jacob had to be helped inside. He was still moaning with both hands gripping his groin.
“I will see you again in-”
The man never saw the roundhouse kick to the side of his head. He catapulted to the pavement in a heap. Nick regained his casual manner while gesturing at the downed man. “A couple of you pick up Porky here. Don’t speak, just leave. Remember, I warned you what would happen if I ever see any of you again. I don’t deal seconds.”
When the Ford was out of sight, Nick crossed the road to join the kids and Deke while John turned his car around into escorting position. Jean smiled as Nick approached with Deke sitting next to her. Sonny kept hold of her hand with one hand and the other on Quinn’s carriage. The image the two kids projected of a bond between them gave Nick both lighthearted and uneasy feelings of an unseen future. He took a deep breath.
“Well, that was an unusually distasteful start to the day,” Nick told the kids as he undid the carriage brake and began the short walk left to the coastal road bordering the ocean.
“I’ve never seen a kick like that except on TV,” Sonny said. He kept hold of Jean’s hand as they walked with Deke slightly behind Nick.
“That was my first glimpse of one like that too,” Gus observed from the passenger side window. “I’ve seen you practice it, but I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you use it.”
Nick shrugged. “Bestselling authors do not demean themselves with street fights and it sets a bad example for the kids.”
“You were grinning when you jacked Porky in the head,” Gus pointed out.
“Thanks for noticing a singular weak moment in the constant battle for my humanity and compassion.”
Gus made gagging noises as the kids enjoyed the adult banter. “I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. I’m glad Jo
hn and I were already at the beach. Five of them would have been a problem with the kids to worry about.”
“Uh no… the five dead bodies would have been a problem,” Nick replied, deciding Sonny would have to be vetted from then on into the family. Hiding intent or Nick’s killing nature would be impossible if the intuition he felt when watching Sonny and Jean together evolved as he thought it would. Now would be the time to frighten him off in Nick’s thinking.
“I see you’re still heading to the beach. Do you think that’s a wise move?”
“It won’t be for anyone trying to prevent it, Gus,” Nick replied. “I think we’ll ride back to the house though. We’ll be lucky if one of those people driving by didn’t call the cops or take a camera video.”
“No blood, no foul,” Gus said. “Here we are, safe and sound. Are you still having an Irish morning?”
“I sure am. I have Quinn with me, so it will be in moderation, but I also have food. I’m calling Paul to see if he had any feedback from around DC on the video. You released it, right John?”
“Yes. It has been on since early last evening,” John called out from the driver’s seat.
“Phil Salvatore has some job trouble I will be asking Paul about. I need Paul to find out why Phil’s been put on the ‘soon to be fired list’. Sonny doesn’t want to move away, so I will see if this job problem can be solved.”
“After all we’ve done, Paul would fix it no matter what,” Gus stated, getting out of the car. “John and I have our chairs. The kids hardly sit down anyway.”
“I don’t want Paul to fix it under any circumstances. Sonny understands that. It may be one of those misunderstandings.”
“I doubt it,” Sonny said. “I don’t know exactly what he did but him and Mom looked real worried when they were talking for my benefit. It has something directly to do with the passport office. Of that I’m sure.”
They all walked together until next to the beach chairs where John and Gus were earlier. Nick handed chairs to Sonny and Jean. “Here. I know you two will watch out for the Dekester, so you don’t have to sit with us.”
“Thanks, Dad. C’mon Sonny, I see a couple of idiots thinking about going out on the rock outcropping. We’ll go warn them not to do it. No one listens, and they go out a little ways, and get soaked in ice cold saltwater. Then we just sit and smile as they drag themselves to shore.”
Nick shook his head while Gus and John tried unsuccessfully to remain disapproving. “You do understand that’s not nice, right Daughter of Darkness?”
“Really? I thought kicking someone in the side of the head rated a not nice.” Jean skipped away with Deke and Sonny leaving only a vapor trail of smack down.
“You really taught her a valuable lesson there, Muerto.”
“I’ve learned to live by the Klingon code when it comes to correcting or handling kids. Besides, Jean’s mad because I messed with her Ninja attack at the door with Sonny after John dropped me off. They were dressed all in black with the known traitor Deke on their side. El Muerto closed his eyes, heard clothing brushing against dog on both sides, and ruined the Daughter of Darkness assault plans.”
“Jean is a wonder,” John said as he held his coffee cup out. “The only items that seem to work on her as disciplinary actions are taking away her electronics and training. I’m not sure where she plans to go with those skills.”
When they were all settled in with Irish coffees, Nick made sure Quinn was resting comfortably before sipping his with great appreciation. “I brought egg rolls to eat: plenty of them so if you want some, dig in. Jean gets excellent grades. She also obeys most important rules, and helps with Quinn. She’s a little wild, mostly because of my specialty skills.”
“As a serial killer?”
“Thanks Payaso. I hunt serial killers. I have to be able to think like them.”
“It also helps when you are one of them.”
“El Muerto only kills the bad ones.”
“Thank you, John Suck-up.” Gus gestured at the kids, now on their chairs in front of the huge rock outcropping just offshore. “You’ve done a great job with Jean. I had my doubts you could pull off the daddy serial killer role. You did it without breaking a sweat and now you have Quinn too. What’s next, Muerto, Father of the Year?”
“I’ll settle for continuing to keep them alive. Besides, until the Karma train rolled over me with these latest Isis complications, we were getting a taste of normal life. I don’t count the Kader problem, because it’s family related. Brother John and the lovely Cala must be left alone by her cave dwelling family. They are taking the heat from Omar. I figured if Fontaine was that whacked out about Cala, he might send a hit party on his own. Instead, he’s thankfully relying on amateurs.”
“This morning I did not like the ambush they had planned,” John said. “If they escalate any further it will be by bombs like the Rashidis tried to do to you. Have you heard any word about their trial?”
“Only the media deciding the Rashidis are violent Islamists and must be protected at all costs. God knows we don’t have enough of those fruitcakes running around. I heard they were considering a plea deal according to Neil.”
“How is our Pacific Grove policeman friend?”
“He called when the action got intense in Washington, Gus. To his credit, he called only to find out if we were alright after Kensky was released. He probably hasn’t tied the adventures in Cincinnati to us yet. Since he doesn’t know we took a special military air flight to and from there, we will be off everyone’s area of expertise. I better give Paul a call about Phil.”
Nick took a huge gulp of loaded coffee, and punched in the numbers for Paul Gilbrech.
“Nick? How is my El Muerto superhero today? Not much outcry since the movie release, mostly because the hits on it are in the tens of millions with ninety-seven percent approval. I sense a disturbance in the force as you are fond of saying to explain hard times ahead. Something bothering you other than how many grateful Ohioans want to build an Unholy Trio statue.”
“It’s a private matter. Phil Salvatore, the one from the passport office I had trouble with who has the great kid my ten year old daughter likes. I’ve been recruited to save his job so the boy, Sonny, doesn’t have to move away. Since I don’t know why he’s being fired, I told Sonny I’d have to find out why first. Is there any way you could investigate the matter for me, Paul?”
“Oh… my… God… the great El Muerto hired by ten year olds to play political hanky-panky over an appointee job. Are you kidding? Of course I’ll find out. You and the Unholy Trio just saved the homeland again in the nick of time. The least I can do is save that sap’s job.”
“Gee… that was a great way to put it, my friend. Thanks. I would like to know what and why first though. With Phil, there’s no way of knowing what he’s done. I’m glad you’re getting good reviews on the Unholy Trio movie. It means there will be pressure on these government assholes to stop allowing the flood of Middle Eastern fifth columnists pouring in here. Yeah, I’ve heard all the sob stories. Thousands will perish. It’s genocide. Boo hoo. They don’t have any problem killing everyone else in sight who doesn’t believe the same way. Let them alone to wipe each other out. Why import them to rip our own culture apart?”
“I believe you have echoed the thoughts of every citizen with a modicum of common sense. I have no clue why we’re embracing the Islamist death cult. We should leave them to work out their own reformation. Their medieval torturous society subjugating women, issuing death decrees for anyone not subservient to their will, and working mayhem upon all non-Islamist nations makes dealing with them completely illogical. So what do we do? We cater to them instead of isolating their murdering asses.” Paul chuckled suddenly. “It takes a couple psychos like us to do what needs to be done, Muerto. Until we can, I’ll go find out what we can do for Salvatore.”
“I appreciate it, El Jefe.”
Paul disconnected while enjoying his new tagline. Nick turned to his friends.
“The Unholy Trio movie is a hit. We’re very popular in Ohio particularly. Paul agreed to take a look at Phil’s firing worries. I nearly told him about this morning’s Kader family folly. I think I’ll wait to see how it plays out.”
“I like the news,” Gus said. “There could have been a backlash with all the usual bullshit. They’re not all bad. They probably needed jobs. Their culture is being suppressed. No one will kiss their asses except politicians. If we had Sharia Law, that horrible Unholy Trio would be the ones dead. It’s clearly an act of religious persecution not to allow them to kill innocent people whenever they feel justified to do it.”
By the time Gus finished, Nick and John were crooning in the background, snapping their fingers to the beat. Quinn began giggling. Nick lifted his son from the carriage. “I think it’s time for chow, huh kid?”
Nick began feeding the baby. “Paul said we have ninety-seven percent approval. Apparently the media’s continuing Islamist love fest falls on deaf ears amongst the real victims in all this: American citizens. Okay, pure speculation, gentlemen. What do you guys think Phil Salvatore did to get a firing notice? I’m thinking he retired on the job and skipped even checking on the office in SF he runs.”
“I bet he fired someone because they wouldn’t kiss his ass,” Gus offered.
“I think just the opposite, Payaso,” John said. “Phil probably hired on someone with connections somewhere who has no job description other than collecting a pay check.”
“Those are all good ones,” Nick said. “One of them is right. I doubt Phil could do much more at a passport office he only sees a couple times a week, if that.”
“Never underestimate the imagination of a Washington DC bureaucrat, Muerto,” Gus replied. “He’s been playing in the big leagues of favor trading. Getting demoted down to passport office clerk would be the supreme slap in the face to him. There’s no telling what Phil found to trade.”
Nick glanced at Jean and Sonny throwing bread crumbs in the air for the birds hovering near their hands. “I hope for Sonny’s sake you’re wrong, Payaso. I like that kid. That apple didn’t fall far from the tree, it fell into the next orchard. Damn, the Irish tastes good this morning after the Kaders. If Quinn wasn’t with me, I’d probably let the buzz float me through two or three more. He’s a hungry boy this morning. Quinn sucked down that whole bottle without a burp. That could be trouble. C’mon, up you go kid. Don’t decorate my windbreaker.”
Nightmare in Red Page 14