Gus and John enjoyed that detail before Gus spoke again. “I understand your thinking, brother. I know you wouldn’t want to lose even a step when instincts come into play. You’ve saved our asses with instinct like when you knew John was in trouble in Onalaska.”
“I didn’t know there were exercises you could do to hone your killer recognition skills, Muerto,” John remarked with a smile. “Is it like when women do kegel exercises?”
“Oh… you so funny,” Nick replied while watching Gus and John bump fists at the kegel ace. “Actually, it means I need to start paying attention to what the hell I am and what I’m doing. I started my life with Rachel, Jean, and Deke double checking every movement. I’m phoning it in now like Rachel feared. It could get us all killed. I hate to do this, but I’m going to have one more of these Irish blessings before the Ferry ride. Then I have to kick you two out while I finish my Diego and Fatima scene.”
Gus stood, holding out his hand. “I’ll do the refills. You’re really hot on this new ‘Dark Interlude’ one. Any particular reason?”
“It’s the romance. I’m enjoying the interactions between the cold blooded killer and his con artist paramour trying to sell him out at every turn.”
Gus passed the fresh coffees to Nick and John before walking his back. “Did you cut Jed out to a bit part?”
“No. Jed’s too popular now. He has a serious part in getting Diego and Fatima out of Mexico by sea. They’ll have to hide out in the Cayman Islands until things cool down with Jed acting as go between to contacts in the states. It’s where I’m introducing the deck hand Jed has to take on who will become part of their regular crew with Diego, based on John.”
“Really?” John nearly dropped his coffee cup. “That would be so cool! What will his name be?”
“I’m thinking Leo Bazzi,” Nick answered.
“Oh man, that is the bomb, Muerto. I can be partners with Diego and Jed.”
“More like a minion,” Gus joked.
“Don’t poison the great author’s mind with your negativism, Payaso. He must build this new character addition with great care and foresight.”
“There’s not much care and foresight for a deckhand other than what new mop or sponge should be used while scrubbing,” Gus replied. “Muerto could have the clumsy oaf fall overboard so Diego can prove he cares on a human level by saving Leo.”
“Not funny, Payaso. You wouldn’t write a stupid plot like that, would you, Nick?”
“No, I won’t do that, John. He’ll have to be trusted with the ship while Diego and Jed clear the safe-house they’re headed to in the Cayman’s. He will have to watch Fatima closely.”
“I get it,” Gus said. “Fatima kills the oaf Leo and steals the boat forcing Diego and Jed to forage another ship to go after her. I like your plotting in this one, Nick.”
John was swiveling from Nick to Gus with open mouthed shock. When he saw Nick shaking his head, John pointed a finger at Gus. “That is really not funny, Payaso, you villain. You are mad because Jed will no longer be the only confidant of the formidable Diego.”
“Pay no attention to Payaso. He won’t be writing the novel. I don’t have to kick you guys out of here one at a time so you two don’t start fist fighting in the hall do I?”
“No, we’re fine,” Gus said. “John and I are brothers.”
“Speak for yourself, wife of Tina T-Rex.”
* * *
Nick obtained the tickets for the Salem Ferry at the window for their entire group. It took only minutes. Soon, they were standing at the boarding plank, waiting for the crew to allow them on board. A middle aged man with a crew vest greeted them as he walked over to his first in line patrons.
“Good morning, folks. Where are you from?”
“California,” Jean answered for everyone. “We’re going to Salem.”
The man chuckled. “That’s good, because this ferry only stops in Salem. I know what you mean young lady. You won’t be going further than Salem. I guess you’ll be taking in all the tours then, huh?”
“We sure are. Will you be on the boat?”
“Yep. I’m going to tear your tickets, and wait for the go ahead from the crew. On board I do an introduction before I share some historical notes about the harbor area and the sights we pass on the way.”
“Cool,” Jean said.
The man nodded and took the proffered tickets from Nick, tearing off the stubs and handing them back. “I hope you folks have a wonderful day. The weather is supposed to stay nice and balmy. I’ll see you all on board. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask me.”
“We will, Sir,” Nick said. “Thank you.”
As the man walked to the next people in the growing line, Nick spotted a loner dressed in a business suit, complete with briefcase, bowler hat, and cane. True to his new mission of watching for any sign of someone extraordinary in manner or interest, Nick continued watching the man from behind his sunglasses using his peripheral vision. The businessman lowered his sunglasses while watching Jean and Sonny taking selfies of themselves to post on Facebook and Twitter. He then fixed his sunglasses and began scoping out all the women riding on the ferry just as Nick was watching him, using peripheral vision while pretending to check the harbor scenery. Nick knew better. The man was an amateur at surreptitious surveillance. His eyes strayed when he saw a fresh movement by his targeted interest.
Something in the man’s bearing tripped a circuit in Nick’s head. He was off in a number of ways. His hands, although clean, were gnarled and work worn. That was no sin in Nick’s book, but it worked against the man’s overall appearance. His legs were slightly bowed too, unusual for a desk jockey or executive. When approached by the man doing a recital on the boat, the businessman handed him his ticket while ignoring all casual chat, finally turning away once he had his ticket stub in hand again. At first viewing the man seemed a blue collar worker who clawed his way up from menial labor to the top of an unknown profession.
Nick marked him for further perusal once they were on the boat as an additional exercise. His scanning of others riding the Salem Ferry did not reveal anyone else of interest. One group of four college age girls garnered his attention because the businessman did not take his eyes off them while they got into line. Their animated interaction and laughter held the businessman’s undivided attention. Almost as an afterthought, he looked off to the girls’ left while continuing his peripheral interest in the girls. Then a crewmember removed the rope blocking the boarding plank, stepping aside and greeting the passengers.
On board the boat, Rachel watched Nick keep watching the water streaming by as their historical host gave his talk. He only looked away to glance at Gus as he was handed a drink. Rachel put a hand on his arm.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Rach. You were right to question my preparedness after becoming Muerto. I’ve been letting my guard down. Paying attention to my surroundings no matter the situation or people with me has become a haphazard game rather than my usual way of life. That could get me killed along with all of you. I never lost focus when we streamed across the country with Tanus Group and Frank trying to kill us. That’s the kind of caution I need to show at all times.”
Rachel smiled, taking his hand and kissing the back of it as she repositioned the giggling Quinn. “Is the great Muerto saying he’s going soft? If he is, I might remind the pirate he walked across the street into a park and slit the throat of a man he didn’t know was bad or good. All Muerto knew was that the man following us was an unknown factor – unfortunately for the man it was a death sentence. That he turned out to be a serial killer was only a happy coincidence. I would not call that going soft.”
Nick stopped his surveillance for the first time to face his wife with a gentle kiss along the side of her mouth. “We are quite the pair, my love. You know me better than anyone ever has. You’ve accepted life alterations that would have driven any other woman insane. I love you, baby. I need to do this to keep
us alive.”
“I know.” Rachel kissed Nick with full on passion, causing Quinn to laugh, and his sister to run over and hold her hands over his eyes.
“Making out in front of an innocent baby… really!”
“Keep talkin’, Daughter of Darkness. I see an electronic blackout in your future.”
“I will back her play too,” Nick added.
“That’s just wrong,” Jean replied with indignation. “I try to take the moral high ground to protect my brother and this is the reward for my diligence?”
“You may talk like you’re twenty, but you’re ten, and not too big for your Mom to take a switch to your butt.”
“Oh my God… did you just threaten me with corporal punishment? I could take you to court for even threatening it. I’ll overlook this transgression if I can have some money for treats.”
Nick handed her a twenty. “Ninjas eat brown rice and water.”
“Maybe in those ‘Destroyer’ books you read. I’m going to be a new age ninja. What have you been looking for, Dad? You keep looking out into space.”
“Just keeping an eye on our surroundings. I’ve been losing touch with my inner ninja, probably because I don’t eat my brown rice and water,” Nick replied. “I’m back on track now to walk the rice paper.”
“Rice paper? Oh… that’s from that goofy Kung Fu series you have on DVD.”
“Goofy? That’s sacrilege!”
Jean giggled and gestured for Sonny to follow her to the guy selling refreshments. Gus walked over to join him. “How’s the hunt for your inner sanctum, all knowing Muerto?”
“Seriously, Gus, I think I have a hit on my first trip out in the field as all aware Muerto. Don’t look at him, but the businessman who has given up any pretense of not watching those college girls in the navy blue suit is on my radar. I haven’t been able to get a clear look into his eyes though.”
“How do you plan to pull that stunt off,” Rachel asked.
“I’m planning to knock him to the floor and help him to his feet.”
“Gee, I don’t think that qualifies as a well thought out plan,” Rachel said. “Come with me. I have a better idea.”
“I don’t want you involved, Rach.”
“I’m already involved. Come along with me, Muerto.” Rachel moved toward the businessman, pulling on Nick’s hand.
The man turned his attention to Rachel only when she moved into his airspace with Quinn in her arms. He stared at her with annoyance before noticing Nick behind her. “Can I help you, lady?”
Rachel watched him intently, a big smile plastered on her face. “I knew it! Ray Coburn… it’s me, Rachel from school. God, what a shock when I noticed you. You look trim and fit. I remember those sparkling blue eyes of yours so well! How have you been?”
“I’m not this Ray Coburn you think I am, lady! See?” The man took off his sunglasses. His eyes were brown. It was then he met Nick’s gaze. He saw something he didn’t like at all in Nick’s interested perusal. A darkness flowed for a split second between the two men. He hurriedly put his sunglasses back on. “Please go away. You’re mistaken.”
“Damn. I was so sure. Sorry to have bothered you, Sir,” Rachel said. “You’re a dead ringer for Ray. Have a good day.”
Rachel walked away with Nick smiling knowingly at the man before following her. When they were with Gus again, Nick kissed his wife. “That was very well done, baby. He’s a killer. He also is close enough to the snack shack there for John to go get a beer, drink it, and see if John can clone his phone.”
“I’ll put Kabong on it. I want to see if the great Muerto blundered into another event,” Gus went over to where John sat with Cala watching the far away coastline.
“I saw the way he looked at you. He saw something too,” Rachel said.
“Yeah, he did. We won’t know if he’s picked his target from those girls or not no matter what we do. We can at least run his name and see where he goes if John can clone his phone.”
“How the hell can John do that?”
“He has our satellite link with him. It has cloning software. All he has to do is stand near the guy with it activated in his pack, and we’ll be into the businessman’s business. We’ll have a way to track him. The guy’s phone has to be set to accept blue tooth hookup. If his is on, John will have him in moments.”
John took the satellite uplink laptop out to make a few keystrokes. He then shouldered his pack, went to the snack bar and ordered a beer. John stepped a few paces closer to the man. He sipped his beer while paying attention to the outside scene beyond the observation window. After he finished half his beer, John returned to where Cala waited without speaking to Nick. He immediately took out his laptop. Within minutes, John hacked into the man’s phone, all his connections, identity avatars, and address. The phone’s photo files were password protected but John gained access within ten minutes. Cala had been watching the screen with him. She gasped as John opened the photo files. John shut the laptop. He took Cala into his arms, whispering urgently to her. She calmed visibly, gripping his hand.
John stayed away from the rest of their group, guiding Cala off the boat ahead of the others so the man would not believe he and Cala were with Nick. Gus and Tina exited the boat in the same manner, leaving the kids in a small state of confusion. Rachel reassured them, telling Jean to wait until they were off the boat. Nick stayed behind his family as they walked off the boat. The businessman walked alongside him, leaning to speak in a hushed voice too low toned for others to hear while gripping Nick’s arm.
“Something’s wrong with you, mister. I don’t know what it is, but it would be best for you to stay away from me. I don’t like that stunt your woman pulled on me.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way, stranger,” Nick replied. “I’d appreciate it if you let go of my arm. Otherwise, I’ll think you’re hitting on me in spite of the warning. I don’t roll that way.”
The businessman let Nick go with a snarly smile spreading across his features. “Don’t cross me, asshole. It won’t go well for you or your little family.”
“I’ll make a note. Thanks for the warning. I’ll certainly take it seriously.”
“You’d better.” The man moved around Rachel holding Quinn, but paused as he passed Jean and Sonny, looking back at Nick. He leaned down to speak to Jean, but Rachel hurried ahead, knowing the man could end his day with a bullet in his head if he played with Nick.
“Get away from the kids, Ray.”
“I’m not a fuckin’ Ray, Tulip. I was just having a word with the little girl.”
“No you’re not,” Rachel told him, handing Quinn to Jean. “Walk on, or I kick your ass right here in front of the whole crowd of passengers.”
“How the hell you plan to do that, Tulip?” The man’s hands tightened into fists as Nick caught up to Rachel.
Rachel pulled her pepper spray and stun-gun. “I spray you until you drop, and then I make you do the ‘Neutron Dance’ until you stop moving. Want a demo?”
The man pointed at Nick. “Best tell your boy to step off. I don’t know what you two have cooking between you concerning me, but I’m the last guy on earth you want to fuck with.”
He moved on, getting to the boarding and exiting plank, and threading past the other passengers. Rachel took Quinn from Jean as the other passengers streamed by with curious looks. Jean was smiling.
“That was so cool, Mom. What are you two doing anyway?”
“Apparently making enemies,” Rachel said. “I can tell there will be other things beside tours of witches and pirates. I saw the way John and Cala looked after doing a check of the laptop.”
“He overreacted to your ploy. That he caught on to what you were doing makes me think he’s much more than he appears. I believe his outrage with us was an act.”
Rachel turned toward Nick with surprise on the plank. “You mean he’s faking being a threatening looney-tune?”
“No. He wants me to think he’s a blustery asshole without
a clue.”
Rachel stopped in her tracks after clearing the gangway with the kids. She whispered out of Jean and Sonny’s hearing to Nick. “You don’t mean he’s figuring right now how he plans to kill us before we get on the ferry back to Boston.”
“I’m not sure what his plans are. What I’m saying is he wanted me to think he’s much less than he is. We’ll find out from John who he is and make a plan from that information. This was probably not the best day to stay cognizant of my surroundings. It seems I’ve inadvertently stepped in it. Everyone’s over there at that outdoor bar on the pier.”
By the time Nick and Rachel guided the kids over to join their group, Nick could tell something was very wrong. John motioned Nick to where he could see the laptop screen. It was a kill file. The pictures in the file were the same kind Nick sent when he worked undercover for Frank as a hired assassin. Pictures of murdered quarry where there was no question as to the person’s identity. That the guy kept even an encrypted file of his hits on the phone meant there was a loose screw somewhere in his head. The file contained DNA reports too.
“Send them to Paul. Let’s move on this. Those victims don’t point to political or governmental contracts. This guys doing private enterprise hits. Have you found a funk file with young girls?”
John hit a few more keys while standing so only Nick could see the laptop screen. The file contained short video clips with young women tied to chairs, screaming the names of people Nick assumed the guy kidnapped them to blackmail. Nick clicked over to the contracted hit file. They were long range hits. Not good.
“Send it all, John. Thanks to the all-knowing Muerto we’re in the soup, guys. We go on high alert until John gets him tracked. Do we have a real name, John?”
Nightmare in Red Page 22