Nick’s phone buzzed. It was Paul. “Hey, I was just going to call you.”
“Get the hell out of there, Nick! There’s a crew heading up to Moreau’s place right now. They’ll be at the door any minute. My surveillance team thinks they were sent there to clean house. There are six of them.”
“Thanks, Paul. We’ll stay. I’ll be in touch.” Nick disconnected, went into the kitchen and brought out one of the kitchen chairs, propping it under the main entrance door lever. “Incoming, boys. Let’s make them welcome. You two stay back where you are. We need prisoners for at least a few minutes.”
“What the hell do you plan to do, Muerto?”
“Quiet, Payaso! I hear them,” Nick ordered as he crouched near the entrance with silenced 9mm Beretta in hand.
A key unlocked first the deadbolt Nick had set, and then released the main entrance lock. The door pushed in to jam against the chair wedge. The man trying to ram through cursed in Arabic. Then a couple of the men tried to slam into the door in order to free it. As they prepared to smash into it a second time, Nick grabbed the chair leg. The moment the men on the other side took a second before trying to free the door, Nick yanked the chair out of the way. Two men smashed through the door with such force it slammed into the wall while the door openers pitched head first into a pile inside.
Nick shot them both in the head. Before the others still outside the door could react, Nick shot all four in the knees. A lean bearded one reached for his weapon even as he collapsed to the floor. Nick shot him in both shoulders. Gus and John moved out with Nick amongst the men writhing in pain. While Nick watched, his cohorts frisked the men of weapons and identification before restraining them. Nick put away his Beretta then. He helped drag the prisoners inside the entryway.
With a couch covering Nick tore from one of the divans inside the room he mopped the blood on the floor outside the entrance before locking the door again. He searched the two dead men while Gus and John watched the others. Nick grinned as he checked the ID’s of the men. They all had diplomat ID’s for Algeria. They were all legitimate. Nick scanned everything to send in text files along with pictures to Paul which he did. He explained two dead and four wounded. With duct tape from the equipment bag, Nick bound the wounds on his four live prisoners over their clothes to stop the bleeding.
Paul called. “All with the Algerian embassy on special assignment according to their roster I had hacked. My very own merry band of young professional black hats are at this moment tearing through everything the Algerians have in relation to the names you sent. Any luck with our original interests?”
“One very big name: Omar Fontaine.”
Paul’s voice became quiet and chilling for anyone else but Nick to hear. “He hired Moreau?”
“He not only hired him, Moreau is on his payroll. Our boy Felix had a Stinger missile, a new digital TrackingPoint smart rifle, and a complete file on Omar’s activities. I’m certain there is something else going on here besides Omar’s petty wants and needs. What would you like done with our guests once I interrogate them?”
“Give them last rites. I’ll have a crew sent to make them disappear. We will monitor everything from the Algerian embassy once they realize their six men have gone walkabout. I agree with you about Fontaine. This can’t be simple with all the people involved, including the Algerian embassy employees. These multiple attacks by Isis may have a lot to do with it. They nearly succeeded with the dual attack plans on Boston Harbor and the Queen Mary II. Has anyone checked Omar’s ties to financial collapses?”
“Good point. I will get that going immediately. If currency markets collapse or the stock exchange takes a huge hit, it could be Fontaine’s tied into something on the opposite side of the ledger. He’s no Isis true believer, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t play puppeteer for whatever lame brain schemes the Islamists invent to strike at the West. I doubt the bunch you have with you now know much. I believe they had one job only: collect everything in Felix Moreau’s possession before anyone else did. Let me know if you do find anything interesting from those four.”
“Of course. Another item of business I need to discuss is whether our saving April Hutchen’s Granddaughter will help at all in the political realm.”
“Way ahead of you on that, brother. By the time I get done making it plain to April what is happening and why her Granddaughter was a target, we’ll have more political clout than we’ve ever had. Fontaine may own a couple or sleazebags in congress, but he’s a foreign national. Any politician caught taking payoffs from him will be in prison before the dust settles. I don’t want to present the case without some reasoning. Blackmailing me to get at you is a stretch. Anything crippling CIA for a short time could prove to be a diversion capable of covering for an attack we do not yet know about.”
“I’ll find out what I can from my Algerian gang. Be in touch soon.” Nick rejoined his friends and the very unhappy prisoners. “Well, I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is I think you four can tell me something interesting about what’s been going on with Algeria being tied in with a world class assassin. Please don’t insult us by saying you six wandered by to say hello. The bad news is I don’t know for certain or not what you four survivors know or don’t know. That means I’m going to torture the shit out of you until I’m convinced of your knowledge one way or another.”
“You…you cannot torture us!” The one Nick had also shot in the shoulders decided to become the humorous entertainment. “You will all be imprisoned by the World Court for this blasphemy. We have diplomatic immunity!”
“The World Court, huh?” Nick felt he needed an example anyway so he shot him in the head. “Anyone else think we give a shit about the World Court or what they might do to us, or what we think of your diplomatic immunity?”
“Murderer! You-”
Nick shot the complainer in the head. The other two Algerians stopped all sound, even holding back groans of pain. “How about you two?”
“What is it you want?” The older man exchanged looks with his younger counterpart in silent agreement as to their dire situation. “You are going to kill us anyway. Why should we tell you anything?”
“Because these two were my examples. They’re dead. I’m down to just you two,” Nick answered. “Show the gentlemen what happens to prisoners we need answers from, John.”
John showed the two men videos of the eviscerated and bleached men The Unholy Trio had interrogated. The younger man turned away and threw up. The older prisoner shut his eyes. “I have no doubt you are all monsters. That you would do something so obscene to another human being is beyond belief.”
“Yep. We’re the Americans who believe in the old eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth Old Testament. Your Islamist bunch tortures, mutilates and beheads prisoners but that’s okay – not with us. We plan on playing catch up on the torture and mutilation deaths. Want to answer some questions or be part of our payback is a bitch program?”
“I…I will tell you anything you want to know!” The younger man made no pretense of outrage or noncooperation. “Please… do not do those horrid things to me.”
“Okay, let’s start with an easy one. Who sent you bunch here to a known assassin’s place and what were you to do when you got here?”
“We were to strip everything from these rooms… in particular that missile launcher and the special digital rifle. All computer gear and personal effects were to be taken too. The Algerian ambassador sent us. We were told it was a matter of national security.”
“Good start.” Nick moved to the older man, taking his scalpel out as he knelt. “How about you? I better hear something new and impressive or I’m going to eviscerate you this instant, and then hold the bleach jug over your entrails dripping a little at a time.”
The older man’s eyes widened, seeing in Nick’s a cold merciless stare. “Behind the medicine cabinet in the main bathroom is a case which must not be opened. It holds something to be released into Boston’s
water supply, the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoir. Moreau was to have released it into the reservoir after kidnapping the Hutchen girl. We learned of Moreau’s death in Washington. We were then sent to contaminate the reservoir in his place. It was to be done as part of a distraction involving the rocket launcher and digital rifle.”
“What was the distraction all about?”
The younger man answered Nick’s question quickly not wanting to be thought of as holding out. “We heard he would be firing the rockets at the Bunker Hill Monument after contaminating the reservoir, and then use the digital rifle to kill random targets until he had to escape.”
Nick didn’t like how many people were in the know. “Why would whoever ordered this trust all you guys with the information?”
The younger man looked away. “Because the six of us were part of a paramilitary death squad. We executed police, officials, or anyone else who worked against the Isil movement. The government caught us. We were to be tortured and killed, but were given a reprieve to do the Ambassador’s bidding.”
“I know contrary to popular belief it’s not as easy to poison a reservoir in reality,” Gus said. “Do you have any idea what’s in the case?”
“No. We were told to not open the case under any circumstances until at the reservoir. There are five vials to be emptied with care. Even a touch of the substance on our skin could cause death,” the younger man answered.
“Did all the orders come directly from the ambassador,” Nick asked.
“Yes.”
“The orders do not originate with the ambassador,” the older man added to his partner’s affirmative through clenched teeth. “The bastard gets his orders from Omar Fontaine, whom I know was the one who obtained our death reprieve. We all knew the government was not behind any of this. He has now gotten us killed… and for what? Because Fontaine bought him the ambassadorship to do only what the rich and imbeciles can fathom!”
“Do either of you believe anyone in the Algerian government knew of this plot,” Nick asked.
“I do not think so, but Fontaine owns many,” the younger man answered.
“There are some he owns who would do anything he asks,” the older man added.
Nick went to the equipment bag, extracted two syringes, and returned to inject the two men. “You guys earned a peaceful hotshot. I’m sorry the two of you didn’t run for the hills rather than carry out Fontaine’s plan.”
“It is… Allah’s will…” the older man, last to die, muttered a final prayer as he passed into darkness.
“Well there’s some happy news,” Nick said. “I’ll go extract the case. We’ll let Paul handle the rest of this. He’ll have to have the ambassador watched 24/7 until we can tie all the loose ends. We want him guessing as to what happened to his men as well as Moreau. If Paul doesn’t have a team nearby we may have to babysit the case until he does. I’m not walking away from some super bioweapon.”
“This Fontaine is into so much I am wondering if he even cares what happens to Cala,” John remarked. “It may be the Kader family is the only real obstacle to Cala’s freedom, in which case your generous offer of money should have been more than enough to dissuade them from violently opposing it. It would then follow Fontaine does not care about Cala.”
“It also means if they refuse the money the Kaders want blood instead,” Gus added. “When you rid the world of your first Kader, it became obvious they had some terrorist ties, especially in the East. It may be if they accept the money, groups like Isis will get a lot of it.”
“Oh thank you for that, Payaso,” Nick replied. “You are absolutely right. I’ll make sure to track the funds if they agree to take them. I’ll warn the Kaders what will happen if any of the money goes to terrorist groups, which in my mind is any Islamic group.”
“You would be correct,” John said. “When we moved from one country to the next building cells or simply carrying out our next terrorist act, the Islamic charities and Mosques would shelter us, provide services, and even obtain new identities for us. They were crucial in helping us past border check points.”
“Gather our equipment. I’ll call Paul. We need to work on this somewhere I can have a drink,” Nick said. “When we refuse to stop letting these assholes in the country and we get tagged with cleaning disastrous consequences I need to get my drink on.”
“Amen,” Gus said.
“Indeed,” John added. “They have truly turned the Constitution into a suicide pact just as the bumper stickers say.”
Chapter Eleven
Serious Tidings
Nick greeted Paul quickly. He launched into the happenings including the Algerian connection. “I’m thinking multiple distractions to cover the reservoir poisoning rather than separate entities, Paul. Think what would have happened if they had been successful in Middletown, Boston Harbor, and the Queen Mary II. Throw in the reservoir poisoning and the Bunker Hill Monument being destroyed with missiles, and you would have a nationwide panic growing in leaps and bounds. It is a hell of a strike plan.”
“My God! Hold one.” Gilbrech went silent for a few minutes before returning. “I have one of our Haz-Mat teams on the way to accompany my cleaners. Twenty minutes tops. So you believe Moreau was interested in the distraction as I aimed resources at personal targets?”
“Exactly,” Nick agreed. “A series of events like this would make people doubt and turn on the government. In the chaos, especially after the government is shown weak even with multiple security forces with some independence.
“I get that. I agree with your assessment. We’ll be working long hours to lessen the impact of this bullshit. I like your idea of going back to the Harbor Hotel to fit any final pieces into place. I will have info sent directly to John for sorting from this end. I know you think everything we’ve done has been blind luck. Don’t. We make our own luck with good decisions, and follow through. The Kaders may bear watching to prevent that goofy family from starting a world war.”
“I’m close to extermination mode on the male Kaders, brother.”
“I swear to God if their name appears on one more watch list, I’ll fly out to join you.”
Nick chuckled. “Thanks.”
“Do you want the contract on Fontaine? There will be one on the ambassador if I can’t get the Algerian government to do anything about him, but they’re both going to be tough to pull off. Fontaine’s will be without condition. He dies. Once I fill in April, we’ll have complete backing from the people we need backing from.”
“I’ll take them both. I’m going after Fontaine. Let me know on the ambassador. I’m thinking with him we can pull the old Clyde and Nick show with ‘Eyes Only’ papers for the ambassador.”
“Damn good, Nick. I like it. That worked perfectly for Collister. Stroke of genius. I’ll let you know when I learn what Algeria wants to do. Any name connected with their poisoning the reservoir plan dies. Goodnight, Nick.”
Gus and John finished packing by the time Nick walked into the room with the metal case he extracted from behind the condo bathroom’s medicine cabinet wrapped in a towel. Nick didn’t know whether he was safe or not. After a moment’s hesitation he thought, the hell with it.
“What’s the verdict?” Gus backed away from Nick as the box was placed in the middle of the room. “I hope Paul doesn’t think we want to take a peek inside, does he?”
Nick set the case down gently. “Not likely. You can bet even the guys in the space suits won’t take a chance and pop the top. I need a drink and then a flask, because I’m doing the Harbor Walk with the Dekester before I delve into end of the world scenarios. Would you guys mind getting started on the data mining while I think this crap through?”
“Glad to do it, Muerto,” John said. “Payaso and I will sip a couple to help us through the more tedious areas of information.”
“I’m glad you’re going on the Harbor Walk,” Gus added. “I don’t want some unsuspecting civilian getting caught in a Muerto bad day aftermath.”
> “That would indeed be bad,” Nick agreed.
* * *
“I’m glad Tina and Cara wanted to watch Quinn. This is beautiful, Dad.” Jean and Sony walked next to Nick with Deke snorting at every new object along the walkway. “The harbor lights, boat lights, building lights, and stars make this seem like Christmas with the clear sky like it is.”
Nick sipped from his flask. “It sure is. Watch the steps with the Dekester, kids.”
Rachel leaned into Nick, holding his left hand as they ascended a set of dock steps. “It is very nice out here tonight. I didn’t think you’d be able to get away from your investigation for this.”
“John can hack nearly as well as I can, and Gus is no slouch at pouring over details. They knew I needed some space. Today’s consequences for American government politico stupidity were on full display. The same governments our political morons try to make nice with in the meantime smile, nod their heads, and try to slice our hearts out with a dull butter knife. Maybe I’m not cut out for this world saving stuff.”
“You’re the most qualified world saver ever, Muerto. There’s a reason the Director of the CIA has you on speed dial. He knows you will handle people or incidents immediately without question or mercy. In this day and age like you told me long ago, they can’t go shopping at the local ‘Psycho Killers R Us’ store. I heard Gus talking to John. You killed the only reputation accepted world class assassin in your league.”
Nick smiled. “Thanks for the pep talk, coach. I admit I still love being El Muerto, but we haven’t been able to do some fun appearances where I can kill a run of the mill thug and the victim calls out ‘I love you, El Muerto’.”
Nightmare in Red Page 25