Nick watched Jerry’s facial features brighten. He flexed his work worn hands in front of Nick with protruding thumb knuckle joints.
“Damn… I’ve turned wrenches all my life and did in my thumb knuckles a time or two. That goofy Jennings would give them a skin shave every time I forgot to lower my hold a fraction.” Jerry stood with book in hand. “Good to meet you, Nick. I saw in your face you had to hold off the one liners about that idiot’s weight when he called you ‘thin skinned’. You should have blasted him.”
“That would be politically incorrect to point out such a thing, my friend,” Nick replied with a big grin.
Jerry nodded. “Yeah… I guess. It’s annoying as hell having to watch every damn word spoken. I’ve always been big, even in the Marines. The damn D.I.’s would insult my weight in ways only other Marines can imagine. They were so funny, I’d crackup and get extra of everything tacked on. Anyway, it was a pleasure. Thanks for the Jennings insight.”
“Great meeting you, Jer. Thanks again for your support.”
After Jerry left, John whispered to Nick, “I wish we could have seen him bitch slap the BK.”
“That’s not very civilized of you, John,” Nick whispered back. “We’ve been lucky so far today. Only one BK and no Grammar Nazi’s.”
Gus suppressed amusement while listening to Nick and John’s exchange. The next one in line, a woman with school teacher sternness spread across her features, marched toward them with numerous sticky notes extending from the pages of an ‘Assassin’s Folly’ novel. She was holding the book open to a place at the beginning, pointing in their direction. It was marked in red in numerous places with notes scribbled on the borders.
“Jinx,” Gus said.
“Oh God… look at all those markers,” Nick whispered out the side of his mouth.
* * *
Nick gave Clyde a little salute on the way by. “I’ll gather Phil and see you at 7 am day after tomorrow. Paul’s convinced he will have the initial meetings done by then.”
“Do you really think our classified papers ploy will work again on the Algerian ambassador?”
“Unless they’re tipped off, we’ll be fine. Our problem will be their paranoia over the missing minions. They may have security heightened to the point anything we do or say will be under heavy scrutiny. Paul has a superb ploy involving giving them the useless information we’ve retrieved on the missing men’s identities. It includes the nefarious activities of the two men who were enemies of the Algerian state prior to becoming the ambassador’s personal guard. We’ll be careful, Clyde. We won’t meet with him at the embassy. No matter where we meet him, if anything looks suspicious, we walk out without a backward glance.”
“Sounds good. I sure don’t envy you the Senator Cameron confrontation. I’m glad you and Paul understand how powerful she is. When people talk about her in DC, they whisper.”
“They won’t have to whisper for much longer. She has to be dealt with. I have no idea what her mind’s inner workings are that makes what she’s doing right by any stretch of the imagination.”
“I think it’s a rite of passage when you become a political figure to leave your conscience buried in the closet for evermore.”
“Agreed. See you later, Clyde.”
* * *
Writing on his deck in sheer bliss, Nick glanced at the foggy surroundings outside his window in thankful joy to be there at least one night. His character Diego openly considered Fatima now as a possible partner and dealt with his friend Jed’s hostile reservations, including the numerous times Fatima tried to kill Diego. Nick sipped his whiskey, smiling at how much he enjoyed Diego’s conversations with Jed, and how close they resembled the more pointed ones Nick had with Gus. Deke stirred at his feet as Rachel, Sonny, and Jean joined him with pizza snack trays. Sonny had made an appearance at home, listened to a lecture on how he was lucky to still be alive, and asked to be allowed to visit Jean. Nick luckily had not left, having been in grim conversation with Phil, making sure he understood they would be flying early the day after tomorrow. Sonny dropped off his belongings and drove to Nick’s house again.
“You’ve been writing uninterrupted for hours,” Rachel noted. “Quinn’s down for a nap so we decided to disturb you.”
“Okay by me. Those snacks look good. What time do you need to go home, Sonny? I’m going to walk Deke to your house if you don’t mind the walk.”
“That would be great. I’m supposed to be home at ten, Sir.”
“No problem. I’m in a stopping point to rejoin my story without missing a beat tomorrow morning.”
“Can’t we just adopt, Sonny,” Jean asked. “His folks don’t want him anyway.”
Sonny laughed appreciatively which eased a chuckle out of Rachel and Nick. “You’re funny, Viper. Thanks for the thought, but my folks like me well enough. They’d rather I was a robot though with voice command.”
“Your Mom will need you around while I take your Dad to straighten things out in Washington. I’m not sure how long we’ll be. I’d rather you were with Clarice. If she starts making suspicious calls to people you’re unfamiliar with, would you give me a call?”
“Sure. What do you think she might do, Nick? The truth please,” Sonny stated.
“This operation with getting that traitor out of office will be tricky. It’s not what I do normally. Any leak to anyone within Senator Cameron’s sphere of influence could be very dangerous to everyone involved, especially your Dad and I. Clarice probably doesn’t understand how deadly these political rats are when they get trapped in a corner.”
“I’ll watch and listen for anything like that. I understand what you mean. It’s something Mom would do without thinking. I’ll talk to both of them when I get home about it.”
“I would appreciate it. We won’t be coming home right after the business with the Senator. I have one other matter to handle before we return.”
“Is it more in line with what you normally do, Sir?”
Nick hesitated, but thought, I’m going to hell for having two ten year olds in my flock anyway. “Yes. Clyde will be with me during that phase of our DC road trip.”
“I have an idea, Sir. I’m certain I could clone Mom’s phone as I’ve heard you speak of with Gus and John.”
“Thanks, Sonny. Let me think about that. Maybe your talk will be enough to dissuade her from anything rash. I’m sure your Dad will caution her too.”
“Okay. I think it best you let me clone her phone anyway.”
“You don’t sound very optimistic about the results of your talk, Sonny.”
“Good, because I’m not.”
Chapter Twelve
Kader Finality and More Trouble
Oh crap! Nick saw the BMW slowing as they approached, the headlights wavering on the horizon as they flowed toward them. Nick readied to draw down with his Beretta. “Jean, Sonny, take Deke and run for the house front here!”
Jean grabbed Sonny’s hand with a sudden yank, streaking over the strange house’s walkway with Deke on leash running at their sides. The BMW slowed to a stop with its opaque black windows. The passenger side front hummed down, revealing a grim faced Jacob Kader, hatred emanating from his face in waves.
“You will have our answer now to your demeaning bribe money!”
The BMW windows began rolling down. The occupants thought Nick would wait to see who was inside the car. They gripped their weapons, ready to blast through the open windows. The first indication things would not be going as planned came when Jacob Kader’s skull and brain matter sprayed over the men in the back. Spaced shots rang out as bullets struck the men with deadly precision as they tried to bring their weapons to bear. After ten shots in his fourteen shot clip had pulped the heads and hearts of the four other men with Jacob, including the driver, Nick popped in a fresh clip and calmly shot each one through the head once again. He then took out his phone. Rachel answered on the first ring.
“What have you done, Muerto?”
�
�No time, honey. I need you to put Quinn in the car carrier and come right now to get Jean, Sonny, and Deke. I’m still on Lighthouse Ave.”
“On my way. Are you ever going to take my advice and drive everywhere?”
“Are you going to tell me ‘I told you so’ for the next week?”
“Two weeks,” Rachel answered. “You need seasoning, Muerto.”
Nick growled as Rachel disconnected on him. He called John.
“Muerto?”
“It is I, El Muerto. I have five of your in-laws who decided to come by for a visit in the dark on Lighthouse Avenue while I was walking Sonny home with Jean and Deke.”
“Five for the freezer coming up. This is very embarrassing. I will never be able to repay such wondrous wedding gifts, Muerto. You shall have a seat of honor at the wedding table. It seems we will need to have a few extra family members to fill the seats. What kind of car can I tell Jerry I’m bringing him in the morning?”
“BMW. It’s got all the trimmings but will need a substantial cleaning. The neighbors are peeking out. I have to go, John. Rachel will be here shortly. Then I will be over at your house in twenty minutes. Thanks, John.”
“You are a wondrous brother. No thanks are necessary. I shall break this somewhat disturbing yet joyous news to my beloved. She will be comforted as only the El Kabong can do.”
“Of course. See you soon.” Nick took out his US Marshal’s badge and identification. He waved them at the people he could see cracking open their doors to duck heads around uncertainly to glimpse the darkened street. “I’m a US Marshal escorting foreign nationals. There has been an incident but everything is fine now. Please go back inside your homes. Thank you for your cooperation.”
Rachel in their SUV drove behind the BMW a moment later. Nick gestured Jean and Sonny to the vehicle with Deke, holding the front and rear passenger doors open for them.
“Forget what you saw, Sonny. Jean, you know the drill. Hi, Rach. Another bloody Tuesday, huh?” Nick stripped off his jacket and gave it to Jean. “See you soon. I didn’t keep my eyes open and senses turned on again. They were watching the house.”
“They won’t be watching it anymore,” Rachel stated. “Go on and get started. We’ll be fine.”
Nick nodded and waved as he closed the doors. At the BMW as Rachel drove by him, Nick shoved the bloody driver over Jacob Kader’s lap and face first to the passenger side floor. He drove the BMW toward Carmel Valley while absently wiping blood and brain matter off the driver’s side window. Nick reached over to pat Jacob Kader’s shoulder.
“You old wretch. I’m glad you were more of a talker than a doer. Those damn whiskeys I had while enjoying my deck writing made me stupid. I’m thinking about going on the wagon because of you. I’m making you do a Kabuki dance for John when I get to his place if Cala stays inside. You and your buddies caught me at a bad time with the kids. I wish I could have entertained you all for a couple of hours before I brought you boys to room temperature. Oh well… say hello to all the other Kaders down in hell for me.”
Nick hummed his toneless Kabuki dance tune while concentrating on his driving. John had the garage open for him. Both he and Cala were wearing coveralls, standing near cleaning buckets and body bags, surprising Nick. Cala smiled at him and waved. She cringed at first as Nick exited the vehicle, but controlled her obvious horror at what she saw in the car’s interior.
“Are you sure you wish to go this far, kid,” Nick asked. “This nightmare in red is not for everyone. It’s not required to be one of us.”
“John has explained everything. You saved my life. I know my family meant to kill you. I am with John and he is with you forever.”
“I called Jerry. He’s meeting me at the shop in an hour,” John said. “I’ll drop you off at home and take the BMW to him. He’ll give me the Toyota to drive home in. How much would you like to give him for a bonus?”
“Twenty-five. He’s worth every penny. Look away, Cala. I have to show John something.”
When Cala did as told, Nick went around to the passenger side, yanked Jacob Kader out from under his upside down comrade, and with great strength made the man do a Kabuki dance of the dead next to the BMW for John’s amusement. Nick dropped him when Cala turned at John’s laughter.
“I saw that!” Cala giggled. “You are a very bad man, Mr. McCarty.”
“You giggled, Cala.”
“I am sick,” Cala admitted. “I grew up in abject fear of Jacob Kader. He and these others are evil. I know every one of them. They did his bidding without question. Their wives will howl with their stupid wailing when they disappear, but will secretly rejoice in private. I am one of you now. I will never be afraid again. John promised to teach me everything.”
“You two are an excellent pair. Welcome to the family.” Nick picked Jacob’s dead weight up as if he were a sack of groceries, making him do one more quick Kabuki dance of the dead to much laughter. “Let’s get pictures and DNA samples. Then we’ll bag them. We’ll have to make the car at least somewhat wiped down before John takes it to Jerry. Thanks for doing that for me. I need to go home and smooth things over a little. I made a few mistakes in judgement tonight because the writing was going so well. Let’s do this.”
John brought over the first bag. “Jacob will look very good in his bag. Perhaps we will be able to move the wedding day up.”
* * *
Rachel and Deke were waiting for Nick’s return. She kissed him with unbridled passion as he entered the house. He noticed she wore her black silk robe with nothing underneath. His hands began a feather soft fingertip stroking of her arms, back, and shoulders which had Rachel moaning against him. Switching tactics and pressure, Nick made her writhe under his ministrations. She pulled away for a moment breathlessly, her eyes closed tightly.
“Oh my God… how do you do this to me?” She opened her eyes and slapped Nick’s shoulder. “You’ve assimilated me like a Star Trek Borg cube just as you claimed you would.”
Nick switched to Star Trek Borg voice. “You have been assimilated. Resistance was futile. You will be forced to do my bidding, woman.”
“Can I be 6 of 9?”
“Oh yeah.”
* * *
Nick typed furiously as the final scenes unrolled in his mind to the conclusion he wanted. Fatima thought she controlled Diego once again after he offered her a partnership. The long awaited coupling between the two enlightened Fatima to the fact she would never be able to control Diego. In the days following, Diego haunted her every thought until she could think of nothing else other than being with him. Deke snorted as Jean wandered onto their deck, yawning hugely. Nick glanced at the clock.
“You have risen without being shaken from your bed at 7:30 am on a summer morning. Are you sick?”
“I got hungry. Any chance of this being a pancake day?”
“Sure. I’m in a good stopping place.” Nick saved and closed his files before logging off.
“I’m sorry you had to switch into Terminator mode. How did things go after Mom picked us up?”
“Very well. Cala is settled into the family for good now. She knows where all the bodies are buried.” Nick followed Jean down the stairs with Deke head bumping him as they descended. “Yes Deke, I’ll make you some bacon. This damn dog knows everything we’re going to do before we do. Anyway, the final reports will be given at the beach this morning. Last night won’t be discussed anywhere but on the beach with wave on the rocks noise and Pacific Grove winds.”
“They were going to kill us, Dad.”
“Yep. I could have keyed in my friend at the police department, but with everything else happening I’d rather the Kaders are left wondering what the hell happened to their hit squad. Do you think Sonny understands?”
“Sonny’s my minion,” Jean said matter-of-factly as she sat at the table while Nick began all the breakfast making including fixing Jean her tea. “He’ll be fine. Sonny knows bad people have to be dealt with. I told him how Mom and I were always
afraid before you came along.”
“Thanks for that. At ten years old none of this should be part of your lives but I have no way to alter what I am. Gus reminded me when I tried to put it all behind me it would drive me insane. I’m afraid he’s probably right. I have a few wires crossed I can’t fix.”
“We love you just the way you are, Dad. I’m going to be just like you… I mean… you know, fight bad people. Sonny will be my partner.”
Oh boy, there it is again. Fire up the hell pit, Nicky’s coming. “You really like Sonny. With all you’ve gone through, I know you’re a lot older in your head than ten. When you get so involved with another kid your age this closely I have to think it’s a pretty tight friendship.”
“I’ll probably have to marry him someday,” Jean mused as Nick set her tea down in front of her. “You like him. I can tell he surprises you like I do.”
Perceptive little bugger. “Sonny’s a great kid. I believe he values your friendship as deeply as you do his. I hope we can help you kids have a childhood to some extent. Your Mom and I agreed once this extra load with the wedding and my Washington DC entanglements end, we’ll see about getting you and Sonny into a summer camp if you still want.”
“What about my ninja practice on the camp counselors?”
“That part’s still under discussion. Your Mom has a good point my compass needle is a little skewed on. You and Sonny could get caught doing the ninja operations. The counselors may react violently not knowing they’re being ninja attacked by ten year olds.”
“That is a point I hadn’t considered,” Jean conceded. “I’ll give it some thought. It wouldn’t be a good thing if they gunned us down or beat us to death thinking we were bad guys.”
Nightmare in Red Page 28