“You have a wire into our Pacific Grove PD, huh?”
“I have to watch out for my favorite cartoon. How’s Cala doing on the flying lessons?”
“Excellent. She’s racking solo flights now. We’ve enlisted her officially into the Unholy Trio. We’re now Reaper and the Unholy Trio.”
Nick smiled as the CIA Director laughed until he was nearly hoarse. “Gre…great… another cartoon. What’s Johnny think of it?”
“Like it or else.”
“Yep. That’s what we call compromise in marriage, Muerto. Let me know if you need anything… anytime.”
“Thanks, Paul. I will. Keep an eye on my Chicago gang moll, Leia Zhoe. Anyone messing with her initiates another Muerto rampage.”
“I will let you know of any new development in that arena.” Paul disconnected.
Nick put down the phone and stroked Deke’s head with regret. “I have a feeling we’ll need to lay off the booze tonight. I know when I end a book through my torturous editing jaunts we normally have a nice celebration, but I think my cop buddy has other plans for us. I’ll leave my fellow cartoons out of it for tonight. You need a field trip. If too many enter the room, I’ll shoot them all in the head. If we get just one checking on their criminal minions, I’ll let you handle him. Maybe we’ll be able to catch the bad guys and make Neil look good.”
Nick switched to his satellite notebook with CIA encrypted access, carrying on a random conversation with Deke, who sat up and peered into the screen with interest. “We’ll go over all the data Neil sent us. Then we’ll look for something other than connections. See… look where the invasions took place. Four of them hit first, were located around this bunch of motels. I suspect there’s more than a few that didn’t get reported by the owners.”
Searching insurance databases, breaking in without a problem from his access, Nick found claims reported with promises of police reports, where the owners were unaware of insurance company policy on home invasion. The police need to be notified and make a report when such an incident occurs. Six other recent invasions had not yet been reported, in an expanded area beyond the grouping of motels. Nick broke into the motel records, finding only one BMW listed in the rented room information at the Sea Breeze motel.
Nick called Neil. “Hi, buddy.”
“I know… I should have something to you by now. We haven’t found the fucking room key-card in the BMW.”
“That’s why I called. I found a pattern you can hit immediately and probably find where they’ve been staying. I’m sending you my projection map and the motels most in line to be checked with our perps’ pictures. Go to the Sea Breeze first in plain clothes, no squad car. If I’m right and the manager recognizes our couple from the street, get the manager to make you a key-card for their room. I’ll meet you at the PD to pick up their car from impound. Sea Breeze was the only one that had a BMW listed on the check-in sheet.”
“Thank you! I will call immediately with updates on your input. I was afraid you had lapsed into a celebration day aura about being back from Chicago and finishing your novel. I… okay… enough of that. I’ll call you after I get this checked out – Sea Breeze first.”
“It’s nice to know my brother in the PD can insult me in such a way as to try and make his miscue appear helpful. Call me, ingrate.”
Neil disconnected with a snorting amusement of what had transpired in trust and acceptance.
“C’mon, Deke. We’ll go see what’s transpired in the McCarty house since last we saw of them.” Rachel was in the process of napping with Quinn, while Jean and minion Sonny plotted, and practiced. He found them in the kitchen, looking over maps of Pacific Grove. Jean met Nick’s questioning look with one of her own, projecting excitement.
“We figured it out, Dad. Cracker and I have been working on this since you went upstairs writing. The perps place to stay is in this group of motels.”
Nick looked over their indicated area, saw it matched his, and patted Jean’s shoulder. “You two are scary good. I used my agency access to check hotel records. The Sea Breeze is where I sent your Uncle Neil to check first. If I’m right, I’ll be going over there to wait for our home invasion people to send someone to check on the already incarcerated minions.”
“Can we go? Please, Dad… please!”
“Are you out of your Viper mind? I’m taking Deke, but he’s the only one. I’ll tell you what. I’ll take my iPad and do a Facetime during the stakeout when, and if, a suspect shows.”
“Okay… that’s pretty cool.”
“It sure is,” Sonny agreed.
“I’m going now to do a drive around at the Sea Breeze. I need to make sure they’re not already watching for the minions. Tell your Mom I’ll call her after I find out what I’m doing.”
“She’ll probably be mad. I’ll tell her you’re doing it for Uncle Neil. We’ll keep her off your back by showing off our map research.”
“Good thinking.”
“If that doesn’t work, I’ll tell Mom you promised to gag her when you get back.”
Jean’s parting shot stopped Nick in his tracks. He didn’t turn as he listened to Jean giggling. He shook his fist while continuing to the door.
“One of these days, Viper… one of these days… pow! Right to the moon.”
Nick left, thinking of thirty-year-old sarcastic barmaids.
* * *
The tall, slender, dark haired woman watched the ocean waves from the townhouse picture window facing the coast along Ocean View Blvd. She wore a sleeveless black dress, hemmed above the knee, with matching black high heels. Two men occupied the room with her. One with shaved head and goatee, solidly built, and inches taller than the woman, stood near her with a black windbreaker and jeans on. The other man, with immaculately styled brown hair, dressed in a gray business suit, read the paper at the kitchen counter while sipping wine. Patricia Lindall, Joseph Carnegi, and Dave Decker worked a dangerous, but incredibly profitable home invasion ring, moving from one rich small California coastal town to another. They stayed away from larger cities, first developing small time hoods to do the leg work, then Carnegi made certain the contact with them only happened through him.
“Francis knows better than to miss a meet. Let me go cut those two idiots loose, Pat. They’re probably stoned out of their heads and forgot what day it was. We’re taking a chance using them again anyway.”
The woman turned to face him as the man in the business suit spoke. “Joe’s right. Let’s pay them off and call it quits here. We did okay.”
“Two more big scores,” Pat said. “We could move on in style, rent another great place like this one, and take our sweet time developing the walkers. Kondalis and Carstairs are doing excellent work. This berg is perfect. Goofy looking yard-birds like those two can walk around anywhere… even 17-Mile Drive, in this area, without drawing attention. The locals don’t have a clue. There’s no need to quit yet.”
“That idiot Kondalis stole a Beemer after we told him to rent a small non-descript car on our dime,” Joe replied. “That’s not excellent work. I should have shot him for that alone.”
“If the cops get him on that, we’ll know. You stay here with Adam. I’ll go check on them at the Sea Breeze. They don’t know me at all. I can knock on their door. When one of them answers, I’ll say sorry, I have the wrong room. We can decide then whether to break camp or not.”
Joe looked over at Adam, who shrugged, and went back to reading his paper. He took off his windbreaker. “Okay, Pat. If you see anything funky, we hit the road.”
“Agreed.” Pat put on her coat.
* * *
Pat parked her Toyota Camry near the motel office when she saw the stolen BMW parked in front of Kondalis and Carstairs’ room. She walked with confident stride to the door, noting it was ajar. Pat knocked on the door.
“C’mon in,” a gruff voice ordered.
Pat opened the door and a hand ripped her inside to the floor.
“Fierce!”
&n
bsp; Pat barely had time to yelp when a huge dog’s snarling mouth gripped her by the neck. “Wrong… wrong room! God almighty! Get this fuckin’ dog off me!”
The man roughly threw Pat on her stomach after patting the dog into a guard position. He used restraints on her hands and ankles. With quick attention to detail, the man duct taped her mouth, and frisked her. He then snatched her off the floor, plopping Pat roughly on one of the room chairs.
Her captor showed Pat his ID. “Hi. I’m US Marshal Nicholas McCarty. We have your playmates in custody. It’s unusual to find a woman in the home invasion racket. Where are your accomplices staying?”
Pat looked away. She believed she would be free as long as she played dumb.
“That’s okay. I didn’t expect you to answer, hence the duct tape.”
* * *
Nick called Johnny while looking through his captive’s purse. “Hi, Johnny. Bring Gus and Cala over to the Sea Breeze. I have a lady here I suspect is one of our invasion crew. Let’s have Cala watch her with Deke while we collect her accomplices.”
“Be there shortly.” Johnny disconnected.
Nick waved at Jean and Sonny’s open mouthed gawking on his iPad. “I have to go, kids.”
“Okay, Dad.”
Nick took out the woman’s iPhone, went over behind her and used the right-hand index finger to unlock the phone. He then smiled. “Let’s see. Joe Carnegi and Dave Decker get a lot of calls from you… Ms. Patricia Lindall. You have Google maps too. How helpful of you. Oh look at that. I ask for the app to help me locate a great restaurant from where you’ve been staying and oh my… Ocean View Blvd. Neato.”
Nick called Neil. “Hey, buddy, guess who I have restrained. I need you to get a warrant for the address I’m texting you right away. Gus, Johnny, and I are going over there in a moment while Cala watches my little bird here at the motel with Deke.”
“I’ll get it and meet you at the address. We’re taking prisoners, right?”
“We will if we can. Meet us four houses toward Otter’s Point from the address. Don’t go the squad car route. I’ll ride with you to watch the prisoners.”
“See you there.” Neil disconnected.
Lindall made mewling sounds, wanting to speak. Nick obliged and peeled the tape back. “We have done nothing! What the hell do you think we’ve done?”
“I know you three are a professional home invasion crew. You’re very good too. When my Marshals arrive, we’ll go to your place on Ocean View and collect your buddies, along with all the incriminating stuff we can find. Then, I’ll turn you over to my friend, Lieutenant Dickerson. He’s been very upset with all the break-ins around here.”
Patricia laughed, covering for the complacency errors she made in leaving many incriminating pieces in the townhouse, not to mention their electronics gear, outfits, and tools. “You’re making a big mistake, McCarty. I will sue you for everything you have.”
“Skip the threats, Pat. The only place you and your crew are going is prison. I’m sure you’re not afraid of those two losers you hired for reconnaissance purposes. If you add them in on this criminal conspiracy maybe we can get you a nicer cell. They did, after all, lead us to you.”
“Go to hell!”
“Fine. I’ll leave the duct tape off if you behave yourself. I’m going to read you your rights.” Nick recited the Miranda warning with his iPad on recording. “Do you understand these rights as I have spoken them.
“Yes. I will also be quiet, if that’s what you mean,” Lindall answered. “I have no intention of speaking again until I have a lawyer present.”
“Very good.” Nick propped the door open. He and Deke went outside on the walkway until Gus, Johnny, and Cala arrived. He waved them in with a flourish. “Princess Pat is inside, Cala. You and Deke watch her carefully until we come back with Neil to collect her, okay?”
Cala smiled and waved at Lindall as she crossed the threshold. “Hi, Pat.”
“Fuck you, bitch!”
Cala turned to Nick. “No fish food?”
“I’m afraid not, Cala. I told her to behave if she wants to keep the duct tape off her mouth. Apparently, she doesn’t want to behave.”
“No…no… wait. I’ll…” her words trailed off into humming bars of noise as Cala patted the duct tape into place.
“Much better,” Cala said. “Let’s see. The word not to use with Deke is… fierce!”
Deke leaped into position at Lindall’s throat, snarling while tugging slightly while Lindall squealed behind the tape.
“That’s the one.” Nick handed her a small bag of bacon treats. “We’ll be back shortly.”
“We’ll be here,” Cala replied, patting Deke down. She gave him a couple of the treats. “Good dog.”
* * *
“Pat should have been back by now.” Dave stood from the couch and walked to the picture window. The rolling fog covered everything in sight as it did many nights.
“Maybe we should split for a while,” Joe suggested. “We can drive around by the Sea Breeze and see if Pat’s car is there, or have a beer at that bar we all went to on Lighthouse. She’ll call when she sees we’re not here. Do you think it would be okay to call her?”
“No. She’d throw a fit if we broke protocol.” Adam’s iPhone buzzed. He looked at it in a confused manner. “It’s a text. Pat’s outside and she needs help. She’s a couple houses down in her Toyota.”
“Shit! I wonder if that jackass Kondalis shot her. Let’s go!”
Dave opened the door. The Taser needles hit him in the chest, sending the man to his knees in an electronically generated vibrating fit, ending with him pitching sideways to the floor. A man streaked past him. Joe reached for his Glock. The Taser needles kept his dance going until only a shudder remained in his body where he dropped.
* * *
“Well… that was just swell.” Nick plucked his Taser needles out of Joe. “Watch my back, Gus.”
“On your six.” Gus followed Nick as he steadfastly checked every room in the townhouse. “Are you good, Johnny?”
“Yes. Neil and I are securing our prisoners. That was a very good plan.”
Nick finished his inspection of the last room. “We’re clear. Let’s get to work gathering our evidence, or better yet, make Neil do it. Princess Pat didn’t know I could read her like a large print novel. There’s bad stuff in here for us to find. All I can think of is a Bushmills on the deck while we watch the fog.”
“Oh yes,” Johnny agreed.
Gus relaxed and holstered his weapon. “I’m done with marshal work. Tina and Rachel are already on the deck. She sent me a selfie with the two of them clinking wine glasses.”
Nick straightened with a grin at Gus. “That does it. Let’s go down and make Neil do his job.”
“On it,” Neil announced. “Let Cala know I have a uniform on the way to collect Lindall. You three are definitely the bomb. It makes me wonder why I can’t talk you three into doing more legitimate police work.”
“We’re already at your beck and call, brother,” Nick said as he rejoined Johnny and Neil with Gus. “We’ll collect Cala and Deke from the Sea Breeze. This one’s all yours. We don’t need the agency enhancement or anything. If you need a witness, put me on the back of your report to acknowledge my help. The electronics and crap I saw in the rooms are your keys to the kingdom. Don’t let your minions screw this up.”
“I won’t, Nick. Thanks, guys.”
“We’ll have a taste for you on the deck, Neil,” Gus said.
“Gee… thanks.”
The Unholy Trio exited with amusement.
Chapter Seven
School and Sand Business
“You cartoons took our girl Cala and Deke the dog on a crime caper. I think Gomez is out of control,” Tina said.
“Deke’s practicing for a more active role in his duties. Speak of him in his official capacity.” Nick ignored Tina’s ‘Addams Family’ shot. “He’s officially US Marshal Deke the Dog now. We needed Marshal De
ke and Reaper with us on this crime solving jaunt.”
“It was fun,” Cala said. “That Pat woman thought she would be getting away with everything. You should have seen her when the police came to get her. She tried everything: tears, sobs, wails about mistreatment. Demands to be released until a court date in the future. The police officer advised her to shut-up. Marshal Deke did very well.”
“It was cool watching the takedown,” Jean said. “Sonny thought Deke was going to rip her throat out for real. It’s too bad Sonny had to go home before our deck party.”
“He needed to touch base at home.” Nick added some more beer to Deke’s bowl. “If Deke didn’t convince the perp he would rip throats, they wouldn’t be fearful. Our duties have been fulfilled for now. We have the weekend ahead to do other things.”
“Monday night we have the school board meeting to attend,” Rachel said. “We’ll need Jay’s parents with us, along with Phil and Clarice. Sonny promised to learn if his folks plan on selling us out. I heard from John Harding’s wife, Lora, that they faced the same situation in Oakland when Al protected herself against a bully. The bully’s Dad made the mistake of going to Harding’s home with a couple friends. After they got the crap kicked out of them, any talk of school boards went away.”
“Are you suggesting Muerto beat all the bullies’ families into a coma?”
“Although I wouldn’t mind seeing that happen, I know there are a lot more people involved in this incident, Gus. I’m saying we seem to be living parallel lives with the Hardings. The one to watch closely is Clarice. If we stick to the facts of the case with the Rivers’ backing, we’ll be fine. No school board idiots would vote in favor of a ‘six kids on one’ beat-down.”
“Agreed. We’ll put Jean and Sonny in a private school if they try to expel them for defending Jay,” Nick said. “I know it’s not the outcome we want, but there might not be a choice.”
“Did Paul have any word on the Al-Kazar relatives through Worthum?”
“No. Did you or Cala note any unusual activity on the Dark Web?”
Cold Blooded Assassin Book 7: Hell on Earth (Nick McCarty Assassin) Page 15