“You would think in a foul place like DC, they could do anything they want, anytime they want,” Johnny said. “What’s the big deal about an affair between two single people?”
“You’re forgetting the people paying them,” Gus replied. “Nick knows this already. These politicos blackmail each other in a heartbeat. Any impropriety amongst upper level staffers can flood over their politico product, rendering them at the very least out of a job. The enemies’ databases in that city track every sexual adventure. Stallings and Strickland have been very careful, just as Muerto pointed out.”
“This is huge,” Nick said. “If they meet for a weekend at Adam’s Inn on any kind of a pattern, I could practically walk into their places once I’m situated. If I can find the dirt on Gree to put her in jail, while allowing the Stallings/Strickland duo to know Paul Gilbrech is protected, another lamo assault by an airhead like Gree could be a thing of the past.”
“I like your thinking, Muerto. Do you have any idea how to convince Stallings and Strickland to understand Paul is protected after you put down Gree?”
“Let me work that, Johnny. I’ll think of something… probably on the fly once I’m in place. It need be nasty though. You can’t put the fear of God into a couple of atheist liberal predators with a fruit basket and a note.”
“Sucks to be them,” Gus said.
“Indeed,” Nick confirmed. “I’m hoping they car pool together. That would open another easy door for me. We’ll pay particular attention to their morning routine tomorrow - when they leave, and if they leave together. Our surveillance will begin compiling the info gathering opportunities. I wish they would have worked today for tomorrow’s comparison.”
“It wouldn’t be a good idea to leave before we have at least a week to check these two out,” Gus said.
“I know. It depends on how hard Gree presses with her anti-Paul gambit. I’ll give it a couple days anyhow. I-”
Nick’s phone buzzed. He held the phone for Gus and Johnny to see the caller ID. “Hi, Dale.” He could hear sobbing in the background.
“Nick… can you come over to the house. It’s very important. I wouldn’t ask otherwise.”
“I’ll be over in twenty minutes.”
“Thank you!” Dale disconnected.
“Dale’s in trouble.” Nick left the table hurriedly rounding Deke. “I don’t know whether it’s a trap or not. We’ll take two vehicles. I’ll park mine in front. You guys park a few houses down and approach on foot. I’ll have the front. Cover the back for me.”
“We’re with you, but what do you plan to do?”
Nick shrugged at Gus’s question as he went down the stairs. “If they don’t shoot me in the head the moment I walk in, I’ll be okay.”
Nick’s immediate entry into the downstairs safe-room drew the attention of their other guests. Rachel watched him take out his weapon of choice, a Colt model 1911. He put on Kevlar under his shirt and windbreaker. Jean stood silently with Sonny at her side. “What’s happened, Nick?”
“The Rivers are in trouble. We’re going over to find out why. Set the security system the moment we leave. I’ll call you the moment I assess the situation.”
Before exiting, Nick used his moveable cams to scan the area at the front of his house for any moving presence. “We’re clear. I’ll lead though. Follow in ten second intervals. You guys know what to do when we get there. We’ll be on our com units. I will need a slight distraction. When you hear me say ‘hi there’, fire a couple of rounds into the ground.”
* * *
Dale called out as Nick rang the doorbell. “Come in, Nick!”
Nick, a killer without peer, allowed a slight smile to lighten his features. “Coming in.”
As he imagined, the trap appeared ready to spring. Each of the three black masked men had an arm around one of the Rivers’ family members, awaiting him at spaced intervals, facing the doorway. Nick gauged distance and movement instantly, his thoughts arranging targets in order of perceived threat. The guy holding Jay, negligent in his grip, held his long bladed knife loosely. The guy with Beth held her tight against him, but wrapped his arm around her neck, the knife in the same hand instead of his free hand. The third man held Dale in a tight choke hold while keeping the barrel of a 9mm handgun against the underside of Dale’s jaw.
“Hi there.”
Two shots rang out from the backyard, startling the three men. Nick drew, firing two .45 caliber hollow points through the only gunman’s head. The man’s weapon discharged into the floor as he slammed lifelessly against the wall behind him and collapsed in a heap. A split second later, before the man holding Beth could move his arm, Nick’s third shot tore into his head, expanding into brain ending shrapnel. Jay’s captor dropped his knife with a yelp. Nick shot him twice in the head before he could beg for his life. Without pausing, Nick streaked past the stunned Rivers’ family, placing himself between them and the rest of the house.
“Dale! Anyone else here?”
“No… I…I’m sorry. I answered the door. They ran over me before I could stop them.”
“Good. Stay still. Don’t touch anything but each other. Gus? You and Johnny can come around to the front.”
“Be there in a few seconds,” Gus replied.
The two men joined Nick in the room where the Rivers had a moment together away from their ordeal. “Nothing’s touched. We need to get Neil here along with a forensics team. No unmasking or movement before the cops get here. I’ll watch the outside for bandits. Please secure the scene as is until I can get people here.”
“On it,” Gus acknowledged.
“They can stay with us in Carmel Valley,” Johnny suggested. “I’ll call Cala to prepare a couple extra rooms.”
“Good thinking, Johnny,” Nick replied. “It would be better if they were away from the city. This mess will last for a while. Hunker down, guys. We succeeded. That’s all that counts.”
“Amen to that, brother,” Gus agreed.
* * *
Two hours later, Johnny was allowed to leave with the Rivers family. Tina and Cala went ahead to prepare the rooms. Gus remained with Nick. They awaited a final word from Lieutenant Dickerson after the bodies were photographed and removed. Dickerson made sure everything proceeded in order at the crime scene, knowing the fallout from something like this. He joined Nick and Gus where they sat in the Rivers’ kitchen. Nick handed him his Colt with chamber empty and the magazine discharged from the Colt.
Neil bagged the items. “Sorry I need to take this from you, but this will be front page news on everything from the Enquirer to the New York Times. Nothing will keep you out of the spotlight now, brother. All three have records and are related to the school families, two cousins and an uncle. The three thugs have been sentenced in other assaults. I will be visiting the families tomorrow to end this travesty. If I find even a hint the families instigated the kidnapping/hostage taking of the Rivers family, there will be massive arrests.”
“Stay on the offensive, Neil,” Nick replied. “If they suspect even a hint of politically correct nonsense, they will turn this into a witch hunt. I have video footage of it going down. I can’t give you that unless absolutely necessary.”
“You saved the Rivers family. I’m not throwing you under the bus for this no matter what the idiots try to do in the family or media. You rate a protection detail. Do you want one?”
“Nope. If anyone is stupid enough to come after me, Gus, or Johnny, they’re in for a big surprise. I wish we could bury this. One look at the fact the three were wearing full face masks, with weapons to hold the Rivers family hostage, should in any sane society be enough. I know better, especially since that one woman at the school board meeting mentioned my Chicago visit.”
Neil straightened from his chair. “You and Gus can go. I have everyone’s statement. Those three in masks are the key. That you didn’t disturb the scene at all puts everything in perspective. If you can at least give me an edited version of your video, that wou
ld be helpful.”
“Let me get back to you on that. The Rivers family is safe for now, but let me tell you some facts not in evidence. The danger ends because you get proactive against these idiots, or I will adjust this situation until the Rivers will be the last family on earth anyone wants to target. Are we clear, brother?”
Neil took a deep breath. “Crystal clear. I’m on it. I’m picturing you two on the deck with Bushmills in a very short time from now.”
“It will be a small imbibing,” Nick replied. “We have people at risk in this. There better not be any further crap from the bullies’ families or I will show them a war of attrition they won’t win. I only warn you of this because I hope to avoid such things. You know the story. Jean and Sonny came to the aid of six gangbangers in training. They either instigated or condoned this assault on an innocent family, who were already victims. Be advised. I won’t tolerate any PC crap from the chicken-shit politicos.”
“Give me a chance, Nick. I have enough to quash this before it builds with the masked banditos. If something changes, I’ll alert you immediately.”
Nick gripped Neil’s wrist as he stood away from the table. “Remember what I said, brother.”
Even though Neil experienced many interactions with the Terminator, a chill ripped up his spine from Nick’s steady gaze. “I will… Nick. I will. Go on home, you two. I’ll be in touch.”
* * *
Rachel journeyed to the deck, knowing Quinn and Jean slept. She found Nick typing furiously with a smile. “I can see you dived into pulp fiction for a reprieve from your real life adventures, Muerto.”
“I think you have a firm grasp on the obvious, my dear,” Nick replied without missing a keystroke. “By tomorrow, because of political correctness, I will be on the front page of every newspaper in the country. The only shield I have is my country bumpkin, Lieutenant Dickerson. He will fumble around until ordered to make nice with the criminal thugs. I’m writing to prepare myself for this new notoriety. I started the new novel with Diego massacring a thug gang in Buenos Aires who sent cartel hitmen north to assassinate Fatima.”
Rachel massaged Nick’s shoulders. “Let’s see. How about ‘South American Sanction’.”
Nick stopped. “Hey… that’s not bad.”
Rachel tried to escape Nick’s grasp as he turned to assault her in a possessive sexual scramble. “No… don’t… ah… oh, Nick!”
The intensity and passion of Nick’s attention revived the sleeping Deke. In a moment, Deke intruded on Nick’s lovemaking attention to the point both participants halted in surrender. Nick picked up Deke’s bowl, and grabbed a beer from the small refrigerator on the deck. “C’mon, you lush. I know what can hold your attention in the backyard for a time.”
Nick checked all security system cams, lured Deke out in the back with his bowl, and then reset the alarms until he would later collect Deke. Rachel met Nick in the middle of the staircase, stripped down to nothing but a filmy black top.
“I know you like me in black. How’s this?”
“Oh baby… you look good enough to eat. In fact…” Nick scooped her into his arms, heading for their bedroom. “I’m thinking I haven’t had to gag you in over a day.”
Rachel shuddered, remembering Nick’s manipulations at the time of his reference. “Good Lord… don’t torture me like that, Nick.”
“Heh…heh,” was all Nick replied.
* * *
Rachel found Nick at the kitchen table, typing away as usual before 6 am. “I woke, thinking to finally finding you next to me one morning. Not in this lifetime, I guess.”
Nick made a few keystrokes, showing Rachel a video on the local news. “Dale stepped up and made a real difference. Watch.”
Rachel enjoyed at least fifteen minutes of Dale Rivers angrily challenging the reporters and crowd of sullen observers with ‘Black Lives Matter’ posters. He stated and shouted down anyone who tried to inject racism into the debate. Dale reiterated the trauma his wife and young son endured, held at knife and gunpoint, while waving blown up pictures of the masked attackers. Johnny and Cala moved near Dale with deadly intent.
“Oh my God! Johnny had to have created those photos from your cam video. Damn… look at Dale. He has the media actually retreating from him, along with the thug family!”
“They never even called. Johnny and Cala went rogue on me,” Nick joked. “They did very well too. This morning, they’re trying everything to bury the story, along with excluding all traces of the thugs. They’re only reporting the facts, enhanced by Dale’s diatribe, and Neil’s press conference this morning. This is a game changer. Without the media hyping out of control law enforcement, they’re left with the facts. Now, the media line describes the crime as a confrontation, ending in a deadly finish, with the hostages safe.”
“That’s bullshit! You should-”
“Hey,” Nick interrupted, hugging Rachel onto his lap. “Embrace the big picture. There are a lot of others involved in this whether they like it or not. We don’t want Neil to lose his job. We don’t want an army of media clowns accompanied by racist thugs haunting our door. We don’t want my face becoming more recognizable than a Kardashian’s butt. We want the Rivers left alone. Dale did very well to make sure none of those things will happen with Johnny and Cala’s help.”
“I guess you’re right. That was incredible what you did last night. You saved a family’s lives. They would have been murdered if not for you.” Rachel relaxed into Nick’s manipulations.
“I’m not so sure they would have killed the Rivers. I think they wanted to execute me. After we take the kids to school, Gus, Johnny, and I will get to work on our three masked thugs from last night. They may be tied into Chicago in some way. Taking hostages to lure a federal marshal into an ambush, over a school kid fight, reeks of BLM thuggery. We’ll make sure there aren’t any more family ties to the BLM. I already checked their mugshots. They were not at the school board meeting.”
Rachel opened her robe, allowing Nick access. His gentle stroking on the outside of her robe, while talking, made listening with comprehension difficult. “Right now… I don’t… care.”
Nick lifted Rachel away from the table. “Let’s go explore that uncaring attitude.”
* * *
Johnny and Cala arrived with Jay in time for the walk to school. Jay quietly entered the McCarty house with a wave. Sonny, who had slept over at Nick’s insistence, put a hand on Jay’s shoulder.
“How are you doing, Jay. Jean and I heard what happened.”
“I thought we were dead,” Jay answered. “My Dad really told those reporters off when Johnny and Cala took us to meet briefly with the police.”
“The reporters and cameras were waiting for us. Neil sent officers out to get us inside, but Dale insisted on tearing them a new one,” Johnny added. “You probably saw the media’s agenda differed from Dale’s. They backed away. I showed my US Marshal’s credentials to let the rest of them know I would have them arrested by the locals and charged with federal crimes.”
“We can walk, can’t we, Nick?”
“Sure, Cala. You’re not looking for trouble, are you?”
“I’m all business. I like the walk, and never knowing what new adventure lies ahead, on a McCarty walk or journey of any kind. Johnny and I figured the hostage takers were there last night to execute you. I bet Gus felt the same way.”
“Yep. That’s how I saw it too,” Gus agreed. “It means we have someone possibly interested in Nick’s Chicago adventure.”
“We’ll tear into the six families, along with our other endeavor,” Nick said. “Maybe those three idiots were the only rogue elements. You and your folks were very brave last night, Jay. We’ll make sure it never happens again, if at all possible.”
Deke rammed into Nick’s leg with leash in mouth. “I see Deke wants to get started.”
Rachel peeked around the kitchen entryway corner with Quinn in her arms. “You bunch be careful. I have the news on in here. I’ll
call if I see the media storm hit the streets anywhere around the school.”
“Thanks.” Nick went over to kiss her and the baby. “We’ll be back with news from the school. I plan to warn Principal Smithson if she hasn’t already seen it on the news.”
* * *
The misty morning with a hint of salt air stirred everyone into a brisk walk. Nick allowed Sonny, Jean, and Jay to skip ahead out of earshot so they could exchange secret information. He knew Jean formulated ideas and plans now as a matter of course, enthralling her minion, Sonny. That she created a parallel course with the McCarty crew’s dangerous reality made Sonny an avid participant, who sought her advice on everything dealing with his parents. Deke ran his leash out to tread near the kids.
“What do you think Jean’s planning,” Gus asked.
“I believe she’s still on the school problems. Jean will plan a way for either her or Sonny to be around Jay nearly all the time in school. He’s in her crew now. Predator gets protected and trained. She’s constantly in contact now with Al, John Harding’s daughter. They’re praying for another pirate boat excursion or a ride on ‘The Ranger’, John’s newest huge addition to their fleet.”
“Lucas contacted me about a suspected Saudi sponsored Isis/Muslim Brotherhood compound in an area near Vancouver in a place called Lynn Canyon,” Gus said. “He asked if I’ve ever steered a boat along the Canadian coastline in the west. It’s okay to mention this to Johnny and Cala, right Muerto?”
“Of course,” Nick said. “You’re talking about the hit I asked you on near Capilano Lake. I rented a very nice boat to fish and trap our mountain man prodigy. Gus handled all boating aspects but he wasn’t happy, although he was paid quite well to be out of his element. Finster Dumas was the guy’s name. Gus and I fished the lake, drifting nearer and nearer to the satellite imaging Frank Richert produced for us. I went inland one day, found Finster, and then scooted out to the lake again where Gus awaited with our boat. It’s a far cry from sailing ‘The Ranger’ along the coast, but I have no doubt Gus can do it.”
Cold Blooded Assassin Book 7: Hell on Earth (Nick McCarty Assassin) Page 17