“The principal toned her down, Dad. She still goes nuts but she mutters on her own where we can’t hear her. I’m glad I don’t have her for a teacher. Watch this, Dad. I can do her perfectly.”
Nick stopped her with a gesture. “Flo has it coming, I’m sure. Her indoctrination program against school policy is something we’ll fight against. I don’t like you making fun of adults unless they’re in on the joke like we are. Like your Mom says, Flo’s an Islamic newbie, enflamed with her new calling, willing probably to sell out her country, and indoctrinate kids to her cause. I won’t soft sell the danger you kids already know about from this cult. I don’t sugarcoat anything. When someone believes in something against all logic and common decency, we step back and allow them to proceed on their discovery phase into reality, especially with the death cult. Flo may learn the hard way about her place as a woman in Islam. Because of the Kaders, you kids know of the dangers. Only one pseudo religion preaches the decimation of other races and religions who do not believe in their cult worldwide, while carrying out genocide in reality.”
“Do you believe in God, Sir,” Sonny asked.
“I sure do. I do not believe God wants us to kill or maim everyone who doesn’t believe as I do. The God I believe in doesn’t want us to mutilate, subjugate, or stone women for indiscretions. My God doesn’t want pedophilia to become a man’s right. I can freely believe in anything without annoying other people.” Nick grinned at Jean. “My God also doesn’t want me to allow a child under my care to be a bullying shrew either.”
“You said when Mom and I forced you to help the cop by the side of the road a long time ago, that we forced you to do what’s right, and sometimes you didn’t know what was right anymore.”
“Arrrrghhhhh… I’ve been pierced to the heart by my own words, although mutilated to fit Viper’s storyline. Let me put it this way – I don’t want you making fun of other people in front of me. We all make mistakes in judgement. I’ve made so many, I don’t even think about them anymore. I’m sure Gus has them all catalogued though. Restraint is the key to adulthood, Viper.”
“Restraint is the key for sissies.”
Nick stifled a laugh while Rachel gasped, staring at the ceiling in frustration. “I know your Mom agrees with you on many counts. One of the reasons charter schools are so popular is because of just this type of nonsense. Politely and quietly handling these incidents through the school authorities usually results in changes as you’ve already noted with the other parents complaining.”
Jean grinned at Rachel, who gave her daughter a quick negative head shake. “C’mon Mom, tell him.”
Nick refilled his drink. “Tell me what?”
“Nothing really. Her husband came over this past week to the school with her. He’s the whole package, full black beard, kufi skull cap, and pajama robes. I thought Flo was a nitwit but her husband takes the cake. This guy traipsed around with his hands clasped behind his back eyeballing everyone. He came over to us when I dropped Jean off for school. He said his name was Majd Nazari and his wife felt uncomfortable around us.”
“Mom said, ‘tough titty said the kitty, but the milk’s okay’,” Jean broke in while giggling. “A bunch of people around us started laughing. It looked like his head was going to explode. He started forward but Mom lit off her stun-gun. She told him to go hump someone else’s camel.”
Jean’s delivery and storytelling flair reduced the room to wild amusement for a few moments. It was only then Jean noticed Nick wasn’t laughing. “Dad… it’s okay. Ms. Nazari came over and clutched onto his arm, begging him to come along with her.”
Nick turned to Gus. “See what happens when we don’t have escort duties, Payaso.”
“Yes,” Gus replied wryly. “A tense situation gets handled without a killing.”
“Very funny. I’m not amused with the ‘Beard’ showing up to intimidate.”
Rachel, like Jean, saw the cold blooded killer flow over Nick’s features. “Hey… did you just insult me? After all we’ve been through, I would figure you’d assume I can handle myself. Flo saved his ass. I had my pepper-spray in the other hand. One more word from Majd, and I would have sprayed him and her until they dropped, after which I zap until all movement stops.”
Nick grinned and nodded. He sipped his refreshed drink. “There’s too much Islamist intimidation crap going on. This place is beginning to resemble the idiot European Union nations that don’t have armed citizens, importing the Islamic plague into their midst. Their own citizens, terrorized daily by these assholes, have actually begun knuckling under to the lunatics. They have Islamic No-Go zones now, where police have to ask permission to enter. Did you bunch know the French allow these troglodytes to burn nearly a thousand cars of citizens on New Year’s Eve since the ‘Arab Spring’ bullshit. Laugh now, but I’m rethinking my stance on mimicry. We’re not the French. We don’t surrender our identities and culture to a bunch of Islamic throat-slitting cowards. You’re lucky Nazari didn’t have you arrested for a hate crime, Rach.”
“Cala and I are with you, Muerto,” Johnny said. “It is a mistake to laugh this plague off. They will continue to infiltrate our country like locusts, destroying everything in their path. I wish I could have seen you frighten away the bearded pussy, Rachel. He surely would have tried to humiliate you.”
“No one intimidates or humiliates me, Johnny,” Rachel replied with calming tones. “I understand the threat. I also knows it’s related to the upswing in missions against terrorist ghouls you guys have been involved in. Let me make this clear – I don’t care how many innocent Islamic dupes there are. I adhere to the old cliché: go to bed with dogs and wake up with fleas. I’m not ready to execute Flo and Majd, but I don’t plan on letting them threaten Jean or me.”
“A woman in one of those burka things walked by me yesterday,” Tina said. “I was dressed a little for the warm day in something Gus likes to see. She muttered ‘disgusting’, thinking I didn’t hear her.”
“I stopped Tina from grabbing her by the throat,” Gus admitted. “I was in the wrong. I’m beginning to believe we need to intimidate them. The ones who don’t like our culture need to get the hell out of the country.”
“Just so we’re on the same page and we don’t stir the ‘Daughter of Darkness’ into a rampage,” Nick said, “I want to keep the Nazaris in our purview at all times from now on. I don’t like what I’m hearing. Lately, when I don’t like what I’m hearing about the Middle Eastern contingent of our citizenry or illegal aliens, I get violent thoughts. School just started. Let’s cool this conflagration until we gather more information on what the Nazaris are trying to do. I detest the indoctrination aspect and that is exactly what the new crap with ‘Common Core’ is trying to institute.”
“I’m in for the walk to school,” Gus said. “It will be interesting to see whether this Majd guy begins showing in the mornings with his wife. Deke’s been neglected anyway. He needs to make the jaunt over to the school.”
“I wish to come too,” Johnny said. “The Cleaner will accompany me in case we have any trouble from Flo.”
“Yes! I will handle Flo,” Cala agreed.
Nick leaned back, hands gliding over the close cropped hair at his scalp. “This will not be escalated to a war at the elementary school. It’s a nice walk. We’re going to look like a parade with all of us going. That said, anyone wishing to accompany us to school is welcome, but with reservations. We don’t want confrontations at the school, especially now since I had to cover for Viper and Cracker with a killing.”
“Oh… that is so wrong!” Jean stood with hands on hips. “Cracker and I investigated a dangerous situation. We assisted in a police matter. We should get a medal for shining a light on those leg-breakers. Also there’s no way the police get a conviction without our evidence.”
“True,” Nick agreed, “but you need to confer with me about any surveillance gigs you get interested in. As to the school problem, I’d like you to stay away from Flo. Let’s
cool things down. We’ll try the live and let live response for the time being, okay?”
Jean shrugged. “Okay, but the Nazaris bother me because of all the things I know about Islam. It’s not a religion… it’s ‘Murder Incorporated’. We’re just kids but we can read the headlines. The Muslims keep killing people all over the world. They remind me of when we were on the run from the gangsters trying to kill us. You stopped them. You didn’t do it with understanding and giving them the keys to the Kingdom. I’ll stop messing with Ms. Nazari but I hope the parents keep complaining.”
“I never thought I’d see an actual pirate attack,” Sonny added. “Those people were going to hold that mammoth ship and everyone on board for ransom. It’s not wrong to blame Islam. They would have killed any number of people to gain control of the ship. People cheered when the attackers were destroyed. None of them cared who or why it was done. I want them to fear us. The Unholy Trio is the best!”
Sonny’s declaration quieted the adults.
“We had a lot of help from John Harding’s crew,” Nick said. “You two are the most mature ten year olds in existence. We’ll take the Nazari situation one day at a time. For now, thank you for not messing with her. I have a feeling the first time she annoys her Muslim man, she’ll learn the other face of the true believer.”
“How soon do we go on the Tempest,” Gus asked.
“Very soon,” Nick answered. “As to our attack plan on the Tempest, I have only a vague outline to take control of the superyacht without sinking her. The success of saving the ship for ourselves to use is not a foregone conclusion. It will depend on weather, resistance, and my ability to get on board with John Harding from the ocean. Only then will we be in a position to assess the chances of capturing the Tempest in one piece. It won’t be a walk in the park. In the end, we may have to sink the ship or damage it beyond repair. One tool on the list the government feels we need to pursue is Carone’s tie to Al-Kadi. Paul wants information from anyone we can capture and interrogate. The money backers are becoming more predictable and in plain sight. After the Tempest is secured one way or another, we’ll have to move on Pilot Hill before Al-Kadi learns the fate of Carone.”
“Agreed,” Johnny said. “Do you wish for a plan of attack on the Nazari husband?”
“No. I don’t plan to overreact to Majd. There are too many people involved in these altercations at the school with the complaints already made about Flo. I’m not sure there’s any real danger to Jean and Sonny. The Nazaris may be the typical couple for all I know. I’ll do a background check and learn if Majd is a citizen by birth or by marriage to Flo. We’ll be closely observing anything of a threatening nature. Jean’s not a newbie. She knows better than to discount anything or ignore it. We can’t change school policy so what Flo gets away with will have to stay between her and the principal.”
“I know you have to do this Tempest thing, but what do you think is really going on with a connection between Carone and Al-Kadi,” Rachel asked.
“Money for Carone. My guess is Al-Kadi’s backers set Carone up with the Tempest to provide an endless money supply to fund Al-Kadi’s Pilot hill operation. The Tempest is a perfect transfer station for terrorists moving through Mexico from Central America. Those Panga boats can drop them anywhere along the coast for Al-Kadi to hide and train at Pilot Hill. We should be able to learn how extensive this network is with the capture of the Tempest. Homeland Security and the FBI can do their jobs with investigating once we have proof of what’s happening. I admit we’re in the dark concerning the range of this. We’ll at least know if we’ve stopped this before it spread across the country. Pilot Hill may be their starting point for a Muslim No-Go zone where they can try to build underground armories and hide infiltrators in remote places. Think of a network of hidden conclaves able to store munitions, weapons and an army of trained fighters throughout the nation. If we discover what plans they’re formulating, we may be able to finally interest our idiot leaders in stopping the Islamic Trojan Horse from rolling over us.”
Nick shrugged in a blame me gesture. “Yes… I know none of this should be discussed in front of the kids. It will probably cause them to do more stunts like this extortion gang surveillance gig. I’m hoping they learn as they get older to bring me in as the last arbiter on anything they plan. As to the Nazaris, they need to be monitored in any way we can. We’ll do it somehow without stirring more trouble for the school, including watching their financials, behavior in public, and of course any threats they make. Threats get them a one-way ticket to the House of Horror.”
“You can trust Viper and Cracker,” Jean stated. “We’ll get to work on the undercover assignment right away.”
Rachel slapped her hands over her face in comical fashion. “We’ll have to chain her in the bedroom. You’re my early warning system from now on, Igor.”
“No way do you coerce my minion into ratting me out! Don’t listen to her, Cracker.”
“Minion? Really? I’ll do it, but only if she’s plotting something dangerous, stupid, or both,” Sonny said.
“I’m thinking this partnership is over.”
“If your Dad hadn’t been watching our backs, the partnership would be dead for real,” Sonny retorted. “I better get home. I have another undercover gig watching my parents. They’ve been huddling together formulating some new scheme. I think it’s just a real estate ‘house flipper’ plot.”
“I’ll walk you home and give the Dekester another outing to get rid of the beer he inhaled.” Nick smiled at Deke jumping around, having heard the magic word walk. “Are you coming, Viper?”
“I guess so.”
“I shall drive all the lushes home.” Cala stood, patting Johnny on the shoulder. Would you like us to send Neil the files and do the Nazari background check, Muerto?”
“Sure, if you don’t mind. I-” Nick’s phone beeped. He saw it was John Harding. “What’s the good word?”
“We’re heading your way with the Valkyrie tomorrow. I snagged the best underwater communications gear around. It’s much better than the ones we had in Chabahar. We’re thinking tomorrow night for our approach.”
“We’ll be ready. See you then.” Nick disconnected. “The Tempest op is a go for tomorrow night.”
“Issac arrives tomorrow morning,” Gus said. “We’ll need him if we get the Tempest in one piece. He’ll help me get the ship north to Monster Island.”
“We can leave him aboard to watch our ship with a professional crew until we get done at Pilot Hill. We’ll move it toward Monster Island though after we search for any trackers they may have on board. John may want to leave the Valkyrie with the Tempest once we get to another anchor spot.”
“Do you think they’ll try and recapture her?”
“We’ll know once Cruella Deville interrogates Carone. Until then, we take nothing for granted. I want the ship reregistered and named the moment we get control, depending on damage. Do you have any other ideas of what to rename her? Lucas suggested ‘Ranger’.”
“Yeah, I liked Lucas’s suggestion. He told me on the USS Ranger Aircraft Carrier they used to play the Lone Ranger theme song, the William Tell Overture whenever they met with another ship or ported. We could add it to our ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ and ‘Jaws’ theme.”
“Not bad, Gus. I’ll suggest it to John.”
“I was thinking of Infidel’s Revenge,” Johnny said.
Nick chuckled. “We may as well blow it up ourselves.”
Chapter Six
Monster Pirates
The full face masks incorporated GPS digital programming and wireless communications. Nick and John swam fifteen feet below the surface toward the Tempest with steady flutter kicks. The dry-suits were thick enough to provide comfort in the cold water. A towing pod with negative buoyancy controls streamed behind the two men, strapped to each man’s waist belt. It carried weapons and munitions along with Kevlar vests. They had tested communications after rappelling from the Stealth helicopter nearly t
wo miles from the Tempest. With communications established and working on the masks, they maintained silence to make certain their communications did not get hacked into accidentally. The sliver of moon peeked from the cloud cover only intermittently, which suited their needs perfectly.
Nick enjoyed the long kick to the Tempest, never until now doing a dive with equipment as technologically advanced as he and John wore. The midnight hour they started the dive at provided a pitch blackness in the slightly choppy water needed for the approach. Only their surfacing bubbles would be visible. The crewmen would have to be maintaining a watch with night-vision equipment and be in the exact right spot to see their surface bubbles. He and John would remain below the water until moving within fifty feet of the Tempest. They would then gauge their approach. Satellite feed of the Tempest confirmed the Panga boat door closed which they expected. Agreement had been made to board the Tempest by way of the plush fantail deck with ascending ladder stairs. No guards had been spotted in the video feed. With an advanced radar system, Nick figured correctly they would monitor their radar gear day and night with a rotating watch, but would feel they had no need of an actual deck watch.
Although carrying double tanks to make certain of staying underwater the entire way, Nick and John used less than one attaining their agreed upon surfacing distance. The drawback with the full face masks was communications. They broke silence only after circling the ship, watching for any sign of crew or passengers moving around on deck. Satisfied the very chilly night confined the crew and passengers to the ship’s interior, the two men slipped aboard on the lower fantail deck, silently pulling their pod on the deck. They stripped off their gloves first to open the pod. Nick retrieved the silenced MP5 from the pod, keeping watch until John stripped off his gear and pulled on the Kevlar vest. John took over the watch while Nick readied himself, including equipment pack. Nick stuck two grenades from a small bag jammed into the end of the pod into the pouches in his pants he wore under the dry-suit.
Red Horizon Page 13
