“So Red Dragon put a watch on any Clarence Fellow on a private plane arriving from Barbados? Damn… that’s good work. Don’t leave me hangin’ Cheese.”
I grinned at Lynn’s impatience. “From Barbados, he’s booked a private plane ride from Grantley International Airport in Barbados and destination Carson City Airport three days from now.”
“I have to make a call!” Lynn had her iPhone out a moment later. She put it on speaker as Nick answered.
“Hey, Lynn. I guess Claude loved our funeral arrangements, huh?”
“Absolutely. Where are you at?”
“Hastings, Nebraska, sipping Bushmill’s by the pool before we drive across the eternity that is Nebraska.”
Lynn and I enjoyed that swipe at driving across a very hypnotically brutal route across the Midwest. “Excellent. I have a mission for the cartoons. If you and your cartoons decide to accept this mission, as always, if it is unsuccessful, we will disavow any-”
“Cut the Mission Impossible crap, Dr. Deville. I’ve had two big Bushmills already and you’re killing my buzz,” Nick interrupted as his companions could be heard laughing in the background.
“Take me off speaker, Nick.”
“Sure. Okay, what’s up?”
Lynn explained the situation and who the mark was. “He’ll be at his hideout in Carson City two days from now. Could I talk you into collecting him and transporting Nardo to my reeducation camp at Pain Central? If it all works out, I’ll want my assistant director Kabong with me for an episode involving Nardo’s transfer into FBI hands.”
“Text me the address for the hideout. We’ll look it over. You’re figuring the place is unattended, but looked in on by one of those property management firms. Do you have any info on how often they check it over?”
“Damn… good thinking. I’ll get that info from Sal and text it to you with the address. It sounds like you have a plan already you little rascal.”
“I do, but I need to confer with my associate cartoons. We’ll get it done. He does have a legitimate warrant out on him though, right?”
“Yes. He’s been wanted for a long while. The prick’s still hired for movies filmed on location and finished before any kind of extradition can be arranged. That would make it legal for you as a United States Marshal to arrest him without a snag, right?”
“Yeah, it would. I don’t want to be included in the apprehension credits though. This cross-country trip has been completely under the radar successfully so far. I’d like to keep it that way.”
“We can do that. Once we have him here, I’ll confer with our Fed friends Sam and Janie as to how good our case is for an episode of Hollywood Bounty Hunters.”
“Doesn’t he have to act a part willingly to be turned over to the FBI?”
“Did you just insult me, Muerto?”
“Oh… ah… sorry, I didn’t think you were really going to fix Nardo. Sucks to be him as Casey would say. I’ll call you when the deed is done or I have a question. Text me the info, including if his ranch gets looked in on by a property management firm.”
“Will do,” Lynn agreed.
“Thanks for this, Nick,” I told him. “I know we’re piling up favors on our end.”
“Doin’ right ain’t got no end. Talk at you later, John.”
After Nick disconnected, I grinned at Lynn. “I noticed you didn’t tell him not to break your toys.”
“Nick’s not as ham-handed as you, Cheese. He’s cold and efficient without your flawed emotional side.”
“That’s hurtful, Crue.”
* * *
Nick finished his explanation of Lynn’s request after a swim and sipping another Bushmill’s Irish with his friends. “What do you think of my plan?”
“It’s a workable monstrosity, cleverly done. A true serial killer’s methodology,” Gus stated with clinical flair which immediately evoked amusement.
Nick hung his head comically. “See… I get a task of righteousness assigned me in a moral cause, and past indiscretions haunt everything I do in penance for my many sins.”
“Poor baby,” Gus replied in false sympathy for Nick’s amusing drama note. “I’m in. This Nardo guy… I can’t stand the sight of him. When Tina mentions him, I call him ‘Nardo de Pussyface’. He looks like a baby in need of a pacifier, especially since he’s put on a few pounds. I’ve heard him rant the environmental whacko clichés and I figured that environmental foundation he funded with all the hoopla was a preplanned ticket to reenter the states legally. Apparently, in the world now, if you’re green, you’re clean, even if you drug and rape a sixteen year old girl.”
“Cala and I are with you, Muerto,” Johnny added. “I like having the extra day after we arrive to simply take stock of our surroundings before he arrives.”
“That’s the key, Johnny,” Nick acknowledged. “I’ve done numerous contracts where establishing a place the mark would eventually return was essential to completion of the contract. Yes, I know I’m a monster. We’re doing good with Nardo. We’re not killing him. We’re simply delivering him to a place where within hours of his arrival, he’ll wish he were dead.”
Gus snorted. “You’d kill him in a heartbeat if Lynn asked you to.”
“Yeah… so what’s your point,” Nick asked to much hilarity.
* * *
Nardo Sirapio opened his garage door by remote and drove into his garage, attached to the two story dwelling in Carson City he thought of as his ‘Hole in the Wall’ hideout. No one knew of its existence. He could sneak in and use it as his base of operations to see people on the sly, work deals, or relax for a few months in between movies. He closed the garage door and walked toward the connecting entrance to his house. Nardo smiled with self-satisfaction concerning his ease in bypassing all laws pertaining to travel with a fake passport. It was so easy.
Unlocking his door, Nardo stepped inside a few feet, closed the door and walked toward his kitchen. He wanted a drink. He felt the Taser needles embed into his arm. The jolt, pain, and disoriented feeling of dread raced through him at hyper-speed. He fell to the floor, vibrating to the electronic impulses sent. As blackness descended on him, Nardo saw the black robed figure smiling and waving at him.
* * *
“He’s really out of it, Muerto,” Cala said, pinching Nardo’s cheeks.
“Damn it! I knew I should have eased off the juice,” Nick admitted. “Finding all the shit he has on his computer was too much input. I’m happy it’s not us interrogating him.”
“He’s special, Muerto. Nardo is a famous celebrity.” Gus gave Nick a shaming gesture with left hand index finger extended in brushing movement over his right hand index finger. “Thou shalt not kill’.”
“Stuff it, Payaso. We have most of what we wanted. I’m glad Grace was able to get a federal warrant to search his premises and fax it to us. Maybe we should rethink this. Let’s abandon him somewhere around here. We’ll fix him real nice and then bury him.”
“I must object, Muerto,” Johnny cut in, slapping Nardo’s cheeks lightly. “I will be helping Director Deville by special request to produce the Hollywood Bounty Hunters episode. She will be very upset if you simply bury her star. You also have to consider loyal Kabong missing out on a new filming opportunity.”
“You’re right.” Nick took a deep breath as Sirapio regained consciousness in sputtering and gasping increments. “Once he’s awake, I’ll do the arrest part with Miranda while Director Kabong films it to send Lynn.”
“Thank you, Muerto,” Johnny said. He and Cala helped Nardo get to his feet shakily. They sat him down on a straight backed chair from the kitchen. “Are you coherent, Mr. Sirapio?”
“Who… are you people? I’ll have you arrested if you don’t leave my house immediately.” Nardo tried to stand but Nick shoved him down.
“Stay right where you are unless you’d like to be Tasered again,” Nick told him. “Are you ready Kabong? How do I look?”
Nick wore black jeans, black t-shirt, and bl
ack windbreaker. He had shaved for the takedown of Nardo, knowing he would be doing a formal arrest.
“Very ominous,” Kabong told him. “It is a somber look for the scene. I’m ready. Begin.”
Nick turned to Nardo, showing his US Marshal’s badge and ID to the camera and then to Nardo. “I am United States Marshal Nick McCarty. You, Mr. Sirapio, are under arrest for the drugging, kidnapping, and rape of a sixteen year old girl, Carmen Russell.”
Nick formally read the Miranda warning to Sirapio, who became more irritated with each passing second. “Do you understand these rights as I have read them, Mr. Sirapio?”
“This is a mistake! I wasn’t even there.”
“That will be determined in a court of law. Do you understand your rights?”
“Yes! I want my lawyer right now!”
“As you wish. I will be transporting you to the proper authorities in California. Thank you for your cooperation.” Nick received a nod from Johnny who turned away to send the video for Lynn’s approval. They waited for the confirming call which came a few minutes later. Nick put Lynn on speaker.
“Outstanding arrest, Nick,” Lynn said. “That’s perfect. Kabong sent me the takedown too. You nearly ruined my film star.”
“My apologies. Wait until you see what this asshole has on his computer.”
“I will correct all sins of the past here. Remember, he has to be prepped for the episode. Sometimes that can be very painful.”
“Understood, Lynn. We’re on our way. I’ll see you when we get there.”
“Until then, Marshal.” Lynn disconnected.
“You can’t break into my house, take my computer, and zap me! This is illegal search and seizure!”
“You’ll have your day in court, right after we take you to your holding area.” Nick pulled Nardo to his feet. “Put your hands out. I’ll restrain you with your hands in a comfortable position for transport. If you cause any problems I’ll have to restrain you in a more painful manner.”
Nardo hesitated. No weapons were on display. He knew karate.
Nick smiled. “Go ahead and resist arrest, Nardo. You’ll have to travel with two broken arms but it’s your choice.”
Nardo stared into Nick’s eyes and stuck his hands out. Gus put on the handcuffs. “I’ll have your badge for this.”
“Yeah… I know. If I were you, I’d be worrying about how you plan on explaining those videos on your computer of seven other underage girls you drugged and defiled.”
“Those…those were taken illegally. They’ll never allow them into court!”
“I have a federal warrant to search your place, idiot.” Nick held the warrant so Nardo could see it. “Your fleeing the trial was the deciding factor for the judge to issue a blanket warrant. You’re cooked, pal.”
“I’ll give you a hundred thousand apiece to let me go. These were victimless crimes. I-”
“Don’t, Nick!” Gus moved in front of Nardo with his hands in a stopping gesture.
Nick hesitated for a long moment, staring around Gus at Nardo before putting away his Colt .45. He grinned and shook a finger at Nardo. “Oh… you so lucky. You’d better be good on the way or I am going to toast you.”
Nick’s phone buzzed a moment before he entered the SUV for the trip to Oakland. “Hi Rach.”
“Where the hell are you, Muerto? You were supposed to be home yesterday.”
“The Unholy Trio and Cleaner have been on a ‘Magical Monster Tour’. It’s completed now so I’ll be home today. We’re stopping in Oakland to drop off a prisoner, but after that we’ll be heading home.”
“I miss you. I’m going on all your missions from now on.”
“I have to go to the sand next.”
“Except that one.”
* * *
“Johnny Five,” Clint greeted Johnny at the door as he led Nardo into Pain Central with a curious Tonto at his side. “Where are your partners in crime?”
“They’re bringing our computer evidence collection. Nick decided to be extra careful with them. I now pass Nardo Sirapio over to you.”
“On behalf of Agent Tonto and myself, I accept.” Clint made a hand gesture at Tonto. “Agent Tonto. Please escort Mr. Sirapio into interrogation. Follow Agent Tonto, Nardo. Show Nardo what happens if he doesn’t follow you, Tonto.”
Clint made another gesture. Tonto went werewolf crazy, snarling, snapping his jaws, and instantly terrifying the cringing Nardo. Clint gestured again and Tonto tugged on Sirapio’s leg. “Follow him now, Nardo.”
Sirapio dutifully followed Tonto who didn’t even look around. Nick, Gus, and Cala walked in with a variety of electronics equipment from their three stops on the Monster Tour. Clint led them to the storage area.
“Do you need any of this back, Dead Boy?”
“No. I copied the stuff off the Kader gadgets. Say hello to everyone for us. We’re hitting the road home. Johnny and Cala would like to stay if Lynn thinks she’ll need them for the LA filming. Johnny’s excited about the new director gig.”
“I think that’s what Lynn has in mind. We only have a short window of time to get the episode done. Sam and Janie will be available in two days for taking custody of Nardo. We’re returning Lynn’s experiment, Flo Nazari, to her parents in LA. We don’t know how that will work out. Lynn reeducated her for sure, but it’s a hit and miss as we found out with Senta Bulgar. You and Cala can stay at our house, Johnny.”
“Great! Thank you. I’ll get our bags.”
Cala gave Nick a hug. “Thank you for bringing me along, Muerto.”
“You did wonderfully, Cala. We needed you at Felicia’s house. Have a good time on location with Director Deville. C’mon, Gus. We’ve already received enough warnings to get our asses home.”
“Thanks for helping out with our enemies list.”
“No problem. They were right on our way, Clint.”
“Want some company on your trip to the sand?”
“I would but I have Al-Saud set nicely to see only me. He will undoubtedly have men watching for my arrival in Dubai. He’s staying at the Atlantis. I’m very familiar with the place.”
“Call us if you get into a jam there, brother.”
“Will do. See you on the flip side, Clint.”
“Before we go,” Gus said. “How’s work coming along on the Tempest.”
“Real good. We have a team working on her from the mainland,” Clint replied. “That reminds me, we’re working on ownership papers. We liked your suggestion of adding the ‘Lone Ranger’ theme to our music selection. Since Ranger is okay with all of you we’ll have the name changed on the boat.”
“I like it,” Nick said.
“I liked Johnny’s suggested name: Infidel’s Revenge,” Gus added, “but like Nick said, we might as well blow her up ourselves.”
“Yep. It was our favorite too,” Clint replied. “We could add one of those skulls with an American flag on its forehead too. We’re having some nice armaments installed on her. We could probably have a huge black flag to display, if we want to piss off someone, featuring a skull and the Infidel’s Revenge moniker.”
“That would be great, Clint,” Johnny said as he joined the group with his and Cala’s bags. “I hope we have an opportunity to do another Crusader Crue video. The cat videos are kicking my butt on YouTube. I must get something of substance uploaded soon.”
* * *
“What will we do without Kaders screwing with us,” Gus asked as he drove toward Pacific Grove.
“Enjoy walking to the school again,” Nick replied. “This road trip was chock full of surprises. I’m ready for some mornings at the beach, days and nights writing on the deck, and walking the Dekester.”
“How long will you take off before you go to the sand?”
“I’ll know more about that when Al-Saud responds to my report on Al-Kadi’s ending. Clint fixed Saran nicely inside a body-bag with a perfect .45 caliber hole between his eyes for me to send Al-Saud. It was better than my quickie pictures a
t the compound with a slit throat. He will be letting me know when he wants to meet in Dubai. He’s already paid me for the hit. I gave him the opportunity to look over what I have from the Pilot Hill compound before paying for what he asked me to retrieve for him.”
“I bet Rachel would like you to hang around for a while. You have a book signing too, don’t you?”
“I promised Pilgrim’s Way Books in Carmel I’d do another signing. I half expected them to cancel because I had to kill that book killer outside their establishment.”
Gus chuckled. “After the headlines you received with the US Marshal McCarty Shootout in Carmel, I’ll bet they had plenty of demands for your return. Did you get much writing done on the trip? I saw you typing away but you never mentioned anything about progress.”
“I managed fifteen hundred a day. ‘Blood Beach’ will be a hit I think. Diego’s romance with Fatima despite her constant betrayals have Jed and Leo frustrated as hell. They can’t believe Diego hasn’t shot her in the head yet. Did you get a chance to read the copy I put on your Kindle?”
“Yep. It’s your best one yet. Johnny thinks so too. He’s read through your whole series already. He’ll be pissed about missing a book signing.”
“Johnny’s so pumped about learning the ropes making movies, I doubt he’ll give it a thought. I wonder if Rachel will allow Jean to go with me. I know she’ll ask if she can go along with her minion, Sonny.”
“Those two are inseparable,” Gus said. “I’ve tried not to think about what kind of devilment they cooked up while we’ve been gone. Issac told me everything’s been quiet. After he returned from Pilot Hill, he patrolled our neighborhoods. He shadowed Rachel when she took the kids to school.”
Red Horizon Page 32
