Cala handled the controls on the way back as Nick continued her flying lessons. “I am doing well, huh Muerto?”
“You’re a natural, Cala, and you have no fear. As Laredo often says, that’s a key to piloting anything. Are you ready for lessons, Johnny?”
“No,” Johnny admitted from the back next to Gus. “I will stick to learning how to captain our various boats. Gus is going to teach me and Issac maintenance and repair on our different engine configurations too. Laredo has databases and intricate check lists for all the aircraft. He hopes we can be a self-contained strike force without outside help.”
“That’s a good plan,” Nick replied. “In the coming years, I see a need for being under the radar with nearly everything we do. I think we put a dint in the Islamic Trojan Horse. If we could get the government to quit importing the Muslim horde, we could actually make some headway in this war.”
“Were you ever tempted to make a hit on an American President,” Gus asked.
“Nope. I don’t think any tried to kill me like a couple of senators did. Presidents have term limits. I’d rather see regime change at the ballot box, if we can keep the dead people and illegal aliens from voting. I used to think America couldn’t be harmed by even a bad President in eight years with the system’s checks and balances. I’m not so sure anymore.”
“I think you should reconsider having Cala and I come along with you. We both speak fluid Arabic,” Johnny mentioned.
“I need to do this alone. I don’t want anyone else from here over there, especially you, Johnny. We have you in the clear in the USA, but over there Ebi Zarin is wanted by Interpol and a handful of other law enforcement agencies and secret police. You don’t want Cala caught in a dragnet meant to nab the dangerous Zarin.”
“True,” Johnny admitted. “That would not be good.”
“Does Paul know you’re doing this,” Gus asked.
“Yep. He loaned me a CIA safe-house through Denny’s auspices in Dubai for Khalil to stay at until I get there as I told you. I don’t want Khalil and his sons to be seen at the Atlantis until they’re needed. Khalil believes he can get one of his contacts at the Atlantis to make a keycard to Al-Saud’s suite.”
“Is this a fact finding mission too?”
“It depends on circumstances, Gus. I agree with what Paul suspects – that Al-Saud knows how the network operates that keeps smuggling the numbers of recruits in at cell compounds like Pilot Hill. He and Al-Kadi were rivals, but I’d wager it has to do with Al-Saud wanting to take over a place like the Pilot Hill compound for his own purposes. He was none too happy about my hint that the federal authorities were all over the compound. There’s something I’m missing in all of this. Paul would like to confirm there’s not a conduit from Europe we have no clue about. Those recruits at Pilot Hill had first class papers and passports. Paul and I are hoping the same outfit running an identity mill for Al-Kadi may be supplying Al-Saud’s people. Lynn bled Al-Kadi dry. He told Lynn the recruits already had their papers when they reached him. Al-Kadi received his orders anonymously on the Dark Web. His cell was to remain compartmentalized so they couldn’t expose the entire network if caught.”
“But what about this ‘Lone Wolf’ attack crap,” Gus persisted. “Think about thousands of these bastards spread all around the country after leaving terrorist training depots like Pilot Hill, with no orders or connections once they leave the training compound. They’re free to cause havoc like the one trying to kill you, or on a larger scale like San Bernadino.”
Nick hesitated, concentrating on Cala’s flying. “That’s damn good, Gus. They could play into this insanity of stripping away the Second Amendment and disarming the populace in the face of a much larger threat. It’s already working after the Orlando massacre. You’d think the idiots running the country and the media would stop playing right into their hands. I like your thinking, Gus. If what you surmise is true, I’m not sure how valuable Al-Saud is, other than a spoke in the terrorist wheel that facilitates whatever he’s asked to do.”
“It makes sense, Muerto,” Johnny agreed. “Would you still like to go down to the Point this morning?”
Nick leaned back in his seat, the enormity of Gus’s theory blanketing his imagination far into the future. “I sure would, Johnny. We could be in the middle of this stupid war forever.”
* * *
Nick checked into his suite at the Atlantis without incident. Khalil called him on the satellite phone he brought along for communication only from Khalil. It could not be monitored. “Hello, my friend. I’m checked into the Atlantis.”
“We have an opportunity, Nick. Al-Saud has a meeting at the Bab Peshawar Restaurant in Sharjah, after which he will be traveling along Maliha Rd. His destination is the Galb Al Gamar General Trading building.”
“Damn! I know that route.” Nick closed his eyes picturing from memory the nearly deserted stretch of highway. “There is a Gulf Dynamic Services building along the route. If I can get atop the building with my M107, I can take Al-Saud at a barren spot along the route. How certain are you of the information.”
“Very sure. One of my contacts servicing Al-Saud’s suite overheard the plans made on the phone. You are very impressive remembering the route and buildings. I could not get the keycard made without suspicions raised. I have our cargo pilot from your last adventure killing people. I promised him a hundred thousand US dollars to fly us out of Sharjah International Airport. Is that satisfactory?”
“You are amazing, brother. It will be perfect if the route pans out. I will meet with Al-Saud tonight and conduct the meeting in a business as usual persona. Tomorrow morning at 2 am, I will position myself on the roof of the Gulf Dynamic building.”
“I have a taxi to use. I will be out front in fifteen minutes. Will that be acceptable?”
“With this new information, I would like you to stay away until I need to get into position, unless it is possible for you to bring my Colt to me. What are the chances of taking my Colt inside the Atlantis?”
“Not good, Nick,” Khalil answered. “Another problem is that Al-Saud’s bodyguards will be armed.”
“Then stay away from here until you pick me up at 1 am out front. I will be fine meeting with Al-Saud. He would have no reason to suspect me of anything other than business here in the Atlantis. He’ll be okay with the change of plans because I arrived early. I’ll convince him the waterpark meeting would be bad for future business. I will go over my plan with you under the new circumstances when I see you later, brother.”
“I will see you then, Nick. Good luck.”
Nick called Al-Saud immediately after disconnecting from Khalil.
“You are in the hotel. My man saw you arrive,” Al-Saud said by way of greeting. “Will you come to my suite or will you require rest?”
“I slept on the plane. I’m actually glad to skip your waterpark meeting. I will shower and be at your suite in twenty minutes.”
“That is acceptable. How long will you be staying at the Atlantis?”
“Only until after my business with you is completed. I must travel to Abu Dhabi tomorrow. Do you require me to stay any longer?”
“No. I had hoped to suggest you leave here as soon as possible. Your Arabic is excellent. I can understand why you move so easily in the Middle East. I will see you shortly.” Al-Saud disconnected.
Nick took a shower, shaved, and dressed in black slacks and short sleeved black pullover shirt. He prepared himself for anything, knowing he would be with armed enemies, and no way of knowing their intentions. Nick slipped the flash-drive he had made for Al-Saud in his pocket.
* * *
A burly bearded guard in kafi head covering and white robes met Nick at the door with a metal detector wand. Nick lifted his arms, allowing the man to check him for metal, glad now he did not have his Colt. Another guard, similar in stature and appearance to the first stood inside the suite with a smiling Al-Saud near the room’s elaborate bar. Nick motioned the guard with him to walk
in front of him. The guard looked toward Al-Saud who nodded. The moment they reached the bar, the guard leading him spun with handgun in hand. Nick took it off him before it could be pointed as if the guard was a child. Nick slammed him into the other guard while wrapping an arm around the throat of a very startled Al-Saud with the guard’s weapon pointed up under Al-Saud’s chin.
“That was not very nice, Rabiah,” Nick said. “Do you have a death wish?”
Al-Saud waved off his men in a halting gesture. “You…you are every bit as impressive as I had hoped. Please do not kill me. I will add another hundred thousand dollars to your account for this inconvenience.”
“Tell your men to sit on the floor with their backs to the wall and their hands interlocked on their laps. Once they do that, I will shoot you and them in the head if they move. Do you understand, Rabiah?”
“Do as he says! Quickly!”
The guards did as ordered. Nick guided Al-Saud onto a bar stool between him and the bodyguards. “I see you have a laptop on the bar, so you must have thought to check the information I brought you.”
Al-Saud shrugged. “I had hoped to speak with you in a more in control position. I know you are now thought of as the most dangerous assassin in the world, especially after killing Al-Kadi. Has his compound truly been taken over by the authorities?”
“It appeared that way from what I heard.” Nick retrieved the flash-drive from his pocket, placing it in front of Al-Saud. “Check the drive. Let me know if it is more of what you wanted like the sample I already gave you.”
Al-Saud booted the laptop with shaking hands. He inserted the flash-drive. Ten minutes later as he examined the contents, he relaxed, smiling at the screen. “This is excellent, worth every dollar. How shall I make good on your payment?”
“I will contact you when I return to the states. You realize how imperative it is that you make good on the payment if we are to do any future business.”
“Yes! Of course. I would never betray a valued professional like yourself. I may have much work for you in the future, Nick. May I call you Nick?”
“Sure. I believe that concludes our business. I will be keeping your guard’s weapon. Please walk me to the door, Rabiah.”
“It…it is my pleasure and yes… keep the weapon.” Al-Saud walked Nick to the door and opened it for him.
Nick stepped around Al-Saud and outside the suite. He put what he recognized as a Caracal 9mm handgun inside his belt under his shirt. “I need not tell you to stay away from me and keep your men away too, do I?”
“No, Nick. We will stay away from you completely. Good day to you. May Allah bless you.”
“Good day.” Nick closed the door. He smiled and walked quickly back to his room. It was time to rest for his task ahead.
* * *
Nick greeted his old friend with a hug. “It is good to see you once again, brother.”
Khalil beamed, his features an open book as to how he felt about Nick. “My sons will see you after the chore. Let us drive toward our destination while you explain everything you have in mind for this ambush.”
The two men entered Khalil’s taxi. As Khalil drove away from the Atlantis, he glanced over curiously at Nick. “How did your meeting with Al-Saud proceed? I feared for you.”
Nick quickly explained what happened with Khalil enjoying the interlude immensely. “Al-Saud I am sure needed to change his pants after your meeting, Nick. Is it true you killed Felix Moreau?”
“Yes. It led to a complication I had to take care of too.”
“Moreau was a bad one. How is it you wish to do this?”
Nick took out his iPad from the small bag he brought with him. “Park at the roadside when it is convenient.”
Khalil did so and Nick showed him the map of Sharjah. “I like this spot. It is barren of anything at the roadsides. I want you, Asim, and Ghazi a hundred yards before it. When I stop Al-Saud’s vehicle, you will need to move quickly. I have learned it may not be necessary or even prudent to take Al-Saud prisoner. If you get to his vehicle and he is still alive, leave him so, and drive to me with both your vehicle and his. I will be off the roof in short order. We will then drive to the safe-house. Is Vinny waiting for our call at the airport?”
“Yes. He awaits our arrival no matter how long it takes. Al-Saud’s vehicle will be bullet proof, my friend.”
Nick grinned. “Nothing is bullet proof. The loads for the M107 I sent you are high velocity, depleted uranium .50 caliber hollow point slugs. His vehicle will be stopped.”
“This will be a very long shot,” Khalil pointed out.
“It can’t be helped. All will be well. Did you bring the grappling gear I asked for?”
“Yes. It is old school though. You will have to leave it behind.”
“Understood.”
* * *
Nick checked his field of fire after positioning the M107 tripod stand solidly overlooking the Maliha Rd. His night vision scope, set to the coordinates he determined from his range finders, focused on the small stretch of road he had in mind. He then checked where Khalil and his sons were parked at the roadside.
“You are perfect there. Mark it, and you three can leave until it is time for Al-Saud to do his final drive.”
“We will stay, my friend,” Khalil said. “This is our last adventure before our move to be Swiss citizens. All is set in place. I do not want the unexpected to ruin everything.”
“Understood. We wait then, my friends – predators in the dark.”
Khalil chuckled. “You cannot resist the turn of phrase even when not writing.”
“I guess so,” Nick admitted. I’m becoming a caricature of myself – what a rube.
* * *
At nearly 9 am in the morning, the Malihu Rd. was still clear. Nick heard Khalil in his ear.
“He has rounded the bend onto Malihu just now, Nick!”
“On it. Rest easy and be ready.”
Nick settled in behind the M107, the air around him beginning to heat but with no wind or even a breeze. Al-Saud’s limousine grew in the cross hairs of his scope. The moment the vehicle reached Nick’s chosen spot, a straightaway section of barren road, the first pad of Nick’s index finger tightened on the trigger. He fired a three round burst through the driver’s seated form and a three round burst into the man next to him. The limousine slowed, drifting to a small crevice at the roadside.
“Clear, Khalil! One person in the back. Both men are dead in the front. I will watch but arm yourselves.”
“Understood.”
Nick watched Khalil’s taxi streak to a halt next to the limousine. Khalil and his sons approached the vehicle with weapons drawn. Nick grinned as Al-Saud stumbled out of the backseat, blubbering and begging, with his hands bowing into the dirt. They restrained him and threw Al-Saud into the backseat once again with Asim next to him. Khalil and Ghazi rearranged the front seat. A blanket was thrown over the bloody seat. Khalil drove the limousine while Ghazi followed in the taxi. Denny’s going to be pleased with this.
At the safe-house, Nick cleaned the limousine while a terrified Al-Saud was watched by Khalil and sons. When Nick was satisfied, he went inside to shower and shave. He joined his companions where they sat at the kitchen table. “That went very well, my friends. Did you contact Vinny?”
“Yes,” Khalil said. “He filed the flight plan as requested for Doha in Qatar. Are you sure we can get out of there, Nick?”
“Absolutely. My boss is so happy, he’s deploying the fifth fleet near enough to send a plane for us. It’s time for your family to immigrate to Switzerland. Your family, due to being Christians and well off, along with the USA’s recommendation, will be accepted.”
Khalil hugged Nick. “God bless you!”
“You have my number if there’s any problems. I look forward to visiting one day, my friend.”
“You will be most welcome!”
* * *
Denny met Nick as he exited his plane ride aboard the USS Truman aircraft ca
rrier with a restrained Al-Saud. The two men shook hands while walking toward the island structure.
“Damn, Nick… this is incredible. Al-Saud will be invaluable within my cloistered group of terrorist advisors.”
Nick gestured at the now arrogant looking Al-Saud. “He thinks this is picnic time where he can remain quiet while waiting for special treatment, halal meals, prayer rugs, and servants to wipe his ass. This is what happens when there’s no instant training. He was on his way to meet someone when I nabbed him. Rabi didn’t want to tell me who and we didn’t have time to play together in the sand. I have no dog in the hunt because I don’t think he knows much about whatever I’d be interested in. I figured everyone can share in the fortunes he’s stashed away. He’s all yours.”
Denny grinned. “I brought along the cure for his reluctance, just in case there’s something near on the horizon.”
Lynn Montoya Dostiene walked out of the hatch at the side of the island with a big smile and her three minions alongside. “Nick! You look good after your sandbox excursion.”
Surprised, Nick hugged her and shook hands with the minions: Sylvio Ruelas, Gus Denova, and Quays Tannous. “It’s great seeing you all. I’ll leave my buddy, Rabiah in your capable hands. I’m a little tired of his company.”
Lynn pinched the red-faced Al-Saud’s cheek. “We’re going to have such fun!”
Nick patted Al-Saud on the back as the minions took charge of him. “Sucks to be you.”
The End
Future Nick and Jean Bonus Story IV
Connecting Threads
Benny watched the approaching gangbangers near his high school’s front gate with regret. He understood everything within his new world of family, friends, education, love, caring, and best of all: hope. Benny also remembered what put him in a crack-house as a young teenaged victim. He knew the young men approaching him shared his similar origins and race, but they shared nothing else within his soul. Benny felt empathy for doomed souls as he had experience with hopelessness. He had been practically raised in a crack-house before his new family plucked him out of it. The reason he fit so well with his new family drew from many deep wells, but lack of fear topped the list. Beaten, starved, used as a sex slave, Benny had done everything requested for his own survival. When rescued from his putrid former life with matter-of-fact extreme violence, kindness, and people he could count on, the life changing event allowed the real soul of Benny to surface. Like his new Dad told him when he adopted Benny – ‘I offer you only a chance at a life with honor but you’ll have to work for it, Benny’. Benny remembered smiling at Nick McCarty, the most dangerous living entity he had ever met, with hope and saying, ‘I will do anything for such a chance, Sir’. Nick had shook his hand with firm promise, ‘welcome to the family, kid’.
Red Horizon Page 35
