“And you thought we weren’t a couple of lucky ducks,” Nick muttered while petting down the deliriously happy Deke. He waved as the group stood to meet the arriving men. “US Marshals Grace and Tim, long time no see. Oh… wait a minute… I just saw you two coppers. Let me think. I believe Grace mentioned wanting only to see me again on the back of my newest novel.”
Rachel and Jean were already sharing an amused enjoyment of Nick’s greeting as both Grace and Tim hung their heads comically. “C’mon, Nick. Give them a break. We’ll watch a movie while you and Gus catch up with Grace and Tim. We owe them.”
“No we don’t,” Nick said, never looking away from Grace’s face. “I like Rachel’s idea, Grace. Come with Gus and me to our neat bar. We’ve been exploring my future book scenes, which will have Charleston aspects to it. We’re tired, wet, and less than sociable – plus, I can tell by Deke’s over the top greeting his owners have yet to take him for a walk tonight. Gus and I would like to sip a couple of Bushmill’s Irish doubles while winding down from a long information gathering sojourn before my Deke walk. Come along with us to the bar, or say see you later to our crew.”
Grace walked by him without a word until she passed closely. “You’re not very nice to old friends, Nick.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet, Gracie.”
Mona, who had been monitoring the greeting after already being introduced to the US Marshals, looked at Rachel for some explanation or guidance.
Jean took her hand. “It’s time to watch a movie, Grandma. Don’t worry. Dad won’t hurt them… at least physically.”
“I heard that,” Nick called out while leading the way to the bar.
Nick poured two doubles, placing one in front of Gus. “Would either of you two government complex minions like something to drink?”
“I’ll have a small one of what you’re having,” Tim said.
“Same here,” Grace added. “We heard a big name in the Company went bye-bye due to being a sellout. Care to comment?”
Nick served them and sat down. “Maybe we should start with why you two arrived at my hotel in Charleston. I already acknowledged your message request.”
“We’re in the same bit of trouble the Company’s in,” Tim replied. “We’re afraid anything implied or otherwise will be leaked. We don’t take your involvement lightly. No matter what Pettinger gets away with, she’ll never be in the DOJ again. The information garnered from her could be a key to reworking our network, but we don’t want you entrapped getting it.”
“Tim and I decided telling you face to face that our earlier request can no longer be safely done. We didn’t want you agreeing to it, and then being named in the press, thinking we threw you under the bus. Pettinger has been bleating to the media she was framed. The people willing to go a few steps beyond, now that she managed to get free, know they don’t have a prayer of silencing her.”
Nick relaxed the wariness he first experienced, after seeing the two Marshals in the suite. “We were to meet in a neutral place to discuss this once I decided. Why come here?”
“Grace and I didn’t have a clue how this sanction thing works,” Tim admitted. “We knew how our request for assistance must have appeared to you.”
“I wondered if you would use your resources, find Pettinger, get her to talk, and then bury her somewhere,” Grace continued. “Tim suggested we clear this mistake with you before we read Nancy’s obituary, followed by the release of information she threatened the Attorney General’s office with if she were hounded any further.”
Gus chuckled. “You thought Nick would do Nancy on the hint DOJ wanted what she knows in an e-mail drop?”
“It sounds silly when you do a one sentence repeat of intentions like that,” Tim said. “In any case, we wanted you to know Nancy has hinted at a DOJ revelation, involving many political heads in Congress and the Cabinet using the DOJ as an enemies list type threat to cower political adversaries.”
It was Nick’s turn to laugh. He finished his double, and poured another, refilling Gus’s in the same action. “Gee, kids… I don’t know how to tell you this, but I doubt there’s ten people in the entire country that don’t suspect exactly that. I don’t suspect it. I know they do it, along with using the IRS as a weapon against conservative political figures and groups. What I didn’t know was you little lost lambs being ignorant of it. Gus is right of course. I don’t work like that. The ‘Hack Chip’ fiasco we were all involved in turned viciously dangerous. It had to be handled in a rough manner after I brought you both into the mix. Once the chip was in your hands, and on its way to the Attorney General, I made sure to keep you two alive.”
Grace took a deep breath. “So you never had any intention of taking the Pettinger job then. Did you already know it would turn into a clown show?”
“I made some assumptions,” Nick replied. “Once I met with you, the first order of business was how many people were in the know, and their identities. Organized crime I could trust to keep anything in the sanction realm secret. The DOJ ordering the sanction of a former employee would be like taking an ad out in the newspaper. You must suspect the Attorney General’s office contaminated the presentation to the Grand Jury, which is why Pettinger was freed to begin with, Grace.”
Grace and Tim exchanged surprised glances to Nick’s amusement.
“Well at least you lambs figured that out. So here we are. I appreciate the face to face. No, I didn’t plan to do anything to Pettinger on a whim, and if the job involved anyone but you two, I would have walked away. I thought perhaps my brutal information gathering had been so temptingly easy, maybe the honorable US Marshals Tim and Grace decided to work outside the box. Not so, huh?”
“We knew what happened,” Grace said. “It was the main reason we floated the idea by you. No one knows about our idea but us. We’d have to be insane to even suggest such a thing to anyone beyond you. I know it was stupid for us to hint it might be official, but I wanted to know your feelings on it. Now, with all the back and forth leak threats in the DOJ, this could get real ugly if what Nancy claims to be holding is released to the press. One thing I do know – I didn’t want you caught in the middle believing we somehow screwed you.”
“First off, I don’t have feelings.”
“I can vouch for that,” Gus piped in.
“Secondly, I’m impressed. I never for a moment thought the notion of interrogating Nancy, and then making her disappear came from my little US Marshal lambs. It is a good idea to find out what the bitch knows, so I’m open to out of the box thinking. You two know what I do, and what I’m capable of. I trust you clowns, but my patience is running thin with outside authorities if you know what I mean.”
Grace reached across to clasp Nick’s hand. “We’ve been through a lot. Tim and I trust you implicitly. We know you’re a cold blooded killing machine; but you not only have a heart, but you do know right and wrong.”
“We know the damage Nancy can do,” Tim added. “Our system doesn’t handle people like Nancy who know everything and everybody to skirt rules, laws, and damn it… right and wrong! We contacted you for guidance. Grace and I are bonded to doing what’s right. I could tell in our last encounter that’s what you want too.”
“You do know in for a penny in for a pound… right?”
Grace added her other hand clasping Nick’s. “This goes beyond petty crap, Nick. We’re talking leaks betraying our country, our citizens, and the fabric of our nation. We will never betray you, but we need your help. We’re lost. Payoffs, political favors, and selling out the nation for money or favor is turning America into a third world cesspool. We don’t know how to stop this shit. Do you?”
Nick drained his refill with the hand not clasped in both of Grace’s. He put the glass down, and patted Grace’s. “That’s plain enough for me and Gus. We needed to make sure we were all on the same page of insanity.”
“We can work through this,” Gus said. “I hear your dedication. We know about the promotion in the U
S Marshal’s service to oversight in the Western United States. We’re happy for you. It means nothing if you two are willing to accept political orders. Nick calls the shots. He has a bullshit Geiger counter meter beyond anything ever imagined. I’m happy some normal people are on our side I can relate to. It can get eerie being the only one on the inside with Nick.”
Gus’s pronouncement met with hilarity, except for Nick, who glared in outrage at his partner. “Suddenly, amidst government sellouts, government traitors, and government lambs, it’s ‘last resort Nick’ to the rescue. Gus and I will need real intel at a moment’s notice once we decide to find and question Nancy. The risks will be great. Everyone has to worry about the fallout. Okay, that was funny, partner, you prick. I don’t want anything happening to my lambs, so we’ll look into it. Any clue where she ran off to after the Grand Jury let her go, and she made her first veiled media threats?”
“We were ordered to drop the matter when the AG’s office lost in the Grand Jury hearing,” Tim answered. “She left DC. That we do know. We were ready to trace her every movement until the order came down not to proceed.”
“It’s just as well. I have a Company contact interested in my out of the box thinking. If it’s doable, and Nancy is located somewhere inside your control area, Gus and I might need a small look the other way type happening. I am after all an official US Marshal.”
“Don’t remind us,” Grace said. “We’ll back your play. What did you have in mind in the way of help?”
“I’ll let you know.”
“Gee, that sounds ominous, doesn’t it, Tim?”
“Best to keep your smartass side in check, Grace,” Tim replied. “Let’s part on good terms with our compatriots, shall we? That way we can all either find common ground in the future, or simply part company as friends.”
Grace looked to be on the verge of firing off a salvo, but Nick’s grin ended the temptation. “Point taken. Let’s say goodnight to the softer side of the Twilight Zone, and hit the road. Thanks for a wonderful evening, Nick. Let’s do it again real soon.”
“She just can’t help herself, Timmy,” Nick said.
“Welcome to my world.”
* * *
Jean insisted on going along with Nick and Gus as they walked Deke. The rain stopped pounding the pavement for a time, leaving the three dog escorts carrying umbrellas for no apparent reason. The black skies showed glimmers of clearing near a foreboding full moon, which peeked in and out of the cloud cover.
“Why don’t we play superhero crime fighters tonight? Deke can be our hellhound hybrid who can sniff out evil anywhere. You’ll be El Muerto, Gus will of course be Payaso, and I’ll be Dagger.”
“Didn’t Gus and I explain clearly enough the bad things that can happen if you accidentally call us El Muerto and Payaso in public? You’ve even went and outed Fang the Ferocious.”
“Sure, Dad, but we’re not in public. Fang loves this game, right, Fang?”
Although unaware of why he received everyone’s attention, Deke played to Jean’s tune perfectly, leaping around her as if answering the question with a resounding yes. Nick watched the display suspiciously, while Gus enjoyed the show.
“Quit showing off, Deke,” Nick ordered. “This act seems rehearsed to me. In any case, we’re not running around in the dark looking for trouble, young lady. I’m surprised at you, Gus. Don’t encourage our young vigilante.”
“I tried to show my displeasure at this ridiculous and dangerous suggestion of a game,” Gus replied, finally able to speak. “It was Fang who ruined my display of outrage. I may be laughing on the outside, but I’m very disappointed on the inside at our canine companion in particular.”
As if embracing his new role as canine vigilante superhero, Deke hunched low to the ground, snorting at the air, and issuing a warning growl. Nick noted a group near the intersection of Meeting Street and South Market Street, wearing black hoodies. They paused often together, but stayed out of any illuminating light, huddling close to the buildings they passed. Because it was only 8:30pm in an upscale area of Charleston, Nick didn’t think much about it other than trusting Deke’s sixth sense for unsavory situations.
“Deke’s convinced me. Apparently, we don’t have to hunt for trouble very hard tonight. Let’s go in the opposite direction on South Market.”
Jean crouched with Deke, her arm wrapped around the dog’s neck. “Fang and Dagger want this mission, Muerto. We need to shadow these guys, waiting for the proper moment to strike. We’ll catch them red-handed, right, Fang?”
Deke immediately embraced the mission, leaning his head into Jean’s. “See, that’s two votes, Muerto. How about you, Payaso? Fang and I will run point on this op.”
“And how exactly did you plan on doing that, Dagger,” Nick asked. “I have plastic ties in my jacket right now. How would you like to have your little butt frog-marched back to the hotel, where you will be questioned and accused before the Grand Inquisitor?”
“C’mon. It’ll be fun. Help me out here, Payaso,” Jean pleaded.
Gus snorted in amusement at Jean’s assumption Gus might side with her. “You must be kidding. In all this time we’ve been together, Jean, have I ever went against, Muerto?
“I thought maybe you might step up for a change, Payaso,” Jean retorted with a giggle.”
“Now you’ve done it,” Nick complained, seeing Gus go into laughing fits at Jean’s upbraiding. How dare you call my partner Payaso’s manhood into question? This outrage will not go unpunished.”
Jean grabbed Nick’s coat, yanking on it with a violent tug. “They’re on the move. Fang will be our perfect cover if they spot us. We’re just a family walking the dog.”
“We are just a family walking the dog,” Nick reminded her. He saw the group move to the corner of Church Street and North Market. Nick, having been around the proverbial block many times, knew whatever this bunch planned, it would not be a good deed. “These youngsters do plan some kind of dastardly act, Dagger. You have good instincts, but we will be skipping the superhero trail tonight. I have Fang’s tennis ball. If you show it to him, you’ll really see some excitement.”
“You and Payaso are both packin’. I saw your holsters in the back under your jackets,” Jean said. “Let’s follow them, and call the cops when we see the perps act out.”
“I’m warning you, Payaso. Stop laughing at her ‘Bad Boys’ clichés,” Nick said, pointing at Gus with emphasis.
Gus raised his arms. “Okay, but I don’t see the harm in following the hoodlums for a while. I have my range finders in my jacket.” He shrugged off Nick’s look of death as Jean began clapping her hands with delight. “We wouldn’t have to get close. We’ll stay in the shadows, and far enough back not to be noticed. I’ll keep an eye on them from long range.”
“Yeah, that always works. How many doubles did you have before dinner, Payaso. I think I hear the booze talkin’. Remember, friends don’t let friends drink and be idiots.”
“Let’s do this, Muerto. I’m fine. Hell, they probably aren’t doing anything, but slouching around, acting like they’re gangsters.”
Nick considered all the ways he pictured Jean’s superhero play could go wrong. Seeing Jean’s face perked into a pleading, twisted mask of nine year old angst, Nick folded. “Do exactly what I say. We stay at least fifty to seventy-five yards back on the trail. Gus scopes out what they’re up to if anything, and we either return to the hotel, or call the cops if needed. If I say abort, it ends instantly. Understood?”
“I’m Payaso the feared tonight,” Gus tweaked his partner’s patience.
“Don’t I get a vote on operations now that we’re mission enabled?” Jean added a corkscrew jab into Nick’s last nerve.
“One more word out of either you or Payaso, and I frog march you both to the hotel with Fang on guard duty.”
Jean and Deke scooted ahead with Jean slinking along in a stealthy crouch next to Deke. Gus followed, using the range finders every other minute to chec
k on their prey. Nick shadowed the three, moving into different firing positions, wondering how the hell he agreed to this obvious folly. He smiled watching Deke get into stealthy tracking mode, hunching down along with Jean as they moved ahead.
As the hoodies rounded the corner onto Church Street, they huddled under the green awning of a store. From the distance, Nick couldn’t tell what they were doing. He allowed Jean and Deke close the distance to fifty yards before whispering a halt to the expedition. They waited quietly in place. Nick took the lead. He leaped over a short barrier, with Deke leaping over after him. Jean vaulted the wall as did Gus at the rear. Using the cars parked in the lot to shield their movements, Nick stopped at the barrier directly across from the half dozen young men. They remained motionless, but watching in all directions.
“I don’t know what the hell they’re doing,” Gus whispered. “Maybe you were right about this being a fool’s errand.”
“Stay calm, partner. They’ll be revealing their bad choices shortly.”
“I love this,” Jean whispered happily. “This was a great idea. We’re even closer than fifty yards. What do you think they’re doing, Muerto?”
“Nothing good. They’re watching the area to see if they’ve been noticed before they make their play. We have a barrier in front of us as a shield. Now we show the patience of superhero stalking. Stay quiet. This is what you wanted to learn, Dagger. The first lesson is never lose control over your anxious side during the takedown. The quickest way to die while stalking any prey is to rush into a blind situation, where facts are missing. We don’t know what the hell these guys’ objective is.”
“It looks like they’re robbing the store, Sherlock.” Jean stifled a giggle.
“I don’t think so,” Nick replied, suddenly very serious. “They’re spreading out around the corner, blending in against the darkened building. What do you see, Gus?”
Gus looked away from his night vision range finders. “They’re all packing. I can see a weapon on display by every gangsta’ except one. He’s standing in front of the plate glass display window with a brick.”
Cold Blooded III: Sins and Sanctions (Nick McCarty Assassin Series Book 3) Page 19
