Munsun nodded, his body slumping in resignation of impending death.
“Good boy. I’m surprised you didn’t already kill these two idiots. You should have believed Tracy’s chip story. I had a couple of friends with the US Marshal’s service put the chip into the Attorney General’s hands. Did you think I’d auction the damn thing off like the kind of traitorous asshole you are?”
Munsun shrugged noncommittally.
“That really hurts buddy. Anyway, Carol’s replacement found out you and your boy Brody killed Carol. He and I had a splendid conversation. We reached a mutual understanding - he wanted you dead, and so do I. Did you and your idiot minions have some nefarious plot to coerce me into giving you the chip?”
Munsun hesitated, but then simply nodded. He felt the clammy touch of death beading sweat on his upper lip and forehead.
“Gee, I wish I had time to hear that damn plan.” Nick patted his cheek. “I’ll bet it was a doozy. You sit still, and I’ll go get Tracy into position to end you quicker than you deserve.”
Munsun’s guts twisted, watching Nick go over and turn on the nightstand light. He positioned the unconscious Tracy in front of him, holding her with Munsun’s Berretta pointed in his direction.
“Thanks for bringing the Berretta with a silencer, pal,” Nick said. “Okay… say cheese, buddy. Now Tracy… you bad girl. I need you to take careful aim, because we don’t want Derek over there to suffer.”
“That’s it, baby.” Nick aimed with Tracy’s hand on the Berretta’s grip, and finger on the trigger. “I know you’re nervous, kid. This is a real slime-ball you’re killing so don’t give it a thought.” Nick fired the first round into Munsun’s chest.
Munsun convulsed in pain as the shot tore into his lung, and blood filled his mouth. He choked blood and bile past the gag. Eyes bulged in shock and lack of oxygen, as the black graininess of death darkened Munsun’s last vision of his executioner.
*
“Nice shot, Tracy!” Nick watched Munsun’s jerking body movements as blood streamed out of his mouth, waiting until nearly all indications of life ceased. “I think you got him good. I love this part, don’t you? Okay… one more for old time’s sake.”
Nick fired again into Munsun’s heart. He took the Berretta out of Tracy’s hand. After positioning her in a sitting position on the bed, Nick kept the Berretta with him. He released Munsun’s corpse, making sure the body stayed in the chair. Nick put the silenced Glock he brought along in Munsen’s hand, and fired at Tracy’s chest. When he saw her eyes twitch open as she pitched around on the bed with blood streaming over her chin from the lung shot, Nick waved.
“Sorry you didn’t take my advice, kid. I bet you could have been somebody.”
Tracy gasped blood while trying to suck in air, but nothing worked. She flailed in agony, her feet kicking at the bed surface, propelling her back against the headboard.
“Finish her… you monster,” Nick chided the dead Munsun while using his index finger to fire once more into Tracy’s heart. “That was horrible, Derek. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Nick positioned Munsun’s hand holding the Glock on the corpse’s lap, with Munsun’s other hand hanging limply over the chair seat. He then took the Berretta over and posed Tracy in similar fashion, making certain he didn’t step in any blood. Her death throes made the scene look plausible. Making sure he left nothing lying around, Nick cut the gag away from Munsun’s mouth, using the clean ends to puff the mouth a bit. After putting it in a plastic bag, Nick took pictures of the scene, and did a final check, smiling at his handy work. He then slipped out the sliding glass door and disappeared into the fog.
*
Nick’s masked face slammed against Gus’s driver’s side window, palms on the frame. Gus nearly launched through the car roof. “You bastard!”
Gus shook his fist at the laughing figure of Nick bent over at the waist. “I’ll get you for this Muerto, as God is my witness. You stopped my fuckin’ heart, you prick!”
He watched Nick stumble to the passenger’s side and get in with his pack. “Sorry, Gus.”
“You lyin’ sack of shit! You’re not even a little sorry!” Gus started the engine, slowly proceeding toward the paved road. “I thought for sure Munsun was going to toast your ass, you overconfident jerk!”
“That’ll be the day when that weasel ever got me… I mean the recently deceased Mr. Munsun. That’s the trouble with you, partner. We have to have a little fun with this. Otherwise, it’s just another day workin’ the job.”