“Yes.”
“Before the one managed to pick my lock, he mentioned calling a reporter later. I asked the clean shaven one what reporter he meant. He answered ‘Florence Gutierrez.”
“Mr. McCarty is right. Although they spoke Arabic, I heard the name,” Linda confirmed. “I will have the conversation translated, and the watch commander contacted immediately. For now, I’ll leave you to finish. Goodbye.”
“Thanks, Linda. Goodbye.” Nick disconnected. “Pretty weird, huh?”
“Yes it is, Mr. McCarty,” Dialo said, as he and his partner helped the groaning Aban to his feet. Is this the one you questioned?”
“Call me Nick. He’s the one. I think he speaks English, but he was disoriented when he regained consciousness. He spoke only Arabic at the time I asked him who the reporter was his friend mentioned before breaking in.”
Higginson read Aban his rights, asking if he understood them while Dialo coaxed Jamal Kader into consciousness.
“Yes,” Aban answered, looking wildly around. He focused on Nick. “Did you call the Gutierrez yet?”
Nick chuckled, as did the police officers. It was clear Aban confused lawyer with reporter. “We will be contacting Ms. Gutierrez I’m sure. Everyone wants to know what a reporter for Channel Ten news has to do with you and your buddy breaking into my house.”
“You fool!” The conversation brought Jamal out of his stupor completely. He twisted in fury under Dialo’s firm grasp. “Do you not see what you’ve done?!”
“It doesn’t matter, Sir,” Higginson told Jamal. “We’ve found your burglar tools, and knives. I will now read you your rights.”
Higginson did so, and repeated her question as to whether Jamal understood them.
“Yes… and I want my lawyer! We were tortured!”
“You were Tasered, Sir, not tortured,” Dialo said. “Mr. McCarty could have shot you dead, but he didn’t. I would call that restraint.”
“Let me get your statement, Nick,” Higginson said. “Do you mind if I record it?”
“You have my permission. My wound from this morning woke me up. I came down to get some aspirin. My dog Deke wanted outside in the worst way, so I shut off the alarm system, let him out for a time, and then let him back in. I forgot to turn the alarm back on. I tried to sleep, but couldn’t, so I came downstairs again. I went to the kitchen, but heard some noise at the gate out front. I grabbed my Taser and stun-gun from my kitchen cabinet, and went to the door. I heard Arabic, which I understand. The man’s voice that said he would be calling the reporter later is this one who wants his lawyer. The door opened, and these two charged in. I Tasered the lawyer, and stun-gunned the assistant. Then I restrained them, and called 911.
“Is it safe to come down?” Rachel called out from the stairs.
“Sure, Hon, the police have the guys in custody.”
Rachel came down in her robe and hugged Nick. “Are you okay? How’s your head?”
“I’m fine.”
“Ms. McCarty,” Higginson said, “did you see anything?”
Rachel shook her head violently as if extremely upset, her arms folded tightly at her chest. “I heard the commotion. I noticed Nick wasn’t in bed, and grabbed my daughter Jean. We ran into our safe-room. Our dog Deke followed us in. Nick has made us drill so we know what to do if something happens.”
“I think that’s it then. We’ll take these two with us. You’ll come down and press charges tomorrow, won’t you, Nick.”
“With bells on. I don’t suppose these guys had any ID, huh?”
“No.” Dialo said. “We’ll sort this out quickly at the station. We’ll have a lot more information on these two when you come in tomorrow. I hope you both can get some sleep. I don’t believe in coincidences. That Gutierrez mention is going into our report. I saw the press conference. Her questions were way out of line. You saved a lot of people today, Nick. I hope your intervention isn’t showing up to bite you in the ass now.”
“What he said,” Higginson added, holding out her hand. “That was one incredible thing you did today. It could have-”
“This man is a murderer!” Jamal, too stupid to keep his mouth shut as he listened to the conversation, forgot what being Mirandized means. “He killed Saif in cold blood! Allah has cursed me that I could not slit his throat. I-”
Jamal realized in the midst of his outburst he had made an error nothing he did could take back. Aban stared at him in open mouthed horror. Nick, Rachel, and both police officers were all smiling at him.
“Gee… did you get that recorded, Officer Higginson?”
“I sure did. This may prove to be the easiest conviction we’ve ever gotten. We’ll go now unless the genius here wants to add a few more nails in his coffin.”