“Did Rachel ever find out we did that Halloween attitude adjustment on Jean’s orders?”
“They weren’t orders. I figured it was a good deed, and the gangbangers quieted down a bit after a few additional adjustments. If Rach found out, she didn’t mention it. She’s been to the above ground part of my property in the Carmel Valley though. I think Jean is getting a little addicted to this hitting a problem with a hammer solution. The Kader business made her think, especially when she found out those two guys broke in our house to kill us. Danger was a bit subdued this morning. Rachel’s right in warning us off from taking anymore Jean the Assassin assignments. She’s a little too imaginative. So what do you think of my stash and smash plan?”
“I agree we need to steer clear of Jean’s new penchant for assigning us missions. As to your underground torture chamber, it does seem like the place to store our soon to be bailed buddies. What about Gutierrez?”
“We’ll find out from the initial guests to our house of horrors what the hell Gutierrez has to do with anything. We can find out the rest later, depending on her involvement. Tell the truth. It was Jean’s Halloween gig that got under your skin to begin with about putting me back to work, wasn’t it?”
Gus shook his head. “Not really. It was that insane underground dementia crypt that freaked me out. You should be making horror movies, Nick. Are you going to wait for Dickerson’s call concerning Naseer’s acolytes’ arraignment?”
“I’ll put it on my laptop with an alarm so I get notified. They may get loose, and simply head for the border. We don’t want that. If they do decide to launch their journey in a car, we’ll have to take them and their car. I have a friend in Salinas who will make the car disappear.”
“How come I’ve never met this guy if he’s so close?”
“He likes his privacy. It’s why he and I get along so well… from a distance. I’ve accumulated a number of friends across the country, and overseas. I’m generous with the money I get, because I never knew if I’d need a cellar to hide out in for a few days. Wherever I spent time doing recon for a job, I’d check out all the rough places for people to be counted on. You were one of them.”
“When you hauled my brother Phil’s ass out of Jamaica you were set for life with me. I see what you mean though, because Phil has told me many times if you ever need doctoring incognito, he’s your man. His wife Julie, whom you also saved that time, is a little standoffish when discussing visits from you. I’ll deal with the ingrates when we visit. My niece starts first grade next year. If we do a road trip, it will definitely be through Boston too. Katie hasn’t seen her Uncle Gus in a while. She’s a lot like Jean.”
“See, now that’s what I’m talkin’ about. Favors and money dished out conservatively when needed, produce life fulfilling results. Boston will be on the tour, Gus. Count on it. I bet-”
Nick stopped talking as Gus drove his Ford in sight of his corner house. A crowd of over a dozen people with signs were screaming chants while two film crews with reporters filmed the demonstration. Gus slowed to the side of the road. Nick removed his jacket.
“Back my play from here, Gus. Have your phone ready to dial 911. I have to make a statement before Rachel gets sick of this and comes out with the shotgun.”
“Let me come with you then!”
Nick glanced over with a grin. “It doesn’t work that way, Gus. This episode is being filmed by the news channels. One riot, one Ranger, is how we did it when Saddam fell… with back up of course. I used to handle this shit all the time. I speak the lingo like a native in numerous dialects. Besides… this is a great unintended circumstance for Jean to see. It may curtail her plans for involving us in someone else’s affairs on a whim in the future.”
“You just got your head cracked yesterday. If one of them smacks you upside your head in the same spot, that baby’s goin’ to hurt, my friend. Then, there’s always the chance one of these enlightened souls is packin’.”
“Sometimes you eat the bear… and sometimes the bear eats you,” Nick stated with philosophical elegance of tone. “I’ll signal for you when I get done playing with the big kids, Dad.”
“Damn it, Nick! Rachel’s going to skin us both alive for this!” Gus watched his friend walk to the top of the block and cross the street into the midst of the demonstrating crowd.
Nick stopped and looked back for a second. “Take a movie yourself, Gus. We may need it.”
Gus left the Ford with his iPad mini in hand. “I’ll wager you’re right.”
*