“Does he make it back in public alive or does he go on a journey with many of your previous question and answer session contestants?”
“If we pick him up, I’m thinking we put our masks on, and do the info gathering needed to get a line on what’s happening we don’t know about. Then, after he’s had three heart attacks and a seizure, we’ll drug him and drop him like the Santiagos last Halloween. I’ll have his phone cloned, and a bug on everything I can think of. We’ll monitor our little rat as he scurries around trying to get a little cheese. That’s only if we have to waste some time on him.”
“You are one sick puppy,” Gus said. “One good thing is at least this adventure ain’t taking place over in the sandpit.”
“Carol Allison didn’t forget us, Gus. The moment she knew I was back in the game, she put someone on me. He’s good, but I’m afraid we’ll have to make sure he doesn’t interfere with our local game. CIA wouldn’t care, but they have a nasty habit of blackmailing reluctant minions.”
“You’re only telling me this now, you prick!”
“Need to know, partner,” Nick replied. “I hadn’t decided yet what kind of a statement I wanted to make for Carol. I kind of like this guy she has tailing us. He’s pretty good. I don’t want to kill him. Now that I’ve decided that, it was time to bring you into the loop.”
“You can’t seem to shed these threads from your past, so I guess it makes sense you’ve grown a telepathic Ninja like power to detect them. This guy you think Carol has watching you is a pro. He won’t be easy to take.”
Nick used one of the bags built within the storage part of his leash handle to retrieve Deke’s deposit. “Have I given you some reason to insult me? What have I explained about these hot dogs assigned to mundane tasks like watching some old retread? They can’t help themselves. They eventually make mistakes because expertise breeds contempt. Anyway, I… Gus… take Deke and go hide at the side of this next house. Do as I say!”
Without a word, Gus took Deke’s leash and walked him alongside the house they had stopped at. Nick straightened and faced the oncoming, slowly moving BMW. He grinned. It looks like they let the stupid train out without informing anyone. The BMW slowed to a stop next to Nick. Jamal Kader poked a 9mm Glock out the passenger side window with silencer attached. Jamal’s happy smile assumed his target had watched TV shows where everyone cries, screams, or becomes helpless dupes the moment someone points a gun at them. It was his last misconception in life.
Nick grabbed the barrel, ducking away, while rotating it into his own hand. He shot the unfortunate Aban Kassis in the head, who slumped with finality over the steering wheel. The BMW remained in place because Aban died with his foot on the brake. Nick grabbed the shocked Jamal’s hair, slamming his head into the BMW window frame until his face was pulped. He then motioned for Gus after making sure no one else was in the car. Gus and Deke jogged into position next to Nick.
“We’ve been hurried along our chosen path by these two morons. Can you drive without attracting attention or police, Gus?”
“Absolutely.”
Nick paced carefully to the driver’s side. He opened the rear driver’s side door, and deposited Aban’s body there. He then sauntered to the passenger side rear door, opened it, and climbed in. “Put Deke in with me, Gus. Our beloved canine companion will have to make this journey with us.”
Gus did as he was told, closing the BMW passenger side rear door after him. He then hurried to the driver’s side, and eased into a bloody seat, and closed the bloody door. He used his sleeve to clean the brain matter and blood off the window. “You owe me for a complete new outfit.”
“Acknowledged.” Nick held onto Deke tightly, petting and soothing him as the smell of blood had him in a less than calm state. “Easy boy… sit quietly while I call your Mom. She’ll be worried when we take an unusually long time getting home.”
Once Deke settled down with the rear window cracked downward, Nick called Rachel. She answered at the first ring. “Damn it! I knew you couldn’t keep out of trouble even for a twenty minute dog walk. I know how much you love talking on an open phone so give me the highlights.”
“I love you. Yes, our dog walking hit a snag. Deke and I have decided to make this into a longer journey. We will be home as soon as we can.”
“Understood,” Rachel replied in notably softer tone. “I love you too. I want you already.”
Nick listened contentedly to Jean gasping and slapping Rachel’s shoulder with a disapproving ‘Mom’ as the finishing touch.
“I’ll be home soon.”
“You’d better,” Rachel said, ending the call.
“Do you know the way to my crypt of horror, Gus, or should I call out directions?”