No one barred her way though. Jean sped by them without incident. Nick heeled Deke, while Gus remained in position on the other side of Deke. Many parents came over to shake hands with him, and thank Nick. Gus filmed it unobtrusively. Colinga was the first to rush over with a cameraman. Gus blocked her way.
“I’m not allowing you to attack my partner again, lady. I see some other media idiot hired you. That’s close enough. Remember folks. I’ll be filming this too,” Gus addressed the others waiting to try and get a question in.
“I hope you’re happy you got me fired,” Colinga said.
“You got you fired, Sandy. Next person,” Nick said.
“But-”
“No buts, Sandy. I’m not speaking with you or answering anything you have to say. I think it’s interesting another station would even hire you. Next. I only have a few minutes.”
“Did you know Florence Gutierrez was fired this morning by Channel Ten?” This question from a male reporter Nick had seen before at the police station.
“Nope. I usually stay away from the news in the mornings. I did so this morning.”
The reporter who asked, followed it up. “The station received proof from an anonymous source proving she’s on a Saudi payroll for the purpose of filtering the news. Do you think that was the reason for her to attack you verbally?”
“It seems logical. Is Channel Ten certain the accusations are true?”
“Yes, they are,” another woman reporter answered. “Also, Jamal Kader and Aban Kassis have been reported as having jumped bail. They were supposed to be arraigned yesterday afternoon, but never showed. Do you think your family is in danger?”
“Until those two are caught, I would imagine so. I’m sure it was an oversight by the police not to let me know yesterday. I’ll be calling them today for a progress report. I hope the school is providing extra security as long as Jamal Kader and his partner are loose. Dimah Kader will still be in danger from Jamal Kader. He is an honor killing, Sharia Law advocate. That means there is also danger for Ms. Kader. Let’s hope the police are able to capture the two bail jumpers.”
“It is already being reported back East by your publisher that you will be going on tour soon to promote your latest book ‘Caribbean Contract’. It is nearing number one on the New York Times Bestseller list. Do you think your notoriety has anything to do with it?”
“Of course, but my assassin series was popular before this happened. Name recognition and notoriety rank highly in marketing a novel. There is no question about that. If you’ll excuse me, I have the police to contact, and my new novel to write.”
Ignoring other shouted questions, Nick turned toward his house with Deke, while Gus followed closely behind him.
“That went well,” Gus said. “You didn’t have anything to do with Flo hitting the unemployment line, did you?”
“I had everything to do with it, but those clunks won’t know that. I did find it a bit strange Sergeant Dickerson didn’t contact me yesterday afternoon when the two weasels missed their court date. That Jamal wasn’t as dumb as I thought. He planned on shooting me down in the street, and then go right on to his court date. Pretty slick, but not effective in this case. Poor old Jamal. I guess if you believed in karma, it would appear bad karma finally did a number on him.”
“Hey… I believe in bad karma,” Gus replied. “It happens too often for it to be a coincidence. Call it the forces of nature, or God’s rage. You must have some good deeds stored not to have a house fall on you any time you walk outside.”
“That’s not very nice of you believing I have bad karma. I am bad karma. The karma fairy points me in the direction of evil doers and I mete out bad karma. See… all explained.”
“You may be right, Nick. If there ever was a living, breathing bad karma golem, it would be you.
“Maybe so. I have accounted for a good percentage of payoffs in the karma department to people possibly deserving of it.”
“Possibly?”
“Gus, I was a contract killer under a rogue element of the NSA. I’m sorry if you thought I weighed and measured each assignment. I’ll admit it. Rachel was the first I took an extra look at. She reminded me of someone, and that Tanus blowhard was the perfect guy to get me off the reservation. I can’t think of a guy I liked triggering more than when I blew Tanus’s head off as he stood there looking out his office window like a God. I was his karma fairy come home to roost, and brother, there weren’t any take-backs. It was the Wild West after that until I took care of our good buddy, Frank, who made us very rich.”
“Frank was our good karma fairy. Man, did that boy salt some funds away. That’s why it’s so stupid for me to rag you out of retirement. I’m sorry I did that, Nick. You had things covered. We could have taken out a few gangbangers here and there to appease your appetite, and stayed incognito.”
“Yeah, until we let Danger start issuing assignments. What’s done is done. The… crap! Take Deke away from me, Gus. Here comes Carol’s boy.”