At the restaurant’s deserted open eating area, which had a greeting station out front, Gus waved at him from the entrance, beckoning him inside. The greeter, a cold and stressed out looking young man waved him in with a smile. Nick pulled off his hood as he walked toward Gus.
“We’re all upstairs. I’m already a beer and shot ahead of you. I cautioned Tracy to not have anything to drink before we ate, but she had some wine with a tray of snacks I ordered. We ordered from the menu. Rachel ordered for you too: fish and chips. How’d you do?”
“Very well, but it’ll have to wait. Short story is the hooker stole a chip from Fahid that can hack into any system. It’s the item they had a transponder on. Go along with my story when we get to the table. I’ll fill you in later. Look, I bought Rachel a bottle of Berringer Reserve.”
“How thoughtful.” Gus glanced back at the bottle Nick displayed proudly as the two men climbed the steps to the second floor restaurant section and bar. “The bribe won’t work, but it’s a nice gesture. You did save a young woman’s life, which I’m sure makes Rachel happy.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
Gus stopped. He whispered in a hushed tone while watching for other patrons ascending or descending the stairs. “C’mon, Nick. Don’t do this. Find a damn way not to kill this woman we’re eating and drinking with. She’s a thief. Big whoopee-do. Didn’t you already appease your blood thirsty soul already, you pirate?”
Nick chuckled. There was no use in explaining what Nick pictured in his mind would happen. “We’ll see. I’m not going to do anything right now, but play out the hand I’m dealt. Okay with you, Mother Teresa?”
Gus stared at his friend with a familiar downcast look of dread. “I trust you to do what’s right. That won’t change. Have a drink with me before we eat.”
“Now you’re talkin’,” Nick replied, following Gus into the crowded upstairs section.
At Nick’s chair next to Rachel there was a double shot and a glass of beer. “Oh my, that looks good, Rach. Thank you.”
Rachel and Jean had both stood to hug Nick.
“How’d you do, Nick?” Tina looked worried, but Tracy waited for him to speak again with anxious eyes.
“Great, Tina. Here Tracy. I saved all your credit cards, money, and driver’s license. They were the only items I was sure weren’t bugged.” Nick dug out the items from his coat pocket, and handed them over to a now despondent Tracy. “What’s wrong? I didn’t see anything else in the purse worth getting killed over.”
“Sorry, Nick.” Tracy stuffed the cards and money in her coat pocket. “I really liked that purse. I appreciate all you’ve done for me. I’m sorry I dragged you into this. Did you see those men again?”
Nick shed his coat, placing it on his chair. He sat down. “Nope. I threw the purse in a trash bin on the docks, and kept going to the Wines of California, where I bought my wife this nice Berringer Reserve.”
Nick took the bottle out of his coat pocket for Rachel to see. “This should ease your pain one night when you’re not too thrilled with work or your pregnancy.”
Rachel smiled. “Thank you. I’ll put it in my bag. I’m glad everything worked out. Our server said they’re a little behind in the kitchen, so it will be another fifteen minutes before we eat. Sorry, but we gobbled up all the snacks. Want us to get another plate?”
“No. This will do fine.” Nick held his shot glass aloft. “Here’s to an exciting day and evening.”
They all toasted, including Jean with her soda, and the less than pleased Tracy. Nick drank down half his double, and then a quarter of his beer. “Oh man… that’s good. How’s Jake doing with the limo out there?”
“He’s fine,” Gus replied. “Jake said to call him ten minutes before we walk out the door, and he’ll be by to pick us up. Tracy lives in Burlingame so we’ll drop her off, and continue home. She’s right on the way.”
“Maybe she should go with us, Gus. I can take Tracy with us to our house until that boat she was on leaves.” Nick noticed the quick horrified look Gus gave him before he glanced over at Tracy. “What do you think, Tracy? Would you feel safer coming with us for now?”
To Gus’s relief, Tracy shook her head in the negative. “I can’t. I have to work tomorrow. I appreciate the offer though. I’ll never be able to repay your saving my life. You’ve all been very kind, but I have to go home. I live in a secure apartment building. I’ll let the security guard know the story on my problems tonight.”
“Aren’t you going to report them to the police,” Jean asked.
“I can’t do that either right now, Jean,” Tracy answered cryptically. “The Shalimar leaves port tomorrow morning. I’ll put this mess behind me.”
“Yeah, but don’t those people know where you live?” Jean pursued the line of questioning, amusing Nick with her perceptiveness.