“Well… okay then… care to tell me why in God’s name you would ever be stupid enough to approach me like this, Grace? And Timmy… shame on you for bringing Lassie with you, and letting Grace pull a stunt dopey enough to get a mass killing of federal agents in a Fisherman’s Wharf parking lot.”
Tim Reinhold chuckled appreciatively, while Grace sighed, letting her chin drop to her chest in comical form. The blonde, labeled Lassie, cast tight lipped displeasure from her companions to Nick. Grace lifted her hands in placating form after a moment.
“We didn’t have a choice, Nick. Mr. Sorenson is our boss at the Department of Justice. The ‘Hack Chip’ message you sent me stirred a hornet’s nest. They scrambled the jets from the Attorney General down through the DOJ. I tried to convince Mr. Sorenson to allow Tim and me to make contact with you. He insisted on this approach.” Grace bumped against Gus. “Hi, Gus.”
“Grace, Tim, Lassie,” Gus acknowledged the three next to him. “Boy, I have to admit. This is some kind of stupid.”
“Mr. Sorenson.” Nick nudged him with the Colt barrel. “Get in the van. Lock your hands behind your head, and keep your mouth shut until I ask you something. Nod if you understand, or I pistol whip you right into the tarmac.”
Sorenson nodded in red faced rage. He entwined his hands behind his head and eased into the driver’s seat of the van.
“Good. At least you know how to follow orders as well as give them. Stay like that for the moment.” Nick moved the driver’s side door to the half way closed position. He then moved over to the van’s front, keeping everyone in sight. “Hi kids. Playing politics again I see.”
“Did you and your pug here refer to me as Lassie,” the angry blonde asked. “I’ll have you know I-”
“Shut up, Sal,” Grace ordered. “You work for me. Nick doesn’t give a crap about you, your position, or anything else. If he calls you Lassie from now on, there won’t be a damn thing you can do about it. You do remember Sally Oculus, right?”
“Yep. Lassie seems to have developed some attitude since the last time I saw you three, Timmy. Did you get her house broken yet? Enough of this foolishness. Why don’t you and Tim come over to the house in an hour without Suit Sorenson and Lassie? We can have a survivor’s reunion with Rachel, Jean, and Deke. We’ll film my handing over the ‘Hack Chip’ to you, and we part friends. How’s that sound?”
“Real good, Nick,” Grace replied with enthusiasm. “I’m sorry I had to pass on your text to our bosses after you contacted me this morning. It couldn’t be helped.”
“We didn’t know what to do with it, Nick,” Tim added. “We figured you’d want the information passed to someone in a position high enough in the DOJ to handle it.”
“Apology accepted, although a damn dangerous one. You figured right. I realized it might draw in others. I’ll give you the whole story when we get together in an hour.”
“Why can’t I come along,” the blonde named Sal asked.
“I don’t like you, and my dog Deke doesn’t like other dogs around. Besides, you look like you’re in heat. C’mon, Gus. Let’s get back to the gang. The rest of you… don’t be here when we get back. Clear?”
“Clear, Nick,” Grace agreed, still snorting over Nick’s zinger.
*
Sorenson leaped out of the van, reaching for his weapon. Both Grace and Tim rushed him, pinning his arms in place. Sweat broke out in spite of the cold night air on Grace’s forehead. She looked over her shoulder to see Nick smile and nod before continuing on.
“You stupid bastard!” Grace pushed away from Sorenson.
“Try to draw again, and I’ll shoot you myself, Mr. Sorenson.” Tim didn’t let go of Sorenson until the man’s hands dropped to his sides. “That’s twice you nearly got all of us killed. Grace and I don’t give a shit about your feelings. You almost drew on the most dangerous man we’ve ever met. He would have killed all four of us before you cleared your holster, and walked away without a backward glance, and he likes me and Grace.”
Grace pointed at Oculus. “You keep your mouth shut. We know you’re trying to edge up the promotion ladder, kid. Tim and I are trying to keep you alive. Nick doesn’t like you. End of story. If you had let us contact Nick by ourselves, we’d already have the chip, Mr. Sorenson.”
“You people answer to me!” Sorenson’s hands were clenching and unclenching at his sides. He bent over and retrieved his Taser before gingerly checking the razor cut at his neck. “I should have brought a fuckin’ army down with me to get that arrogant son-of-a-bitch!”
Grace shook her head. “You let your ego get in the way of better judgment. Now’s the time to let common sense seep into your head. The rogue NSA assassination group Nick helped us bust sent teams of the most dangerous professional killers they had in their employ after him. They’re all dead. Professional hit-men sent by the Tanus group to kill him are all dead. Everyone in our government and the Tanus syndicate who tried to have Rachel Hunter, her daughter, and their dog killed are all dead - including the head of the rogue NSA outfit: Frank Richert.”