“That’s a cold reaction to two people being tortured to death, even for you. You want to use them and us as bait?”
“You’re already bait. I want to know if you feel like trapping the rats or doing a catch and release. I’m sure Sorenson and Oculus are not a pretty sight, but they were involved in something on the shady side with the chip. No one knew I was going to transfer the chip, but you and Tim. Then the list expands as you pointed out, to the AG’s office, and your boss. I’m afraid Sorenson had plans he wasn’t sharing with you. I’ll hack into his accounts later. Talk it over with Tim and call me back. It looks like you’re at the Sunset Inn. Which of those cottage type rooms are you in?”
“We’re in the first one across from the office, behind the Sunset Inn sign. Hey… how the hell do you know where we are?”
“Let me know what you want to do.” Nick disconnected.
Grace went over to where Tim still knelt next to Sally, his weapon pointed at the motel room entrance. “Did you hear any of that, Tim?”
“Yeah,” Tim answered without looking up. “Nick knew Sorenson was involved in a bad way, but didn’t see anything like this in his killer’s crystal ball. The smart move is play this safe, call for backup from every agency in the area, and head to DC. Whether we make it there or not is anyone’s guess.”
“Or we enlist the services of the most dangerous cold blooded psycho we’ve ever met to help us.”
“I wonder if Nick has a plan to get his hands on the ones who did this. If he does, then that’s the plan I want.”
“Agreed.” Grace called Nick again, putting him on speaker. “We’d like to know if you have a plan to get these guys who did this?”
“Yep, but I need to know how far you’ll trust me to handle this. If you and Tim are squeamish about what happens to the guys who tortured Sorenson and Lassie, or you figure to pull the ‘bring them to justice’ card on me later, then my answer is no.”
“I don’t care what you do to them, Nick, including but not limited to torture and evisceration,” Tim said, turning his head so as to be clear on the conference call.
“Ditto,” Grace added.
“Then stay in the room. Don’t move, other than to use your resources to put us on a later flight from Monterey to DC, and do your own research into Sorenson’s accounts. I’ll be going with you to DC. I’m assuming you didn’t get any military flight out, right?”
“We were flying commercial. We’ll substitute you in for Sorenson. Is Gus going with you too?”
Nick chuckled. “If I can talk him into it. I’ll leave him to watch my family. He ain’t going to like this. I’m texting you our personal data for the flight as we speak. I’ll call when I have the perps in my custody. Who did they eviscerate?”
“Sally. She had to watch her own entrails spill out on the floor,” Tim answered.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Tim. I’ll be in touch.” Nick disconnected.
“Want me to start checking on Sorenson’s accounts or do you want to do it?”
“You go on, Grace. I’ll keep an eye on the door while I imagine what Nick will do to the guys that did this. I’m thinking he will surpass my meager imagination.”
“I would have to agree.” Grace placed her laptop as far from the gruesome scene as she could get.
*
“Round this bend left in front of the Sunset, following along Asilomar Avenue, Gus. Don’t look away from the road or slow down more than normal.” The moment Gus guided his Ford Edge along the rounded curve, Nick spotted the late model silver Chevy Tahoe with two men in the front not going anywhere. “There’s my bitches. Turn left onto Lighthouse Ave, Gus. Ah… hello, darkness… my old friend.”
Gus did as told, and parked along the roadside where Nick pointed. “You’ve turned yourself up a notch.”
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to discuss all my suspicions. Like I told you, if you want out of the trip to our nation’s capital, just say so.”
“No way. Okay… I’ll rethink the DC trip. This new accelerated lifestyle of torture and killings you’ve adopted is addictive. When you called, I was already in the midst of abject boredom with the few hours I had from the last life or death situation. I packed light, because I figured we’ll be coming right back home after you see this through.”
Nick enjoyed the low key sarcasm before answering. “Correcto. I’ll sneak next to my van of pros, and see if any of them are watching their backs. If they are, there will be a gun battle. Don’t stay for the ending. Get the hell out of here. Rachel knows what to do on her end. If they’re not watching their backs, I’ll drop off my little treat, secure my guests, and drive to the Crypt. It’ll be a walk in the park.”