“Got it. Here we are. I’ll go around the block so you can check it out.”
“This is perfect,” Nick said. “The Jury Room has an open parking lot. Check out what’s opposite the place.”
“Damn,” Gus muttered. “A two story Jack in the Box. Who writes this lucky ass script?”
“This is most fortunate,” John agreed.
“There is no lucky or fortunate. There is only El Muerto.”
“Gag.”
“Barf.”
“Ditto.”
*
Dan entered the Jury Room. It was cool, dark, and smelled of smoke. He sat at the bar, and a man with a handle bar mustache took his order of a draft beer. Dan liked the place right away. He hadn’t frequented dive bars for over four decades, but this one felt good. He spotted Chino and his two men entertaining two young women at a table near where a small band was performing. Dan texted the sighting, and sipped his beer with calm enjoyment.
Outside, behind the Jack in the Box restaurant, Nick checked the building. “I can be in position in seconds. We’ll wait until Jack closes. I’ll go from the van roof to the second tier of the building. John throws my bag to me and then on the roof I go. You two take off until I need picked up, or Dan gets into trouble. Let’s go wait for closing.”
Two hours later, the van drove next to the Jack in the Box with Nick lying flat on the top. He jumped quickly over to the second tier. John threw his bag into his arms and Gus drove away. Nick vaulted to the roof after throwing his bag over the top first. Minutes later, Nick was in place with his Barrett, a black tarp over him as he sighted in the Jury Room parking lot.
*
“I want that bitch found!” Chino Salermo turned away from the Suren?o gang member reporting to him. “Get the fuck out of my sight!”
The gangbanger hurried out of the bar, and Chino turned to his men. “We know the bitch works at one of the hotels. No more game playing. I want the Suren?os on the street with her picture going to every fucking hotel in Santa Cruz! Lino called twice today. He wants this shit done. It’s past midnight. Let’s get the hell out of here. The band sucks anyhow.”
As they were walking out, Chino bumped into an old man moving off his stool. He gave the old guy a push into the bar. “Watch where you’re goin’ Gramps.”
“Sorry Sir. It won’t happen again… ever.”
Chino glared at the grinning old man leaning against the bar. “You’re lucky I don’t have time to wipe that fuckin’ grin off your face.”
“Yep. That’s me, Sir. Mr. Lucky.”
Chino led his men outside toward his gray BMW at the far end of the parking lot. He beeped it open. Then to his men, it seemed as if Salermo’s head exploded. While they stood staring at their boss, they died the same way, the silent fifty caliber rounds pulping their heads.
*
The van drove alongside Dan, who was weaving slightly. The sliding side door opened. “Get in here while you can still walk, Dan.”
“I can’t help it, Gus. I haven’t had a drink in a while and those three beers did me in. I’m a lightweight.”
“How’d it go?” Dan sat on one of the beach chairs while massaging his knees.
“Messy,” John answered. “Very effective, but messy.”
“You’re not going to believe this, Dan. While we were waiting for Chino, we’ve been hacking around in Lino’s business, and spots where he’s likely to be in New York,” Gus said over his shoulder as he drove. “It even freaked Muerto a little.”
“Did not,” Nick lied. He finished disassembling the Barrett and putting it away. Damn spooky is more like it.
“I ain’t going to live forever. Are you going to tell me or not?”
Nick chuckled. “Lino Verducci has the same office as Hayden Tanus did.”
“Hayden Tanus? Who… oh shit! He’s the guy that put a hit out on Rachel and Jean, and this Verducci guy’s in the same office? No wonder you’re creeped out, Muerto.”
“El Muerto does not get creeped out.”
“Bullshit,” Dan retorted. “That’s dangerous mind altering Karma. You put a hole in Tanus’s head through his picture window from a mile away. If you do Lino’s head the same way through the same window don’t you turn into a werewolf or something?”
Gus had to drive off the road. Luckily, they hadn’t reached the freeway. It was only after minutes of pounding the steering wheel while trying to regain control enough to drive that Gus was able to continue the journey home. He listened contentedly to the continued hilarity in the back over Dan’s werewolf comment.
*
John chuckled once again. Dan glanced over at him from the passenger seat of the van. “I must be getting good at the one liners to keep you entertained this long.”
“That werewolf comment was very good. You almost caused a crash, and Muerto nearly went into a coma laughing.”