“That was you, huh? Then you’re really playing this the wrong way. I have an Internet drop you’re familiar with. Anything done in the way of a sanction is done anonymously through the drop. If I handled Cortesa for you, then what the hell did you front me in my own backyard for?”
“I…I have a special job for you. I need a very well placed man taken out in the CIA. He’s starting a task force to shut down my overseas interests in collusion with the DOJ and IRS. My sources tell me if he died, we have a man in place who will get appointed easily. The task force, and court cases will be dropped.”
“Again, why come here in person? Secondly, who did you share my whereabouts with after you found me? That’s a deal breaker.” This is getting more interesting by the second, Nick thought, but this is major bad if everyone and his brother knows who I am and what I do.
Formsby shook his head vehemently. “No one knows… no one. I need a killer like you on staff. Someone without hesitation or conscience. You would be rich beyond your wildest dreams. Anything you want would be yours.”
“I already have more money than I know what to do with, Milty. After what I did to Hayden, Jase, and old Max to protect those two girls you sent your cheap thugs to collect, I’m shocked at your thought processes.” Nick looked around comically. “I’m being punked. Where’s the hidden cameras?”
Formsby wiped his face on his sleeve. “It was stupid for me to have you approached like that. I need Paul Gilbrech killed in such a way as to not cause an incident. I will pay you twenty-five million dollars for the sanction of that asshole.”
“Paul Gilbrech… the new CIA Director?” Nick began chuckling, not because of the reason Formsby figured, but because he could picture Gilbrech’s face when he told him later. “You are nuts, Milty. He must be close to really frying your nuts for you to try and hire a sanction on the sitting CIA Director. Where the hell did you ever get the idea someone could simply pop into the CIA Director’s chair just because the old one dies. It’s a political gig, and Congress has some say in it.”
Formsby leaned toward Nick excitedly. “The fix is in. I have a very highly placed contact inside the CIA. He guarantees the replacement will be a sympathetic guy I can do business with.”
Nick smirked, rolling his eyes, to continue playing Formsby. I need proof about some guy that’s so in the know at CIA. “Baloney, Milty. What is he some 9th level clerk?”
“Way above that, Nick. He’s Lee Collister, The National Security Advisor. He has the President’s ear on security measures and appointments as you probably know.”
Nick kept fishing. “Why not wait until Gilbrech gets the boot? Let your man Lee undermine him behind his back. Your legal teams can keep the government forces tied in red tape for a decade.”
“That bastard Gilbrech wants me labeled a terrorist, subject to exposure, and instant seizure of my holdings. If he follows through on this task force overseas, I’ll lose everything. I can run, and stay in hiding for the rest of my life. I’ll still have plenty of assets to survive very well, but I am building a dynasty! You sanctioned Bidwell and Stoddard on their own boat, making it look like a leaking gas line or something – sheer genius. I know you could take out Gilbrech.”
“You’ve touched me, Milty. I don’t want you to spend the rest of your life on the run either.” Nick shot Formsby between the eyes. He had a few moments to spare so he waited until his last victim convulsed for the final moment on the brink of eternity instead of shooting him again. Nick looked around the inside of the limousine with disgust. He smiled while getting out his cell-phone – I get messier every year, Nick thought with a sigh.
“Nick?”
“Yep, it’s me, your goofy husband. Did you happen to answer with our special phone?”
“Of course, goofy. I realize when you get called away during a meal, I will have to raise the threat level to DEFCON 1. We just now came through the door, but I have the phone and jammer on. It’s green.”
“Outstanding. You’re the best. Can you drive out to my Carmel Valley place where I have John staying later on when I call? I could ask him to give me a ride, but I’d rather be riding around with you for a host of reasons.”
“One of them being security cameras caught you on cam everywhere between the restaurant and parking lot, huh wise guy?”
“It’s not very nice of you to pull the smartass card on me tonight. I did buy you a lovely dinner at a great place. I didn’t request a stopover by Smith and Jones.”