John smiled, keeping silent, while listening to his friends argue back and forth. He could not remember a time in the last month he had been with them when they weren’t arguing. Once inside the SUV with Dan in the front next to Gus, and Deke in the back with him and Nick, John made sure to bundle his jacket, knife, and black Nitrile gloves together in his lap as did Nick.
“We did much good tonight,” John said. “Everyone will be happy. It won’t take them long to figure out those three were the muggers terrorizing people along the ocean front. How will you handle Neil, and when do you think the getaway driver will check on his buddies?”
“I’ll go see him first thing in the morning,” Nick replied. “I’ll bring along the research I did on those assholes’ last six muggings. They always took place when there was loud wave action, ground fog, and between nine and ten at night. This was their first time during a full moon though. As to the getaway driver, did you spot him, Gus?”
“I have his license plate number. He’s in an old beat up silver Buick, hoodie in place. Want to round him up later? Once we find out who his partners were, we’ll be able to locate him. He’ll never find them in this fog. When he doesn’t hear from them, he’ll drive along here a few times and then leave eventually. We could follow him if you want.”
“If Dan’s okay with a bit more time spent with Muerto, Payaso, and Kabong, I’d like to hang around to get on his trail now rather than later,” Nick replied, jostling Dan’s shoulder. “How about it, Geezer?”
“You three are the most entertaining diversion I could possibly hope for. Deke is also a great companion on a walk. Truthfully, I’d do anything to stay with you guys. The nights are the worst. These past nights as bait with Deke beside me have allowed some uninterrupted sleep for the first time in a long while. I’d like to stay, if I’m not messing with the ‘Unholy Trio’s’ killer Karma.”
“Killer Karma, huh?” Nick absorbed the raucous agreement to Dan’s assessment from his fellow ‘Unholy Trio’ members with amusement. “Good enough, Gus, we await our getaway driver’s arrival. While we’re not mincing words, Dan, I get the distinct impression you were inviting a knife to the throat. What’s that all about? I wouldn’t be stupid enough to assume to know Carol’s feelings on the matter, but I doubt she’d be very happy with a ‘suicide by thug’ plan. The ‘Unholy Trio’ could use you to stick around. It pays a very uplifting amount of money for you and your kids too.”
Dan shrugged. “My kids are fine since you ended my last problem with the loan sharks, which by the way was the dumbest thing I ever did. That kind of stupidity will not be repeated. I get moments like tonight with that shithead threatening me, where I may shoot my mouth off, because I really don’t care. If you have a problem with that, Hemingway, kick loose of me. I’ll understand.”
“Nope,” Nick replied. “That won’t happen, Dan. I’m not much on this touchy feely stuff, but perhaps you should focus on the good when you end a threat like tonight. Carol would have walked with you at your side to nail these guys. I’m actually sorry I didn’t think about asking you both, but I assumed in error you two would probably outlive me and my professional choice of careers.”
“I assumed in error I would go long before Carol, but what passes for life without her can only be endured with certain ground rules. One of them since joining with your little group is that I ain’t taking shit from anyone, and especially not from a murderous young bastard like ‘The Night Stalker’ guy tonight. I’ll take my shots when I can if they don’t endanger you guys, but I will take them no matter what.”
“That’s fair enough, Geezer,” Nick said, with endorsements from his ‘Unholy Trio’ partners. “Speaking for us unholy guys, we’d like for you to stick around. We all know that bullshit about time healing all wounds is just that: a load of crap. Gus, John, and I would like to give you something else to help you through the trail of tears with something extra tucked in for your kids in the way of a monetary supplement. You’ll earn it… like tonight, and we’ll allow certain smartass slaps in the face of death as you did on this final resting of ‘The Night Stalker’.”
Dan nodded. “Good, because you can kiss my ass otherwise.”
During the enjoyment of that particular gem, Gus pointed toward the front. “Here he comes. I’m guessing, but his headlights look like the ones I saw when I spotted him. We’ll know shortly, because he’ll be slowing down looking for his pals.”
“Yep,” Gus reiterated, “that’s the one. He’ll be floating back this way in search of what cannot be: a meeting with dead men.”
The suspected vehicle returned, slowing and searching.
“He’s sayin’ ‘where are my thugs’? Speak to me… speak to me,” Gus joked.