“I’d be forced to point out the advantages of a college degree, with which you could be anything you want, including a Marine officer, but I certainly wouldn’t talk you out of serving your country.”
“I thought you’d get a kick out of my Marine Corps seasoning piece. I put it together from a few movies. You probably think I’ll join when I’m eighteen just so I can watch Mom’s head explode, don’t you?”
“Unfortunately, yes, that is exactly what I’m afraid you’ll do. As a husband who has only recently stopped putting Jello in your Mom’s slippers, it’s bad form for me to lecture you on baiting your Mom in horribly creative ways. I do believe Quinn will be quite different than you, and will keep your Mom busy in a favorable way. Kids are usually polar opposites.”
Jean waved at Nick as she walked by Dimah Kader, her teacher. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll train the little twerp to be a killer.”
Startled, Nick took a step toward the classroom, but thought better of it as Jean turned, giggling while doing a touchdown celebration dance. Ms. Kader enjoyed the show.
“Jean is rather unique, is she not, Mr. McCarty?”
Nick shook the finger of fate at Jean while answering. “I guess you could use that word. I have to quickly ask you about taking Jean on another book tour with me in Washington State. It will probably be within a week or two. I promise to stay in touch and tutor her the entire time.”
“It will be quite all right. You saved my life. I will make it all right. Besides, Jean was actually ahead of the class when she returned from your Boston tour. You followed my guidelines to perfection.”
“Your class syllabus on-line is very clear with the assignments. I don’t have to do much to keep Jean in line on her studies. If I could keep her from driving her Mom crazy, that would be nice.”
“She is very well behaved and confident in class.”
“So that’s where all the good behavior goes. Anyway, thanks for your understanding. I’ll let you know the dates we’ll be gone as soon as possible.”
“I…I saw what you did outside. That was very brave.”
“Nope. My motto is, when in doubt, always follow the Marines. Your Marine should be coming home soon, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” Dimah replied with excitement. “I hope to hear when for sure in the next few weeks. He wants to meet you when he comes home.”
“I’d be honored. I’ll let you get to work. Thanks again.”
“Of course.”
Sergeant Dickerson met him at the school entrance as promised. “I see you’ve kept an amiable relationship with Ms. Kader. Killing that psycho relative of hers in the hallway of the school before he could do an ‘honor killing’ on her butt must have made an impression, huh?”
“She didn’t deserve to die for being engaged to a Marine overseas, and I didn’t kill anyone. His weapon went off during the struggle, part of which I was unconscious for, if you remember.”
“I remember, Nick. I also remember you stopping the other two family members who tried to take you out at your home.”
“Old news now, my friend. What’s on your mind today? Did you get my musings on the muggers messing with our older tourist crowd?”
“Yep. Did you happen to hear or read the news item about four dead bad guys, whom we know by rushed DNA samples are the ones responsible for the muggings around here?”
“I’ve been writing my new novel, Neil. I have a book tour to prepare for in Washington State too. I barely have enough time to enjoy my usual beach walk, and help Jean with her homework. I don’t have any spare moments for the news. Hell, half the time, the media makes it up anyway. That works out pretty well for you with those guys being found short of breath. Who popped them?”
“No one popped them. They were all killed with a knife.”
“Kinky. Well… nice chatting with you. Thanks for the update. I’ll erase my mugger notes if they’re already out of the picture.”
“Nick.” Dickerson clasped Nick’s arm. “I have a feeling if I could access your file, which I have tried to do, it would read expert in hand to hand combat with a knife.”
“Probably,” Nick replied. “I was also my team’s sniper. Are you hinting at something, Neil? I realize since we’ve met, Pacific Grove has experienced more than its share of trouble, but don’t you think all small touristy towns go through cycles like that. I certainly didn’t entice four banditos into coming here to mug old people.”
“True, but did you end them?”
“Oh, I get it. Now I’m like the Charles Bronson character in the ‘Death Wish’ movies, huh? Does this mean you don’t want me to continue as Pacific Grove Police Department’s ‘Castle’? I did buy you the neat coffee machine.”
“Much appreciated. I notice you didn’t answer the question.”
“Why would I bother typing profiles and musings about the muggers to send you if I had already killed them?”