“Because you’re smart, and I suspect, one of the most deadly people I’ll ever be around. I wanted you to know not to think I’m some braindead flatfoot without some powers of deduction.”
Nick shrugged. “Gee, Officer Dickerson, if I’m that dangerous, maybe you shouldn’t associate with me. And here, all this time, I thought we were becoming good buddies. I have to go write some pulp fiction. If there’s nothing else you need to discuss, call me when the DA decides whether to pull on his big boy pants, and prosecute that idiot Rashidi and his crew.”
Dickerson chuckled. “Although you couldn’t know it, the DA is very much the type to shirk his duty in this case. It would not be a good idea, if our fearless DA punts this down the road, for anything bad to happen to Dr. Rashidi, Nick.”
The Terminator surfaced for a moment, and Dickerson noticed. “What would be very bad is for Rashidi to do anything besides go away, and forget he ever saw me.”
“I understand.” Dickerson backed away from the entrance door. “Thanks for looking into the mugger case for me. I’ll try not to bother you again. You wouldn’t mind if I did ask for your opinion though once in a while, would you? With your connections to all the alphabet soup agencies, you’re a handy informational source.”
Nick was silent for a moment, studying Sergeant Dickerson. “I don’t mind, Neil, but if I become the focus of police business, it will make me unhappy.”
“I…I get that. Thanks.” Dickerson held out his hand and Nick shook it. “I’ll call if I need anything from you on the Rashidi mess.”
“Until then… until then,” Nick replied, walking off, still curious as to whether Dickerson was playing him or not.
While Deke sniffed at everything within reach of his extended leash’s limit, Gus awaited Nick with grim visage. “That looked like a very solemn conversation, even through the entrance door window. Is your buddy Neil upset with you?”
“He’s more than suspicious, as befits any thinking police officer. I knew the mugger action would push the envelope. Assholes maiming old people after they work their butts off all their lives so they can enjoy taking time to do things like visit the ocean really hit one of my hot buttons.” Nick started walking home after taking Deke’s leash, with Gus striding next to him. “Neil and I needed a cooling off period anyway. If the PD stays busy with the poor old muggers’ tragic end, maybe we’ll get some space between our new freezer guests from last night and me. That will get a little tricky, because I don’t see any way Paul can thwart at least a preliminary investigation once Formsby’s minions send out smoke signals their exalted leader is missing.”
“I don’t see Paul giving you problems on a sanction involving a guy trying to have him killed. He may be a bit more than amused if he needed to step into our vigilante business with the muggers. The beach really will be nice this morning. Are you still on the wagon?”
“After last night? I don’t think so. We’re still right on time too. After we load my writing utensils and our refreshments, I’ll check on sleeping beauty. I’m glad Rach decided to start her maternity leave. I think the last month she’s been running on empty. She was perky last night with our uninvited dinner guests. Anyway, I’d like to sip a couple down at Carol’s beach before I contact my US Marshal nitwits. If I have a buzz going, maybe I won’t say something rude when I talk with them.”
“I know better than to comment on that attitude adjustment, but I will be interested in what the hell you think they did. Was it a sin of omission, or are they undermining you at the DOJ?
“We had an agreement about a player to be named later, and they didn’t follow through on the deal. I won’t accuse them of it, but I believe it’s a dead bang certainty they never got the traitor at Los Alamos, Pence Didricson. Remember how I told you I’d let the FBI and the US Marshals deal with him? Well, that was a mistake. I keep telling you about loose ends, yet here I am dealing with my own.”
“Didricson should be in a maximum security prison with no hope of parole, and no contact with the outside world.” Gus paused, thinking along the lines Nick mentioned. “This is bad. I heard the mention of loose ends instead of end. You think someone else you let live has been painting a target on your back too?”
“I suspect that the other US Marshal target I helped Timmy and Grace capture to rat out the DOJ informer, named Uthman Sadun, is behind this Formsby mess. I haven’t got the details worked out in my head, but those three networked somehow, and I’m going to find out how. It’s always best to go straight to the source of suspected misery.”
“You wouldn’t kill Grace and Tim, would you?”
Nick met Gus’s gaze as they walked. “No, but I’m glad you consider it worth asking. I don’t want you thinking I’m turning into a Care Bear.”