“Yep. I have two FBI agents here out of the loop. I’m thinking maybe for good reason.”
“You’re thinking right. Put them on with me.”
Nick offered his phone to Johnson, who wouldn’t touch it. After a slight hesitation, Remy accepted the phone. A few minutes later, Remy handed the phone back, all blood drained out of his face.
“Agent Remy doesn’t look so good, Paul,” Nick said, watching the two men in a frenzied huddle, whispering fiercely at each other.
“They’re on arrest warrants being signed by the Attorney General, even as we speak. Formsby’s people must have ordered them immediately to take over the case. They left DC on a redeye heading in your direction, and left their phones off. What did they want to do with you?”
“Take me somewhere.”
“Can you keep them there until I fax a warrant to your contact in the Pacific Grove police department?”
“Did you just insult me again?”
Paul chuckled. “Meaning if you did, it could get messy. Let me speak to whomever you know there in the department.”
Nick handed the phone to Dickerson, who was watching the interchange with growing suspicion. Nick waited while Remy and Johnson continued having a heated debate, forgetting where they were, or what was at stake for the moment. They looked unstable enough to try and shoot their way out. Nick felt the butt of his .45 Colt underneath his windbreaker, loosening it a bit. What he didn’t want to happen was his friend Dickerson to be shot by a couple of fools desperate enough to get into a gun battle inside a police department. When Neil finished talking with Gilbrech he handed Nick back his phone.
“The Director of the CIA?” Dickerson whispered. “Good Lord, Nick. Who the hell are you? Mr. Gilbrech said to follow your lead.”
“Unstrap your piece, and put your hand on the butt of it,” Nick answered. “Tell them they are under arrest, and are to be detained on order from the Attorney General. I’ll back your play. Do not get between me and them, Neil. Are you okay with this? Say so one way or the other now. We can let them walk. I’ll take them into custody later.”
“I might as well throw my damn badge in the trash can if I get afraid to arrest people. Is there any chance of me ever knowing who the hell you really are?”
“Most of my connections with the DOJ, US Marshals, FBI, and CIA are as a special consultant. Anything else is classified, Neil. Let’s do this. Remember what I said.”
“I will.” Dickerson walked to Johnson’s side, his hand on the weapon at his side. “I know Mr. Gilbrech explained your situation to you. I am detaining you both by order of the Attorney General of the United States. Please lace your hands behind-”
“The hell you are!”
Before Johnson could reach for his weapon, Nick was in front of him with the barrel of his Colt against Johnson’s forehead. “Twitch, and I shoot both of you in the head. On your knees with hands laced behind your heads, and you can still live through this.”
Johnson looked into a professional killer’s eyes and knelt. Remy followed his lead, both men lacing their hands behind their heads. By that time, Dickerson had motioned three more officers over.
“Handcuff these men.”
The officers handcuffed the FBI agents, and helped them to their feet. Without asking permission, Nick disarmed them, completing a thorough frisk of the two detainees. They had their main weapons, two hideaways, and two knives. Nick helped Dickerson bag everything, including the men’s credentials and personal effects.
“Put them in holding,” Dickerson directed. He watched them until they were out of earshot. “You weren’t going to shoot two FBI agents in the head.”
“First off, he planned to shoot his way out of the precinct, which is not as hard to do as you think when bad guys don’t hesitate. Secondly, I had to take him in close. Never get in close with a weapon meant to kill from out of reach, unless you have every intention of killing at any movement. Let’s forget all that. I knew Remy was watching his life pass in front of his eyes. He wasn’t going to do anything. Johnson wised up and decided to keep breathing too. It’s a win.”
“How did you know about the bust?”
“I can’t tell you that, Neil. I knew if Remy and Johnson were here monkeying around with me, then they didn’t know what was happening with Formsby’s holdings.”
“What about you knowing the CIA Director? Is that a secret too?”
“I work for him.”
“You have his number on speed dial.”