“Um… very impressive, Nick,” Tim added.
“Sonny, this is US Marshal Tim Reihold and the frumpy one is US Marshal Grace Stanwick. I’d like you to meet Jean’s new friend Sonny Salvatore.”
Sonny shook hands with each of them. “I’ve never met a US Marshal before. It’s nice to meet you both. Mr. McCarty says he consults with you on cases. That’s really neat.”
“I’m not sure neat is the right word,” Grace replied.
“Choose your next word carefully, frumpy,” Nick warned, earning stifled amusement from Gus.
Tim grinned down at Sonny, nodding in assent. “Yes he does, Sonny. We’re here to meet with him about a case today as a matter of fact.”
“That’s awesome.”
“I’m not sure awesome is the right word,” Grace continued poking.
“Say, would you kids like to see me throw a knife into an apple perched on Marshal Stanwick’s head?”
“Sure,” Jean said, giggling at the death stare she received from Grace.
“Uh… I don’t think I’d like that, Mr. McCarty,” Sonny answered seriously.
“Dad was joking, Sonny,” Jean told him. “Let’s get some veggies and dip before the pizza comes. She guided her guest inside.
“Would you two like to eat with us, and then talk?”
“I’d like to hear what you have to say before eating,” Grace replied.
“Let’s go up on the deck then.”
When Nick offered refreshments, only Gus accepted a beer. “I’ve delved into our loose end problem. It’s partially repaired, but we have two still in need of attention. One, I won’t bother you with except as a card to play for the second loose end’s repair. Here’s what I have in mind which will require a little pain for a gain from you two.”
Nick explained in detail how the soon unfortunate demise of Uthman Sadun’s lawyer, Brook Wargul, could be used as a ploy by the Marshals to relocate Sadun because of projected danger to his life within the Atwater Federal Prison. He and Gus retained grim featured countenances during his explanation of what was needed to repair the damage done, caused by the Pence Didricson situation not being shared with Nick.
“I…I can’t believe what I’m hearing,” Grace stated. “You want us to be shot while transporting Sadun, so you can take him somewhere to be tortured and killed, but only after you put a bullet in his lawyer’s head? Are you out of your damn psychopathic mind?”
“It’s doable,” Tim admitted. “How would you handle the shooting? I’m not at all enthused about taking a .50 caliber bullet anywhere on my body as a wounding ploy.”
Nick chuckled. “I would wound your passenger side tire, giving you a reason why the car went off the road. We’d pull in behind you with a tow truck, as if I’m making a service call. I’ll put a round right between Grace’s eyes, and nick your shoulder. Then-”
“Very funny,” Grace broke in, punching her amused partner in the shoulder.
“After I nick one of you, enabling an explanation of my having gotten the drop on you both, I’d inject something to incapacitate the valiant US Marshals while I take Sadun. An hour later, I’ll call in an anonymous concerned citizen accident report from a payphone so the brave Marshals can be found unconscious. The authorities will believe his cohorts took him in a daring daytime snatch. Their search will prove to be fruitless, and hopefully I will be able to end this unfortunate blight on our relationship.”
“I’ll do it,” Tim said. “Grace won’t need to come along. I’ve escorted felons we had deals with from a facility where the other inmates were threatening their lives. It’s a good plan.”
“That’s the spirit, Timmy,” Nick said, as Tim took another shoulder shot from his partner. “That’s so sweet. Tim’s taking a round for you, Grace. What a guy.”
“I’m going along with stupid, just to make sure you don’t drill him between the horns. I think we’ll skip the pizza feast after your hair raising solution to our error in judgement. Call us when you cement the threat into place.” Grace stood and left the room.
Tim gave Nick and Gus a small hand wave. “I’ll get her to remember we put ourselves in this situation. After what that double crossing jerk Sadun managed to do right under our noses, I won’t lose any sleep over his exit from the planet.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it too much, Tim. It will be over before you know it. I won’t mind having a chat with Uthman. I have a few questions for him.”
“I’ll bet.” Tim left to follow Grace.
*
Nick arrived at the Salvatore home at 7:30 pm. Jean and Sonny were discussing the day’s happenings with an easy tone of friendship. He and Jean accompanied Sonny to the door, where a woman in jeans, sandals, and red blouse answered the door before they reached the porch. Her dark hair tied back tightly at the neck, hung past her shoulders. Nick figured her to be middle thirties, about five and a half feet tall, and athletic. Nick held out his hand.