“First off, I didn’t know they had reassigned him to the West Coast. Everyone who ever knew Pettinger or Schilling was demoted, including Salvatore. He ain’t the chief of anything. I’ve seen his file, because of his circumstances, and connection to CIA. He’s clean, but apparently a bit too trusting. Hold on… I’m almost through the… yes… Phil’s been demoted to the San Francisco Passport Agency. They probably let him work out of anywhere he wants on the coast. That he picked where you live is a bit disconcerting. How did you run into him?”
“His kid goes to school with Jean – same class. They’re friends, which seems genuine, but Phil may have guided his Son into the friendship. With all the crap flowing around from Didricson, Sadun, and Lawyer Wargul who has an office in San Francisco, I’m wondering if my pal Phil knows something about me he shouldn’t. I talked to him tonight. He made a point of letting me know he didn’t believe I could be consulting with multiple government agencies. Now I’m curious to know what he does believe. You know me and coincidences.”
“I can make a call, and he’ll be filling out forms in a cubicle at the Passport Office.”
“Let’s leave him be for now. I’m changing modes for fixing my Lawyer Wargul problem. I’ll be calling soon. Thanks for the update, Paul.”
“Anytime, Nick.” Gilbrech disconnected.
“This is becoming a regular chess match with all the pieces materializing out of nowhere on the board. I have to make the Wargul sanction look and feel like a professional hit, or Timmy and Grace won’t get permission to move Sadun. With this unknown rogue bishop scampering here from Washington D.C. assigned to an office in San Francisco, I’m hesitant to plug Wargul from afar as I planned. Salvatore knows too much about me.”
“Damn, Nick. It would be the shits if you have to whack the Dad of Jean’s friend.”
“Tell me about it. His questions seemed too off base. Anyway, I’ll hack into Wargul’s office, and get his day planner for tomorrow. Maybe he has something on his schedule where I could snatch him, take him somewhere quiet, and put a .22 caliber bullet in the back of his head, gangland style. That should make the US Marshal ploy to move Sadun work. I think we’ll have to cut our ties to Sergeant Dickerson. He’s a jinx. We have some down time, kicking back on the beach with Irish coffees, and he calls me in for a consult. Then, before you can blink your eyes, we have traitors, assassins, gangsters, flag protestors, terrorists, and a serial killer all for attention on our horizon. If that isn’t a jinx I don’t know what is.”
“I doubt Dickerson’s a jinx,” Gus replied. “More likely, these days of danger are due to your Karma train steaming into the station, late on arrival.”
Nick’s head thudded on the table. “Not you and your damn Karma train again. You only play the Karma train card when you’ve had too much to drink. That’s what comes of guzzling booze while creepily eavesdropping on your wife’s conversations – out pops the Karma train.”
Nick straightened while Gus enjoyed the Nick’s slam. He lanced into Wargul’s office network without a glitch, chuckling a little in appreciation. “Thank you, Brook. Guess who went smartphone nuts, and had his security system wired into his network so he can check on everything from anywhere?”
Nick’s chuckle turned to laughter. “Well what have we here? It looks like my new good buddy, Brook Wargul, has an eye for the ladies, Payaso. Then, he allows his other body parts to reap what the eyes doth desire.”
Gus moved around behind Nick. A man, Gus knew to be Brook Wargul, was in the middle of a carnal act on top of his desk with a woman bent over it face first. Her face was turned toward the side angle camera Nick had accessed. “Oh man, this goes to show, there really can be too much technology. I know what you’re thinking, Muerto, but there are too many security cams in those buildings. You can’t waltz in there, pump a round into Brook, and disappear.”
“We need to find out if this is a regular thing, or a one timer with a client. Keep an eye on the door, Payaso. I need to turn this up a little so I can hear their after sex chatter.”
When the sex act ended, Nick increased the volume, listening intently to the participants’ conversation while they dressed, and straightened the office. Before they left the office, Wargul embraced the dark haired woman with passion.
“I love this with you. I can’t wait for the end of the day. Watching you parade around at work drives me crazy. All I can think about is this time we have before the cleaning crew gets in here. I hope to God you’re not thinking about ending us.”
“Why would you say that? I’m here. This is so kinky. I can’t believe I’m doing it. I have to go. My husband will be home soon. I can only stretch the delay business so far. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait.”
Nick and Gus watched Wargul gather his briefcase, and leave, locking the place before he left. “I’ll find out who she is from the employment records. Now, we have to wait and see how long it actually takes for the cleaning crew to hit his floor.”