“Take Deke. I’ll let you know.”
The two men in suits on Nick’s porch turned, saw Nick, and went for their weapons. Nick’s .45 caliber hollow points, pulped their heads before they could do more than begin to draw. “Get Deke down behind the tree, Gus!”
Nick turned in a crouch to the black SUV parked in front of his house, which started, and shot forward. Nick put four rounds into the area of the tinted windshield where the driver would be. The engine idled forward with wheels turned into the curb. Nick ran to the door, and shot into the driver’s head once more. In seconds he was inside, checking for other gunmen, while reaching behind him to turn off the engine. He backed out, set the parking brake, and ran to his porch. There was no doubt the two men on the porch were dead.
Nick used his iPhone to take pictures of both men, and his portable fingerprint digital ID app to quickly gather fingerprints. He ran to the van, and repeated the process before sending evidence on to Paul Gilbrech. Nick then called inside.
“Hi honey. No beach today. Road trip.”
“How many, Nick?”
“Three. Did they try to get in, showing ID’s.”
“Yep, and they looked real good. I didn’t like the looks of the one with glasses, not that I would have opened the door anyway after having bombs attached to the house last night. Someone put a contract out on you, didn’t they?”
“Affirmative,” Nick looked at the faceless men. “Uh… what color suit did the one with glasses have on, dark blue?”
“No, black.”
“Thanks, pack some things. We’re moving into the Valley house for a while. I’m afraid Jean will have to miss a little more school than we figured.”
“On it. Want me to take Deke?”
“Yeah. I’ll let him in, and then I’m going with Gus to collect Jean from school. I hear sirens, so I better go get Deke inside before they get here, and declare a crime scene. Oh… good, here’s Gus and Deke now.”
Nick turned off the security system, opened the door, and reached down to where Gus stood holding out the leash. Nick picked up Deke, and slipped him into the house, and reengaged the security system. “Hell of a start to the day, huh, Deke. See you in a little while.”
Nick then backed carefully off his blood and brain spattered porch. He glared at Gus. “Well, Payaso, this is a fine mess you’ve gotten me into.”
“Yeah, Muerto. I’ll go watch the school until you get free of the cops. You’ll be coming to get Jean, right?”
“Yep. Call John. Tell him he’s going to have house guests. He’ll be getting ready to come to the beach anyway. Better get moving, Payaso. Those sirens are sounding close.”
“Be seeing you, Muerto. Like you told Deke. Hell of a start.”
Nick placed his .45 caliber Colt on the porch, pushing it away from him. He then called Paul Gilbrech. The moment Gilbrech answered, Nick briefed him on the prior night, and morning’s adventure. “No, I don’t know how much is connected, but this porch assassination attempt was the real deal. Someone put out a contract on me. I’m betting it’s related to Formsby. The police are driving up now. I have to go Paul.”
“I received the pictures and fingerprints. I’m pulling strings right the hell now, Nick. Get your family safe, and I’ll find some answers. I saw the lawyer on the news. That was one cold piece of work. Are you still planning on the Marshal end of it?”
“I sure am. Thanks, Paul. Talk to you later.”
“Indeed.”
Nick put away his phone, and laced his hands behind his head. He took a deep breath. It was Dickerson and his partner. “Hi Neil. Hi Trina. It’s cool this morning, huh?”
Dickerson stared at the porch scene in silence before turning to his partner. “Call the meat wagon, Trina, and the coroner. I guess we’d better alert those Bureau guys who moved into our office over last night’s party at Nick’s house too.”
“Do…do you want me to cuff Nick?”