“There’s no need. If he was a danger to us, we’d already be dead. Go make the calls, partner.” Dickerson waited until Trina returned to the squad car. He sat down next to Nick. “I won’t say anything so inherently stupid that you’ll give me the silent treatment, but do you know if last night and this morning are connected?”
Nick had already made a decision about Dickerson. “I’m not much on coincidence, but I didn’t get a chance to investigate the Rashidi brothers this morning as I planned. I’ll let you in on this part. My other boss at CIA with the title of Director will be calling in some favors. He’s worried about this series of events too. I don’t want you thinking I’m sitting around with my thumb up my ass. There’s no use in playing this charade game with you, Neil. I work for the CIA, the Department of Justice, and the US Marshals. I also have FBI credentials. Yes, part of what I do is consult. The other part would not do you any good to know about. We have some very big problems involving national security that we’re trying to solve. I believe you’ll find the Bureau agents sent for the Rashidis have been briefed to some extent.”
“You’re right about that,” Dickerson admitted. “I offered to bring them over to meet you this morning, but they told me it wouldn’t be necessary, and took the Rasidis. I already know the Director of the CIA takes your calls. Tell me how this went down.”
Nick explained what happened, and how quickly. “Rachel knows what I do. After last night, there was no way she’d ever open the door to anyone. The moment those guys noticed me, they went for the guns. Their getaway driver is in the van wheeled against the curb. Right now, that’s all I know. If it’s just you and Trina, why not give me a pair of gloves, and let me see what their ID’s look like. Rachel said they flashed some very impressive ones.”
Dickerson nodded. He stood, and handed him a pair of Nitrile gloves. He retrieved Nick’s Colt from the porch. “Here. I normally would have to take it, but what’s the use. I know where it will be, and what it was used for. I’ll let you know if anything is requested, like turning it in.”
“Thanks.” Nick holstered his Colt. “I do write novels, Neil.”
“So I hear, Castle. I can’t even call you that anymore. That writer pussy on TV doesn’t do this type of work,” Dickerson said while searching the man Rachel told Nick she hadn’t trusted.
“I liked that guy in ‘Serenity’, but he let his weight balloon up, and his part is kind of wimpy, like he sits down to pee.” Nick went through the blue suited man’s pockets, smiling at Dickerson’s enjoyment of his backhand putdown of the ‘Castle’ TV show star.”
Nick inspected the FBI ID and wallet he found. No other hint of the man’s identity was on his person. “This is very good. I would have probably opened the door to this guy.”
“His buddy has a good one too. I guess it would be racist to note they look Middle Eastern in nationality, although the holes in their heads make it a little tougher to determine anything for sure. My question would be why didn’t they try to play it out as FBI agents until you moved closer?”
“Frankly, I think they have a shoot on sight order, and they figured I’d hesitate. They figured wrong. Also, they planned to ambush me inside the house using Rachel, I’m sure. If they had gotten in the house, there would have been a bloody shootout inside. Why they had a shoot on sight order is the more important question. I need to get Rachel and Jean somewhere safe, and do some research in conjunction with my boss. I know you’ll be here a while. Do you mind if I go collect Jean from school? I need to move her and Rachel out of here.”
“Go ahead, but keep your phone near at hand, Nick.”
“I will.”
*
Fifteen minutes later, Nick explained some of what was going on to Dimah Kader in the school hallway, stressing the urgency of the danger. “I know how weird this all sounds. I will keep Jean in good shape academically, but for now I need to protect her physically. Until the threat passes I have to keep Jean with me.”
“That is horrible! Of course you must keep Jean safe. I’ll bring her out to you.” Kader went into the classroom to help Jean gather her belongings, leaving Nick thankful for someone not interested in playing twenty questions.
In their vehicle returning home, after sending Gus ahead to the Carmel Valley house, Nick explained what had happened the best he could. Jean listened intently, perceiving far more than a normal nine year old. “I bet you’re glad Mom made you get this Grand Caravan with all the cargo room. Do you have the Escalade in Las Vegas now?”
“Yep.”
“You should trade in your old Chevy Malibu for one of those special James Bond cars.”
“Yeah, that’s what I need, a James Bond car, just in time for Quinn’s baby seat.”
Jean giggled. “He’ll be fine. We’ll put little sunglasses and a turned around baseball cap on him, and he’ll be rockin’ it.”
“Hey… your brother isn’t a little Mr. Potato Head to try different accoutrements out on.”