“Are you sure you wish to go this far, kid,” Nick asked. “This nightmare in red is not for everyone. It’s not required to be one of us.”
“John has explained everything. You saved my life. I know my family meant to kill you. I am with John and he is with you forever.”
“I called Jerry. He’s meeting me at the shop in an hour,” John said. “I’ll drop you off at home and take the BMW to him. He’ll give me the Toyota to drive home in. How much would you like to give him for a bonus?”
“Twenty-five. He’s worth every penny. Look away, Cala. I have to show John something.”
When Cala did as told, Nick went around to the passenger side, yanked Jacob Kader out from under his upside down comrade, and with great strength made the man do a Kabuki dance of the dead next to the BMW for John’s amusement. Nick dropped him when Cala turned at John’s laughter.
“I saw that!” Cala giggled. “You are a very bad man, Mr. McCarty.”
“You giggled, Cala.”
“I am sick,” Cala admitted. “I grew up in abject fear of Jacob Kader. He and these others are evil. I know every one of them. They did his bidding without question. Their wives will howl with their stupid wailing when they disappear, but will secretly rejoice in private. I am one of you now. I will never be afraid again. John promised to teach me everything.”
“You two are an excellent pair. Welcome to the family.” Nick picked Jacob’s dead weight up as if he were a sack of groceries, making him do one more quick Kabuki dance of the dead to much laughter. “Let’s get pictures and DNA samples. Then we’ll bag them. We’ll have to make the car at least somewhat wiped down before John takes it to Jerry. Thanks for doing that for me. I need to go home and smooth things over a little. I made a few mistakes in judgement tonight because the writing was going so well. Let’s do this.”
John brought over the first bag. “Jacob will look very good in his bag. Perhaps we will be able to move the wedding day up.”
*
Rachel and Deke were waiting for Nick’s return. She kissed him with unbridled passion as he entered the house. He noticed she wore her black silk robe with nothing underneath. His hands began a feather soft fingertip stroking of her arms, back, and shoulders which had Rachel moaning against him. Switching tactics and pressure, Nick made her writhe under his ministrations. She pulled away for a moment breathlessly, her eyes closed tightly.
“Oh my God… how do you do this to me?” She opened her eyes and slapped Nick’s shoulder. “You’ve assimilated me like a Star Trek Borg cube just as you claimed you would.”
Nick switched to Star Trek Borg voice. “You have been assimilated. Resistance was futile. You will be forced to do my bidding, woman.”
“Can I be 6 of 9?”
“Oh yeah.”
*
Nick typed furiously as the final scenes unrolled in his mind to the conclusion he wanted. Fatima thought she controlled Diego once again after he offered her a partnership. The long awaited coupling between the two enlightened Fatima to the fact she would never be able to control Diego. In the days following, Diego haunted her every thought until she could think of nothing else other than being with him. Deke snorted as Jean wandered onto their deck, yawning hugely. Nick glanced at the clock.
“You have risen without being shaken from your bed at 7:30 am on a summer morning. Are you sick?”
“I got hungry. Any chance of this being a pancake day?”
“Sure. I’m in a good stopping place.” Nick saved and closed his files before logging off.
“I’m sorry you had to switch into Terminator mode. How did things go after Mom picked us up?”
“Very well. Cala is settled into the family for good now. She knows where all the bodies are buried.” Nick followed Jean down the stairs with Deke head bumping him as they descended. “Yes Deke, I’ll make you some bacon. This damn dog knows everything we’re going to do before we do. Anyway, the final reports will be given at the beach this morning. Last night won’t be discussed anywhere but on the beach with wave on the rocks noise and Pacific Grove winds.”
“They were going to kill us, Dad.”
“Yep. I could have keyed in my friend at the police department, but with everything else happening I’d rather the Kaders are left wondering what the hell happened to their hit squad. Do you think Sonny understands?”
“Sonny’s my minion,” Jean said matter-of-factly as she sat at the table while Nick began all the breakfast making including fixing Jean her tea. “He’ll be fine. Sonny knows bad people have to be dealt with. I told him how Mom and I were always afraid before you came along.”
“Thanks for that. At ten years old none of this should be part of your lives but I have no way to alter what I am. Gus reminded me when I tried to put it all behind me it would drive me insane. I’m afraid he’s probably right. I have a few wires crossed I can’t fix.”