“You got that right,” Rachel agreed. “I’ve seen Nick’s messes. I don’t know how you stomach it, but welcome. You’re our little Sis now, Cala, but we’re not going to be ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Body Cleanup’. You can be our representative on that crew. My Daughter of Darkness will probably join the moment she turns eighteen.”
“I like the nickname, Cleaner,” Nick said. “You’re a natural. In our family business, it’s become a necessity. Just when the freezer gets empty, up pops an in-law Kader with a bad attitude. I called Paul when I got home. He answers on the first buzz now from being inside the crap storm lately. It seems a few of Jacob’s crew last night were on the Interpol watch list, here with false identities. They’re suspected of being complicit in numerous bloody events overseas. Paul is looking into how the hell they managed to get in the country. Frankly, I think that’s a waste of time. Our borders are so porous it’s a wonder we bother having borders.”
“Do you really like the nickname?”
“Oh yeah,” Nick told Cala. “It has a more professional flavor than T-Rex Tina.”
“Gomez!”
A few moments later, once coffees were passed out and supplemented, John continued with their tracking report. “It was explained to the Kader that called a missing persons case with adults in a car would not be treated seriously for at least twenty-four hours, but they would list everything about the car on a bulletin in case there had been an accident.”
Nick lifted a finger in a wait gesture as he heard Jean’s voice. “Viper here. Do you read, Muerto?”
“Loud and clear, Viper.”
“This is so cool! Thanks, Dad.”
“No problem. Don’t go past Lover’s Point.”
“Okay. Viper out.”
John looked around from his laptop screen. “Did you decide on a camp, Muerto?”
“We decided on the one nearest you, Doubleday Ranch Camps on East Carmel Valley Road. As you can hear, the ninjas will be well equipped for their practice sessions. You, Gus, and I can monitor their network so before they begin anything, they’ll have one of us on with them. Yes, I know it’s crazy. So, what else is new?”
“The first step is admitting you have a problem,” Rachel quipped.
“Jean’s really into it,” Gus said. “Muerto’s right. I’ve talked to her. The only thing he can do is continue to train and guide her. She gets straight A’s in school. How’s Sonny doing in school?”
“The same as Jean. Once we clear this mess in Washington, I’m hoping to get Phil under observation from now on, and give Sonny a chance to have some kind of a childhood. They’ll have fun at the camp. We’ll drop them off there the moment I get back from DC.”
“Dimah says the wedding planner has been excellent,” Cala said. “The wedding will be on the last Saturday this month with Lover’s Point as the hoped for venue. Will that still be okay?”
“We’ll make it okay,” Nick said. “I’m making this DC excursion as short and sweet as I can. When it’s over, I want us to enjoy a couple months down time.”
“I hope the Isis maniacs will allow such a thing,” John said. “Do you think we made a dint in their recent assaults?
“They’ve stepped up their attacks overseas with success because the dumb ass European Union countries let them immigrate and then take over their damn countries with Sharia Law,” Gus said. “They have whole enclaves there where the authority for everything is ceded over to them. In a few years I’m afraid the same thing will happen here.”
“Probably,” Nick agreed, “but not until I’m out of ammo and knives and deader than the proverbial door nail.”
“Ditto,” Gus said.
“Kabong shall not go quietly either,” John added.
“Cleaner will not fail either,” Cala said with enthusiasm. “I-”
Nick’s phone vibrated. It was Ishmael Kader on the Caller ID. Nick signaled for John to trace the call. “Hi Ish. Did you come to a decision on the money?”
“Did Jacob find you?”
“Jacob who?”
“My uncle,” Ishmael answered with a tremor in his voice. “I believe he meant to hunt for you after your generous offer was not accepted by our family counsel. He did not return, nor anyone who left with him. Did you see him?”
“I had no reason to want to see him, Ish,” Nick replied, skirting the answer. “Maybe they left town. Was he going to at least make a counter offer?”
“No. His intention was to cause you bodily harm. We reported his disappearance to the police. The car they left in has not been found either.”
“So you’re saying Jacob meant to track me down and kill me? For what reason would he do such a thing. He could just reject the offer.”
“My family is very violent and lacking in any semblance of social grace. I had hoped to find common ground on this marriage matter but nothing I said made any difference. He may be waiting to ambush you and that is why he has not returned. Perhaps he lies in wait right now. I will be going home to New York. I want nothing further to do with my family.”