“I’ll bet you haven’t had your walk yet, Dekester, thanks to those nitwits out front. I’ll have a double of the Irish while you have a beer, and I promise to take you out for a stroll.”
Deke did his usual happy dance at the mention of beer. He then followed Nick around like a second skin as the group walked to the kitchen. Jean and Rachel stayed close to Nick, peering comically into his face. Nick didn’t stop. He proceeded directly to the bar area, setting out three of the larger shot glasses which he filled with Bushmill’s.
“Would you ladies like something to drink?”
“No,” Rachel answered as Nick sipped his drink with satisfaction. “We didn’t hear gunshots. How many are dead, and will the police be here soon?”
“No one died out there, but there may have been a casualty needing medical attention. John had to demonstrate why it’s always nice to be polite. I tried reasoning with them but they would not listen to anything I had to say… even in Arabic.”
“Are you sure you want to walk Deke tonight? That seems as if you’re asking for trouble.”
Nick did a quick toast with his friends before sipping again. “It serves a dual purpose. If anyone is prowling around the grounds Deke will let me know. He’s also been around here long enough to recognize a smell or item out of place. We’ll be on mission.”
“That makes sense,” Rachel agreed. “What if they decide to simply shoot you from a few hundred yards away like you would do, freak?”
“Let’s not blow this out of all proportion. I’m glad you didn’t take any chances with that bunch. The pump shotgun was the perfect choice. While the Unholy Trio enjoys their elixir of relaxation, perhaps we could get some idea how the Kader brood found out where we were and that we had Cala with us. Any ideas?”
“My take is they have Dimah’s house staked out, but with Bill the Marine there now, it isn’t likely they were able to threaten her,” Gus said. “They do know Cala isn’t there. The Kaders know you helped Dimah. How farfetched would it be for them to figure you took Cala with you on a book tour? The tour here in Washington State along with your capturing Kensky, and followed by the trial, they wouldn’t need to be rocket scientists to make an intelligent guess as to where Cala went.”
“You may be right. I would be the perfect one to have helped Cala from outside the family,” Nick admitted. “I don’t feel so weirded out if that’s what happened. I like your take on it, Gus.”
“Or it may be someone from the Kader family followed Cala from the East,” John said. “It matters little now. They know she is with us. Your family is nuts, Cala. I would have thought the setbacks in trying to kill Dimah would have deterred them from ever coming after you once you managed to get away.”
Cala looked at John with dawning realization. “Dimah never told you, did she?”
“Uh oh,” Nick said. “Tell us what?”
“I am betrothed to Omar Fontaine.”
“The Algerian oil magnate?” Nick poured another double. “No… Dimah didn’t mention that to us. No wonder the family doesn’t want to let you get away. I would imagine the dowry and prestige of having the Fontaine oil money even remotely connected would send the Kader elders into a frenzy. That was not a wise decision on your cousin’s part to hold back information of that importance.”
“She should not have,” Cala agreed. “Dimah may have been frightened you would not help me. I am sorry I did not realize her error in judgement before.”
“No apology necessary, but that does shine a different light on this. Truthfully, Cala, how taken is Fontaine with you? In other words how enraged would he have become with you fleeing and wanting nothing to do with him?”
Cala blushed. “He is obsessed with me. When he was told I would not fulfil my Father’s contract with him, he threatened our entire family with ruin. He is capable of anything imaginable. I would be but one of his many wives. I cannot live like that. Dimah is very brave. She speaks highly of you and your friends, Nick. She knows she would be dead if not for you. I hope you can forgive her for helping me in this way. I would have told you if I had known of her omission.”
“I believe you, and Dimah is a friend. I only regret she didn’t tell me all the facts so we would have been prepared. We’ll be traveling back to Pacific Grove soon. John, I’m sure, wishes to continue protecting you, right John?”
“Absolutely,” John used Nick’s signature response in relation to complicated questions.
“Oh John…” Cala hugged the surprised John in a very revealing manner. John grinned at his friends’ knowing looks.
“That settles it,” Nick said. “Cala is now adopted into our very odd family.”
Cala turned in John’s arms. “I am very honored and grateful. What does this mean, my friends?”