Nightmare in Red (Nick McCarty #5)

Gus followed John. Nick had picked a spot in Shoreline, Washington where he figured to do the least amount of damage, but have the drop-off seen. There were no slugs to be found by any crime scene investigation teams. Nick used high velocity loads in the executions. At the intersection of Northeast 18th Street and 8th Avenue Northeast in Shoreline John parked the van in the middle of the intersection. He jogged to where Gus waited. Nick set off magnesium flares in the cargo area with the bodies. Minutes later, Gus drove them away from the scene. They were nearly a mile away when the van exploded, engulfed in flames. Without any further delays, the Unholy Trio returned to the mansion.

“I’ll clean the grounds of blood if it doesn’t storm before morning,” Nick said as Gus parked in one of the mansion garaged spaces. “On the plus side, they were only going to fire bomb the house, right?”

“Only you could say ‘only going to fire bomb the house’ with a straight face, Muerto.”

“Considering the last group with a grudge against me were fastening explosives to the sides of my Pacific Grove home, I’d say these guys and their homemade Molotov Cocktails were a step down in the threat department, Payaso. I’ll research their identities tomorrow. I have to meet with Tim and Grace at the courthouse. They told me the prosecutor will be there, so I can give my academy award speech about testifying at any further dead Kensky trials. I didn’t take any chances with saying anymore to Tim on the phone.”

“How much should I tell Cala?”

“I’ll let you be the judge of that, John,” Nick replied. “If she’s about to become part of the family, she will eventually know our business. We killed four men probably related to her tonight. They will be missed at some point because two others from the earlier group are still alive, possibly to spread the word across Kader nation. I trust you to relay our position about threats to our weird family ties to Cala. I doubt this will go away with Fontaine involved. I don’t know how many crazy Kaders will throw themselves into this mess, but I know how many won’t be – four and counting.”

“At least we are cutting down on the number of hostile in-laws.”

“You’ve been hanging out with Muerto too long, John,” Gus observed.





Chapter Three


Deadly Ring Shopping


“Thanks for meeting with us, Mr. McCarty. I wish this would have had a different ending. There will be greater attention paid to Gerald Kensky no matter where he goes or what he does.”

Nick shook hands with Davin Montrose, the Federal prosecutor as Montrose made ready to leave the small meeting room where Tim, Grace, and Sarah were seated at a table with Nick.

Unless of course Kensky had lived, in which case he would have killed again, and probably took off for parts unknown. “I’m sure he will be, Sir. Sorry about my testimony being disallowed. If not for the tragic death of my friend Dan, we would have nailed Kensky.”

Montrose nodded. “That was a bad turn of events for us. My condolences to you and Mr. Lewis’s family once again. I know he meant a lot to you.”

“Thank you. Dan Lewis was a good man. He died with his boots on taking out another scumbag. If anything does change in the future in regard to a new Kensky trial allowing my testimony, please count on me to testify.”

“I doubt that will happen, but I’m hoping he will make a mistake and the police can nab him. Goodbye for now.” Montrose left.

“Shall we adjourn our meeting to the parking lot, my fellow Marshals and victim?”

“That sounds like a good news tone, Nick,” Tim said.

“It is indeed.”

“It all depends on which side of the law you’re on,” Grace said. “I wish to hell the law we represent had more common sense and logic to it, making adjustments outside of it unnecessary.”

“That’s very inconsiderate of you, Grace. As an officer of the court you must keep in mind at all times that justice is blind, and I might add deaf and dumb too,” Nick joked.

Outside the courthouse on the way to the parking lot, Nick stopped the group. “Kensky is out of the picture. Details will be revealed about his murderous career soon. I’m going home tomorrow with the family. If any details about anything to do with Kensky or the case pop up, please do call. You can go home now, Sarah. The house you’re in is paid for until the end of next month if you want to try the straight and narrow.”

“We’ll call if we hear anything, Nick. Thank you,” Tim said, shaking his hand.

Sarah hugged Nick, but Grace simply waved as Nick walked off.

*

After Nick walked away, Sarah turned to Tim. “That did mean what I think it means, right?”

“If you’re thinking Kensky won’t be kidnapping, murdering, or threatening anyone ever again, then you are correct.”

“That information comes with a price, sweetie,” Grace said. “Never open your mouth about Kensky or Nick again ever. Is that clear?”

“I’m not stupid, Grace. I saw Nick in action. He’s a cold blooded killer. I know Kensky’s dead. I don’t know what kind of deal you two have with a killer, but it’s working. I’m going home and forget I ever walked the streets, knew Kensky, Nick, or you two. I’m sipping a bottle of wine to celebrate. Tomorrow, I’m looking for a new career. You two go on. I’m taking the bus home.”

Sarah gave both Marshals a quick hug and walked off.

“Nick did it again,” Grace remarked.

“Yeah… he did… thank God,” Tim said. “I wonder if there will be an ‘Unholy Trio’ video soon on YouTube with a gruesome end to Kensky on it.”