“Yep. That’s what I figured,” Nick said finally as Kensky glared at the people surrounding him. “I don’t think you’re going to get much sympathy with this crowd. Lawyer Brock, it would be a good idea to get Mr. Kensky out of the public eye. Since Gerald has delusions, maybe you should get him a shrink. I’ve heard rumors you two mental midgets are coming after me in civil court. Please do. When we get done testifying, you’ll be looking for another state to practice law in.”
Nick planted the seeds of expecting to be in a civil suit which was never going to happen. The media filmed the segment with many camera angles of Gerald Kensky’s face reflecting the madness and utter depravity inherent within the brutal killer’s soul. Nick had no doubt if Kensky had his hand and foot back, he would have attacked Nick. Kensky did in fact raise his cane as he surged forward. Nick dropped back to a sideways strike position waving for Kensky to keep coming.
“Oh yeah, Gerald. Come get some. I’ll give you first whacks with the cane. If I’m still moving I’m going to beat you until they’ll need a DNA test at the hospital to fill in your name on the entrance forms.”
Brock barely interceded in time. “Gerald! Don’t do this. McCarty’s baiting you. We need to go now. This news conference was too soon!”
“Come any time, Gerald,” Nick called out. “Give me a call when you don’t want to play ‘hold me back’ Lawyer Brock. I’ll be around. I’d love to teach you a few new dance steps. See you guys in court, counselor. By the time I get done presenting the evidence you suppressed in civil court, and counter sue, there won’t be a nickel left for you two to rub together. Bye boys.”
*
It was all Brock could do to keep Kensky from launching a suicidal attack on McCarty amongst a desperately angry crowd. He had seen McCarty watching them in the courtroom before. Brock knew Kensky was a psychopathic killer, although he made certain Kensky never said anything to him admitting to the crimes. Brock also knew McCarty was a killer. He doubted his client would last ten seconds one on one in a fight with or without a gun against McCarty. This had been an excellent confrontation for McCarty. Because of his novel writing fame, the video clips of what happened in the last few minutes would be coast to coast news gems, overshadowing the acquittal completely. Brock was a pragmatist. There was no way in hell he could win a civil suit for Kensky.
Brock kept glancing to see if McCarty watched their rather hurried and pathetic retreat from the conference. He did. McCarty waved at him. Brock shuddered. McCarty had calmly blew the hand and foot off his client without any hint of remorse according to Kensky’s own version of what happened. It was then Brock began an intensive search into McCarty’s background. Surprise followed by shock at what he discovered, including the fact he could only access small bits and pieces. If he wanted to buy his novels, or read about McCarty’s author persona, there was plenty of information on his assassin series and not so quiet private life in Pacific Grove. The other bits and pieces referred to his being a member of the Army’s elite Delta Force Unit, along with now being an active consultant with the Department of Justice, the FBI, the CIA, and an active US Marshal. It was insane. One thing he knew from McCarty’s total lack of fear in dealing with the most frightening monster Brock had ever defended, if Kensky wouldn’t let go of the civil suit idea, Brock would let go of him, and never look back. He didn’t exactly know what McCarty was, but he knew he didn’t want to find out – in court or out of court.
*
Gus drove alongside Nick. They had witnessed the encounter, enjoying the confrontation nearly as much as Kensky hated it. Nick’s wave at Kensky’s lawyer evoked loud amusement. Nick jogged over to the car after shaking hands quickly with a few in the crowd. In another moment, Gus had them speeding away.
“You certainly handled that encounter with your usual flair, Muerto.”
Jean giggled, hearing the comic book nickname pinned on Nick by Gus. She enjoyed being in the company of three killers, all of whom embraced Nick’s penchant for the comic book nicknames he had expanded upon the moment Gus explained where he had heard the name El Muerto. Nick then dubbed Gus his sidekick Payaso, meaning clown. Their compatriot John Groves, formerly a terrorist named Ebi Zarin, was now a self-proclaimed patriot Nick dubbed El Kabong after the cartoon character. No one lost sight of the fact Nick’s comic book character’s name meant ‘The Dead One’. That they filmed some of the most horrific terrorist deaths as masked superhero cartoons to be seen by millions on YouTube catapulted El Muerto, Payaso, and El Kabong into a force of rebellion against encroaching Islamists.
As they passed Kensky, still hobbling along with Brock toward their car, Jean waved at him through her open rear window, laughing at the rage engulfing the killer as he nearly threw his cane at their SUV. “Dead man walking.”