“I concede the point Rachel makes, but it is an alternative with some chance of success,” John said. “I do not wish our Pacific Grove home to become an ongoing battleground like the ‘Jeremiah Johnson’ movie where Indians try to kill him everywhere.”
“When did you watch that old Robert Redford movie,” Tina asked.
“It was in a DVD collection they had on the plane coming back from Cincinnati Clyde gave me to watch. It was very entertaining. It also speaks well of killing enemies one at a time until they stop, but as another mountain man warned Jeremiah, they could come all at once.”
“I am very certain my grand bribe idea will be met with widespread happiness by the Kader clan,” Nick announced while draining the rest of his drink.
*
“You are insane! What right have you to present such a blasphemous deal?”
Nick shook his head, watching out the window of his balcony he arranged a meeting at with three of the Kader family elders. He took a deep breath while observing his companions Gus and John trying not to laugh out loud.
“Surely you do not wish for this very strange tactic of yours to go on,” Nick continued in Arabic. “Dimah and Cala have moved from your family nest and now make their own way. They will marry their true loves and all will be well. I merely am providing a generous dowry to make everything proceed more smoothly. I know for a fact Fontaine only offered a hundred thousand dollars plus unnamed consideration for your family. I am offering five million dollars. In return I ask only that you and your family leave my friends alone for all time.”
The speaking elder, Jacob Kader, spat on the table in disgust, his face in a state of wide eyed fury as he tore at his beard. “I will see you dead before such a deal is allowed!”
“Calm yourself, brother,” the elder next to Jacob, named Ishmael urged. “It is a worthy offer we need to contemplate and discuss with the others.
Nick watched the two closely. The third Kader elder was an ancient with very lively and evil looking black marble type eyes. He had stared at Nick every moment without even glancing at anyone else. Ishmael introduced him as Mohammed Kader, who had flown in from New York. Nick smiled at him after no one else said anything.
Mohammed spoke, his face wrinkling with disgust. His voice sounded to Nick like rocks in a blender with the volume turned down. “You think to buy off everyone. We know you have killed our family members. We shall have your blood, and that of all whom you love.”
“Uh oh,” Gus muttered under his breath. He watched his old friend’s smile disappear to be replaced by the Terminator visage. John turned away from the ancient elder, knowing he had asked for and would be granted death.
“Listen carefully, Yoda,” Nick said. “You speak as if you know me or of me, yet you are ignorant enough to threaten my loved ones. I believe we have spoken enough for today, Ishmael. Take my offer to whomever you represent. You have my number.”
Jacob Kader began to make as if he were about to spit again. Nick’s hand streaked across the table, grabbing the man’s nose in a vicelike grip, shaking it as Jacob’s hands seized Nick’s ineffectively, his shoulders hunching in pain. Ishmael started to reach for Nick’s arm, but one look at the Terminator’s cold appraising eyes as he continued to shake Jacob easily, and Ishmael made placating gestures.
“You spit one more time, asshole, and I’ll yank this off and shove it down your throat!” Nick grinned suddenly at Ishmael as a predator apprises its next prey. “Is this the only way your family knows how to negotiate?”
“Please, Mr. McCarty… let him go. We will leave now and I promise to take your offer to the other members of our family. The majority wish to end these confrontations with you. It is only the Omar Fontaine interest in Cala, coupled with Cala’s Father already signing her over to him that makes this extremely difficult.”
Nick released Jacob and wiped his hand distastefully on the man’s kufi head covering. “You should have brought two more polite family members with you, Ish. Go now. Say your evening prayers with passion tonight, Yoda.”
Gus and John then stood to escort Ishmael, the chastised Jacob still holding his nose, and a now wide eyed Mohammed, nicknamed Yoda. They could tell if Mohammed could have unsaid his words, he would have done so. It seemed the old man recognized death when he met it face to face. As Gus and John guided the trio off the balcony, Nick stood.
“Don’t forget that anything other than a peaceful, well compensated agreement will be met with a deadly solemn response, Ish.”
Ishmael glanced over his shoulder at Nick. “I…I will tell them, Sir.”