“Thank you, John Suck-up.” Gus gestured at the kids, now on their chairs in front of the huge rock outcropping just offshore. “You’ve done a great job with Jean. I had my doubts you could pull off the daddy serial killer role. You did it without breaking a sweat and now you have Quinn too. What’s next, Muerto, Father of the Year?”
“I’ll settle for continuing to keep them alive. Besides, until the Karma train rolled over me with these latest Isis complications, we were getting a taste of normal life. I don’t count the Kader problem, because it’s family related. Brother John and the lovely Cala must be left alone by her cave dwelling family. They are taking the heat from Omar. I figured if Fontaine was that whacked out about Cala, he might send a hit party on his own. Instead, he’s thankfully relying on amateurs.”
“This morning I did not like the ambush they had planned,” John said. “If they escalate any further it will be by bombs like the Rashidis tried to do to you. Have you heard any word about their trial?”
“Only the media deciding the Rashidis are violent Islamists and must be protected at all costs. God knows we don’t have enough of those fruitcakes running around. I heard they were considering a plea deal according to Neil.”
“How is our Pacific Grove policeman friend?”
“He called when the action got intense in Washington, Gus. To his credit, he called only to find out if we were alright after Kensky was released. He probably hasn’t tied the adventures in Cincinnati to us yet. Since he doesn’t know we took a special military air flight to and from there, we will be off everyone’s area of expertise. I better give Paul a call about Phil.”
Nick took a huge gulp of loaded coffee, and punched in the numbers for Paul Gilbrech.
“Nick? How is my El Muerto superhero today? Not much outcry since the movie release, mostly because the hits on it are in the tens of millions with ninety-seven percent approval. I sense a disturbance in the force as you are fond of saying to explain hard times ahead. Something bothering you other than how many grateful Ohioans want to build an Unholy Trio statue.”
“It’s a private matter. Phil Salvatore, the one from the passport office I had trouble with who has the great kid my ten year old daughter likes. I’ve been recruited to save his job so the boy, Sonny, doesn’t have to move away. Since I don’t know why he’s being fired, I told Sonny I’d have to find out why first. Is there any way you could investigate the matter for me, Paul?”
“Oh… my… God… the great El Muerto hired by ten year olds to play political hanky-panky over an appointee job. Are you kidding? Of course I’ll find out. You and the Unholy Trio just saved the homeland again in the nick of time. The least I can do is save that sap’s job.”
“Gee… that was a great way to put it, my friend. Thanks. I would like to know what and why first though. With Phil, there’s no way of knowing what he’s done. I’m glad you’re getting good reviews on the Unholy Trio movie. It means there will be pressure on these government assholes to stop allowing the flood of Middle Eastern fifth columnists pouring in here. Yeah, I’ve heard all the sob stories. Thousands will perish. It’s genocide. Boo hoo. They don’t have any problem killing everyone else in sight who doesn’t believe the same way. Let them alone to wipe each other out. Why import them to rip our own culture apart?”
“I believe you have echoed the thoughts of every citizen with a modicum of common sense. I have no clue why we’re embracing the Islamist death cult. We should leave them to work out their own reformation. Their medieval torturous society subjugating women, issuing death decrees for anyone not subservient to their will, and working mayhem upon all non-Islamist nations makes dealing with them completely illogical. So what do we do? We cater to them instead of isolating their murdering asses.” Paul chuckled suddenly. “It takes a couple psychos like us to do what needs to be done, Muerto. Until we can, I’ll go find out what we can do for Salvatore.”
“I appreciate it, El Jefe.”
Paul disconnected while enjoying his new tagline. Nick turned to his friends. “The Unholy Trio movie is a hit. We’re very popular in Ohio particularly. Paul agreed to take a look at Phil’s firing worries. I nearly told him about this morning’s Kader family folly. I think I’ll wait to see how it plays out.”
“I like the news,” Gus said. “There could have been a backlash with all the usual bullshit. They’re not all bad. They probably needed jobs. Their culture is being suppressed. No one will kiss their asses except politicians. If we had Sharia Law, that horrible Unholy Trio would be the ones dead. It’s clearly an act of religious persecution not to allow them to kill innocent people whenever they feel justified to do it.”