“I’m going to be sorry when Ms. Kader leaves,” Jean said. “She seems happy to be moving with him to Camp Pendleton. It’ll sure be safe there for her with the Marines. I think she was happy Bill would be staying in the Marines on active duty.”
“He’s a great guy,” Nick replied. “I noticed you and Sonny asking him all kinds of questions when we had the barbeque for Bill and Dimah when Cala arrived. He must have enjoyed two nine year olds ready to join the Corps together.”
“You should have seen his and Dimah’s face when Sonny and I showed them our knife skills. He had a few extra questions about you after that, Dad.” Jean giggled.
“Very funny. Your Mom hasn’t checked in yet. I wonder if Quinn took a nap, and your Mom’s out cold catching a few moments of sleep.”
“You’re the one who flies into Quinn’s room all night,” Jean replied.
“I rented a mansion. If you had picked a room on the other side like Gus, Tina, John, and Cala did you wouldn’t know what the heck is going on in our room or the baby’s.”
“No offense to Uncle Gus and John, but it’s more fun near you and Mom.”
“Gee… thanks. We’ll be in Pacific Grove and in our own homes soon,” Nick said. “I’m sick of the Pacific Northwest.”
“So this is the Ripper’s last day on earth, huh?”
“I wouldn’t know, brat. The trial’s over so we’re heading home.” Nick knew hiding anything from Jean after all she had been through, coupled with the insane interest she displayed about his unique skill set, was nearly always an exercise in futility. “We were here to support justice and Sarah. Failing that, we have no choice but to journey home to a brighter point in our lives.”
“Yeah right. Kensky’s as dead as hope for the justice system.”
“That’s enough out of you,” Nick warned, turning to jab a finger in her direction. Noting how amused Gus and John were, Nick added an addition. “That goes double for you enablers. Jean speaking like a kill crazy twenty-nine year old instead of a nine year old will stop as of now unless a certain blondie would like to test my will.”
“Uh… no thanks… I’m good. I’m sure Mr. Kensky will live a long and fruitful life, have children, a dog, and become a pillar of the community.”
“Sarcasm will also get you put ashore off the good ship ‘Electronic Gadgets’ until you’re eighteen, Daughter of Darkness.”
“No fair pulling Mom’s ‘exile from gadgets’ card.”
“Want me to ask her for permission?”
“I don’t know why you’re so mind crossed about Kensky, Dad. I know what will be happening. I know you said pretending is the way to handle this, but it’s just me and the ‘Unholy Trio’ here. There’s no need for acting performances when it’s just us.”
“Yes, there is,” Nick continued his stare down. “I know I’ve been lax on keeping you in line, although your Mom reminds me of it at least a dozen times a day. She’s right about us joking around too much in private. Then we… or actually you start acting out in public as you did in the courtroom and baiting Kensky out the window as we drove away. People see you acting like you’ve lost your mind first, and then they start an examination of the adults who are supposed to be guiding you.”
“I know,” Jean muttered, turning away from Nick’s very effective glare. “I’ll do better in the acting department. That Kensky guy reminds me of the men who were chasing Mom and me, only worse. I keep seeing him scaring the crap out of Sarah every day when you let me go to the trial. I want to see him scared.”
Not having an answer for Jean’s very to the point observation, Nick turned toward the front again. “I’m not saying your gut feelings are wrong, but acting out in public puts pressure on all of us. We need you to be more introspective if you want to accompany us out in the public eye. You can bet people who glimpsed you baiting Kensky will be wondering what kind of idiots are raising you. I had to get special permission for you to even be in the courtroom.”
“I know. They wouldn’t let you take me on days where the evidence they did allow could be presented. You know I’m not a normal nine year old. Sonny isn’t either. He understands and accepts everything. He’s puzzled out everything from when you interacted with his manikin parents, Phil and Clarice, in relation to all the bad stuff happening with the Department of Justice. All he gets from them is lies.”
“Phil was caught up inadvertently in a traitor’s scheme because he’s ambitious and prodded with a cattle prod from behind by his lovely Clarice,” Nick replied.
“The Country Club bribe was a good one, Muerto,” John said. “It did seem to quiet those two down. What did Rachel say about it?”
“I don’t want to go there, John.”