Nightmare in Red (Nick McCarty #5)

“Will do.” Clyde drove for a few more minutes toward C Street, stopping along a darkened side street curb.

Nick and John hurriedly donned Kevlar. They each put on knee length trench coats to hide the silenced MP5’s they extracted from their equipment bag along with the night vision gear. Clyde drove toward the C Street warehouse a couple minutes later. Gus had taken the opportunity to frisk Sidi, confiscating weapons, keys, and personal effects. He then restrained Sidi and also duct taped his mouth. Nick and John exited the car a block away from the warehouse entrance with Nick also carrying a narrow range EMP gun and the warehouse entrance keys. Clyde drove past the warehouse a half mile and parked.

After using the EMP gun on the entrance from a side position away from any cameras rigged with motion detectors, Nick used the keys to enter the warehouse without any problems. It became clear soon after they entered that Sidi had nothing on the upper levels of the warehouse. Nick led the way into the lower level with night vision goggles in place. In the warehouse basement an entire electronics video station focused on the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, Nick recognized as the docking site for the Queen Mary II. Sidi had hacked into or established his own eyes and ears on the port facility. The smell of what they planned to use permeated the basement even with the ventilation system working without pause to vent the gases.

Nick examined the chemical bomb makings as had been used in the Oklahoma City bombing. He could tell the content housed in the basement would be able to decimate the cruise terminal and any ship ported there. Enough ingredients to fill any truck registered for dock entry supply with devastating effect were ready for loading, including electronic triggers.

“Well… this is a fine mess I’ve gotten us into,” Nick muttered. “You know what this means, right John?”

John let out his breath slowly. “Yes, it stinks in here. I know our newly found terrorist cell must have a crew ready to operate the trucks to take these ingredients and triggers to the dock. None of this explains what the couples’ part is in all this at the Boston Harbor Hotel. I am glad our soon to be willing helper is alive and well.”

“Did you get all that, Clyde?”

“Yeah, Nick, another shit storm to handle, and only one live clue in my backseat. Shall I deliver him and begin my off site surveillance of the front entrance?”

“Yes. Gus, we’re going to need both equipment bags. John and I will be out front to help.

“Okay, Nick. This isn’t going well, is it?”

“I’ll know more once I debrief Sidi. One thing is for sure if we don’t get enough cooperation, I say we kill everyone we know is involved, and wait for the reaction. At least we know the dock won’t be blown to kingdom come.”

“Do you want me to forward that, Nick,” Clyde asked.

“I’ll talk to Paul if we run out of options with Sidi. I’m glad we brought our simple gear and costumes for this interrogation. We’re going to need Dabor’s complete cooperation. We’ll show him our special videos. He knows who El Muerto is. We heard that when John was with him. We’ll greet him as The Unholy Trio when we bring him out of his nappy time. Then after he sees the videos, I’ll slice him a little and John can apply the cleanser. Hopefully, he’ll be more than happy to help in every way possible or this operation will get real messy. Like John, I’m wondering what the hell the Harbor Hotel couples have to do with anything.”

“I’m at the front now.”

“Be right there.”

Nick and John jogged to the car, extracted Sidi and headed back to the warehouse with Gus following, equipment bags in hand. Clyde drove off after a final check of communications and video feeds. Inside the warehouse, they positioned Sidi on the bed he used in the lower basement. Nick administered a shot to awaken their interrogation subject after stripping off his clothing down to Sidi’s underwear before restraining him again at ankles and wrists. Sidi awoke with a start, eyes blinking into focus as he recognized where he was. His next look of horror illustrated to his now costumed hosts Sidi also understood his predicament. They stayed quiet, waiting for Dabor to speak rather than rushing the awakening process so important to their interrogation anticipation game.

“You… I know you!” Sidi addressed Nick in shaking voice. “Why am I here? What have you done? Release me!”