Kintor had never gone after any of his many Amazon hit piece review victims, be it products or novels. Under his avatar Lokus, Kintor enjoyed his freedom to lash out at anyone’s offerings on the Amazon marketplace without fear of discovery or accountability. Without ever using or reading the products or novels he excoriated the manufacturers or authors for online, he tossed off barely coherent chaotic reviews on anything that struck his fancy as he perused the marketplace. Meeting McCarty at the Harvard Bookstore appealed to Kintor’s base instincts. He assumed McCarty would fall all over himself apologizing for Kintor’s accusations of excessive violence. Instead, the bastard not only held him up for ridicule, exposing the fact he had never read the novels, but he somehow recognized his Lokus avatar.
Lupe didn’t care if he killed McCarty. With so many in McCarty’s group, Kintor figured to wound or kill a lot of them before escaping in the confusion. He knew there were no cameras in the park or pointed at his position from across the street. The Amazon marketplace hit pieces were a satisfying leisure time pursuit for Kintor. He could simply change his avatar, but the thought of losing the notoriety he had gained enraged him. McCarty would pay for what he did to him today at the bookstore. Lupe smiled, wondering if he would see the horror on McCarty’s face as his loved ones dropped.
Kintor’s eyes widened, his mouth popping open to suck in a shocked breath as a hand yanked his head back. The razor sharp blade opened Lupe’s neck in a deep wide grin of cascading blood. Smoky black shadows obscured his weakening vision as Lupe collapsed with a gargling finality to the ground, his hands clawing at his blood washed neck. Eyes widening to hold onto sight for even a second longer, his mouth working soundlessly, Kintor’s last vision was of McCarty’s face, and a black gloved hand waving goodbye with only the fingers folding and straightening as a child’s does.
*
Nick patted down Lupe’s corpse after cleaning off his knife blade on Kintor’s clothing. He kept an eye on sidewalk and street traffic. No one was near the park’s interior. Nick felt the Glock stuck inside Lupe’s belt at the back. He took it out and placed the weapon in Kintor’s hand. As he had explained to Gus when blowing away the Iranian gunboat, he didn’t like being hunted… by anyone for any reason. The fact Lupe carried a weapon surprised Nick a little. Nick wasn’t even curious about the guy’s real name. Although telling Rachel he would find out what his follower wanted, in reality Nick didn’t care. I don’t need someone tailing me and mine for the next couple days while in Boston or crossing to Salem. Nick straightened, taking a last look at Lupe. You poor dupe - wrong place, wrong time, and wrong choices.
Nick grinned as he jogged deeper into the park before circling, muttering, “El Muerto… away.”
*
Slipping into the seat next to Rachel, Nick waved at his curious friends before telling a half truth. “I had to make a phone call and update Paul on what we’ve been doing. He said to say hi to everyone. How do you kids like Cheers?”
“It’s nice here,” Jean replied. “I never saw the TV show, but it’s neat how many people keep gawking at the cardboard cutouts of the old TV stars. The show fans are even taking pictures and movies of themselves around the cutouts. The snacks are great.”
“I liked everything so far,” Sonny added. “I’ve watched a couple of the TV series shows. They were mostly about adults drinking in a bar. I guess people thought they were funny. I’m looking forward to riding the ferry to Salem tomorrow. I’ve heard a lot about the place. Do you like going to places like Salem, Nick?”
“Sure. I don’t really get the fascination with witches. I do understand the tragedy of Salem lynching innocent people because they thought the people were witches. The only thing that stopped the mess was when the crowd of witch obsessed people accused Governor Phips’ wife of witchcraft. He dumped the practice of accepting spectral evidence and in doing so ended the very strange mass lunacy.”
“Wow, Dad, you know a lot about the time period,” Jean said.
“I was a kid once. Anything paranormal was on my radar. They had old Hollywood movies showing witches burned at the stake, but I found out they mostly did it that way in Europe. Anyway, I researched the Salem witch trials and found out some of the facts and appeased my writerly curiosity.”
“The ferry ride lasts around forty-five minutes,” John said. “I bet the view from the boat is very nice.”
“I need to take my Dramamine,” Tina said. “I don’t like boats much.”
“They always travel at speeds to keep the ferry as calm in the water as possible,” Gus said. “You won’t have any trouble. I read online where they have a bar on board. I believe a cocktail or two will enhance the ocean cruise a bit.”
“There will be a lot of walking and touring,” Rachel said. “The adults without kids to worry about can do as you wish. Muerto and I have child protector obligations to perform. Understand, Muerto?”
“Yes dear.” Nick sighed. “I think I better have another here before we go.”
“I’ll get it.” Gus stood to go for the drinks and stopped. “Hey, there’s flashing police lights across from the front entrance near the park. When we leave, maybe we better take the side exit.”