“I’m fine, Rach. You were right to question my preparedness after becoming Muerto. I’ve been letting my guard down. Paying attention to my surroundings no matter the situation or people with me has become a haphazard game rather than my usual way of life. That could get me killed along with all of you. I never lost focus when we streamed across the country with Tanus Group and Frank trying to kill us. That’s the kind of caution I need to show at all times.”
Rachel smiled, taking his hand and kissing the back of it as she repositioned the giggling Quinn. “Is the great Muerto saying he’s going soft? If he is, I might remind the pirate he walked across the street into a park and slit the throat of a man he didn’t know was bad or good. All Muerto knew was that the man following us was an unknown factor – unfortunately for the man it was a death sentence. That he turned out to be a serial killer was only a happy coincidence. I would not call that going soft.”
Nick stopped his surveillance for the first time to face his wife with a gentle kiss along the side of her mouth. “We are quite the pair, my love. You know me better than anyone ever has. You’ve accepted life alterations that would have driven any other woman insane. I love you, baby. I need to do this to keep us alive.”
“I know.” Rachel kissed Nick with full on passion, causing Quinn to laugh, and his sister to run over and hold her hands over his eyes.
“Making out in front of an innocent baby… really!”
“Keep talkin’, Daughter of Darkness. I see an electronic blackout in your future.”
“I will back her play too,” Nick added.
“That’s just wrong,” Jean replied with indignation. “I try to take the moral high ground to protect my brother and this is the reward for my diligence?”
“You may talk like you’re twenty, but you’re ten, and not too big for your Mom to take a switch to your butt.”
“Oh my God… did you just threaten me with corporal punishment? I could take you to court for even threatening it. I’ll overlook this transgression if I can have some money for treats.”
Nick handed her a twenty. “Ninjas eat brown rice and water.”
“Maybe in those ‘Destroyer’ books you read. I’m going to be a new age ninja. What have you been looking for, Dad? You keep looking out into space.”
“Just keeping an eye on our surroundings. I’ve been losing touch with my inner ninja, probably because I don’t eat my brown rice and water,” Nick replied. “I’m back on track now to walk the rice paper.”
“Rice paper? Oh… that’s from that goofy Kung Fu series you have on DVD.”
“Goofy? That’s sacrilege!”
Jean giggled and gestured for Sonny to follow her to the guy selling refreshments. Gus walked over to join him. “How’s the hunt for your inner sanctum, all knowing Muerto?”
“Seriously, Gus, I think I have a hit on my first trip out in the field as all aware Muerto. Don’t look at him, but the businessman who has given up any pretense of not watching those college girls in the navy blue suit is on my radar. I haven’t been able to get a clear look into his eyes though.”
“How do you plan to pull that stunt off,” Rachel asked.
“I’m planning to knock him to the floor and help him to his feet.”
“Gee, I don’t think that qualifies as a well thought out plan,” Rachel said. “Come with me. I have a better idea.”
“I don’t want you involved, Rach.”
“I’m already involved. Come along with me, Muerto.” Rachel moved toward the businessman, pulling on Nick’s hand.
The man turned his attention to Rachel only when she moved into his airspace with Quinn in her arms. He stared at her with annoyance before noticing Nick behind her. “Can I help you, lady?”
Rachel watched him intently, a big smile plastered on her face. “I knew it! Ray Coburn… it’s me, Rachel from school. God, what a shock when I noticed you. You look trim and fit. I remember those sparkling blue eyes of yours so well! How have you been?”
“I’m not this Ray Coburn you think I am, lady! See?” The man took off his sunglasses. His eyes were brown. It was then he met Nick’s gaze. He saw something he didn’t like at all in Nick’s interested perusal. A darkness flowed for a split second between the two men. He hurriedly put his sunglasses back on. “Please go away. You’re mistaken.”
“Damn. I was so sure. Sorry to have bothered you, Sir,” Rachel said. “You’re a dead ringer for Ray. Have a good day.”
Rachel walked away with Nick smiling knowingly at the man before following her. When they were with Gus again, Nick kissed his wife. “That was very well done, baby. He’s a killer. He also is close enough to the snack shack there for John to go get a beer, drink it, and see if John can clone his phone.”
“I’ll put Kabong on it. I want to see if the great Muerto blundered into another event,” Gus went over to where John sat with Cala watching the far away coastline.
“I saw the way he looked at you. He saw something too,” Rachel said.
“Yeah, he did. We won’t know if he’s picked his target from those girls or not no matter what we do. We can at least run his name and see where he goes if John can clone his phone.”