“How the hell can John do that?”
“He has our satellite link with him. It has cloning software. All he has to do is stand near the guy with it activated in his pack, and we’ll be into the businessman’s business. We’ll have a way to track him. The guy’s phone has to be set to accept blue tooth hookup. If his is on, John will have him in moments.”
John took the satellite uplink laptop out to make a few keystrokes. He then shouldered his pack, went to the snack bar and ordered a beer. John stepped a few paces closer to the man. He sipped his beer while paying attention to the outside scene beyond the observation window. After he finished half his beer, John returned to where Cala waited without speaking to Nick. He immediately took out his laptop. Within minutes, John hacked into the man’s phone, all his connections, identity avatars, and address. The phone’s photo files were password protected but John gained access within ten minutes. Cala had been watching the screen with him. She gasped as John opened the photo files. John shut the laptop. He took Cala into his arms, whispering urgently to her. She calmed visibly, gripping his hand.
John stayed away from the rest of their group, guiding Cala off the boat ahead of the others so the man would not believe he and Cala were with Nick. Gus and Tina exited the boat in the same manner, leaving the kids in a small state of confusion. Rachel reassured them, telling Jean to wait until they were off the boat. Nick stayed behind his family as they walked off the boat. The businessman walked alongside him, leaning to speak in a hushed voice too low toned for others to hear while gripping Nick’s arm.
“Something’s wrong with you, mister. I don’t know what it is, but it would be best for you to stay away from me. I don’t like that stunt your woman pulled on me.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way, stranger,” Nick replied. “I’d appreciate it if you let go of my arm. Otherwise, I’ll think you’re hitting on me in spite of the warning. I don’t roll that way.”
The businessman let Nick go with a snarly smile spreading across his features. “Don’t cross me, asshole. It won’t go well for you or your little family.”
“I’ll make a note. Thanks for the warning. I’ll certainly take it seriously.”
“You’d better.” The man moved around Rachel holding Quinn, but paused as he passed Jean and Sonny, looking back at Nick. He leaned down to speak to Jean, but Rachel hurried ahead, knowing the man could end his day with a bullet in his head if he played with Nick.
“Get away from the kids, Ray.”
“I’m not a fuckin’ Ray, Tulip. I was just having a word with the little girl.”
“No you’re not,” Rachel told him, handing Quinn to Jean. “Walk on, or I kick your ass right here in front of the whole crowd of passengers.”
“How the hell you plan to do that, Tulip?” The man’s hands tightened into fists as Nick caught up to Rachel.
Rachel pulled her pepper spray and stun-gun. “I spray you until you drop, and then I make you do the ‘Neutron Dance’ until you stop moving. Want a demo?”
The man pointed at Nick. “Best tell your boy to step off. I don’t know what you two have cooking between you concerning me, but I’m the last guy on earth you want to fuck with.”
He moved on, getting to the boarding and exiting plank, and threading past the other passengers. Rachel took Quinn from Jean as the other passengers streamed by with curious looks. Jean was smiling.
“That was so cool, Mom. What are you two doing anyway?”
“Apparently making enemies,” Rachel said. “I can tell there will be other things beside tours of witches and pirates. I saw the way John and Cala looked after doing a check of the laptop.”
“He overreacted to your ploy. That he caught on to what you were doing makes me think he’s much more than he appears. I believe his outrage with us was an act.”
Rachel turned toward Nick with surprise on the plank. “You mean he’s faking being a threatening looney-tune?”
“No. He wants me to think he’s a blustery asshole without a clue.”
Rachel stopped in her tracks after clearing the gangway with the kids. She whispered out of Jean and Sonny’s hearing to Nick. “You don’t mean he’s figuring right now how he plans to kill us before we get on the ferry back to Boston.”