*
Felix grinned with satisfaction when he was sure what trolley McCarty’s group climbed aboard of. He looked at his watch. The Salem Trolley Tour lasted an hour. He considered his options. His logical choices were massive confusion in a crowded spot near the Salem Witch House or Burying Point where he had open ground to put some distance between him and his kill zone. I’ll shoot the bastard in the neck so he can bleed out while watching his family and friends drop around him. Burying Point will be perfect.
*
Inside ‘The House of Seven Gables’ John and Gus moved nearer to Nick with John holding his iPad so Nick could see. “You were dead on right, Muerto. It is as if you sent him a text message to take a position by the tree. How do you do such things?”
“Logistics and temperament,” Nick answered. “I know by Moreau’s hits and his kidnappings that he has not the slightest moral code in place. Burying Point would be the perfect kill zone for his temperament. He has no conscience to limit casualties. In fact collateral damage in my case would be his friend. It will be in his mind that the cops will decide it was a random act of savagery perpetrated by a psychopath they should catch easily.”
“Have you made a similar type prediction before,” Gus asked.
“When a sniper team was sent after me and Rachel in Denver I figured where they would try and kill me after I sanctioned the target. They arrived right on time, positioning their nest where I told Rachel they would be.” Nick smiled. “She was pissed. We’ll be nearing the pirate tour stores and such soon. I’ll be picking my costume then. I don’t think Felix will appreciate my disguise. I’ll need to get near him at the same time he’ll be concentrating on the trolley arriving. Take no chances, guys.”
“We know, brother,” John said. “We stay out of the kill zone until we see you. If we see him instead of you, we shoot on sight.”
“We’ll take everyone to the backend of the trolley until we see you. Don’t do anything fancy, Muerto,” Gus told his friend. “Shoot him in the head. I’ll call Paul the moment the deed is done. The release orders will be waiting for you, so get down with your hands locked, and let them take you in. You said yourself this is a bad one.”
“Everything will be under consideration. He’s in position. I have to go shopping and then head to my appointment with Felix.” Nick turned deadly serious. “No joke. If I miss him, take everyone and head for the hills. Get Paul to have Clyde fly you all to some place in Montana for at least six months or until Paul can get Moreau. He will kill you all if he has enough time to find and plan.”
“I bet this crap has made you consider an extra ingredient in all our excursions from now on,” Gus said.
Nick shrugged. “You’re right. From now on I take my M107 with me everywhere. If I had it with me now I’d find a nest a couple hundred yards from him and blow his head off.”
“Yep, and a couple of hand grenades.”
“I will see you guys on the other side. I’ll be the one in the pirate outfit.”
“You’re doing the approach as a pirate?” John did not look enthusiastic upon hearing the new information. “Do you really think he will fall for that?”
“You haven’t seen my pirate act, John. I’m very good.”
“I’ve seen it,” Gus said. “It’s not even close to good. You are probably the worst pirate I’ve ever seen. See if you can get a duck costume.”
“That’s it, Payaso. You are now reduced to sub minion of El Muerto.”
“Woe is me.”
*
Felix glanced at his watch in the tree’s shade at the outside corner of the Old Burial Point enclosure. The day was perfect with overcast gray clouds to Moreau’s thinking. He sat on the other side of the stone wall around the Point. He worked over the CZW 9 Czech lightweight submachine gun from his briefcase under his suit coat cover. Once he had it ready to fire to his satisfaction, he rested against the wall with his knees up. The adrenaline rush from doing McCarty and his family would be a buzz Moreau felt he would enjoy for a long time to come. A cool ocean breeze blew across the park adding to the atmosphere of intense certainty flowing through Moreau.
A few minutes later as Felix stood to take position with his coat covering the 9mm submachine gun, a guy dressed in authentic pirate garb strode across from the nearby open cemetery talking to everyone he walked by. The kids were especially intrigued with the sword at his side. With all black garb, wide boots, black beard, eyepatch, and full black tricorn hat, the man was amusingly entertaining enough to attract Moreau’s eye. The man strode purposely on a course that would bring him near the wall ten feet beyond Moreau. The pirate waved at him as he went by with a big grin sporting a gold tooth. Moreau nodded at him. Moreau turned toward where he expected his target would appear with family and friends.