After Nick disconnected, I grinned at Lynn. “I noticed you didn’t tell him not to break your toys.”
“Nick’s not as ham-handed as you, Cheese. He’s cold and efficient without your flawed emotional side.”
“That’s hurtful, Crue.”
*
Nick finished his explanation of Lynn’s request after a swim and sipping another Bushmill’s Irish with his friends. “What do you think of my plan?”
“It’s a workable monstrosity, cleverly done. A true serial killer’s methodology,” Gus stated with clinical flair which immediately evoked amusement.
Nick hung his head comically. “See… I get a task of righteousness assigned me in a moral cause, and past indiscretions haunt everything I do in penance for my many sins.”
“Poor baby,” Gus replied in false sympathy for Nick’s amusing drama note. “I’m in. This Nardo guy… I can’t stand the sight of him. When Tina mentions him, I call him ‘Nardo de Pussyface’. He looks like a baby in need of a pacifier, especially since he’s put on a few pounds. I’ve heard him rant the environmental whacko clichés and I figured that environmental foundation he funded with all the hoopla was a preplanned ticket to reenter the states legally. Apparently, in the world now, if you’re green, you’re clean, even if you drug and rape a sixteen year old girl.”
“Cala and I are with you, Muerto,” Johnny added. “I like having the extra day after we arrive to simply take stock of our surroundings before he arrives.”
“That’s the key, Johnny,” Nick acknowledged. “I’ve done numerous contracts where establishing a place the mark would eventually return was essential to completion of the contract. Yes, I know I’m a monster. We’re doing good with Nardo. We’re not killing him. We’re simply delivering him to a place where within hours of his arrival, he’ll wish he were dead.”
Gus snorted. “You’d kill him in a heartbeat if Lynn asked you to.”
“Yeah… so what’s your point,” Nick asked to much hilarity.
*
Nardo Sirapio opened his garage door by remote and drove into his garage, attached to the two story dwelling in Carson City he thought of as his ‘Hole in the Wall’ hideout. No one knew of its existence. He could sneak in and use it as his base of operations to see people on the sly, work deals, or relax for a few months in between movies. He closed the garage door and walked toward the connecting entrance to his house. Nardo smiled with self-satisfaction concerning his ease in bypassing all laws pertaining to travel with a fake passport. It was so easy.
Unlocking his door, Nardo stepped inside a few feet, closed the door and walked toward his kitchen. He wanted a drink. He felt the Taser needles embed into his arm. The jolt, pain, and disoriented feeling of dread raced through him at hyper-speed. He fell to the floor, vibrating to the electronic impulses sent. As blackness descended on him, Nardo saw the black robed figure smiling and waving at him.
*
“He’s really out of it, Muerto,” Cala said, pinching Nardo’s cheeks.
“Damn it! I knew I should have eased off the juice,” Nick admitted. “Finding all the shit he has on his computer was too much input. I’m happy it’s not us interrogating him.”
“He’s special, Muerto. Nardo is a famous celebrity.” Gus gave Nick a shaming gesture with left hand index finger extended in brushing movement over his right hand index finger. “Thou shalt not kill’.”
“Stuff it, Payaso. We have most of what we wanted. I’m glad Grace was able to get a federal warrant to search his premises and fax it to us. Maybe we should rethink this. Let’s abandon him somewhere around here. We’ll fix him real nice and then bury him.”
“I must object, Muerto,” Johnny cut in, slapping Nardo’s cheeks lightly. “I will be helping Director Deville by special request to produce the Hollywood Bounty Hunters episode. She will be very upset if you simply bury her star. You also have to consider loyal Kabong missing out on a new filming opportunity.”
“You’re right.” Nick took a deep breath as Sirapio regained consciousness in sputtering and gasping increments. “Once he’s awake, I’ll do the arrest part with Miranda while Director Kabong films it to send Lynn.”
“Thank you, Muerto,” Johnny said. He and Cala helped Nardo get to his feet shakily. They sat him down on a straight backed chair from the kitchen. “Are you coherent, Mr. Sirapio?”
“Who… are you people? I’ll have you arrested if you don’t leave my house immediately.” Nardo tried to stand but Nick shoved him down.
“Stay right where you are unless you’d like to be Tasered again,” Nick told him. “Are you ready Kabong? How do I look?”
Nick wore black jeans, black t-shirt, and black windbreaker. He had shaved for the takedown of Nardo, knowing he would be doing a formal arrest.