“Very much so. I made inquiries about Al-Kadi’s compound through contacts in the area. They told me the place is under guard by federal authorities.”
“My business with Al-Kadi was by circumstance somewhat messy.” Nick wondered about Al-Saud’s contacts in the area. “After I left the area, the FBI and Homeland Security moved on the place. I don’t know what happened after that, nor do I care.”
“Understood. You will be traveling alone as we planned, correct?”
“Yes. When would you like me at the Atlantis?”
“One week from tomorrow if possible.”
“I will be there,” Nick agreed. “Do you wish for me to join you in your room?”
“No. I believe we should meet somewhere public first. Let us meet at the Neptune’s Retreat in the waterpark.”
“Good choice,” Nick said. “What time would you like to meet?”
“Three o’clock in the afternoon.”
“Agreed. I will see you then.” Nick disconnected. He smiled at Rachel. “I have five days before I need to travel, babe.”
“I’m going to the range with you and the kids tomorrow,” Rachel said. “I want to make sure we spend every minute together until you leave.”
“Good. Then you want to go with us to the book signing too, right.”
“I take that back… not every minute.”
*
The line moved along with very little interruption after Nick’s talk on his new novel. He explained the new Diego adventure with emphasis on Nick’s romance with the conniving Fatima and answered questions from the fans of the series. Gus, whom the fans knew of as the model Nick created Jed from, answered a multitude of boating questions, many of them addressing sailing in the Caribbean. Jean and Sonny searched the line of people for book killers and grammar Nazis. It wasn’t until three quarters of the way through that Jean spotted a potential candidate.
“Bearded guy, seven people back, Dad.”
Nick and Gus both glanced at the one Jean indicated. The man had a full black chin beard with no mustache. Lean and over six feet tall, he wore a black kufi head covering, black slacks, and a loose fitting pullover drab green top, covered somewhat by the partially zipped windbreaker. The man glared at Nick without blinking. Nick smiled at him.
“Oh yeah,” Gus said. “I think you’re right, Jean.”
“He doesn’t have a book either,” Sonny added.
“Yep,” Nick agreed, focusing on the next man in line, a darkly tanned gentleman in his sixties with white hair. Nick shook the man’s proffered hand. “Hi. I see you have ‘Dark Interlude’. Did you enjoy it?”
“Good action but repetitive. I think you may be getting lazy, Nick,” the man said, grinning to take the sting out of his critique.
“Writing an action pulp fiction series can seem repetitive,” Nick replied. “The romance with Fatima, and the subplots involving Jed and Leo discovering her antics behind Diego’s back didn’t stimulate your interest, huh?”
“My name’s Ted by the way. It actually read like you threw in the romance and Leo as filler with snappy dialogue.”
“At least you thought the dialogue was snappy,” Nick said as he signed the inside. “Thanks for stopping by.”
“You missed the part about being filler.”
“No, but honestly, I write stories as I imagine them happening, including dialogue interactions between characters.”
“You should be more open to criticism and change, Nick.”
“I don’t write to please readers, Ted. I write to please me. If when I’m done with a novel the readers are pleased with the product, I’m happy. If they’re not, they need to find another author.”
Ted frowned. “Maybe that’s what I need to do.”
Nick smiled. “No hard feelings, Ted. Take care of yourself.”
Ted took the book from Nick. “Thanks.”
“Not a killer, but touchy,” Gus whispered.
“His points are probably legitimate but I wouldn’t enjoy writing if I couldn’t do it the way I wanted to.”
The next people between the bearded man and Ted were big fans who mentioned reading his entire series of Diego novels more than once. Nick noticed his security guards watching the bearded guy too. The man walked to the desk with his fists clenched. In his peripheral vision, Nick saw Jean and Sonny trying to edge closer to the conversation.
“Hello, Sir. Did you have anything you would like me to sign?
“Yes.” The man reached inside his coat, pulled out a knife while diving toward Nick and shouted, “Allahu Akbar!”
Nick blocked the knife arm and struck the man’s nose with his palm in a vicious, full force strike, driving his attacker’s nose bone upward into his brain. The knife clattered to the floor a split second before its owner collapsed lifelessly, doing a boneless dead cat bounce on the floor. Screams, commotion, and security guards with weapons drawn to cover the dead man followed the action. Nick looked over to see Gus with weapon drawn and both kids with their knives in hand.