“Sucks to be him,” Nick said. “It looks like you’re our driver for the evening, Cleaner.”
“I know Neil, his wife and their kids. I would kill this Fenric myself,” Cala stated.
“Not necessary, but you will need to calculate space in the freezer,” Nick replied.
“I will do so happily, Muerto.”
*
Fenric Ballesteros watched the Dickerson household with the calmness of an experienced killer from early in the day. Enjoying the commonplace family activities as they moved about their lives without a care in the world touched the only part of Fenric he cared about. Killing meant an end with monetary stability. Feeling the everyday actions of a busy family who smilingly skipped around happily inside their pathetic lives without a clue thrilled him in an indescribable way. It made the tedious prep work actually exciting and the killing just a mundane action.
Fenric smiled in anticipation. He found Mrs. Dickerson to be quite the tasty morsel. Clueless wives could be a wonderful addition to any crime scene. For the next few minutes, he imagined the unimaginable acts he would engage in with the cop’s wife. Ballesteros couldn’t decide whether to keep the cop alive to watch or not. Fenric made disparaging gestures, even as regret in the thought plagued him. Some things would need to be unscripted. The killing of Dickerson’s family would need to be haphazardly violent. If a rape opportunity presented itself, Fenric would be ready. The suddenly appearing flashing lights at his back stabbed reality into his consciousness. Fuck. What the hell could this be?
A dark figure approached Fenric’s vehicle with slow care. Not knowing how many cops might be in the Ford SUV, Fenric decided on feigned ignorance, hoping to dissuade the cop with a lost persona. He rolled down his window with a smile of helpfulness, secretly cursing the time and opportunity window missed.
“Hello. Did I do something wrong?” The Taser needles shot into his chest blanked any random thought. The one who shot them into him watched with a grin until Fenric lost consciousness.
*
“Nope.” Nick also answered the question to himself, and you won’t be doing wrong… ever again.
The Ford drove alongside with side door popping open. Nick deposited Fenric inside. He then got into Fenric’s vehicle without a backwards glance, following the Ford away from Dickerson’s house. He activated his networked com unit.
“Did you get that interaction, Kabong?”
“It has all been digitized, Muerto.”
“Good. This worked out very well. Fenric had no idea he might be in danger from any outside source. That helped immeasurably. We spotted our boy. We had a plan. We engaged. We have Fenric in our control. It’s Miller time,” Nick joked. “I can handle it from here if you three want to call it a night or day.”
“I’m in to the end,” Cala said. “I know this monster would have killed them all without a thought. Johnny and I will sleep later.”
“Me too,” Gus stated. “The ‘Starlight’ gig soured me on the milk of human kindness. Like Cala said, Fenric no doubt had a kill mission in mind.”
“I have researched everything about this creature,” Johnny added. “He is suspected of heinous acts no human being should be taking on as a so called job. Do all assassins think in this way, Muerto?”
Nick hesitated. He shrugged. “Mostly… we’re psychopaths. I would have never taken any job with a family involved as collateral damage, but I know it happens. You’re right though, Johnny, assassins don’t question their employers for the most part. We see targets. We kill targets. Very seldom do we get into the morality of contracts.”
“Will he talk, Muerto?”
“Sure, Cala. Fenric will talk easier than anybody we’ve had for interrogation. Once he wakes on a gurney in our funhouse, Fenric will cooperate for anything we have to offer. Look… we have no conscience, no loyalty, and no compassion.”
“You do, Nick,” Gus said with solemn emphasis.
“I could pretend for you, Gus. Unfortunately, my inner dark side doesn’t disappear at will. Harding calls his people the ‘Monster Squad’. He differentiates his crew between Monsters and Snow Whites. Consider me in this way. Depending on the circumstances everyone is a Snow White to me.”
“I’m well aware of that,” Gus replied. “I also know loyalty strongly influences every one of your actions.”
“That is so, Muerto,” Johnny agreed.
“Let’s leave the morality lessons alone for now. Take us to the Funhouse, Cleaner.”
“Yes, Muerto.”