“When do you have to go, Dad?”
“Soon. Clint said they’re forming the last plans now depending on compound details from two men who lived there. The good news is it will not take long. Let’s drop all this talk of future actions. I need to write another five hundred words in ‘Blood Beach’.”
“You named it?”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing, Rach.”
“I’m surprised but I like the title. It didn’t seem like this time you wanted a title yet. I love the story so far. Diego and Fatima have some chemistry going on in this one.”
“I like the title too, Sir,” Sonny said. “You said it takes place in the Caribbean where there are a lot of beaches for sure.”
“I think my title was better,” Jean said.
“Caribbean Genocide doesn’t fit the novel, Viper,” Nick replied. “Genocide means murdering all the people of a particular race or religion like the Arabs wish to do to the Jews in Israel.”
“Yeah but Diego murders all the bad guys,” Jean persisted. “He’s committing bad guy genocide.”
Rachel stifled laughter at Nick’s twisted look of frustration. “Bad guy genocide, huh? I have to admit I’ve been practicing the concept for quite a few years. The operation at the Pilot Hill compound will be one without mercy or quarter. So many terrorist activities from money laundering to infiltration and human trafficking pass through that place, I think of it as a blessing we stumbled on it in time. We may make jokes about places like Dearborn, but there’s no humor in it if we’re watching a horde of un-assimilating foreign infiltrators developing bases to wage war against America from within.”
Nick put his head in hands for a moment before leaning back in his chair with his familiar smile. “We live the Chinese curse of living in interesting times. Sometimes the lack of common sense, logic, and even self-preservation stuns me into temporary shock. The only cure lies in missions like Pilot Hill, where something can be done no one else can do.”
“Everything you get into, like at the school, sells another million novels in your Diego series,” Rachel offered. “Your notoriety as US Marshal Nick McCarty has fired sales far beyond being a recluse in Pacific Grove. When you acted as a sniper backup during serial killer Kensky’s capture, you were on the front page of every newspaper in the country. Severing his hand and foot off with two shots, coupled with your Delta Force training coming to light propelled you past your character Diego.”
“I love writing pulp and walking Deke down to the Point with all of you. As you mentioned, we’ll never need money. The book signings have been a source of entertainment I never expected. Adding in the real life stints I’ve allowed to seep into my public life are bound to cause us problems. I have a network of people around here from Carmel to Salinas who keep me informed when anything out of place shows up on the horizon.”
“Then it becomes a red horizon, complete with blood slicks,” Rachel quipped. “Speaking of book signings, are you planning to attend the one this coming weekend at ‘Pilgrim’s Way Books’? I would have thought you gunning down that guy in front of their shop also killed any chance of you being invited back. Apparently the news coverage of that event cemented an open invitation for you.”
“I admit I forgot all about the signing,” Nick replied. “This Pilot Hill hit takes priority over everything. The signing will be on Sunday. Pilot Hill may be over by then. Thanks for the reminder. I promised to do a ‘Dark Interlude’ talk coupled with some insights into the next Diego/Fatima paring in ‘Blood Beach’. It may have to be arranged after I go on my New York Kader hunt. Johnny is so funny. When he found out I made you mobi files to edit on your Kindle of my progress in the novel, he asked to have a file copy too so he could track the progress of his character Leo.”
“Uncle Johnny is so into his character, he keeps giving me plot ideas to pass on to you, Dad. I keep telling him it doesn’t work that way,” Jean said. “He keeps saying he understands but to mention them to you anyway. I think he wants to petition Leo into more novel parts than Gus’s character Jed.”
“Yep.” Nick began typing again. “I’m certain of that fact. Gus has sensed it too. Those two banter back and forth about their imaginary parts every time we’re together even though I haven’t written anything new with either character. I’m considering an offshoot novel on the side with Jed and Leo engaging in a boating adventure where they agree to sail a group of mobsters to the Caribbean.”
“Oh…my…God, those two will hound you into a coma writer’s block you’ll never emerge from,” Rachel said.
“Don’t tell them.”
“Telling Momster not to reveal a secret is the same as telling a monkey not to eat a banana,” Jean said, streaking for the door the moment Rachel twitched.