“Only you, Muerto… only you,” Gus said, shaking his head as Johnny and Cala enjoyed Nick’s humorous rejoinder. “I’m surprised you didn’t do a Kensky on them while they were down and blew their ankles apart too.”
Nick grinned, remembering his maiming of Gerald Kensky, the serial killer up in Washington State. “I thought about it. This will be much easier to explain if I’m called in to make a statement. I’m hoping Neil will simply explain a US Marshal sniper was available and he asked me to assess the situation, where upon I kept in constant communication through the wounding of the suspects.”
“That sounds very professional,” Cala stated as the four trekked up the embankment to the guard rail separating the Monterey Peninsula Trail from Lighthouse Avenue with Deke pacing next to Nick.
Johnny took the equipment bag and stowed it in the back of the SUV.
“I’ll drive,” Gus said. “You’d better call Rachel. She didn’t update you on the school situation. I hope that doesn’t mean bad news.”
“Damn… I forgot… it’s okay,” Nick said, checking his iPhone. “She texted me everything was okay. I’ll call her.”
Rachel answered on the first ring. “I heard, Muerto. You did very well. The news crews were there in force with minute to minute coverage. Joe and I are watching it now. The reporters are interviewing the hostages. The woman and kids have already been transported from the scene. No one knows what happened yet. The ambulances have arrived on scene and the paramedics are headed down the pier towards the wounded. How bad?”
“Just a couple scratches,” Nick answered. “Much less than they deserved.”
“Yeah… I’ll bet. Are you going to own up to this?”
“Only if I’m forced to. We’re in contact with Neil. He’ll let me know if I have to make a statement. If I don’t have to deal with hurt feelings from the cops, I’ll be good to go.”
“I love you. See you after work. I guess you’ll be picking Jean and Sonny up, huh?”
“I will do that. You didn’t see anything of my school greeting party?”
“Not a sign. All was quiet when I drove around the school neighborhood. There’s certainly not any people waiting in a vehicle for school to get out. Do you still have Deke with you?”
“Yes. I didn’t have time to drop him off at home. He was his usual well behaved self. If it wasn’t for those mystery cretins haunting the school this morning, I’d head to the Point with my crew for a celebratory beverage, and chance walking Deke with me to escort the kids. I won’t though. It’s too dangerous. Besides, I don’t want to get called in by the cops half in the bag.”
“A wise decision, Muerto. Call me if anything changes or you need a lawyer.”
“I will. In today’s world no good deed goes unpunished. I love you too. Bye.” Nick disconnected.
“Should we stay in the area?”
I don’t think so, Gus. Let’s go over to my house. We can have coffee and snacks on the balcony.”
“Payaso and I, the Kabong, will not have to drive,” Johnny announced from the backseat where Deke stretched out across his lap with head in Cala’s lap. “We can have a taste of the Irish without repercussions.”
“I’m shocked. You two would drink in front of me after all I’ve gone through?”
“Absolutely,” Johnny answered.
Nick sighed. “I feel the Diego series may need a death in the family. Poor Leo.”
“That is very small of you, Muerto.”
Chapter Ten
Preparations and Complications
US Marshals, Tim Reinhold and Grace Stanwick, ambled into the interrogation room where Nick awaited another round of ridiculous questions. “Hi there, my fellow Marshals. It’s nice to see the two of you are still together. You’re a saint, Tim. I didn’t send for help by the way.”
“You have friends in Congress and the Department of Justice, at least in the tier down from the idiots running the place,” Tim said. “We’ve already talked with Neil Dickerson. He said you wouldn’t let him fall on his sword for you. He is the one who asked you in on the hostage situation.”
“Nice shootin’ out there, Tex,” Grace added. “I imagine you had the cartoons with you.”