Cold Blooded Assassin Book 6: Red Horizon (Nick McCarty Assassin) (27 page)

“That sounds good to me,” I agreed. “I guess we better get started.”

“I’ll stay with the kids, Achmed, and Samira,” Clint said. “Developing those files left a bad taste in my mouth. If you need anything in the Podiatrist Room, call out to the minions. Gus told me they’re staying until after we have enough info to decide on our plan for Pilot Hill.”

“You and Achmed did a hell of a job with the files. They even shocked Sam and Janie.” I went to our intercom system controls. “Mr. Denova… please escort our female guest to be prepped for interrogation. How did the warmup go?”

“Exceptionally well,” Gus replied. “We’ll settle Ms. Nazari into position. She’s a bit out of sorts at the moment. We’ll make her drink some water before anchoring her to the table.”

We purposely have the intercom on speaker for the inmates’ enjoyment. Flo began screaming her heart out as Gus disconnected.

* * *

Although recovering from an electronic jolt to quiet her down, Flo’s twisted features could not relax from utter terror. The minions, having strapped her securely onto the table with her feet in our special restraints, filed out of the room as we entered. Lynn wore her new interrogation costume: black slacks, black lab-coat, red-lettered nametag with Dr. Cruella Deville on it, and black exam gloves. Her blonde hair, tied tightly in a bun like a ‘Nurse Ratchet’ clone, contrasted with her very dark eyeliner and lipstick. I wore black jeans, black t-shirt, and black exam gloves.

When she first walked into a room with all of the ‘Monster Squad’ in attendance, we were struck dumb for a moment, before erupting in applause. Flo took one look and began hyperventilating as Lynn and I followed our agreed approach to the table. Lynn remained silent, stroking Flo’s hair and cheek. She then traced one black gloved index finger over Flo’s center, leg, and right foot, pausing at the little toe. Lynn then smiled hugely at the gasping Flo.

“Hi there, Flo. I’m Dr. Deville. This is my assistant, the Dark Lord. We are recording our examination and conversations. Would you like to tell us everything you know about everything or would you like to play ‘this little piggy went to market’?”

Flo tried to speak but could only babble. Lynn folded her arms in contemplation. “What do you think, Dark Lord? Perhaps Flo doesn’t understand she is no longer in the hands of the regular federal authorities.”

“I believe she’s terrified out of her mind, Dr. Deville. Pain might be the only balm for this malady. I could break a finger so she’ll have something to concentrate on besides her predicament.”

“No! Please…please don’t hurt me!”

“What do you know about that, DL? Flo found her voice all by herself. We have some time constraints, so tell us what you know about Nick McCarty and why your husband tried with those other two mutants to kidnap McCarty’s daughter.”

“Majd heard about an assassin named Felix Moreau being killed in Salem on the Dark Web. Moreau…” Flo ran out of air for a moment, calming herself with pleading features aimed at gaining a moment’s respite from her interrogators. “My husband knew Moreau was hired by… Isis to kidnap Emily Waterson and kill her if State Senator Waterson didn’t agree to stop blocking land acquisitions by our representatives. I-”

“Your representatives, huh?”

One look at the murderous glare Lynn visited upon her and Flo began crying. Lynn took a deep breath. She patted Flo’s cheek reassuringly. “Go on with your story. You’re doing real well.”

“I…I’m sorry. Moreau was killed by an assassin, rumored to be Nick McCarty. Majd remembered McCarty’s name from my confrontations with his daughter, Jean. He tracked all of the news stories about McCarty killing relatives of the Kader family, first in defense of Dimah Kader, a teacher at the school. Majd immediately contacted the Kader family, learning McCarty killed many of their family members, including three sent by the family only a short time ago. Then… five male members of the Kader family were executed, supposedly by Isis operatives. Majd knew that not to be true. He informed our mentor, Saran Al-Kadi of what was going on.”

“If the Kader family hired the assassins as we’ve heard, what could kidnapping Jean have to do with the Kader’s wanting Nick dead?”

“I don’t know the… details. The Kader family agreed with Al-Kadi to contact Sohail and Javid who Saran knew to be in New York. He used Majd to act as an intermediary. The Kaders were promised McCarty would die once he carried out an assassination for Al-Kadi on a Saudi prince financing Al-Qaeda named Rabiah Al-Saud. The Kaders agreed to Al-Kadi’s terms, paying for all expenses incurred. My husband thought he could corner Jean away from the school on a pretense of meeting with the principal. He didn’t know McCarty had driven her to school. He thought it the perfect time because Majd saw Jean and her friend alone.”

“Why didn’t he try to have you approach Jean, or at least wait until she was alone?”

Flo’s facial features showed momentary annoyance at my question. “Jean’s never alone. She also is a very irritable child. She suspects everything. Majd gets impatient. I tried to convince him I could coax her over to the street where our driver could have arrived in seconds to pick her up. I would wave at the vehicle as it left, pretending Jean had to go quickly, and then tell anyone who asked that she had an emergency at home. Majd became angry, insisting she was only a girl, and he would handle it. We would never have tried such a thing with either parent present. Jean’s mother wanted to beat me up the other day in anger. I know now McCarty is a killer. He was about to execute all three men until realizing there were witnesses.”

“Wow!” I chuckled. “If these idiots weren’t so dangerous, they would be laughable, Crue. Al-Kadi thought he could enlist Nick, the now foremost assassin in the world, to do a hit on a Saudi prince by kidnapping his daughter? Oh my… we should enter you geniuses in the ‘Darwin Awards’ this year.”

“Kabong told me a story about some idiot gangster who sent two hired guns into a restaurant to collect Nick for an assassination,” Lynn added. “Nick went with them, his .45 Colt pointed at their heads, to meet the boss. He pretended interest in the assassination until finding out who the target was and then Nick killed them all. It’s a wonder there are any Kaders left.”

“We’ll run it by Nick. If we can get your new acting converts to arrange the meeting with Al-Kadi together, using the pretext Nick had killed all the ones sent after him, but was interested in the job he tortured out of them, Al-Kadi might take the meeting without hesitation.”

“But…but he didn’t kill… oh…oh no! Please don’t kill me! I will help! I can-”

“Shut your pie-hole, Flo! Let me think.” Lynn walked around the table to my side. “I like it, DL. Nick’s no fool. If there’s a flaw in our thinking he’ll find it. We’re going to be busy today. My curiosity is aroused. We have three more Pilot Hill compound frequenters. Let’s put our Flo in the holding cell up here and get started on the bad boys. I’ll make sure Nick’s journey into darkness will be as safe as we can arrange it.”

“Agreed.”

“You…you’re going to kill my husband?” Flo was slow on the upswing.

“No, dear Flo, we’re going to send your husband and his two scumbag friends to Disneyland,” Lynn retorted. “Now, shut up while DL gets you on your feet. One more question – your driver, Jack Gichki, was detained by the Pacific Grove police. Who is he and what does he have to do with your operation?”

“Jack is a close friend of my husband’s. He does anything my husband tells him to do. They fought together in Syria.”

“I’ll pass that on to Nick the moment I get Flo into holding, Lynn.”

I saw a slight smile flit across her face until Flo noticed I was staring at her. “If we learn bad things about Jack you should have told us I will ask Dr. Deville to skin you alive. We haven’t done a filleting for a long time.”

“And my knives are a little dull,” Lynn added.

“I meant nothing by it! Jack is a stone cold killer. He was under orders to act stupid no matter who talked with him from the police, but to do what they said without question. That is the only way the police could have captured him. Jack will kill McCarty.”

“Oh… DL,” Lynn grabbed my arm. “Quickly! Call Nick. He’s in danger from the big bad Jack.”

Lynn and I enjoyed that one for a while, as I unstrapped Flo.

Chapter Nine

Pilot Hill Preliminary

“Stop here.”

Neil smiled in the rear view mirror at his former prisoner Jack Gichki. He had asked to be let out at the Sea Breeze Motel as listed on the arrest warrant. “Stay out of trouble, Mr. Gichki, and don’t leave town.”

“Where are my friends?”

“As I told you, federal custody.”

“What of McCarty? Has he been arrested for the Kader murders?”

“No. Mr. McCarty had an alibi and I received solid information the Kaders ran afoul of an Isis group.”

“That is a lie! We both know the truth. McCarty killed them!”

Neil kept a professional tone and posture. “We’re looking into all possibilities, Mr. Gichki. You drove a vehicle plotted to be used in the kidnapping of Mr. McCarty’s daughter. If I were you, I’d stay away from Marshal McCarty.”

“It would be very wise for McCarty to stay away from me. I will find my friends.”

“You have the FBI Agent’s card. Call in a day or so,” Neil said. “Have a nice evening. Your court time is 10 am tomorrow morning. Do not be late.”

“I will be there. I did nothing. I drove my friend’s vehicle as requested. You should be pursuing the murderer McCarty instead of harassing and profiling Muslims.”

“Whenever you Muslims stop kidnapping children from their schools, I’ll pursue some other avenue of criminality. Until then, I’ll be forced to keep arresting you actual perpetrators.” Neil drove away, leaving Gichki cursing under his breath.

* * *

Gichki hurried to his room. He knew Al-Kadi would be waiting to receive word from Majd. Gichki played the dummy as instructed - open mouthed surprise at every question, and a shrug of the shoulders for an answer. Jack prayed he would get a chance to kill McCarty. It gave him pause that McCarty handled Nazari, Bhatti, and Kamboh like children. Jack would kill him from a distance.

He opened his apartment door. As he walked into the room, Jack felt something at ankle level and tripped. Falling forward to the carpet on his hands and knees, he felt the smooth surface of plastic. A knee, in the small of his back, drove him onto his chest and face. He felt the wire cut into his throat, severing everything in its path. Gichki choked, his blurring vision and convulsing body heralding Jack’s last moments on earth. Tongue protruding from nearly severed head, the tension was released, allowing Gichki’s head to drop forward to the black and red plastic surface.

* * *

Nick gathered his razor wire garrote from around Gichki’s neck, carefully slipping it forward from under the dead man’s head. “Perfect trip, guys.”

Gus gathered in their trip wire from Johnny. Gus took digital pictures, fingerprints and a DNA swab for filing with CIA, where Gichki’s death would be catalogued, but remain secret. His two friends wrapped Gichki in the black tarp and duck taped it tightly to make sure no blood escaped. They transferred the wrapped body to a large moving trunk on large casters. Nick had already packed Gichki’s bags. The weekday patronage at the Sea Breeze was minimal. Gus drove his Ford SUV in front of the room. In moments, the three men packed away everything from the room, including the deceased. Johnny added the final touch. He resembled Gichki slightly. With ball-cap in place, hoodie covering it, and sunglasses on, Johnny entered the office to turn in his room cards, complementing the staff for their service. The woman behind the counter took the cards with a small smile of acceptance.

“Thank you, Mr. Gichki. We hope to see you again.”

“If ever I am in the area, I will certainly stay here. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Sir.”

Johnny exited the motel office and entered the front seat of Gichki’s Toyota Camry which Nick drove. “Did you leave a tip, Muerto?”

“Of course and Gichki was no cheapskate. It was nice of the Dark Lord to worry about us. I assured him we had not forgotten about our innocent driver. Neil’s boss was the one who made the decision not to send the driver with the rest of the pack because Nazari claimed he had merely hired Gichki.”

“Do you think we should have questioned Gichki?”

“Lynn milked the other four so thoroughly I doubt we could have discovered anything new. This way, Jack disappears without a trace, misses his court date, and when they come to collect him, the cops or whomever find his place vacated completely. Neil will be off the hook. The staff here will only remember a nice guy who left a big tip. Case closed. On to our Toyota Camry rebirth. Did Jerry say whether now was a good time?”

“He said he would be at the shop for the next few hours,” Johnny answered. “Did you check the registration?”

“It’s Jack’s. Jerry may have to part it out. I brought his pay envelope. We have to hurry. Payaso will be whining if we leave the dead body in his new Ford very long. Cala doesn’t have to hurry the prep work. No one will miss Jack. His friends will be dead. Lynn said she will handle all the reeducation points with Nazari’s wife before they drop Flo back with her parents in LA. The first call will be to resign her teaching position. We’ll go over and clean out her apartment tonight too. We may find some extra items of interest there. The rest of the crap we’ll dump at a Goodwill Store. If all Flo the dip-shit has are different colored burkas we’ll get rid of them too.”