there. You’re buying dinner though, Daddy Warbucks.”
“Of course,” Nick agreed.
“I’m starving!” Jean called out, running over with Deke in hot pursuit.
“The deciding vote’s in,” Rachel added. “Let’s go wash up and get Deke settled in. I hope the place has Long Island Iced Tea.”
“I guarantee it,” Gus grinned, putting a comforting arm around Rachel’s shoulders.
“I’ll go out on the porch with my uplink and see what Jim Benoit deciphered from the drives.”
Forty-five minutes later, they arrived at the restaurant. Even Jean laughed with her mom as they looked at the sign that read ‘Hemingway’s Retreat’, although Nick noticed Jean could not figure what her mom was enjoying so much. Gus jumped out of the Pontiac, pointing at Nick with a jabbing index finger, thoroughly enjoying Rachel and Jean’s reaction. Nick stared up at the restaurant sign, shaking his head.
“This is a very nice place, Hemingway, so watch your manners,” Gus advised, and then turned to Rachel. “I stayed at his place in Pacific Grove and met his friends a couple years back. We ate at his buddy Joe’s place. It was fun watching the Terminator here get insulted through an entire meal by the guy waiting on us.”
“I’m starving!” Jean repeated.
Gus led the way inside. Although the restaurant was crowded, they were seated immediately. Rachel wasted no time ordering a Long Island Iced Tea for herself, and a soda for Jean. Nick and Gus opted for beers. When the waitress arrived with their drinks, Rachel downed nearly a third of her very potent drink, which sent a warning signal to Nick. After ordering their meals, Nick spoke up quickly to capture Rachel’s attention.
“Jim Benoit confirmed Jason Bidwell is the driving force behind Tanus. He also explained the connection I asked about, which seems to link Tanus with the late Senator Ambrose. Jason Bidwell and Fletcher’s Max Stoddard teamed up a few times in the past to take out a half-dozen government officials in South America and Mexico. Jim gave me the key to deciphering the encryption they used, so I can begin making a list of possible suspects interested in our demise.”
“Since Ambrose was on the drives, do you think you’re implicated on them, too, from something you did for Tanus?” Nick’s revelation had the desired effect of drawing Rachel’s interest, as her drink seemed forgotten.
“I’ll know tonight when I go over the information with Jim’s key. It doesn’t matter. I’m bringing Grace and Tim into this tonight anyway.”
“If Grace wants to round up the Benoits right now, your place in Las Vegas and -”
Nick gestured for Rachel to keep it down. “There were a goodly number of suspicious things in Las Vegas which might draw the Marshalls’ curiosity. It can’t be helped. I’m hoping for a little discretion on Suzan’s part, but it will be out of my hands once the Benoits hook up with the US Marshall Service.”
“How long will we be here, Nick?” Jean interjected.
“You don’t want to be on the road for your birthday, huh Danger?”
“It is only two days away. A couple moved into the condo complex today. They have a daughter only a year older than me. We talked when she came over to watch us toss the Frisbee around with Deke. Her name’s Ginny. Even Gus liked her.”
“What do you mean even I liked her?” Gus glanced sideways at Jean, who giggled at his overplayed stern demeanor.
“You scare off more kids than Nick does.”
“Gus has to look foreboding when he’s looking after you, Danger.”
“He’s wrecking my social life,” Jean continued, trying to imitate the frown Gus was leering at her with.
An hour and a half later, Nick guided Rachel into the passenger seat of his Escalade while Jean jumped into the back.
“She all right, Nick?” Gus asked, looking the rather pale Rachel over from behind Nick’s shoulder. “I guess we shouldn’t have let her have that third LT.”
“I…I’m okay,” Rachel assured Gus, looking up at him with a crooked smile. “I just…needed some fresh air.”
“We’ll see you tomorrow, Gus.” Nick gave Rachel a slight push on the side of her head. “Bring your fishing pole. I have a feeling we’ll be doing some planning and watching the news after I dump this on the US Marshalls tonight.”
“I’ll bring my fishing gear, but do we have to bring Danger with us? She’s bad luck.”
“Am not!” Jean called out, poking her indignant face up from the back.
“See you all tomorrow.” Gus pointed at Jean, and then spun around toward the rental.
Nick shut Rachel’s door. Fifteen minutes later Nick parked the Escalade in front of the condo complex. Nick handed Jean her mom’s purse.
“You take this Danger, and I’ll help your mom inside.” Nick shook Rachel’s shoulder. “Wakey, wakey.”
“Okay, Nick,” Jean agreed, opening her door with Rachel’s purse in hand.
Nick saw movement near the pillars at the end of the walkway.
“Danger!” Nick hissed, stopping Jean’s movement out the door. “Get back inside.”
“What’s wrong, Nick?” Jean hurriedly closed the door again and locked it.
Rachel stirred when Nick shook her. The urgency in his voice woke her completely, heart racing, and breathing coming in short gasps.
“Rachel!” Nick took her chin in his hand. “Are you with me?”
She nodded. Nick reached into the glove compartment for his H &K with silencer, cocking it.
“Tuck this next to your waist, so the grip pokes toward your right. That’s it. Now clamp it against you with your left hand on the barrel. I’ll come around and help you out of the Cad. Keep your right arm over mine as I guide you toward the condo. Stay slightly crouched over. I’ll walk you with my right hand on the grip. They don’t want you dead, so if someone’s there, they’ll want to talk. The moment we see who it is, drop like you’re too drunk to stand and reach for the sidewalk.”
“I…I don’t feel too well, Nick.”
“Good. Then you won’t have to act. Danger, don’t move out of here or show yourself.”
“Okay, Nick. Take care of my mom.”
“I will.” Nick hurried around to Rachel’s door. He opened it, and leaned in to assist her out.
Nick kicked the door shut, and slipped his right hand onto the butt of the H &K.45 caliber. He kept up a running dialogue telling Rachel they were almost to the condo. As they reached the sidewalk surrounding the complex, three figures stepped out of the darkness in front of them. Nick recognized Rene Santora, but didn’t recognize the two men with her. They were both several inches taller than him.
“Mr. Weatherby.” Rene chuckled. “Having some trouble?”
Nick peered at her, while holding a groaning Rachel tightly to him. “Rene? From the bank?”
“It’s me, and I’ll bet this is Rachel. How long did you think it would take me to check the logs?”
Rachel dropped forward drunkenly to her knees, hands reaching to ease the fall. All eyes followed her down. Nick fired before the men had a chance to look away from Rachel. Forty-five caliber slugs ripped into their brains, throwing them backwards off their feet, where they landed splayed out on the walkway, twitching as if in shock at their sudden demise. Rene’s mouth opened to scream. The butt of Nick’s H &K struck her in the forehead, landing Santora next to the quieting men. He scooped Rachel up to her feet with his next movement, then propped Rene up in a sitting position, and handed the stunned Rachel his weapon.
“Watch her, Rachel, while I put these two in the Escalade.”
“Okay, I got it.”
Nick looked around the deserted area. Seeing no one in view, he quickly pulled the men’s shirts and undergarments up over their heads to absorb the blood from their wounds. He then grabbed the first man under the armpits and dragged him to the Escalade, returning moments later to take the second one. By the time he had secured the two bodies into the cargo compartment and retrieved the duct tape he had stored there, Rene Santora had begun to moan. He taped Santora’s mouth for the second time. After securing her wrists behind her and ankles together, Nick pulled Rene up and over his shoulder. Rachel walked along with him, holding Santora’s purse. He deposited Santora next to her companions. He added more tape to bind her ankles to her wrists. Rachel handed him the purse. Nick rooted around in it until he found car keys. He closed up the back and went around to open the door for Jean.
“C’mon, Danger, we’re going up to make sure Deke’s okay. I go in first, though. I’ll level with you. I’m not sure
