Cold Blooded Assassin Book 6: Red Horizon (Nick McCarty Assassin) (31 page)

“I have no knowledge of what you speak Annoying Grace. As I’ve explained to the nice gentlemen in uniform accusing me of everything from out of jurisdiction to assault with a deadly weapon, I went in person with weapon to assess the situation. I recognized if something wasn’t done immediately, the meth freaks were going to start hosing people down with their AK47’s which were completely automatic and illegal. The thin blue line here looked uncomfortable about asking me all this stuff, especially after getting the toxicity report from the hospital on those two upstanding citizens. They’re getting pressured from above somewhere. It’s not like I killed them which was my first choice.”

“They’ll never use those hands again to pull triggers. That’s for sure,” Grace agreed. “We shut off audio and visual in this room. Tim told them if they want to be brought up on Federal charges, then just go ahead and ignore us. You’re listed as a S.W.A.T. sniper. Tim and I pointed out that you don’t want any credit for assisting. Once we established Monterey’s Blue can claim the takedown in any manner they wish, it was decided you are free to go. Tim and I also forgive you for not calling us on the Carone operation.”

“I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors about how busy I’ve been. The operation you speak of had extenuating circumstances we’re still in the process of handling. It was decided at the top of the food chain Carone and the threads leading from his organization would be handled by our special task force. I will update you two when it’s over. Don’t even mention the name again, okay?”

“Sorry, Nick,” Tim replied. “That will be great. ‘The ‘Starlight’ operation was incredible. Isis may not have been slowed down much, but you sure punched a hole in their enabler circuit.”

“It went well. If I understand you right, I can walk out of here with you two?”

“Not exactly. The Assistant DA wants to talk to you. Her name’s Emily Dorsett. She seems to think you need another five minutes of bullshit minutia after the hours you’ve already been through.”

“If I can keep my name out of this, it will all be worth the lost time,” Nick replied. “They made me check my iPhone though so I couldn’t funny FaceTime with Jean. Let’s get Em in here so I can get clearance to go.”

“Okay,” Grace agreed, “but hold onto your temper. Don’t let Dorsett bait you, Nick. Tim and I talked to her for fifteen minutes and I still don’t know what her point is.”

“Ditto,” Tim said. “Listen, nod, and let’s get out of here, Nick.”

“I’ll try, Tim.” Nick watched Grace walk out of the room and escort a thin young black woman with a pinched angry look into the interrogation room. Nick figured her age to be middle to late twenties.

She sat down opposite Nick while shuffling papers. When Nick didn’t react she set the folders down, clasped her hands in front of her, and glared into Nick’s smiling face. “I’m Assistant District Attorney Emily Dorsett. Do you know what these folders represent, Marshal McCarty?”

“No… but I have a feeling you’re going to tell me whether I want you to or not.”

Dorsett’s pursed lips almost spewed out whatever actually reflected the vitriol going through her mind. What Nick couldn’t figure out was why. He saw Grace and Tim giving him small head shakes. Grace in particular entertained him with oval mouthed pantomimes of no, no, no.
Game on
.

“You can make light of this if you like but these folders contain filings on behalf of your victims who are suing the city for twenty million dollars. Dominic Quale and Leo McKinley have a damn good chance of winning.”

“No they don’t.” Nick took a USB flash-drive out of his pocket. “Can I borrow your laptop, Grace?”

Grace set her laptop in front of Nick with it open and running. Nick plugged in the USB drive. Nick narrated it, noting the meth-heads body language shaking with every movement. “You can also see the tall perp blasting away over the heads of innocent hostages forced to lie on the pier in front of the restaurant waiting to die. The shorter one holding the phone gets word he doesn’t like on the phone from the negotiator. When the woman and kids were released she had been beaten and her arm was broken. The kids were manhandled and in shock with bruises and wrenched limbs. I know because I made sure to get a copy of the hospital report on the Mom and kids along with a drug screen on the two perps.”

“Where did you get this video?” Dorsett’s mouth went to instant torque.

“My associate filmed the entire incident. If need be, I have three eyewitnesses, two of whom hold FBI and US Marshal credentials. I explained all this to the police interrogators along with the fact I haven’t made any of it public because I figured a trained poodle could get a conviction on two meth-heads threatening the lives of a multitude of innocent people with illegal weapons. My bad. They seemed satisfied when I wanted to hand over all credit to the Monterey Police Department. Didn’t they explain all this to you?”

“They tried, Nick,” Tim said. “Grace and I were in on the meeting.”

“Dorsett here cut them off before they could get two words of explanation out,” Grace added, causing Dorsett to spin angrily toward them. Grace gave her the wave off. “Don’t bother, kid. You screwed up. I don’t know what your angle is, but Nick’s video stomps the hell out of it. Those two clucks will be going away for a long time. They ought to get the death penalty for what they did.”

“Why… because they’re black men?”

Grace slid in next to Emily with her face a few inches away from Dorsett’s, so close in fact, something else crept across the DA’s features: fear. “Listen to me closely, Nick’s best friend and partner is black. He was probably one of the witnesses. What kind of crap are you pulling anyway? Are you auditioning for a leader role in the local ‘BLM’ mob or something?”

“That’s not funny!” Dorsett stood away from the table.

Nick stood too. “Yeah… it is funny. What do you have in mind? As you saw in the video, you have proof to get those two making plea deals for anything up to the death penalty without a court trial. It’s a win. You can take my copy of it. I have others in case you have something else planned behind all this.”

“You maimed two men for life.”

“They’ll have to seek sexual gratification with the other hand in prison. Boo hoo. US Marshals Reinhold and Stanwick can tell you my skills encompass the ability to have blown both of their heads off, thereby saving the State of California millions.”

“That’s obscene!” Dorsett shifted her outrage to Tim and Grace, who were failing miserably to stifle amusement.

Nick walked over to her. “Listen closely. You’ve made an error in judgement. I’m wondering if you are even aware of the incident’s facts. Did you simply see the two guys were black and think I shot them because of their color?”

“I…I… that doesn’t matter. You shot without-”

“It does matter, nitwit! The guy’s wife and kids are black, Em. Maybe you didn’t care enough about them to read in fully on the case. You have the opportunity now to reverse whatever damage you’ve done shooting your mouth off without facts. Take the video to those dolts’ public defender or ambulance chasing asshole that’s representing them. It ain’t likely you’ll have to get through more than a few minutes. If they still have questions, let them know about the witnesses. If they’re smart, they’ll take any deal you offer. You’ll save court expense, and the real victims’ lives won’t go through a lengthy court trial. I don’t know what you’ve been thinking, but until you actually research all the facts within the prism of this video, shut the hell up. Can we go now?”

Dorsett gripped the table with both hands for a moment before using her right hand to wave them out. Nick let Grace and Tim lead the way. They accompanied him to pick up his personal things. That done, the three exited the police station.

“Can I hitch a ride home with you?”

“Of course,” Grace replied. “Can you fill us in on the Carone operation?”

“I can’t. It’s another joint mission with John Harding’s group. Even we don’t know all the parameters of it yet. What do you think all that Dorsett stuff was all about? She talked like those guys’ defense attorney.”

“We weren’t sure what she had in mind after the meeting we were present at with the police,” Tim said. “Thank God you had the video. Is Carone dead?”

“No. He’s in our custody.”

“Meaning he’s locked in a room somewhere awaiting death?”

“Possibly not, Annoying Grace. I’ll let you know how it works out in the end. I’m trying to figure out what Dorsett could possibly gain by trying to railroad me with a bogus complaint. Did you hear any of the regular cops mention anything about me?”

“They wondered why you were being held and questioned at all. They saw your action as a win. You’ll need to keep an eye on Dorsett,” Grace replied. “Do you have enemies inside the Monterey DA’s office?”

“I don’t think so. Someone moved on the case real fast for the defense. Suing the city for twenty million seems like a ploy to get those two released. You know how fast the politicos start apologizing when anything happens to any minority, no matter what crime they commit. If the city settled, instead of prosecute for millions to keep the whole thing out of the headlines, I wonder if there’s a connection to Dorsett getting a piece of the action.”

“Plausible,” Tim agreed. “I think Grace and I better meet with the police chief with your video. We may have to insist on you getting credit, but only as a mention about a US Marshal sniper called in to assess and handle the hostage crisis alongside the police. That way Dorsett can’t sandbag the video and allow the wrong outcome to surface.”

“Thanks, Tim. That sounds good. Those two meth-heads had every intention of killing everyone they could. It makes me think I should have capped them both. It seems relying on a strong police response to insane accusations by the perps is a thing of the past.”

“You had no way of knowing the DA’s office would fold at the first hint of a ridiculous lawsuit,” Grace said. “Tim’s right. We’ll get to the police chief and pin him down. Send me the video file.”

“I copied it to your desktop when I plugged in my USB drive. It’s labeled ‘Hostage File’.”

Grace checked her laptop as Tim drove. “Great. How did the mess at the school get resolved? When Rachel called to let us know about the attempted kidnapping I couldn’t believe it. She said there was more to it but she couldn’t talk about it on an open line.”

“Same as with the Carone connection,” Nick answered. “We’re trying to get in front of this Isis wave. Right now, we’re mostly playing catchup. We think this new operation will set back Isis operations on their heels. They want California badly as a base of operations. There’s no denying that now. Al-Qaeda is also attempting to get back in the game. Just like overseas in the sand, the rabid dogs are tearing at each other whenever they cross paths. I have a plan I’m going to run by John Harding and his crew.”

Tim arrived outside Nick’s house. “We’ll call with news one way or another within the hour.”

“Thanks. I appreciate the backup today. I admit they blindsided me with their line of questioning about two wounded perps caught dead to rights. I will definitely be watching DA Dorsett. I believe it’s time for me to find a bit more information about her life, finances, connections, and interests. If she somehow screws this hostage case up, she’ll be signing those two nitwits’ death warrants. I don’t plan on leaving two guys like that running around.”

“Understood,” Grace said. “Say hi to Rachel and Jean. We’ll make a real visit soon.”

“I will. Pay close attention to the suits’ mannerisms and expressions. Something’s fishy about this.”

“Agreed. We’re living in some damn strange times when two guys can beat women, manhandle kids, hose down a public tourist spot with automatic weapons fire, and then sue the city because they got shot doing it.”

“You outlined it beautifully, Grace. Talk to you in a while.” Nick watched them drive away with more questions than answers.

Rachel met him at the door. “I thought you were only going to be gone for an hour or so to make a quick statement. Then Neil calls and tells me they’re holding you for extended questioning. Gus and Johnny went with me to the school for Jean and Sonny. They’re all upstairs with Tina and Cala. The way Gus explained it, there shouldn’t have been an interrogation.”

Nick hugged Rachel, kissing her with a passion fired slightly by the black short-shorts and red halter-top. “Wow… you look very nice. Forget the other crap. Let’s go have a drink. Did you see any sign of my greeting party from this morning? The cops took my phone so I couldn’t call you to get an update or give one.”

“No sign,” Rachel answered as Nick also greeted the very happy Deke. “We repeated an area check for suspicious cars. You must have a problem when the cops want to put you in the back room to be beaten with rubber hoses for stopping two killers.”

Nick took her hand, tugging her toward the stairs with Deke pacing at their heels. “At first the way DA Dorsett whacked me around, I thought it was because I shot two guys of the wrong race. The more I think about it, the more I believe there was something else prompting Dorsett. I told Grace and Tim I’d look into Dorsett’s background. Without the video Cala filmed I’d still be in the box back at the Monterey station.”

“Do you think it’s politically motivated? You don’t even know any of the Monterey politicos, do you?”

“No. Before you and Jean came along, I lived like a recluse. Only Joe, Dan, Carol, Jerry, and a few others scattered around the area even knew I wrote books. Frank would have sent more killer teams than he did if I’d gone overboard on publicity. I admit to getting a kick out of doing the public events now at the bookstores.”