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  “I love that ‘Short Circuit’ movie. I make a much better Johnny Five than Harding does. I like Johnny better and so does Cala. Done deal.”

  “Fine,” Gus replied, “but lose the ‘Johnny Five’ declaration.”

  “Blow it out your clown ears, Payaso,” Johnny told him. “Johnny Five tones down for no one, minion of the T-Rex.”

  “Don’t start that again. Tina doesn’t like that tag.”

  Johnny gave Gus a hand flick. “Yeah? So what’s your point? T-Rex doesn’t consider our feelings when she goes postal on us for something. She keeps calling Muerto, Gomez. We’re not the Addam’s Family, although Muerto calling her Cousin Itt suits her pretty well.”

  “We can take it. She can’t, and then I have to hear about it at home.”

  “Tina’s caustic, Payaso,” Nick said. “She does suit you very well though. You have to admit, Kabong, Tina was on her best behavior on our pirate cruise mission aboard the ‘Starlight’.

  “Sure, because it is very difficult to whine about a royal suite aboard the most luxurious ocean liner on the high seas. Plus… she didn’t have Payaso to torture. Without her life’s work aboard of annoying Payaso, T-Rex couldn’t fill her time with the usual mundane things such as whining, ordering Payaso around, and beating him with a stick.”

  “She does not beat me with a stick,” Gus insisted, listening to his friends’ humorous appreciation of his interactions with Tina.

  “I bet those days sailing on the Valkyrie were like heaven without T-Rex,” Johnny kept hammering away as they loaded Conrad into the freezer.

  “I admit steaming around in a gunship as lethal as the Valkyrie eclipsed anything I ever did before. Tina would have hated it – no doubt about that. We destroyed an Iranian battleship. Good Lord in heaven, where does a tugboat captain get to do that.”

  “Amen to that,” Johnny said, shoulder hugging Gus. “I think we are all coming down a little from the ‘Starlight’ op. Go and do all your networking chores, Muerto. We grabbed Conrad early. Gus and I will be over later to find out how the ‘Monster Squad’ feel about another joint effort. Does it really matter in these times if Paul and Denny get involved?”

  “It does. We can’t do what’s necessary to safeguard America without these internal battles, Johnny. All of it should be in the open with every citizen involved, coupled with border shutdown, and no immigration passes from anywhere in the Middle East. That ain’t happening, so we’re stuck with putting Band-Aids on each potential atrocity without ever attacking the cause. I’m game, because I damn well will not ever allow Sharia Law or Islam to dictate my life. I will kill until I have no bullets, no killing implements, and I am dead. As you two know, I will make my passing legendary.”

  Gus shook hands with Nick in double grip passion. “I’m in all the way, brother.”

  “As am I,” Johnny added, joining the three way handshake. “I want nothing more in this life than to die with my boots on, at the side of my friends, as Dan did. He may not have had us at his side when he took out that piece of shit burglar, but we were with him in his head, along with his lost mate.”

  “Exactly right, Johnny. I’ll call when I make arrangements one way or another for our buddy, Al-Kadi. If we get the ‘Monster Squad’ involved, this alteration in Isis plans is going to get real bloody.”

  “There is no choice in that. This hive must be dealt with, Muerto.”

  “I know, but we have to take some added steps to get backing or risk ending up on Harding’s Monster Squad Island. We’re in the middle of a silent war against an enemy so stupid they blatantly put their messages of pedophilia, honor killings, and female genital mutilation on public forums such as YouTube - yet they’re funded, enabled, and whitewashed by a growing number of liberal dolts in this country. We may not ever be able to correct all of their traitorous mistakes.” Nick shrugged with a sigh of acceptance and tightlipped purpose. “We could just accept it all as it comes. With me… that will never happen.”

  “Yes!” Johnny pumped a fist. “I was absorbed into this plague because I felt helpless to react as an individual. No more! Everything happening within Islam is blasphemy! To put it bluntly: peace my ass! At least I am finally part of something that can defend civilization in spite of a vocal part of our citizens who would rather be chained as chattel.”

  “I change every time we do an op like the ‘Starlight’ or gather in a blight on humanity like Conrad,” Gus admitted. “I’m never giving up this chance to thwart whatever plot of one world order our idiot leaders splice together. We are not all the same. I want to barf when I hear about the rest of the world. Stay where the hell you are. Make things right or bend over and let them pork you in your own damn countries… idiots!”

  Nick smiled. “Great… we’ve solved the world’s problems. Let’s split and meet later where we can return to the day by day grind of actually eliminating our enemy. Yes… I know it’s still a ‘Whack-a-mole’ solution with no end in sight, but we only have one dog in this hunt: America. Since we all agree this Islamist Trojan Horse plague can only be stopped on a minimal basis at this time, let’s concentrate on what we can do. We protect Emily and her Dad first and foremost. That can only be done in one way - wasting anyone fomenting plans against state senator Waterson’s family. I have a bad feeling about the Pilot Hill pack. If I convince John and his crew to take a hand in this, I think those dogs plotting to carry out any kidnappings in the future will think twice. I doubt many of them, if any, will survive this operation.”

  “I will bring Cala. Sometimes your words upset me, Muerto, and the only solution is Harding’s professed saviors, the Bud and Beam brothers,” Johnny stated with a straight face. “Cala will be my designated driver.”

  “Good thinking, Kabong,” Nick said. “How about you, Payaso?”

  “I’m in. Tina and I will walk over.”

  “You’re making the T-Rex walk?” Johnny went through a series of first class outraged mannerisms. “You’ll be hogtied for the remainder of your tortured life. Get on your knees like the penitents and saviors of civilization. Perhaps by prayer, she will spare you. We will all mourn your passing if she doesn’t, my friend. Surely you know better than to make T-Rex walk, Payaso.”

  “Very funny, Kabong,” Gus replied. “First off, we walk all the time together. Secondly, no one will either suggest or coerce such a thing from me. I’m not speaking to you again unless you apologize. Tina and I get along fine. Never presume to know another man’s marriage.”

  “I apologize,” Johnny said, hanging his head in a sorrowful manner. “I should never presume to know what T-Rex will do to you next. How is the writing going, Muerto?”

  “Dark Interlude is a hit according to Cass. I’ve already started the new Diego novel. I wrote a couple thousand words this morning before anyone interrupted me. I haven’t titled it yet though.”

  “You usually pick a title while you’re outlining,” Gus replied. “Will it be about our ‘Starlight’ op?”

  “No. I figured I better put some time between Diego and a cruise ship caper. This one has my ‘femme fatale’ Fatima luring Diego into an unforeseen professional gang heist. The gang works out of Issac’s St. Lucia Island. It again has all the ingredients of a James Bond type interlude in the Caribbean, with Diego’s faithful companions, Jed and Leo.”

  “Yes!” Johnny pumped a fist. “Thank you, Muerto! Leo will not let you down as a character. You must find a way to work in my talents in real life with this fabulous character you have created.”

  “You mean like sucking up, and kissing ass,” Gus asked.

  “Don’t be a hater, Payaso.”

  Nick took a few moments to enjoy the interaction before gesturing for calm. “Let’s stick to basics guys. We still have to puzzle out the Mother Ship, Jay Parks told us about before the ‘Starlight’ gig.”

  “Damn… that’s right,” Gus said. “With all that’s happened, I forgot about Parks. He’s fish bait. What he told us about his boss Fernando Caron
e should have been on the top of our list from the time we landed after the ‘Starlight’ op. A Mother Ship off of the Channel Islands near San Luis Obispo? I have to hand it to you, Muerto. You don’t forget anything.”

  “Payaso’s right. Did you get a call from your friend Neil about our execution of Jay Parks’ ‘banger crew, Muerto?”

  Nick nodded. “Yeah… Neil knew it was the magnificent three that did in Jay’s crew the moment he was summoned to the crime scene. They called an all hands on deck for their discovery of a dozen dead bodies to every precinct from here to Salinas. Naturally, the FBI, DEA, and every local cop had a theory. Neil asked me, but I answered in the form we have agreed on.”

  When Nick didn’t go on, Gus threw his hands up in the air, frustration plain on his face. “What form, Muerto?”

  Nick held out a stopping gesture with his hand. “Easy, Gus… sorry… if Neil asks me about involvement I tell him ‘oh God help us, that’s terrible’. He knows we killed the gang. I’m turning him to the dark side.”

  “Yeah, you have,” Johnny agreed. “Will you please shelve the shocked features, Payaso? We need Neil in the know without making it obvious to everyone in existence. That he goes along with our needed operations is a big plus for us.”

  “This doing right crap is draining,” Gus replied.

  “Doin’ right ain’t got no end, Payaso,” Nick stated, to much amusement at the ‘Outlaw Josie Wales’ movie reference from his companions.

  * * *

  I saw the Nick number on my iPhone. “Nick?”

  “Yeah… it’s me, brother John. I have another crappy caper to run by you. Paul signed off on it, but I wanted to call you before it trickled down from Denny.”

  Yep. That’s what real professionals do. I hadn’t talked to Nick since we split up after the ‘Starlight’ gig. “It’s good to hear from you, Nick. We have free time. Send the specifics. Count on us for the dance. Is it a party or a prom?”

  “It’s definitely a prom date. We’re planning on a possible full dress excursion with music, but only as a last resort.”

  I tried muffling the laughter Nick invoked. I knew he spoke of a ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ type date. “Understood. I’ll prep our dates. This will be an exciting dance. We’ll need them to bring all their moves. Good stuff, brother. Do you think we’ll ever get to bow out of these formal functions?”

  Nick paused. “We get older and meaner, Dark Lord. It would be a natural thing if our dates lapsed into more conservative calm form, but I have no hopes of such a welcome respite happening to our party persona style, my friend.”

  “That’s how I figure it too with the party leaders we have now. Let me know, brother.”

  “I will. Until then.” Nick disconnected.

  “Who was that,” Lora asked me. She and Al had moved closer so as to eavesdrop on my conversation, with Lora pretending she hadn’t heard Nick’s name.

  “Death and destruction.”

  Lora sighed. “So soon? I figured after the cruise, trouble would be at an end for a while.”

  I remembered Muerto’s phrase he used often now. “Doin’ right ain’t got no end.”

  “You stole that line from Nick,” Al said.

  “Nick appropriated it from a movie called ‘The Outlaw Josie Wales’. He’s found another nest. We either handle it or prepare for some other catastrophe to happen. He’ll be sending me the details. Nick already has an okay from Paul Gilbrech. That means Denny will be calling to make it official. It’s Friday. Let’s go have dinner at The Warehouse. Maybe Denny and the crew can meet us.”

  Lora sighed. “Great. Another Monster Squad night out. Did Tommy give you the weekend off from the Bay Poking sessions?”

  “Yeah. Tommy wants me to do ground and pound on weekends. The fight with Costigan is still up in the air. Besides, the Rock doesn’t like ground and pound. Neither does Berserker. Whichever one wins the rematch will be mandated to fight me. I have to train now for both.”

  “Is Lynn mad about not being allowed in on the training?”

  “No,” I answered Al, refraining from making the sign of the cross and saying thank God. “Lynn’s busy tracking people with Clint for their FBI contacts. Lynn has been getting back into the serial killer manhunts again. Clint and Lynn helping keeps Sam and Janie on our side. They came through for us with all the prisoners we needed watched during the ‘Starlight’ mission. In addition to their help, they relieved us of all but a couple prisoners Denny wanted to keep. What about dinner?”

  “I like it,” Al said. “I love being around all of you. Jean and Sonny are depending on me to keep them informed. We have our own message drop. Don’t worry, Dad. We don’t discuss anything coming or ongoing. They like hearing about anything to do with Lynn.”

  “I’m for dinner too,” Lora said. “Will you be inviting Claude Chardin? He went out on a few training sessions with you, didn’t he?”

  “Yeah. The prick enjoyed the hell out of watching Tommy poke the crap out of me. He even took a turn. Claude liked the background part he played in the ‘Starlight’ gig and the money. His contacts in Dubai really helped. Denny told me he really liked having him along in the AWAC surveillance plane. His insights and observations during the Iranian Migs encounter kept Denny calmer during what was the most dangerous part of the gig. I’ll ask him to come along tonight. I’d like his input on whatever names Nick sends me.”

  “Good. I like his wife. I hear Claude and Nick hit it off too.”

  “Like peas from the same pod. Nick knows Claude was turned from the dark side. Claude would like a more active role in our outings together. He has bills to pay. I’ll bring him in on this latest one if I can.”

  My iPhone dinged. It was Denny. “Just the guy I wanted to talk to. I take it Paul talked with you. Nick’s sending me an invitation to the dance.”

  Denny sighed. “Good. You’re familiar with part of it.”

  “Give me a chance to go over the invitation. You can have dinner at The Warehouse with us later to discuss the invitation. I’m asking Claude in too.”

  “Good idea. I’ll call Claude. I already have Nick’s info. I want to test Claude’s knowledge as you do, I’ll bet. I like something else Nick mentioned as an alternative to a full ‘Ride’ too.”

  “I’ll look forward to reading the invitation. That was my plan with involving Claude,” I answered. “I’m spreading the word for six. Is that okay?”

  “Yes, but I’ll be there earlier if Alexi wants in too. I like having Alexi, Claude, you, and me at five for a private chat if that’s okay.”

  “Sure. I’ll be there.”

  “Until then, DL,” Denny said. “Claude let me know how much he liked your training sessions. It’s nice of you to invite your new friend.”

  “I will smack your smart-mouth into next week, Spawn.”

  “Sorry. Did I say that out loud? I’ll see you at five.”

  “Yeah.” I disconnected. I pointed at Al. “Are you sure you want to get into basketball? Lynn already told me she wants to coach with me on the sideline with her.”

  “I want to do it, Dad. Being involved in any sport with Lynn as the coach psyches me. Sonny wants in too. We’re lucky we can play coed leagues still. Will Lynn have a problem coaching boys too?”

  “Crue and I mixed it up a little on the court. She plays very well. We went over basics and patience with the kids. She’ll be fine. Clint will be helping too, especially during practices. They have Clint Jr. to raise. You know he’ll be wanting to play sports.”

  “With all the babies born at the same time, I could probably coach my own team of ‘Little Monsters’.”

  Now that was funny. The visions of Al running herd on Monster Squad offspring threw my imagination into overdrive. “Hold that thought. It will probably come true someday.”

  “Next summer, can I go to summer camp with Jean and Sonny?”

  I had heard about what went down at the last Jean and Sonny summer camp excursion. I knew Lora didn’t know anyt
hing about it, but I had a feeling Al did. “I don’t know about that.”

  “What’s the harm, DL,” Lora asked. “Jean and Sonny are great kids. I don’t mind if Al tags along with them.”

  I smiled at Al while Lora went to the sink. She did her hands clasped, contorted feature, pleading action. Al obviously knew I had been told about the last summer camp happenings involving kidnappers, kids near death, and Nick’s execution of the two kidnappers.

  “I guess that would be okay. I think for a treat like summer camp with friends, even though it’s in the future, it should be good for at least a month free of Beeper.”

  “It’s Justin Drew Bieber!” Al was not pleased. She pulled the Bieber out on us at the worst possible time… which for me was anytime.

  I crossed my arms in a grinning wait for her decision.

  “That’s blackmail!”

  “Oh no! Not that! Take it or leave it, Princess Beeper.”

  “I’ll take it… but there will be blood!”

  * * *

  Nick hit dead center on the targets with the throwing knives. Using both hands, Nick completed underhand tosses with enough power to sink the blades to the hilt while turning from his position facing away from the targets. He grinned at his pupils, Sonny and Jean, who were staring at the target in open mouthed wonder while Rachel laughed.

  “Much like you throw a fast pitch softball, it becomes a matter of hand placement with eye coordination.” Nick repeated the throws, one after another, in more deliberate fashion. “After stationary target accomplishment, I’ll rig a moving sound type target. When you two can hit a moving target underhanded while facing away from target, your training in knives will be done, except of course for constant practice.”