“Tina and Cala are nowhere in sight,” John pointed out. “They’re usually on hand for any funny tantrums involving El Muerto and the former Princess Bump.”
Gus parked their SUV in front of the mansion along the circular driveway leading in and out of the front area where the garages were located. The front entrance was a magnificent postcard picture of rounded windowed architecture. No one complained during their weeks at the mansion. Nick had become worried his family would rebel when it was time to return home. He needn’t have worried though. The Seattle rains began a week after they arrived for the trial, pummeling the area in a steady downpour the California residents were unused to.
Hunched forward, Jean’s mouth tightened. “I think we should keep going. We’ll call her from down the street. Mom’s been a little moody lately. It’s best to collect facts before interacting with her.”
“Go out and stun her with your vocabulary,” Nick replied. “Tell Rachel you’ve written a story about a Mom who survives pregnancy and loves life to the fullest.”
“What are you bunch laughing at?” Rachel stopped alongside Nick’s open window, shifting Quinn to her other arm. “I saw your press conference, Muerto.”
Nick opened his door to slip out and engulf his wife and son in his arms. “Hi. No, that was not a Muerto media crisis. It was a Kensky media crisis. Apparently, his lawyer guessed the media planned to have a serial killer love fest. The crowd thought differently. They ate poor Gerald like a tuna fish sandwich. He tried to turn the thing on me as we attempted to sneak away. It didn’t work well for him. Did I look bad on camera?”
“No. It’s just there was so much publicity about this case, I’m afraid even the great El Muerto won’t survive in the public eye much longer without a prison sentence. Everyone knows you’re the sniper who shot Kensky’s hand and foot off. They also know McCarty the novelist has ties to every government law enforcement agency in existence. Doesn’t that worry you?”
“As long as Paul stays in charge at CIA, I’ll be fine. If he gets cut out, then we all head for the hills. Who was it again who wanted to instill a social conscience into the mind of El Muerto?”
Rachel pulled away. “I didn’t tell you to become a cartoon. You’re out of control, Muerto. You and your sidekicks, including the Daughter of Darkness, have gone around the bend of insanity. I know what’s in store for Kensky. After today’s confrontation you will be the number one suspect if something happens to him.”
Nick took his son Quinn from Rachel as his sidekicks gathered around to witness yet another round of the Rachel and Nick dialogue on death.
“I have a plan. I’m certain when Mr. Kensky gets out on his own, we’ll no longer have to worry about him. He may decide to skip town and find another place to live, get a job as a postal worker, marry a nice girl, and join the Better Business Bureau.”
Nick’s assessment of Kensky’s future evoked much amusement, even from Rachel. “Let’s go get a bite to eat and forget about serial killers for a while. I’ve been warned I’ll have to face the consequences of not giving you all the up to date data on the Salvatores, and to throw myself on the mercy of the former Princess Bump.”
Rachel’s eyes narrowed, complete with tightening of jaw muscles. Gus, John, and Jean stepped back from the suddenly boiling Rachel cauldron of emotion. Quinn took one look at his Mom and began to whimper. “Excuse me! What could you possibly have done to top getting them into the country club and paying their dues?”
Nick smiled. Although refraining from his past everyday pranks, including putting Jello in Rachel’s slippers and duct taping her into the bed, he still enjoyed the occasional fire and brimstone when she became aware of anything to do with the Salvatores. “Julius told me Phil and Clarice came to him in private to see if they could get our membership revoked.”
For a moment of awestruck rage, Rachel’s features became a flowing mask of undisguised hatred. “Oh… my… God! I want them dead by morning and their house burned to the ground! What are you standing there for, Wanky? Give me the baby and get moving. You’re on a mission of destruction!”
The others moved a couple more steps back with Jean angling behind Gus and John. Nick laughed while turning with Quinn away from Rachel who was trying to get her son. “I’m not killing Sonny’s parents, Rach. Calm down. Julius told them he’d throw their asses out long before he’d ever consider their request.”
Rachel invaded Gus’s airspace next with her hand out. “I want the keys to the SUV and your weapon! Right now! I’ll kill those bastards myself! We’ll adopt Sonny. He won’t notice they’re gone anyway with the amount of time the horse’s asses spend in front of the mirror practicing God knows what!”