“Kneel or die!” The man claiming to be Nick McCarty looked a split second from murder. His finger closed on the MP5 trigger. “Ever see that TV show ‘Justified’? That’s the kind of US Marshal I am. I don’t give a shit whether you kneel or die.”
Ray saw instant death in the man’s eyes. He interlocked his fingers and knelt as ordered with Biff following his lead. Two men came around the entrance with professional ease to restrain their hands behind their backs. They were then helped by the two new arrivals to their feet. They were shown both identification from the FBI and the US Marshal’s Service as promised. Ray relaxed slightly.
“It’s the law, Biff.”
Biff searched the trio’s faces, who were professionally patting them down, and confiscating everything they had on them. The little whore in the mini-skirt brought in a bag. She searched through the small room, bagging anything of an electronic nature. “This don’t look good, partner.”
“We want our lawyer.” Ray cursed himself for their smartphones and electronic tablets. They got stupid. No way should he or Biff been found with anything other than burner phones. A happy thought crossed his addled mind in a brief streak of relief. “Where’s your warrant? Are we under arrest? You can’t just take whatever you want. We’ll have your damn badges!”
“All of your questions will be answered shortly,” the man named Nick answered. “Once you’re in interrogation you can speak with anyone you want to call. Are we ready, Cleaner?”
“Yes, Muerto. I will be right back.” The woman hurried off with the bag in hand. A Ford SUV drove into the Sea Breeze parking lot. It turned with doors opening automatically for them.
“Here’s our ride. Let’s go. This way, gentlemen.” The US Marshal guided Ray, with Biff following at the prompting from the Marshal’s cohorts into the SUV.
Once inside the vehicle, driving away from the motel, the large black guy with the man claiming to be Marshal McCarty approached them with syringes in his hands. Ray began to battle, only to have the MP5 pressed to his head.
“Go ahead and fight, Ray. It won’t matter.”
Moments later, Ray and Biff lost consciousness.
*
“You were exceptional today, Cleaner,” Nick complimented Cala as he strapped Biff into place on a gurney inside the nightmarish Carmel Valley interrogation room. “Your suggestion of using a supposed gift from Fernando of a hooker was perfect. The performance you acted out netting Biff and Ray without tearing apart the Sea Breeze elevated you from minion to valued soldier of the Unholy Trio.”
Cala took the compliment with a squeal of delight, embracing Johnny. “I am Cleaner Cala, soldier of the Unholy Trio. Yes! Thank you, Muerto!”
Nick shrugged. “I can’t turn ten year old Jean away from this business. I’ve given up trying to figure out the attraction. With Jean, it was seeing bad guys being dealt with violently, instead of running from them. I suspect not being at the mercy of your whacko male family members turned you to our dark side, Cala.”
“You know those cretins very well, Muerto,” Cala replied. “They would still kill Dimah and me at their first opportunity. The only thing stopping my honor killing monster relatives is that they will have to face violent men. The cowards have been raised to think all men will allow them to do anything they want to do to women considered their chattel. Johnny has been training me. I will not ever lower my head in deference again to them. I do not know how dark I am inside, Muerto, but it is a good darkness. I know what is right and what is wrong.”
“That’s the key, Cleaner,” Gus said, patting her shoulder. “Until I met Lynn Montoya Dostiene, I didn’t know if any woman could embrace what we do. She’s so far above what I think of as cold blooded killer mental skill, I don’t even compare with her. You have the mental outlook to be as deadly and as cold blooded about what we do even now. You surpass her in the hands on skill level, Cala.”
“Really, Gus? I do?”
“Her husband Clint told us she can’t clean anything. She would leave a murder scene without a backward glance. Only Nick is better at you in crime scene cleaning, and you learn at an incredible rate, both on the ground and in the air, Cala. We’re lucky to have you. You’re like Nick and Johnny. Nothing bothers you about this bloody business.”
Cala’s features revealed her disgust. “You are right, Payaso. Cutting up vicious bastards, who would kill countless innocents, for disposal does not bother me at all. I am not affected by the sight of much blood or the cutting. Naturally, I did not know this until being with all of you. I will be the Unholy Trio’s ‘Cruella Deville’. She is amazing. Did you watch the cutting Lynn did on the gangbanger she called ‘Darla’? Oh my… that woman was fast with a blade, but could not hold a candle to Lynn.”
“I saw the video, and it is as you describe it, Cala,” Nick agreed. “I hate to say this, but I think Jean will be just as proficient. She loves the knives.”