Chapter 14

The ride to the Bistro with Nick Gunar was brief – it was just a couple of blocks away. Gunar was not the talkative type either, so there was little conversation.

"I'm just glad you were there when you were," Sam said, filling the silence. "You have my thanks."

Gunar just nodded and said, "You're welcome."

As they rode in silence, it was Gunar who spoke next.

"Your Cassie is a dead ringer for an old friend of mine – an old friend who's staying at Grey House."

"Oh, Grace Lashield," Sam replied. "We've met, and you're right; they're like identical twins."

"How's she doing? Grace, I mean."

Sam nodded. "Seems alright. We didn't officially meet, but she was with the security team earlier this year in Colombia when I was working with the relief agency after the floods."

"So, she's still working."

"Looks that way," Sam agreed. "Don't know what brought her here. She returned something I'd lost, but I get the feeling that's not the real reason she traveled hundreds of miles to Middleton. Unless she's looking to be a cop, there's certainly no security work to be had."

"On that, we agree," Nick said as the Jeep came to a stop in front of the Bistro. "Thanks for the lift, Doctor Radford."

"You just saved my fiancé," the doctor replied. "Please, call me Sam."

The two men shook hands.

"You got it, Sam. If you're at Grey House when I check in, I'll see you then."

"You play basketball?"

Nick nodded.

"I live next door to Gray House. Have a hoop in the driveway. If you're up for a pickup game …."

"Might take you up on that."

With that, Nick Gunar exited the Jeep and headed for the Bistro. Sam grinned at the prospect of a game. It had been years since he had played with anyone truly capable, and Nick Gunar was tall enough to be a challenge on that front alone – and Sam loved a challenge.

Nick Gunar stood outside the Bistro for a moment, just assessing the place. It was an old habit, but a good one; even in a place as idyllic as Middleton, there could be trouble. The Middleton Bandits had proven that. Of course, now that Nick had taken them out of commission, the biggest threat to Middleton was the spectre of Grand Mart. Nick hoped that the deal would fall through – he hated Grand Mart.

The Bistro was well maintained and nicely appointed, having the look of a European café. The outdoor garden seating was enclosed by a wrought iron fence with nicely manicured shrubbery about the base, and the building's brick façade was that nice red brick that was rarely seen in modern construction.

Walking up and down the sidewalk and seated at the outdoor tables of the Bistro were nice. Suburbanite folk; moms, young children, professionals on their lunch breaks, and retirees. It was unlike any place Nick Gunar had ever lived. Now, he had a job with the Middleton Police Department and a temporary residence at Grey House. He had enough money to stay there for more than a month, but he would hate to wear out his welcome.

A familiar young man smiled at him from one of the tables and waved him over. It was his son. Nick nodded and opened the wrought iron gate and stepped into the outdoor seating area, and immediately, people took notice of him. He was dressed in casual clothes, but everything about him, from his world-worn features to his posture to his imposing physical size made him stand out.

These people were just regular people; soft and pleasant. Nick Gunar was a killer, and no matter how dressed up he might be, there was no hiding it. The people did not know why he did not fit in; only that he did not, and that he made them nervous – just like he had made Chief Sanders nervous.

People standing or making their way back to their tables gave him a wide berth as he made his way to his son's table. Once there, he took his seat.

"Kam."

His son laughed. "Man of few words as always, Dad."

Nick smiled slightly. "The less I say …."

"The more my work gets done," Kam sang, completing a verse in an Elton John song.

"Not what I was going to say, but that works."

Kam laughed again. "I understand congratulations are in order. Oh, I ordered for you by the way – coffee; black, and the best Philly cheesesteak you've ever had."

A waitress brought the coffee, and said, "You're sandwich will be right out, Sir."

Nick nodded then turned back to his son. "Yeah; I start work with the Middleton Police Department as soon as the background check clears."

"Really? That's awesome! Totally didn't see that one coming!"

The old Swede raised an eyebrow. "What were the congratulations for?"

"I heard you took down the Middleton Bandits."

Nick nodded approvingly. "Word travels fast."

"Martha blew through for her coffee and baguette – couldn't stop talking about it. Mentioned you by name. Said you like a middle aged He-Man." Then he laughed. "The woman even held up a plastic knife and called out, "by the Power of Grayskull" with the whole place looking on. It was totally hilarious!"

The old Swede chuckled at the image. Having met Martha, he could completely imagine what it must have looked like.

"Martha was interesting," Nick finally said. "I like her."

"Really?" Kam looked surprised. "A lot of people find her to be … an overbearing micromanager."

Nick shrugged. "She's not afraid of me."

"Dad, it's not like you're walking around with that bazooka." Then Kam looked worried. "You … didn't bring that thing with you … did you?"

Gunar shrugged. "Not yet, but when I find a place to live, yeah; it'll be coming with me."

"So, who's afraid of you?"

"Chief Sanders for one," Gunar said.

"Huh." Kam looked puzzled. "Wonder why. He's a pretty big guy and a cop."

"Same reason everyone else is," Nick explained. "I'm a killer, Kam; a predator. I might not live that life anymore, but it's what I am, and on some level, they know that – and it scares them."

"Come on, Dad; you were a soldier. Soldiers sometimes have to kill people."

"I was a soldier," Nick agreed. "But after serving a couple of tours, I became a soldier of fortune – a mercenary. Colonel Merrick didn't hire me because I was a nice guy. He hired me because he thought I could strongarm your people into leaving the island and knew that I'd kill if I had to."

"Well, you did kill," Kam reminded him. "Just not the people he intended."

"Exactly," Nick replied. "Your mother saved me. She made me something I could never have been without her. Then she died. Thanks to her, I could be a father to you, but just because a tiger can raise a deer doesn't make it any less of a tiger."

Kam nodded, the analogy making sense to him. "Sorry, Dad. I remember when you came to the island. I was young, but I remember. I was never afraid you."

Nick smiled. "I know. Neither was your mother."

"How did things go with Brandon? His little sister's going to be one of my students this fall." Kam then added, "Apparently, she put a bug in Chief Sanders' ear. I think it got you the interview."

"I'll have to thank her when I meet her," Nick noted. "Lieutenant Russell was nervous at first, but once we broke the ice we got along fine."

"Yeah. You've met their mom, right?"

"Not sure. Who is she?"

"Cassie Nightingale," Kam explained.

"Cassie is Brandon's mother?"

"Stepmother," Kam clarified. "Grace Russell is Brandon's half-sister."

"Cassie Nightingale," Nick mused. "She looks just like Grace."

"Well, Cassie is her mother."

"Not that Grace."

Kam looked puzzled, but Nick just smiled and chuckled. "Doubt you remember her – she was on the job that brought me to the island."

"Vaguely." Kam looked unsure.

"Grace Lashield," Nick explained. "She fought on my side when things went south. Haven't seen her since. Then her doppelganger tells me that Grace Lashield is staying at Grey House."

Before Kam could respond, the waitress brought their sandwiches. The Philly Cheesesteak smelled delicious. Nick took a bite and nodded in approval.

"You're right," the big Swede declared. "This really is the best Philly Cheesesteak I've ever had."

"Told ya."