Cold Blooded III: Sins and Sanctions (Nick McCarty Assassin Series Book 3) by Bernard Lee DeLeo Page A

to give you a new identity, Eb. Gus will help with that. What name would you like?”
    “How about Johnny Five,” Gus volunteered.
    Zarin, who had been averting his eyes, smiled at Gus. “That is from the movie ‘Short Circuit’. I liked it very much.”
    “How about John Groves,” Nick suggested, having enjoyed Gus’s movie quip.
    “It would be easy for me to remember.”
    “Good. It’s set then. Okay, John, I need you to tell me if Sherazi knows more than you about this cell or what you’ve already explained to me.”
    The newly named John Groves considered Nick’s question carefully before answering. “He knows who runs the operation near the Canadian border. If you will allow me, I can go there and infiltrate their operation. I will arrive with news of this cell’s destruction after your video clip is released. That man knows me. If I am ever to help you in public, he must be killed. Sherazi may have the man’s name on the laptop he brought in the briefcase near his desk in the corner.”
    John gestured at the desk. “It is password protected. Anyone trying to access the information will initiate a virus which will destroy everything on the hard drive.”
    “I like your thinking, John,” Nick replied. “You could make it much easier to erase this Isis thread from Canada. I see doubt in Gus’s face.”
    “I’m willing to give new John the benefit of the doubt, but sending him North to take down his own former comrades makes me doubt your sanity.”
    “I agree,” Paul added, still networked in with his out of control superhero. “I have people working right now to give your new recruit credentials. I’m liking what I see and hear, but infiltration North feels like one step beyond with a new turn.”
    “We’ll do the video statement I have in mind,” Nick replied. “Tomorrow, Gus and I have a book signing to do. That will give the media a chance to go completely insane labeling El Muerto a monster, while the rest of the country scramble to run him for President. It’s going to be fun, Boss. Relax and enjoy.”
    “You really are as psycho as I thought I was before I met you. I’m an altar boy compared to you. Count me in. Stash new John somewhere tomorrow, and I’ll special delivery his credentials by messenger during your book signing. Let’s get these assholes.”
    “On it, Boss.” Nick put an arm around new John. “You’re going to be uncomfortable with what I do. Don’t interfere, and don’t waver. We have a step on these people, and I like your idea in the North. Gus and I will go with you for backup. We’ll be in position to end a significant threat. We’re making a statement today. It will give you some cover for fleeing North.”
    The former Ebi Zanin turned to look Nick in the eyes straight on. “I am your man. If I may be permitted to have a life here, anything you need done, I will do. There is something else you should know: James Sherazi’s name was Mohammed Abin. He does not know I found out his true name. He had my parents and sister killed. I was taken and raised in a Madrasa within the Palestinian State. Always, I have dreamed of this day. I thought my dream died when you captured us. I prayed to Allah that I could see this jackal die before me.”
    Nick watched Sherazi’s face, seeing utter horror lance across his features. It was clear Sherazi had not a clue of Zanin’s identity. Zanin knelt in front of Sherazi, clutching the man’s hair with his left hand, and jaw in his right. “You will die now. I will record your death for all to see, coward. I will pay for my many sins in the future, but I will take comfort in watching you die.”
    John glanced at Nick. “May I have your stun gun, Sir? I will make this mongrel talk. He will tell us the name he knows, and the password to open his laptop.”
    Nick exchanged glances with Gus, but put the stun gun in John’s hand with Sherazi whimpering behind the duct tape in spite of Gus’s energetic head shake in the