Chapter Fourteen

Pascal, the taller man of the two drug dealers who was  arrested had demanded for a lawyer.

Bryan watched from behind the one-way mirror as Maggie and Justin entered the interrogation room, and sat together opposite the  public defense lawyer and his client.

“My client has substantial information that will help in dismantling the Italian mafia. What are you willing to offer him?”

The lawyer asked.

“We need to know how credible his information is before we make a deal.”

Justin replied.

“He will remain in your custody, while you verify the authenticity of his statement.”

The lawyer said.

“That’s reasonable.”

Maggie replied.

“But my client is asking for immediate release, an expungement of his past criminal record from the system, and the sum of five thousand dollars to help with his relocation from this city. That is after his information checks out.”

The lawyer proposed.

“These demands are excessive.”

Jamal debated.

“Then my client has nothing to say to you.”

The lawyer countered.

“We’ll relay his demands to our boss, and we’ll get back to you on his response .”

Maggie replied.

“Till then keep your mouth sealed.”

The lawyer said to his client before standing up to take his leave.

Bryan felt irritated by the lawyer who decided to milk them, but then the man was only doing his job by looking out for the best interest of his client.

Bryan was sure that Mr Ben would give in to their demands, being that this was the only lead to the Italian mafia that they had so far.

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Luis and Marco shivered as they entered the first room in the abattoir, which served as a cold room. The room was filled with the carcasses of dressed pigs ,that were hung with hooks at the end of chains, which  were connected to beams that ran across the ceiling.

        They made their way through, till they got to a metal door at the end ,which they knocked at. Few seconds passed before the door was opened by two muscular men who frisked them, before allowing them passage  into the inner part of the abattoir.

Entering the second room, they saw six men who were clothed in white overalls, butchering pigs. The men paid no attention to Luis and Marco who passed through, while being  escorted by the built men.

Finally, they got to a metal door at the end of the long room which was banged on twice by one of their escorts.

There was the sound of several latches opening on the other end of the door, before it finally opened to reveal a  safe house.

The room they entered was cozy and dim, with numerous tiny colored bulbs on the walls, barely illuminated the room.

A picture of Jesus Christ was hung on a corner, with incense burning beneath it. Moving further into the room, Luis looked at the only table in the room and saw several lit candles of different lengths on candle sticks.

Luis did not expect that the Columbian drug lord would be a religious man.

One of the men who followed them from the cold room ushered them to sit on the sofa which was at the center of the large room.

Luis sat uneasily for a while, while feeling at the mercy of this man he was yet to see.

“Welcome to my humble abode.”

Salamanca said while emerging from the shadows.

The man was short and stocky, with a mustache and protruding stomach.

Luis also noticed that he had a rosary on his neck. Dressed in khaki shorts, and oversized T-shirt, Salamanca looked more like a service man than a criminal boss.

He took his seat on a  chair adjacent to theirs.

“I’m so sorry about your brother.”

Luis said , while trying to ‘water’ the ground.

“Thank you. Are you here to renew the previous contract you signed with my brother?”

Salamanca asked.

“Yes.”

Luis responded.

“It’s so difficult to find loyalty these days. Those who I’ve picked from the gutters and made one of my own, are the people who end up betraying me the most.

The way I run my business, I take my partners as members of my family, which means there’s no backing out till death do us part.”

Salamanca paused as his phone rang. He silenced the gadget and continued.

“Do you understand?”

“Of course.”

Luis replied.

“So over to business. I guess you will be able to handle twice of  your normal order.”

“Yes I can.”

“Although it seems suspicious to me with the way my brother and the bloods were arrested. You were the only person who had the most to gain with their incarceration. If I find out that you had a hand in it, I’ll make sure you pay dearly for it.”

“Trust me. I was equally as shocked when I learnt of what happened.”

Luis replied.

“Before I give you the product, I need you to help me handle the Russian cartel in Atlanta city. I got news that they have already opted  out of our contract, and are now in bed with another supplier. Carry of this little assignment, and not only will you have control more territory in your city, but you’ll get more respect and money than you can ever imagine.”

He clapped his hand twice, and one of his men came in with a tray, three glass cups  and a  bottle of 1946 Pinot Noir wine.

“Let’s drink to renewed partnership and friendship.”

Salamanca said as he raised his glass to a toast.

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Bryan was in bed when his phone rang. The caller was Henry, Chief of police in Atlanta City.

During his stay on the police force as a detective, they had had a father-son relationship. Looking back to where he was today, he knew that he owed most of what he knew to the man who had mentored him in Law Enforcement.

“Hello old man.”

He said jokingly.

“Hey kiddo.”

He answered.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yeah,so  how’re you doing?”

Bryan asked.

“I’m good. And you “

“I’m doing fine.”

There was a brief pause before Henry spoke again.

“We’ve had a series of overdose cases within the the past twenty four hours. After autopsy by the medical examiner, we discovered that the victims had traces of fentanyl in their system. This is a synthetic drug that is fifty times more powerful than the purest cocaine or heroin.

It seem we have a new player in town.”

Henry concluded.

“Hmmmm. Or maybe we have an old dealer who is after more profits. This is an act of desperation which means that he probably has no access to getting more product, hence the need to stretch the little he has.

 Either way, he needs to be stopped before he kills more people.

I’ll brief my colleagues, and we’ll make findings. I’ll get back to you if we know anything.”

“I trust that you will. By the way, when will you come for dinner? It’s been a while.”

“Yeah I know. Work has been demanding these days, but I’ll find time to visit.”

“Alright. I’ll hold you by your word.”

The elderly man said before ending the call.