A Quiet Street in El Paso

by Jim Daddio

  She wasn’t sure what to do or where to go. She knew everyone would be looking for her. She figured by then Fat Baby had gotten to Hector and he had told him about her. Or that guy Bones, who she remembered from seeing at the club, was for sure looking for her. She knew he was shot but learned by watching the news he was alive and was arrested.

  After the story broke that Mat had been arrested, she headed for the villa in La Paz. She figured Mat would be in jail and she could feel safe there for a while until she came up with a plan. Mat had already reserved the room. He had told her it was a quiet place to hide out.

  She jiggled her toes in the soft warm sand. She took a long drink of her margarita. She looked over at a tall, lean tan man. She smiled. He smiled back and reached out his hand. She touched it, squeezed and pulled him toward her. They kissed. She threw her head back and laughed out loud, “Enrico, you are one cool dude. Sexy, too.”

  ~ * ~

  Betty sat quietly watching the news. Never in her wildest dreams, could she have imagined Mat doing the things he did. Her boss had questioned her, but she was never mentioned in any of the discussions. She reached over, shook her head, and turned off the TV.

  Forty-four

  Bones drove into La Paz. He called the jail and was able to talk to Mat.

  “Looks like you got a heap of trouble in front of you.”

  “I know. But we’re working some deals. We’ll see.”

  “I was surprised by the note. I had to laugh when I read it. You are a trusting soul. You really do believe I would save a few bucks for you.”

  “You want the truth. Well, I felt like I had no other option. If you find her and if you get the money…what can I say?”

  “You know, Mat. I like you. You’re a good guy. Too bad about what happened. One question for you: were you really going to give the money to Fat Baby?”

  He lied. “I was. I really didn’t want to have to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life. The fifty large was good enough for me. And you know Fat Baby and the trust thing, I kind of bought into it. How about you?”

  He also lied. “I would have taken the money to him, too.”

  Mat laughed out loud. “Bones. It’s me. Why the fuck would you come into the house, guns drawn? To make sure he got the money. I don’t think so…but before you say anything, it’s all right. If you wanted to take the chance, then it is what it is.”

  Bones laughed. “I was ready to run.”

  “Bones, if you get the money, do what you have to do. I had to take a shot. I need some of that money to get out of this fucking mess.”

  “You know, Fat Baby is going nuts. He’s got every man who works for him looking for the money. As far as the Mexicans are concerned, they have taken over his meth operation. I heard they shut it down. Something about a new drug. Cheap to make and easy money. That’s all they care about. The one Mexican who lived was released on bond and is gone. Probably deep in Mexico somewhere.”

  “Have you talked to Fat Baby?”

  “I haven’t seen him, nor do I want to. I’ve been hiding out in New Mexico. He’s after me, too. But I think I'll be safe. He'll still have every person he's ever known looking for me, your lady friend and Hector and anybody else he can think of.”

  “Bones, I talked to the owner; she’s at the villa. If you get the money, save me four hundred thousand. I think you’ll be fine with a mill plus.”

  “Tell you what? I’ll do it. When I get the money, what do you want me to do with your share?”

  “Call me and I’ll give you an address to mail it to. Wrap it up like a present and mail it.”

  “I’ll be in touch.” The phone went dead. Mat smiled to himself. He thought I’ll never see a penny of that money.

  ~ * ~

  Bones asked for directions to the Beach View Villas. He found the place and parked a few blocks away. He walked down the street. He looked around and found a path leading to the beach. He went around the back. He noticed the villas had patios that backed up to the beach. He causally strolled down the beach and looked into each villa. He spotted two people sitting in lounges in front of the water. He got closer. He recognized the dancer. He found a beach bar, ordered a beer and waited.

  An hour later the dancer stood up, kissed her partner and watched as he walked away. He waited until the man was out of sight. He picked up his pace. Bones jumped up and started toward her. He approached her. He called out, “Hey, you’re the dancer from The Pink Lady.”

  She dropped her glass. She looked at the man and felt an attack of fear she had never felt. She wanted to run but knew there was no place to go.

  Bones saw the fear in her face. He said, “Relax. I just want to talk.”

  Sue couldn’t respond. Her mouth wouldn’t move. Bones continued, “I’m not here to hurt you. I am here to negotiate. Mat is pissed. He at least expected a phone call.”

  Sue stammered. “I…I…he was in the hospital. I heard he got arrested. I…I—”

  “Sure. I don’t give a shit. Just listen. There’s enough money to go around. I’ll take a million and a half and you can have the rest. Or…”

  Sue breathed easier. She wasn’t sure if she could believe him. She said, “What money?”

  “We got no time for this. Don’t be thinking I’m a fool. That I would take the time to find you if I didn’t know you had the money.”

  “You talked to Mat, didn’t you? He thinks I took the money, doesn’t he?”

  “You forgot I was there. I was shot but I wasn’t dead. I saw what I needed to see before I passed out. You took the money and ran out of the house.”

  Sue knew she had been caught. There was no way out of this one. She said, “And you’re willing to work out a deal with me. Why would I trust you? As soon as I give you the money, I’m dead.”

  “A couple of things. I don't need the Mexican police looking for a man who killed a tourist. Plus, I don’t know if you have it with you or it’s buried somewhere. I take you out and I have nothing. Plus, I am not into torture. I am in a hurry. Don’t forget, there are still people looking for the money.”

  “Like Fat Baby. You still workin’ for him?”

  “He’s out of the picture. Nobody works for him. I’m here to get a share. And like I said, to work out a deal.”

  “And you’re not going to hurt me. Right?”

  “We’re all thieves. Get it. You did good. You stepped in at the right time and won round one. I believe if everybody gets a share, nobody will feel left out and feel like telling stories or spending the rest of their lives hunting each other down. I would be glad to let you have some and I get some. Cool deal. Right?”

  “What’s the split again?” Sue asked.

  “Let’s make it even.”

  She thought for a second. “There’s one million and nine hundred thousand left. I get the mill you get the rest.”

  “Deal,” Bones snapped.

  “And you’re not going to kill me after I give you your share. Right?”

  “Like I just said. It wouldn’t make sense to have the police investigating a murder. Who knows if someone sees me talking to you? And shit, I’d be running again and waiting for someone to get me. This way we both get some of the money and move on. You’re alive…I’m alive and we're both very rich. We can both hide a long time.”

  Sue thought for a few minutes. What Bones said seemed to make sense. “Sounds good. Follow me inside.”

  Bones watched as she disappeared into the back bedroom. She returned with a large soft case. She dropped it on the floor, bent down and unzipped the case. She reached inside and wrapped her finger around the trigger of her .38. She stood and pointed the gun at Bones. She snapped, “Get out. Get out and go tell Mat he’s going to jail and I’m going to party, party and party some more.”

  “Whoa. Put that away.”

  “Get out. Hear me? Get out.”

  “What? You going to shoot me? I don’t think you will. Christ, you do this and every Mexican cop in town will be here.
”

  “I fucking hope so. A black man breaks into my villa and attacks me. I had to defend myself. You got two seconds to get out. And go back and tell Mat he did this to himself and nobody cares.”

  Bones backed up. He reached inside his coat for his gun. Sue yelled, “Don’t do it. I shot that Mexican in the back and I liked it.”

  Bones froze. He had to laugh. “At first I thought it was Mat who shot him. I heard a shot before I passed out. I found out later someone shot him. It was you.”

  “Trust me. It was me. Mat was barely alive. I saved his ass and your ass, too.”

  “You’ll never get away with this. Every Mexican in Mexico wants the money. They don’t like being robbed.”

  “I’ll take my chances. Now, get out and don’t come around here again. I will not hesitate to put a bullet through your heart. I should do it now but don’t need the publicity with you dead and me on the news. Fat Baby will know I have the money. But on the other hand, if you make another move, I will take you down, take off and take my chances.”

  Bones made a move toward Sue. She raised her arm and said calmly, “I just thought of something. When I shoot you and call the police, I will be able to convince them to keep this private. No press. Two reasons. One, why would they want the news that a black man attacked a white woman in their little resort town? And two, fuck, money talks. Mexican police are noted for...well, you know. Now, get out.”

  Bones turned and walked out the door. He walked to his car. He drove around the corner and stopped. He had to laugh to himself. Did that stupid little bitch think I would just leave and go back to El Paso? I got time. I’ll hang out until the time is right and no more negotiating. She’s dead and the money is mine.

  Two days later an unidentified American female was found floating in the surf. She had been dead for a few hours. Her villa had been broken into and torn apart. The Mexican police said they didn’t have any suspects but were working the case as a drug deal gone bad. They had found drugs in her villa. They would cooperate with the American authorities to identify the body and find the person who took her life.

  Forty-five

  Bones called Mat in jail. “It’s over. I’ve got the money. We’re set.”

  “And her?”

  “Gone…for good.”

  “What a mess. Jesus...I can’t believe how things fell apart.”

  “I’m sending you two hundred thousand. Okay?”

  “More than okay.” Mat gave him his attorney's address.

  “You hear anything?” Bones asked.

  “I was denied bail. It’s going to be a year before the trial. They got me good.”

  “I’m in hiding. Nobody will ever find me. Tell the lawyer I won’t be around for a trial.”

  Mat hung up and walked back to his cell. He was to be transported to a federal prison. He had plenty of time to think about the mistakes he had made in his life. About the people he hurt and the people that hurt him. But mainly about how he hurt himself.

  Meet Jim Daddio

  Jim is retired after a successful career in the business world. He lives in Palm City, Florida with his wife, Jill, of fifty-one years. He has a son, Jimmy Jr, three grandchildren and a daughter, Jennifer.

  Other Works From The Pen Of Jim Daddio

  Heaven or Hell: A Story of Human Trafficking - Alex Hammershan is a well known business man living the good life in South Florida. To keep pace with the competition, Alex is forced to smuggle in underage teenage girls from the poverty stricken areas of Eastern Europe. The girls are weak, poor and homeless and are willing to come to the US to escape the horror they face day to day. What they don’t know if it’s going to be “Heaven or Hell.”

  Las Vegas Dead:- An Art Decco PI Mystery - Art Decco, a well-published private detective just received an assignment from his boss to find a runaway seventeen-year-old girl. Her name is Danielle Augusta. But she is no ordinary teenager. Known around the world as ‘Dani’ she is hottest supermodel associated with hundreds of products from New York to Rome. Art tracks her to Las Vegas and meets up with a bunch of crazies who would love to have ‘Dani’ and Art Las Vegas Dead.

  The Privileged-An Art Decco PI Mystery - Michelle Thorne Johnston, a wealthy and well known socialite, is found murdered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. There is enough evidence and motive to arrest her husband, Clay. He proclaims his innocence and hires a well-publicized private investigator, Art Decco, to find the real killer.

  Art dives into the case and quickly uncovers several suspects. As he tries to learn who is telling the truth, something else is bothering him. It appears that Clay doesn't seem too concerned. He is convinced, even if he went to trial, he never would be found guilty. He is rich and powerful and one of The Privileged.

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