The Nephew

by Claude Bouchard

  “Well, you have my number,” said Fernando, “And I have yours.”

  “Yep,” said Carlos. “Now, get going because I don’t want to sit here longer than I have to.”

  “Stay safe,” said Fernando, pushing the door open and climbing out.

  “You too,” said Carlos before the swung door back shut.

  Fernando watched the SUV for a moment as it moved away then turned and headed alongside the McDonald’s to the parking lot beyond. As he approached, he noted Alonso’s fake utility van was gone, likely towed away by the police. He winced as he considered what kind of loss the gang might have sustained with the day’s earlier incident. Unless Alonso was dead, word would get back to Danilo and Gabriel that he, Fernando, was responsible. One more reason not call Danilo to try and patch things up.

  He rounded the corner of the building and breathed a sigh of relief as the Explorer came into view. He glanced about as he went but saw nothing to cause him alarm. The parking lot was roughly half full and people were about here and there, coming out of Bulk Barn or heading to Dollar Tree – simply normal strip mall activity.

  Still a half-dozen feet from his vehicle, he pulled his keys from his pocket and pressed the appropriate button on the fob, unlocking the doors and disarming the alarm. As he opened the door to get in, a grey sedan pulled up behind the Explorer and two suit-clad men hurried out as two uniformed cops suddenly materialized ahead of him from behind other parked cars.

  “Fernando Garcia,” said one of the plain-clothed officers as he approached, a statement, not a question.

  “Yeah, what’s this about?” asked Fernando, feeling less confident than he appeared.

  “Detective Parrish, CID,” said the man, holding up his credentials. “Please step away from the vehicle, sir.”

  “I asked you what’s going on,” said Fernando.

  “Come back here with me and I’ll explain,” said Parrish.

  Fernando glanced at the big uniformed officer blocking the way at the front of the vehicle and sighed before walking toward Parrish at the rear. As he approached, he noticed a cruiser behind the unmarked car where an officer waited with a leashed a German Shepherd.

  “What the hell is this?” Fernando demanded, fighting to contain his fear as he glared at the detective.

  “We have reason to believe you’re in possession of narcotics,” Parrish replied. “This is your vehicle?”

  “You know it is,” Fernando retorted.

  “We need to search your vehicle, sir,” Parrish informed him.

  “Then get a damned warrant,” said Fernando. “I’ll tell you where you can find me and you can come search my truck when you have the warrant.”

  “I’m afraid we can’t do that, sir,” Parrish insisted. “We believe you might remove any narcotics and other evidence from the vehicle in the interim.”

  “This is illegal,” Fernando cried. “I know my rights.”

  “Apparently, you don’t, sir,” said Parrish. “Are you armed?”

  “No, I’m not,” Fernando muttered.

  Parrish looked at the two uniforms who now stood behind Fernando. “Pat him down.”

  One officer took hold of Fernando’s arm and steered him toward the hood of the unmarked car. Without any direction, Fernando leaned on the vehicle, spreading him arms and legs and the officer quickly frisked him.

  “Wallet, phone and keys is all,” announced the uniform.

  “Put him in the back seat,” said Parrish as he signalled the K9 officer forward.

  “I’m fine out here,” Fernando objected.

  “You’ll be more comfortable in the car,” Parrish replied.

  Fernando glared at him but climbed into the back of the unmarked without assistance. He heard the locks click as the door slammed shut while noting the plexiglass partition behind the front seats. Defeated, he turned and watched as one of the uniforms opened the Explorer’s tailgate and stepped aside to allow the K9 officer and companion access. The German Shepherd hopped into the cargo compartment, started sniffing and almost immediately began pawing at the side panels, alternating from one side to the other.

  The K9 officer pulled the dog back out and another officer moved in, studying then tapping and pressing the panels. He turned to Parrish and shrugged before once again trying to figure out how to open or remove them.

  Parrish stepped to the unmarked and leaned down to the slightly lowered side window. “You want to tell me how to pop those out or do we go with a hammer and crowbar?”

  “Slide your fingers under the bottom near either end,” Fernando replied, staring straight ahead. “Push up the levers and lift the panel.”

  Parrish returned to the Explorer, repeating the instructions as he went. Seconds later, the custom-made covers had been removed to reveal a number closed plastic bins held securely in place with spring-loaded clamps. Parrish removed one of the tissue box sized bins, opened the lid and peered inside. A few others were examined, each revealing either bundles of cash or plastic-wrapped packages of what was likely cocaine.

  Two other unmarked cars, which had been waiting on the sidelines, pulled up and Parrish gave his instructions before returning to Fernando accompanied by his partner.

  “Nice setup you have there,” said Parrish. “Did you put that in yourself?”

  “Am I under arrest?” asked Fernando, ignoring the question.

  “Yes, Mr. Garcia,” Parrish confirmed. “You’re under arrest.”

  “What’s the charge?” Fernando demanded.

  “Possession of suspected illegal narcotics to start,” Parrish replied.

  “For all you know, it’s baking soda,” Fernando retorted. “Also, who says I put that there? Maybe it was planted.”

  “We’ll figure it all out,” Parrish promised. “In the meantime, you have the right to remain silent and anything you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to an attorney and, if you can’t afford one, one will be provided for you. Let’s get you to the station where you can make whatever calls you need.”

  The two detectives climbed into the car with Parrish at the wheel and left the scene, circling around the parking lot to Wellington Road. In the back seat, Fernando remained in shock, wondering how the cops had managed to track him down. Perhaps Alonso, or some witness to the earlier hit and run, had pointed them in his direction. As they approached the exit, Fernando looked outside and suddenly understood how the police had found him.

  * * * *

  Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Ontario, 6:35 p.m.

  “Uh, hi,” said Carlos when Leslie opened the door.

  “Hi,” Leslie responded, giving him a quick hug and whispering, “Chris is not happy with you.”

  “I, uh, I figure nobody is,” Carlos mumbled, still standing in the doorway. “I parked Karen’s car in the garage for now. I’ll need to get it back to her but Chris told me to come straight here.”

  “I’m surprised you did as I asked,” said Chris from the hallway behind his nephew.

  Carlos turned around, startled, and said, “Hi, Chris. Leslie said you’re mad at me.”

  “Let’s take this discussion inside,” Chris replied, pointing into the room.

  “Uh, sure,” Carlos agreed, moving forward as Leslie stepped aside and Chris closed the door.

  “Well, look who’s here,” said Dave from where he sat on the couch.

  “Hi, Dave,” said Carlos.

  “Did you have a nice trip?” Dave asked with a wink.

  Carlos smiled despite himself. “I thought you weren’t a smartass.”

  “I save it for special occasions,” said Dave.

  “The hunter has returned,” said Jonathan, returning from yet another call in the adjoining room. “Did your uncle kick your butt yet or can I go first?”

  “Look, I’m glad you’re all here,” said Carlos, holding his hands up to request their silence, “Because I owe you all an apology for taking off on you like that. It was stupid of me but mom had just died and I had to
find Fernando. You can lock me up now if you want. I found him and, hopefully, he’ll pay, at least a little.”

  “He’ll pay something,” Jonathan confirmed. “I was just on a call about him and he had enough coke to earn him five years. For your information, he’s pleading guilty and his only request is that he serve his term as far from this province as possible.”

  “Good for him,” said Carlos. “I wonder if he’ll ever realize I’m the one who set him up.”

  “He knows it was you,” said Jonathan. “He told the cops as much.”

  “Huh. I thought he might have seen me when they left with him,” said Carlos.

  “You were there?” Chris exclaimed. “What the hell for?”

  “I, uh, wanted to be sure the cops had showed up,” Carlos replied.

  Chris glared at his nephew. “You called me after you dropped him off and I told you everything was set. I also told you to get back here.”

  “I’m here, aren’t I? I just wanted to see him get what he deserved,” said Carlos. “What’s wrong with that?”

  “How about placing yourself at the scene of a crime you had committed just hours earlier?” Chris suggested. “Fernando saw you and realized you were responsible for his arrest. Ever heard of revenge? He is the one witness to the hit and run who knows all the details. He could have easily told the cops right there and then and your butt would be in a jail cell now too.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that,” Carlos admitted then smiled faintly and added, “But I did a great job at finding him and getting him arrested, right?”

  “You did,” Chris replied, “If we ignore your taking this on yourself, running out on us, putting yourself in danger and committing a crime.”

  Carlos nodded then shrugged. “It could have been worse. I initially wanted to kill Fernando.”

  “What made you change your mind?” asked Leslie.

  “He really seemed sorry about mom’s death,” said Carlos. “He told me he wouldn’t have ripped off the gang if he had thought it might put her or me in danger and I believed him. We chatted quite a bit and I know he was being honest so I decided to give him a chance.”

  “Then why did you turn him in?” asked Dave.

  “Because he’s a lowlife criminal who got my mother killed even if he didn’t mean to,” Carlos replied, “And because I knew where the coke and cash were so I could make it happen.”

  “It worked out in the end,” said Jonathan, “But you need to understand we all agree with Chris. You went about this the wrong way.”

  “I know,” replied Carlos, getting testy. “I apologized to you all and I promise not to do something like this again. Now it’s over, okay?”

  “Maybe not,” Jonathan countered. “You mustn’t forget Alonso. We don’t know what he told the police. He didn’t see you but he certainly saw Fernando, right?”

  “Well, yeah,” Carlos admitted, “But what’s he going to do about it?”

  “He could tell the cops Fernando was there when he got hit,” Jonathan replied. “Cops aren’t stupid. The ones who busted Fernando asked him about the hit and run and he said he didn’t know what they were talking about. If Alonso brings up Fernando, this could get messy for you.”

  “Maybe he won’t,” Carlos suggested, growing worried, “Or if he does, it’ll be his word against Fernando’s.”

  “True,” Jonathan conceded, “But they’ll put pressure on Fernando and he might crack or slip up. There were witnesses who saw him, his prints are surely in the van and so on.”

  “Aw, damn,” Carlos muttered.

  “Alonso might not tell the cops,” said Chris, “But he’ll surely tell someone in the gang and we know they play by their own rules.”

  “You guys really know how to cheer a guy up,” Carlos snapped. “Can we take a break now? I had a rough day and I’d like to chill for a bit.”

  “No problem,” said Chris. “We’re just pointing out issues we all need to keep in mind.”

  “I get it,” said Carlos. “Can I still use the other room?”

  “Of course,” said Chris. “Before you go, give us the key to the car. We’ll make sure it get’s back to Karen. Also, your phones. You mentioned you had recorded your conversations with Fernando so we want to pull copies of those and clean out any unnecessary information.”

  Carlos put the car key and phones on the desk where Chris now sat and asked, “Anything else?”

  “One more thing,” Chris replied, pulling one of the desk drawers open and reaching inside. “Show me your wrist, the right one.”

  Confused by the request but tired and anxious to end the current discussion, Carlos extended his hand toward his uncle. Chris snapped a stainless-steel band onto Carlos wrist, something which could easily be considered a bracelet.

  “What’s this?” Carlos asked, examining the band. “Looks pretty cool.”

  Chris smiled and said, “GPS tracker which will tell us where you are at all times. It also will let us know if you move more than a hundred feet from the base unit. You’ll know when you do too because the bracelet will shriek like an banshee.”

  “So, I’m under house arrest?” Carlos exclaimed.

  “We just want you to stay safe,” Chris replied.

  “I’m going to bed,” said Carlos before storming into the adjoining room.

  “Someone’s in a snit,” said Dave.

  “Poor kid,” said Leslie. “Of course, I agree with everything you guys said but you were a little rough on him. He’s scared now, not just pissed off.”

  “Good,” said Chris. “It might help him behave.”

  “Yep,” Jonathan agreed before lowering his tone, “And just so you all know, I doubt there will be a problem with Alonso, at least where the cops are concerned. His official statement was that he was standing alone behind his van, minding his own business, when a car raced by and hit him. He didn’t see the car and the next thing he knew, he was waking up in the hospital with a cop by his side.”

  “What about the gun and drugs?” asked Chris.

  Jonathan grinned and replied, “He has no idea where those came from. He’s lawyered up but it looks good for him to do some serious time.”

  “So, Carlos’ little adventure paid off in the end,” said Dave.

  “Can’t deny that, even though part of it was luck,” Chris admitted then added, “The little shit.”

  “You’re just jealous because he tracked down Fernando,” Leslie teased.

  “I will have to ask him how he figured out the phone number,” said Chris, “Once we’re on speaking terms again.”

  “He’s a smart kid,” said Jonathan. “He gets why we did this and he’ll get over it soon enough.”

  “I’m thinking of getting rid of the tracker in the morning,” said Chris, “As long as he doesn’t try to escape overnight.”

  “You don’t think he might try to go after Danilo?” asked Dave.

  Chris shook his head. “Fernando was one thing and Carlos’ didn’t feel threatened but, like Jon said, he’s a smart kid. He won’t go get himself killed.” He hesitated then added, “Anyhow, if Carlos wants to work with us on Danilo and Gabriel, I’m inclined to let him.”

  “Are you sure?” asked Dave. “That’s a bit out of his league.”

  “I’m not planning to send him to take them out,” Chris replied, “But Donna is dead because of them. Carlos certainly deserves some involvement in bringing them down.”

  “That’s the other issue,” said Dave. “For Carlos, this is personal.”

  “Dave, do you know how I met these two guys?” asked Leslie.

  “During that bank heist, right?” Dave replied. “You worked at the bank and got involved.”

  “That’s right,” Leslie confirmed then glanced at Jonathan. “It’s okay if I talk about this?”

  “I think I know where you’re going,” said Jonathan. “Go right ahead.”

  Leslie turned back to Dave. “Like Carlos, I had no experience in, uh, this type of business. Sur
e, I was trained in martial arts but I worked as an accountant. Also, like Carlos, the matter became quite personal for me. Gina, my life partner, also worked at the bank. She died that day when one of the robbers shot her to prove he meant business. Jon and Chris brought it all together and we learned who had planned the whole scheme – Sara Bergeron, one of our managers. Gina was dead because of Sara.”

  “I wasn’t aware of that,” said Dave. “I’m sorry, Les.”

  “Thanks, but there’s more,” said Leslie. “I understood that these guys were going to eliminate Sara so, I asked them, begged them, to be part of it. I wanted to make her pay, I needed to do it and, you know what? Jon and Chris understood and agreed. I’m the one who pulled the trigger. I killed Sara Bergeron. It was personal but that didn’t cloud my judgment and it helped me become what I am today.”

  “Wow,” said Dave. “I didn’t know that either.” He glanced at Jonathan and smiled. “Almost four years since I quit the police to join your crew and I still have to remind myself it’s a different rule book.”

  Jonathan winked. “What rule book?”

  “Anyhow, my point is,” said Leslie, “If Carlos does want to be involved in this to the end, I’m all for it. He’s intelligent, logical and has managed to hold it together through a very difficult period. He’s entitled to some vengeance if he wants it.”

  “Uh, can I say something?”

  They all looked in surprise to the adjoining room door where Carlos stood.

  “Of course you can,” said Chris. “We hadn’t realized you were there.”

  “I, uh, just opened the door now,” said Carlos, looking sheepish, “But I’ve been listening for a while. I’m sorry for eavesdropping.”

  “No worries,” said Chris, waving him in. “We would have shared what we were discussing with you soon enough. So, what did you want to say?”

  “A few things,” Carlos replied, dropping into an armchair before looking at Dave. “To start, I understand your concerns about my being involved with this. I obviously don’t have any experience with this type of situation and the last few days have been a huge learning curve. I also get the ‘personal’ aspect. However, apart from my running off on you all being wrong, I think I handled dealing with Fernando well. I found him, saved his life along the way and figured out a way to nail him. I had to think on my feet and I brought it all together.”