The House of Wolfe

by James Carlos Blake

  “Todo bien?” he asks. Espanto says all is very well.

  Espanto gets back behind the wheel and Huerta gets out of the car. Galán assumes the passenger seat and shuts the door and turns to face the masked captives. He tells them his name is Mr. X and that he is responsible for their circumstance. He regrets their discomfort but says there was no other way to do this. His voice has a pleasant timbre and his enunciation is precise.

  Mr. Belmonte starts to say, “Por favor, señor, donde están—”

  “Silencio,” Galán says without raising his voice, and Belmonte falls silent.

  Galán apologizes for his rudeness but says that in the interest of time he will do the talking and they must listen carefully.

  To ensure that you understand, I will frequently ask you if you do, and you will respond by nodding or shaking your head. If you shake your head I will clarify my point and then ask again. Do not speak. If you speak, your spouse will suffer. Is everything understood so far?

  They all nod.

  Very good, he says. The state of things is this. The groom and the bride and the other eight members of your party are in our custody. Your three sons and two nephews, Mr. Belmonte. Your three daughters and your niece, Mr. Sosa. And of course the American girl. They are all safe and will be treated well during the short time they are with us. To regain them from our custody, you must pay a total of five million American dollars in cash. Am I clear, gentlemen?

  The two men nod.

  Excellent. Your people are being held in two separate groups in two different venues. I will not tell you which persons are in which group, only that there are five persons in each and there are Belmontes and Sosas in both groups. You will pay two and a half million dollars for each group, first one and then the other. The money will be in bills of one-hundred-dollar denomination. I’m fairly sure that you gentlemen do not personally handle cash of any great amount yourselves, so you may not know the physical size of this sum. It will fit handily in the gymnasium bags we are going to provide, two bags for each of you. With the money equally distributed in the bags, each bag will weigh roughly twenty-seven pounds. The bags have padded shoulder straps, but still, twenty-seven pounds on each shoulder can be a burden. However, you both look strong to me. Do you believe yourselves capable of such a burden?

  Both men nod.

  Good, Galán says. You have until four o’clock tomorrow afternoon to obtain the cash. Do not request more time. It will not be granted to you. Understood?

  The men nod.

  It should go without saying that it would be a regrettable mistake for you to contact the police, and if—

  All four of them shake their heads vigorously.

  No, certainly you will not. Still, it is possible that the police might in some way learn of the situation and insist on becoming involved. Should that happen, you must rebuff their assistance and immediately inform us. Besides, you cannot be sure that the police who come to you are not in partnership with us. It should come as no shock to you that we have such accomplices within all levels of law enforcement agencies. It is one more sad fact about this sinful world that so many public guardians are so venal. It is true even of private guardians whom one might hire at no small cost, eh, Mr. Belmonte?

  Belmonte’s mouth tightens at the allusion to Huerta and he nods.

  Yes, well, Galán says. Are we quite clear about the police?

  They all nod.

  Good. I’m pleased with how well this is progressing. And believe me, gentlemen, although I know your primary consideration is the welfare of your children, I also know how much it distresses you to be robbed. Permit me to suggest you take a practical view toward it. I’ve had a look at your financial portfolios, and quite honestly, I was astounded. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you to deal with such wealth. To a poor workingman like myself, five million dollars is a fantastic amount—my God, a king’s ransom! To men of your means, on the other hand, well, pardon my presumption, but it’s not a loss of great significance. That fact does not make you feel any better, I know, and in truth is beside the point, since nobody likes to be robbed. Even were I rich as you, I would be furious to be robbed of twenty cents. All the same, these things happen. In any case, both of you must surely agree that five million dollars is a bargain price for ten people. Ten. A half million each, six of them your children, three others also blood kin. I suggest you divide the cost between you. After all, half of the party are kin to you, Mr. Belmonte, and although only four of them are related to you, Mr. Sosa, the American girl is your daughter’s guest, and that makes you responsible for her. We know she comes from a prosperous family in Texas and has wealthy relatives here in Mexico City, but to involve her people in this affair would only make matters more congested and complicated. That is why you, Mr. Sosa, will pay for the American. Whether you discuss reimbursement with her people afterward is your own affair. Am I clear, sir?

  Mr. Sosa nods.

  Is there any reason either of you might wish to do otherwise than equally share in the ransom?

  The two men shake their heads.

  Very well. Now then . . . both of you gentlemen have accounts with Banamex, Santander México, and Bancomer. Neither of you is to get your share of the money from any of those three banks. Mr. Belmonte, you also have accounts with HSBC México and with Banco Rosemonte. You are to withdraw your share of the ransom from Banco Rosemonte. Understood?

  Belmonte nods.

  Good. As for you, Mr. Sosa, besides the banks in which both you and Mr. Belmonte have accounts, you also have accounts with Banco de Indio Tierra. That is the bank from which you will draw your share of the money. Clear?

  Sosa nods.

  Good. We have chosen these banks because they are somewhat smaller than the others and your relationships with their officers more intimate, and it should be simpler to gain their prompt cooperation than might be the case at the larger institutions. However, although both banks normally carry more than enough American cash to meet your need, their daily holdings of U.S. currency can vary greatly. It could be that one or even both of the banks may have to request a transfer of dollars from another branch, in which case the procedure may be a protracted one. Even so, you will have ample time to conduct the transactions. You will each drive yourself to your bank and you will each go alone. You will both be watched all the way to and from the bank. Mr. Sosa, you will park as near as possible to the rear doors in order to have easy exit from the bank to your car. Mr. Belmonte, your bank is without parking facility and you will have to walk two blocks from the nearest public lot. More than fifty pounds of money may come to seem quite heavy on the return to the car, but I believe we have established that you can handle it. Is everything still clear so far, gentlemen?

  Both men nod.

  Very well. The bankers will naturally be most apprehensive about a cash withdrawal of such size, and in American currency. Bankers are not entirely ignorant about these things, and in the absence of a plausible explanation for the withdrawal, they are apt to suspect extortion. It is imperative that you prevent them from acting on such suspicion. This is a crucial point. The best way to ensure that your bankers not contact the authorities is to tell them the truth. But you must impress upon them that your children’s safety depends on their discreet cooperation. Is this understood?

  The men nod. Unsure if they were included in the question, the women do too.

  Excellent, says Galán. Except for the visits to the banks by you gentlemen, the four of you will remain at the Belmonte house until our business is completed. However, other relatives of wedding party members may become concerned about the lengthy absence of the party and the lack of communication from it. You must therefore provide them with an explanation that precludes their concern. I suggest you devise a good one before morning. If you find that you must tell a relative the truth, if only to keep him from worrying to the point of call
ing the police, it is your responsibility to ensure that this relative also keeps the secret. Understood?

  Everyone nods.

  Very good. Be aware that, thanks to the technological marvels of our age and Mr. Huerta’s expertise with them—and his intimate access to your home, Mr. Belmonte—we have arranged to intercept any communications to or from the house. Landline phone, cell call, text, e-mail, everything, we will hear it or read it. Your communications with us, however, will be solely through a pair of telephones we are going to provide for you. One for each of you gentlemen. Both phones have been programmed so that we will know whenever they are used. We will know the numbers they call and the numbers they receive calls from. We will know if they are in any way connected to a recording device. We will know if either phone’s cover is removed to expose its interior elements or if the instrument’s security system should in any way be compromised. I stress, in any way. Am I clear to everyone?

  All four of them nod.

  The phones will not give you any indication of the numbers you are calling or, should we call you, of the number of the phone from which you receive a call. To call us on either phone, you need only to press zero. Understood?

  The men nod.

  Mr. Belmonte, you will call me at four o’clock tomorrow afternoon. At that time you will receive directions for conveying the payment for the first group. When you deliver that payment, you will be detained with that group until the remainder of our business is concluded. You, Mr. Sosa, will then receive instructions for delivering the second payment at the second location. When that payment is received, everyone in both groups will be liberated at the same time. Am I understood?

  The men nod.

  Very good. Now then, it pains me to say what I must say next, but it is important that all of you hear it from me and believe it absolutely. So listen well. . . . If you fail to get the cash by the appointed hour or fail to call me at the appointed hour . . . if we detect any attempt to infringe on the security of the phones we give you . . . if you or a relative or your banker or anyone contacts the police . . . if you in any way jeopardize this transaction at any point . . . if any of these things should happen . . . I promise you that every member of the party in our custody will be killed in a manner more horrible than you can imagine.

  Mrs. Belmonte whimpers.

  The remains of your loved ones will be disposed of where you will never find them, but photographs of those remains will be sent to you and will be distributed to newspapers and television stations around the country. Those pictures—forgive me, but I must be absolutely forthright—those pictures will be unspeakable. You will never be able to rid them from your memory. Or to forget that you were the cause of them.

  Both women are weeping, struggling to contain themselves, but a moan escapes from Mrs Sosa.

  Calm yourselves, ladies, Galán says. There is no need for such mortification. I’m sure nothing bad will happen to anyone. Your husbands will not permit it. They will do exactly as I have asked and all will be well. You will see. Your children will be back in your arms by suppertime tomorrow.

  The four parents nod and nod.

  Very well, Galán says. I believe that covers everything. Each of you gentlemen may now ask one question. Mr. Sosa?

  Sosa is so surprised by the opportunity to pose a question that he has a mental blank and shakes his head.

  Mr. Belmonte?

  Do you promise not to hurt my children? I just want—

  I have answered that question. They will not be harmed so long as you do as we instruct you. Now I bid all of you good evening and expect your call tomorrow at four. Be strong and be wise. My associate will drive you home.

  The captives hear both of the front doors open and shut. A long minute passes and they hear a nearby vehicle start up and drive away. Now someone enters on the driver’s side, and then the voice of the dark-glassed man tells them he’s going to remove their masks and cuffs but they must then sit on their hands and remain silent if they don’t wish to be hurt. He asks if they understand, and they all nod. One at a time, he has each of them lean forward and half turn and he slips off their masks and takes off the flex-cuffs.

  Shed of their restraints, they sit back again, hands under butts, and stare at each other with a mixture of fear and relief. Huerta is no longer among them.

  The dark-glassed man shoves the masks and cuffs into one of the plastic bags holding the other captives’ possessions and replaces the bag under the seat.

  All right, ladies and gentlemen, he says, starting up the Town Car, let’s get you home.

  6 — ESPANTO

  The drive back to the Belmonte residence is fast and smooth, though to the four parents it seems interminable. Nodding his head in time to the radio rock music, Espanto might be alone in the car, so oblivious of the others does he seem, so disregardful of any possibility of being attacked from behind.

  When they arrive at the street fronting the Belmonte residence, there are only a few vehicles still parked along the sides, their drivers lolling behind the wheel or smoking and chatting on the sidewalks. Espanto stops the car in the shadows alongside the driveway gate and permits the parents to free their hands from under their buttocks. They flap and massage them to restore circulation. He hands Mr. Sosa a shopping bag holding the parents’ belongings and the two special phones Mr. X spoke of, then passes to Mr. Belmonte a larger bag containing the four gymnasium bags in which they will put the money. He tells Belmonte to inform the two Angeles men in the house that Huerta said for them to come out to the car for instructions.

  There are still two of—? Belmonte stifles himself, unsure if the man’s order to keep their mouths shut is still in effect.

  Just tell them Huerta said to get out here. Don’t say anything else to them. Understand?

  Yes, yes. I will not say anything else.

  Espanto watches them walk up the curving driveway, then removes the dark glasses and phones Rubio, in charge of the Alpha crew and its hold house in the distant southwest outskirts, who tells him in coded terms that his bunch is on the way to the house and all is well.

  Excellent, Espanto says. If there’s any problem with the invoice, let me know. Otherwise, I’ll talk to you in the morning.

  They click off, Espanto wishing he’d had the time to ask how the new man worked out, the ponytailed guy called Apache. Espanto had recruited him only three weeks ago to replace Chisto, who had been murdered in his sleep when a jealous girlfriend jabbed an ice pick through his eye. By then the plan was all set—the car assignments, the hold house crews, the street surveillance duties—and Galán ordered him to get a replacement fast. Espanto made inquiries around town, eliciting recommendations, and ended up with the Apache, whom Galán approved after an interview of less than two minutes. The other men seemed to have accepted him well enough, but there is something about him that makes Espanto uneasy. Then again, if the Apache had in any way proved troublesome tonight, Rubio would have said something about it, and he didn’t.

  He calls the Beta crew leader, Barbarosa, whose hold house is in the far northwest fringe of the city, and hears the same report—they’re on their way—and Espanto tells him the same thing he told Rubio.

  Now he phones Galán and reports that the cargo shipments are in fine condition and en route to the ports. I’m about to attend to the remaining security matter, Espanto says, and then I’ll check to ensure the cargo’s arrived.

  Galán praises him for his good work. If there’s any problem, call me, he says. If all is well, go home and get some rest. We’ll talk again in the morning.

  Until then, Espanto says.

  The two Huerta men from the house appear at the mouth of the driveway. They see the Town Car and come toward it.

  One of the men steps around to Espanto’s window and says, Where’s Huerta?

  I don’t know. He called and said pick up you two, then an
other guy, take you all to the Sosa place. Let’s go.

  What other guy? Who the fuck’re you?

  I’m the guy Huerta sent to get you. You coming or not? Makes no difference to me. He asks me, I’ll tell him you said he could go fuck himself.

  Hey, man, we been trying to get him on the phone for an hour but he doesn’t answer. And Belmonte looking at us just now like we got two heads. What’s going on?

  Hell if I know, Espanto says. I just do what I’m told, same as you. Come on, let’s go.

  The men get in, one in the front one in the back. They continue complaining about the way Huerta’s always changing plans but never telling them about it until way later.

  Tell me about it, Espanto says. Fucking bosses. All the same.

  They arrive in a run-down neighborhood cast in misty vapor lighting and Espanto follows an isolate road to the gate of an auto junkyard.

  Jesus Christ, the man in the backseat says. Who we getting here?

  I don’t know, some guy, Espanto says.

  The watchman recognizes him and unlocks the gate to let him pass. He drives deep into the shadowy yard and parks in front of a garage building whose bay door is open wide and its interior brightly lighted. Not far from the garage door a large trash barrel is flaming high.

  Before the two Angeles men can register what’s happening, Espanto turns in his seat and raises the silencer-fitted Glock and shoots each of them in the head—the reports loud in the enclosed car, THONK, THONK—first the man beside him and then the one in back, spraying a raw paste of bloody brains on the door pillar and on a section of rear window cobwebbed by the bullet. In the enclosed confines of the car, the reports hurt Espanto’s ears—only in the movies are silencer gunshots whisper quiet and without flash—and he curses himself for not having brought ear plugs and inserted them after coming through the gate.

  He reaches under the seat and extracts the ragbags and plastic bags containing all other confiscated items, detaches the silencer from his pistol and puts it in the gun bag. He strips the two men of their possessions, adding their weapons to the gun bag, all else to one of the other bags, then gets out of the car and goes to the burning trash barrel and drops all the bags into it except the one with the guns. They will be added to the gang’s weapons cache.