Redemption

by Dufour, Danny

  “Hello?”

  “Danny? It’s Igor.”

  “Hi, Igor, how are you.”

  “Very well, thank you. Listen, Danny, I’m going to need your services again.”

  “Ok, no problem. Do you want to send me texts over email?”

  “No, listen… it’s for another kind of work, but I want to talk to you in person.”

  “Ok, when do you want to meet up?”

  “Well, meet me tomorrow evening at twenty-hundred at my office. I’m going to take you somewhere after, it’s a surprise. Dress up, you won’t regret it.”

  “I don’t much like surprises.”

  Igor sniggered at the other end of the line.

  “I’m telling you, you’ll like it. Dress your best and I’ll see you tomorrow night, ok?”

  “Ok, tomorrow night.”

  “Ciao amigo.”

  * * *

  The driver stopped on Broadway Avenue where a hoard of people were queuing up outside. Several camera flashes appeared reflecting of the vapour from the manholes in the street. The ambiance was feverish and animated. Danny watched the scene and asked himself what was going on. He had discussed with Igor on the way over without knowing where they were going. He was wearing his best, light grey suit with a white shirt underneath. Igor, next to him, opted for a more extravagant choice: a completely black suit with a fuchsia shirt and tie. Igor was in an exceptionally good mood this evening with a smile playing about his lips. Danny was perplexed. This must be an opening night or some other type of worldly event judging by all these journalists.

  “Are we stopping here?”

  “Absolutely!” Igor cried enthusiastically.

  “What’s the crowd for anyway?”

  “That crowd is the most well-attended annual fashion event in all New York. Every year, the greatest designers, the stars, the press and all the most influential New Yorkers rush to attend this event. It’s the most glamorous of the year and we’re attending in the premiere,” shouted Igor, glancing at Namara before getting out of the limo to throw himself into the mob.

  Danny followed after Igor. The two cut a path through the crowd, passing the line-ups and creeping into the line of invited VIPs. The bouncer asked for their names and then, they were inside. Danny recognized several familiar faces known from the world of cinema even though he wasn’t very familiar with that universe. He had several seats around a huge elevated catwalk that indicated an immense fashion show would take place soon. The place was packed and everyone was dressed very chic, all more styled than the other. At the four corners of the room, the journalists took interviews with influential people with all evidence, but who Danny didn’t recognize. A server passed with a tray full of champagne glasses. Namara eagerly seized one of them and took a mouthful after a sigh while taking everything around him.

  “Impressive,” said Namara, sipping his champagne.

  “I agree and more, we will be directly in the front row of the stage for the show,” said Igor, pointing to the bridge.

  “I’m flattered, but to what do I owe the honour if I may be direct?”

  “A direct question deserves a direct answer. I need you, Danny, and I have an offer for you,” said Igor with a smile.

  “Ok. What kind of offer are we talking about?”

  “Later. Right now, we’re here to have fun and take advantage of the evening and that’s we’re going to do,” he said, slapping Namara’s back.

  Igor introduced him to several celebrities present who he seemed to know very well. Danny felt a bit lost in this world, but the experience didn’t displease him. All the glamour and the women dressed or the evening, each more beautiful than the other, was in effect a surprise that Igor had promised him. Several women looked at Danny in seeing that his face was unknown. They smiled at him, moving close to him, smiles that Namara returned. He’d expected anything but this. After a few minutes, the crowd was invited to take their assigned places. Igor and Danny were the first in front of the catwalk. The lights lowered and suddenly the catwalk lit up. The light show filled the space, moving from blue to pink. The show began. The annual event was in full swing. Several supermodels wearing outfits from the greatest designers began to scroll by to the sound of techno-pop music while graphic illusions were projected onto the walls. Igor took another sip from his glassed and smiled, delighted with his surprise. Apparently, he’d succeeded in surprising him.

  The rest of the night unfolded on the second floor where there was a private reception. There was food and drinks a-plenty. The place was lined with sheer curtains fluttering in the wind. They descended the length of the walls with hundreds of candles flickering everywhere. Servers circulated through the crowd like ants. Danny was at the bar when a pretty blonde in a red dress sat next to him and smiled.

  “Hi, I’m Julia!” she said, taking his hand.

  “Danny… nice to meet you,” he said, shaking her hand with a smile.

  “Having fun tonight?”

  “Yeah, it’s my first time at this type of thing. It’s great, but strange.”

  “My friends want to know if you want to join us,” she said, showing him a table a few meters from them.

  He noticed four women at a table, each prettier than the other. They each waved with a smile when he looked in their direction.

  “I couldn’t say no to an offer like that.”

  The pretty blonde laughed.

  “Perfect, come sit with us.”

  “I’m sorry to have to take him away, gorgeous, but I must absolutely discuss with him a very important subject I promise to be as brief as possible and to send you him when we’re done,” said Igor with a smile arriving from an unknown direction.

  “Ok, but you’d better keep your word,” she said, casting Namara a seductive look before returning to sit at her table.

  “I see you that aren’t bored. You’re beginning to get a taste of the good life,” he said, glancing at Namara as he leaned on the bar.

  “Kind of...”

  “We need to talk. Let’s get to a quiet place.”

  “Ok, I’ll follow you.”

  Igor entered in a little room where there were couches, a sort of mini drawing room. He closed the door behind him and took place in an armchair. Namara did the same. Igor took a cigar out of his pocket and lit it.

  “You fight well, Danny.”

  “Pardon me?”

  “Your fights that you do in Chinatown… you’re a formidable warrior.”

  “Now I understand... you’re an enthusiast who finds that type of show entertaining?”

  “More or less… I go, yes, but my goal is not maybe that of most of those who go to the fights. The majority are New York aristocrats who like to dispense money to see blood and two men nearly kill each other, a change for their boring office life no doubt. However, I’ve seen your capacity to fight… you are solid, formidable and I need a man like that on my team.”

  “I don’t see how a martial artist could be useful in an art sales business.”

  “Forget that shit, Danny,” said Igor, laughing. “The nature of my work is completely differing. That business is a cover for another sort of work…”

  “Which is…”

  “Which is secret and governmental. Are you familiar with the war against drugs in Colombia?”

  “A little, like everyone else, I think. I know that Colombia is grappling with corruption problems throughout the country at the law enforcement level as well as political. I also know that the only real power in the country is drugs. Most people know that.”

  “Precisely! That country is controlled by Colombian cartels and the cocaine is produced in industrial quantities there to then be imported through North America and invade our streets. The American government, along with other countries concerned including Britain, and others, decided to create an antidrug unit posted in Colombia to stem the flow of cocaine as much as possible and slow down the flow that comes here.

  “Yeah, but the Colombian authoriti
es have antidrug forces, right? Why send people from another country to stop the traffickers…”

  “The country is a bloody mess, Danny. There’s only one word for it: corruption. The media is showing arrests and hits… it’s pure bullshit. The real traffic continues, because everyone takes profit in the country… particularly the police and the army. And who said our task was to stop it?

  “If you don’t stop it… you do what? Eliminate it?”

  “That’s what I like about you, you get it quickly. Yes, the neutralization is one of our mandates. Our unit is kept secret from the public, because let’s say our methods aren’t maybe approved by most people. That could put certain countries in a tough spot as methods used to get to the root of a problem. However, it doesn’t stay the least to fight traffickers armed to the teeth, structured and established everywhere in the country, we don’t have the choice to use the methods to have maybe a hope in hell of considerably slowing down the cocaine traffic here. It implies millions of dollars, Danny. We’re talking about a lot of money. ”

  “And your team consists of what, exactly?”

  “Mostly elite soldiers from military regiments of Special Forces mandated and formed for this very delicate and extremely dangerous task. All the missions of the Special Forces are generally secret, certainly, but the actions of our unit are particularly demented if the situation puts our country in embarrassment. They try to evade a diplomatic incident at all cost. Moreover, our success remains absolutely unknown to all. We look for soldiers principally single and without family. The reason is simple: if a soldier is killed, less questions are asked and therefore less possibility for our unit to be brought to day. We are formed living in the jungle and surviving in extreme conditions on enemy territory. Our task is to find informers leading us to traffickers so the drug itself passes through facilities for its manufacturing. Our goal is to eliminate cartels, destroy their secret laboratories hidden in the jungle, their coca fields and even more. And all that must be done in the greatest secret. We clean. Never take prisoners. Some are Delta Force, some Navy SEALs, but most come from the British SAS. All the soldiers are hardened, hard as leather.”

  “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not a soldier. Nor have I set foot in the jungle. I don’t see why I would be qualified for this kind of work.”

  “Listen. I’m not what you think I am. I’d like to elaborate, but that’s unfortunately impossible. You will have to figure it out. If you’re intelligent like I think you are, you’ll quickly understand what I am. However, I think I’ll say that I’ve lived my life working for different governments. I worked, moved and formed the best commandos and officers that the world could know and I can tell you that I know how to notice when I have a good element in front of me or even an imposter. I’m capable of recognizing the potential and I’m rarely wrong. You know, certain soldiers seek out this type of unit. It’s the goal of all a life for some and for the most, none are able to take part. Know why?”

  “No idea.”

  “Simply, they don’t choose to join this type of unit, but the unit chooses them. Today, it chose you, Danny Namara. It’s up to you to know if you’re interested and to accept. One thing is certain, if you say ‘yes’… it’ll change your life forever.”

  “I think…”

  “Have you killed yet?”

  “What kind of a question is that?”

  “Well, if the answer is yes, you apprenticeship will only be accelerated. You have a barrier that has already been breached. When you are in the intensity of combat, you can’t let yourself hesitate for a second. That hesitation could mean your death or even that of your teammates. But after your expression, I think I know the answer.”

  “I don’t have any soldier training, no firearms…”

  “I’m offering you this opportunity, it’s that I can foresee the situation. Your training will be done over there in the elements. You don’t have to worry. However, I have but one fear for you…”

  “Which is…?”

  “Well, these guys there are hard as leather and I fear that you’ll have a hard time getting their respect, given that you’re not a soldier, I don’t believe that they’ll give you an easy time, but if you win their respect, they will be ready to die for you. I have great confidence that you will know to get out. If I see the potential in you, they will too. If you are interested, you leave New York City for Bogotá. Your will be well paid. Nothing compared to the salary you know. But you forget New York. Your life as you know it is done. The cards are in your hands now. The decision comes back to you.”

  “I need time to reflect for myself.”

  “Of course, of course. Obviously! Take the time you need. Now, go join those girls before I get a bad reputation,” he said, grinning.

  Namara left the little drawing room and found the table of five charming ladies who smiled when they saw Namara approaching.

  CHAPTER 15

  October 2006, Bogota, Colombia.

  Namara landed at Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado in Bogotá at exactly 5:05 pm with Igor. The first thing that hit him was the heat and humidity. He had never experienced such a climate. They claimed their baggage and climbed into an old Jeep convertible that was waiting at the airport. Igor took the path to leave the city quickly. He seemed well oriented in the streets that all looked the same to Namara. The façades were old and colourful. The narrowness of the streets let nothing but two vehicles though. Pedestrians moved through the streets alongside the cars. The weather was overcast and the air pressure was low. The jeep left the city to take dirt roads that furrowed the suburbs. After an hour, Danny didn’t notice a trace of civilization, but giant trees and dense vegetation around him. Igor turned several times to finally take a tiny path just big enough for the Jeep to move. The path ran through great green valleys as the sun began to set.

  “So, this is the jungle… the humidity’s overwhelming!” said Namara, continuing to watch the countryside through which the Jeep rolled over bumps and difficult distances.

  “Yes, but you’ll get used to it. This hell will become your home soon,” he said, his eyes on the route.

  Namara noticed that they were rolling in this green inferno for about three hours without stopping when finally they arrived at an encampment composed of several facilities. There weren’t any signs that indicated what they were, but a barrier with a guard. The latter lifted the barrier seeing Igor in the driver’s seat and the Jeep disappeared into the camp. Igor cut the engine in front of a large wooden structure and got out. Namara did the same to get the bags.

  “I hurt everywhere with those bumps,” said Namara, sweating profusely without having moved.

  A man dressed in camo came to meet them. Igor advanced toward him with a smile to shake his hand.

  “Happy to see you, amigo!” said Igor.

  “Good trip?”

  “Yeah, I’ve had worse. James, allow me to introduce you to the newest member of the unit,” he said, indicating Namara who was standing with the bags and who looked at the scene that unfolded in front of him.

  James and Danny stayed several seconds observing each other.

  “James Guerra, Danny Namara,” said Igor, wondering what the two men could be thinking at this moment.

  Namara and Guerra shook hands.

  “Hi Danny. Welcome to our little corner of paradise and our unit.”

  “Pleasure’s mine. Thanks for the welcome, but I doubt that thing about ‘paradise’.”

  Guerra laughed looking around him with sarcasm like he didn’t understand what Namara meant. Igor said, after all, the two might go well together. The first meeting seemed to be going well.

  “Danny… James is going to teach you all that you need to know in the jungle and the special ops. James is an SAS who has been here for years. He’s one of the best soldiers so learn all you can from him and fast. He’ll surely show you several tricks to stay alive out here,” said Igor with irony.

  “I’ll do my best,” said Namara.


  “Hey Danny, put your bags in the hanger for now. Then, come join me and I’ll introduce you to several members of the unit, good friends of mine.”

  Namara dumped his bags and joined James who led him to a building where four men dressed for combat were playing cards. A huge fan was installed, allowing a light breeze. An odour of cigars hung in the dark room where only a suspended bulb illuminated the table. All the men seemed to be in their thirties.

  “Guys, here’s the newbie. His name is Danny Namara,” said James.

  All stopped playing to look over the new guy. The first to break the silence was the sergeant of the group, Taz. He was of a strong musculature, shaved head and a few days’ beard. He had two tattooed arms and, by all evidence, hospitality wasn’t his strong point.

  “Hi, I’m Taz. The heap of muscle across from me, that’s Twinkie. The craziest among us is Gonzo at my left, and the last to my right, that’s Mike.”

  Nobody greeted Danny. Namara looked at the table and he saw that he wasn’t welcome. He observed each man wanting to get an image of what Igor had called the elite of the Special Forces. To him, they looked like a group of inmates in a maximum-security penitentiary looking to pass time. They didn’t look like soldiers, except for Mike who was medium sized and thin. He wore a beard like Taz, which was unusual for a soldier. The huge muscle heap called Twinkie, as Taz had put it, was bigger than others. The size of his arms must have been three times that of Namara’s, who wasn’t exactly thin. The others were of more normal proportions. Gonzo had a long bristled hair cut like Native American warriors. A tattoo of a dragon rode along his right side to end at the base of his head.

  “Taz is the sergeant, he’s Delta Force. Gonzo is a SEAL, Twinkie and Mike are SAS like me,” said Guerra.

  “Hi, guys,” said Namara.

  No-one moved.

  “Namara was chosen by Igor. He’ll be with us from now on,” pressed Guerra.

  “You have any military experience? You’ve already been in the jungle?” Taz asked.