by Mike Gomes
“Well, I am sure you boys have heard about the robbery that happened in town with the police officer getting shot. Man goes in to take a shit and comes out to face a gun. Just not right if you ask me.”
“You give any thought to that guy over there?” said Carlos pointing his finger across the courtyard at Falau sitting with Apollonia.
“Ya, he thinks he’s some bad ass. A guy from off the island that says he is here for vacation but spending all his time with my mum. Most of those guys that come here are not interested in hanging out here.” said Joaquim.
Officer Silva turned to look the direction that the boy pointed. The distance held a short blur for him and then they adjusted to the sun that was shining toward him.
“Isn’t that your mom with that guy?”
“Ya. She seems to be slumming.”
“What’s his name?”
“Don’t know but he is badass from the United States. Guy says he is Special Forces. The kind of guy that could do a job like the one in town.” said Joaquim.
“Ya. He might think this is just some small island where he can do what he wants with the shops and the woman.” said Carlos. “But he has no idea how proud us locals are, right Officer Silva?”
“No, he has no idea who he is dealing with. Probably thinks we are just a bunch of inbred scum to take advantage of. Oh, how he is mistaken.”
Carlos cast a smile to the other boys and nodded his head. “Is there any way we can help you in taking care of this guy?”
“No need to do anything with him until I have something on him.” said the police officer turning back to the boys and swinging the night stick in his hand with authority.
“What more do you need? Some eyewitnesses to say they saw him there?” asked Carlos looking up through the top of his eyes not letting his eyes rise. “Maybe we would swear to see the guy there. That would look really good on an officer’s record to have caught the guy who shot another cop.”
“Yes, it would. I would be the hero of the department.” said Officer Silva. “But here is a problem with your willingness to have an arrangement with me. First is that I don’t lie about those things. When I bust the shooter, it is going to be for real. Second is that the officer who was shot is a friend of mine. He got a clear look at the shooter as did the shop owner. It wasn’t any American. It was a local boy. In fact, some people are saying you boys have something to do with the whole thing.”
The swinging night stick snapped to a stop in the palm of the police officer’s hand as he read the reactions on their stone faces.
“We just been here all the time.” said Carlos.
“Oh, I bet that’s not true. Boys always like to go into town for some drinks and to chase the girls. What I am wondering is how you got a gun. Nobody has reported one stolen and we don’t have many on the island.”
“What, you think we did it?” said Joaquim with a shake in his voice looking quickly between Officer Silva and Carlos.
“I think you did. I think you boys are all balls and no brains. You pull out a gun and shoot it without thinking. The easy thing to do now would be for me to take the little one here.” said the police officer pointing the stick at José “bring him into the station. I bet he would tell me everything in less than an hour, but I am a good man and will give you boys the chance to come clean. You have forty eight hours to tell me the truth. If you do I can make it so you’re looking at juvenile charges, but if you don’t, you’re looking at adult charges and prison.”
The boys held still looking at the officer not changing the expression on their faces.
“Well, you all could go to juvenile court, but your leader here.” said Officer Silva pointing his nightstick to the other boys and then stopping it onto Carlos “but you. You’re going to real prison.”
“Nobody here going to prison, Officer Silva.” said Carlos with a voice that had sarcasm attached to every word. “You will not find a thing wrong with anything we have done, and you will have to tell us sorry.”
“Sorry to you boys?” said Officer Silva with a giggle in his voice.
“Be careful, Officer. Watch behind you and watch out for your family. With a crazy guy on the loose who knows what he could do if he finds out who is trying to get him.” said Carlos
“That would have to be one stupid guy.” said Officer Silva standing down close to Carlos’s face “because if anyone went near my family or tried to get me they would be dead before anyone knew what happened. Dead men can’t say what happened. So, anyone wanting a piece of me will have to stare death in the face first.”
Chapter 15
Sitting in the lounge chairs and working their way through the pack of cigarettes Apollonia and Falau watched the boys at the center of the courtyard. The visit from the police officer did not scare them off and they were too far away to hear what the conversation was about. The idea that the police were not just taking them in for suspicion of anything was alarming to the two new friends. How could the police not know that the new gang was the one who shot the police officer at the pharmacy? The news was all over town with the locals and the boys did not have so much power that the locals would be afraid to talk with the police if asked.
Falau kept his focus on the boys watching their patterns and movements. Just as Apollonia had said, Carlos was undoubtedly the leader. He pointed and directed the boys for the slightest things. He kept his authority known and in front always. He liked to sit on the table placing himself a head above the other boys looking down on them in a commanding way. Numerous times all their heads turned to him looking for whatever the answer was. Falau’s mind pulled on the old saying that a fish rotted from the head and that rotting head was Carlos. If he changed his tune and was not pushing the others to crime maybe they would be more willing to follow his lead.
“I need to have a conversation with Carlos.” said Falau taking another drag off the cigarette.
“Are you going to kill him?” asked Apollonia without any joking in her voice and not turning her head to look at the man.
“You think I am a killer?”
“If you have to be. You’re a hard man and you don’t give any quarter. You seem like a man who may have killed before.”
“You don’t know everything about me.”
“I know you said you were in the Special Forces and those men play for keeps.”
“You’re right. Yes, we did. But I don’t talk about that.”
“I didn’t ask you to. I asked if you’re going to kill Carlos and you didn’t answer me.” said Apollonia slightly turning her head to the big man. “If you say yes I can make sure I never say a word about it to anyone.”
Falau turned his head and looked at the woman who was willing to consider murder to protect her son. “If you want him dead you kill him.”
“I didn’t say that I wanted him dead, but it might fix things for a lot of people around here. I was under the impression that you wanted to fix things.”
“I want to help, but killing a young man is a bit much for some kids forming a gang. Like I said, if you want him dead you do it yourself and leave me out of it.”
“I don’t have money but there are other things I could pay you with.” said Apollonia leaning forward and pressing her shoulders together accentuating her cleavage. “I would do anything to help my son.”
“Apollonia, you can lean back and stop showing me your body. I consider you a friend and would not let you prostitute yourself to me. You’re too good for that. I can talk to the boys and I can defend myself, but I can’t kill a young man who has just gone astray.”
Pulling back and adjusting her shirt higher on her chest Apollonia brushed the hair from her eyes. “I just want all this to stop and you didn’t have to just dismiss me like you’re disgusted by the thought of sleeping with me.”
The big man pushed himself up from his chair and his knees gave out an audible crack. The cigarette hung from his mouth bobbing up and down as he stretched out his back like a man that was tw
enty years his senior. Turning to face Apollonia he dropped the cigarette and crushed it out with his foot. With a strong exhale the smoke poured out from his lungs and into the air in front of him. “Apollonia, I never said I was not interested in sleeping with you. I simply said I was not interested in it as payment for killing an eighteen-year-old boy. My desire for you is greater than you know.”
Mouth ajar Apollonia searched for the words to respond to the big man and felt an involuntary smile fall over her cheeks. Looking up at him she wanted to extend her hand and take his in hers, so she could lead him back into her home, but the big man turned away too fast and started to walk across the dirt and grass heading for the boys at the center of the courtyard. Her heart sank, and she felt a fear that he could be hurt and wanted to help him in any way she could, but she sat frozen in her chair half terrified and half flattered by his affection.
“Carlos!” called Falau getting to within twenty feet of the boys. “I would like to chat with you.”
Carlos hopped off the table and puffed his chest out trying to look bigger than he really was bringing a smile to Falau’s face. “What do you want man?”
“Just to talk. No problems.” said Falau “I think we started off our relationship on the wrong foot. Time you and I started all over again.”
“So, you here to say sorry?”
“I didn’t say that. You all got what was coming to you.” said Falau sternly. “I just want to make sure we don’t have to have a problem again. I didn’t come to this island to have a problem with anyone.”
“Then stay the fuck away from my mother.”
“Shut your trap Joaquim!” said Carlos sternly. “This is between me and him.”
“It’s my mother!”
“And I am the leader of MB4 and you need to do what I tell you to.”
Joaquim turned away pounding his fist off the table.
“Let’s go.” said Carlos starting to walk away before Falau could get moving. “You need to keep up with me, old man.”
“I think I can handle that.”
“Don’t think about jumping me because the others will be all over you before you know it.”
“Don’t worry. If I wanted to harm you I could have already done it.”
Carlos cast a hard look to the side at Falau.
“You know it’s true. If I wanted to attack, I had the chance when you started walking before me. You had no idea that you made such a big tactical mistake, but you moved because you were mad at your boy and you placed yourself in a vulnerable position.”
“You know a lot about this kind of stuff. Tactics.”
“It is kind of my specialty.”
“Would you be interested in teaching us and calling it a truce between us?” asked Carlos doing his best to not look at Falau and to sound in control.
“Not at all.” said Falau. “I want you to know that you’re not cut out for this. It’s not the life for you or the other boys. You guys think you’re the real thing but that small mistake will get you killed when someone wants to steal your power and trust me someday there will be a person that tries to take your power. It always happens.”
“You are telling me that one of my boys is going to try to take me out.”
“Why not? The bigger the gang gets, the more power there is at the top. If snuffing you out gives one of them the power and money, why wouldn’t they do it? Are they just supposed to be your boys forever?”
“So why you so concerned with me, big man. You don’t know me. You don’t care about me.”
“You’re right. I don’t know you or care much about you, but I do know Joaquim’s mother and she fears for her son being in MB4. But the fact is that these boys look up to you and if you tell them to do something then they will do it. Keep things small and local and you will all grow out of this, but if you go big you will just end up in the ground.”
Carlos stopped, and his jaw hardened and fists clenched into a ball. “Who the fuck is you man to come here and tell me what I should be doing? I am the main man around here not you.”
“I am not challenging you, Carlos. I just want you to think about what is best for you and all your boys.”
“You don’t think I want what is best for them? I want them out of this hell hole. I want them with power and money like all those tourists that come in here waving their wallets around and piss all over us.”
“Then open a hotel or do something better than the rest, but what you’re doing is going to hurt the island and everyone on it.”
“Fuck you, yank!” Carlos pushed his hand out shoving Falau a foot back. The boy’s hand reached behind him and pressed down on the handle of the gun tucked into the back of his pants.
“Too slow, Carlos!” said Falau holding up one hand in the stop motion. “Your hand is on your gun and I know it, but you did pull it, so your advantage is gone. I would be on you before you could have it out at this point. I would rip it from your hand and stick it in your mouth blowing your head off. YOU’RE NOT MADE FOR THIS KIND OF LIFE!”
With wide eyes and a stern icy cold gaze, Carlos let go of the gun and brought his hand around to its normal place. “It’s open season on you man. No way you’re leaving this island in anything but a body bag.”
Chapter 16
The calendar changed to December thirty first with none of the fan fair that the day would have in twenty-four hours. The sun had long since moved its way deep over the horizon and the fire that the boys had in the center of the courtyard was more for warmth than show. They had been making a habit of spending their nights in the courtyard at least until three or four in the morning. The more they annoyed the locals, the better they felt about themselves. If anyone dared to come out and confront them they would simply beat the person, man, woman, or child. Their reputation had spread fast for violence and aggression and the families who lived in the homes that surrounded the courtyard did not come out of their homes or yell for the boys to keep quiet. There was too much of a risk. It was better to endure the noise and fire than have them come to you and do who knows what.
The cell phone was connected by bluetooth to a speaker that thumped out the beats of Jay Z and the boys bobbed their heads in time. The music was too loud for this time of night, but they had no care. Their recent crime spree had brought them money, goods, and a reputation. Carlos had stolen a beach chair from one of the apartments and laid it out so he could relax looking up at the stars. He brought the joint up to his mouth and took a long drag. José had mugged a local boy and scored the bag of weed that was consumed by the boys rather than sold for the profit.
Exhaling the smoke out in a long smooth stroke Carlos looked at the joint like a wine connoisseur would look at the bottle of wine inspecting it for more information. “Some good shit, little one. Good score.’ He said with a look of satisfaction on his face.
“Fool had no idea what to do. Just about pissed his pants.” said José giggling from the effects of the marijuana and wanting to keep up with the older boys. “I see him buying the bag and I just followed him. Two years older than me. Stopped him and he was shaking before I even pulled the knife. He knew I was MB4.”
“That’s what I like to hear. People know. Soon you will not even need to have a knife. You can just stick out your hand and they will give you anything of value without a question asked. Today it is bags of weed but in the future, it will be stores that will pay us to take care of them and keep the bad guys away.” said Carlos
“Like the mother fucking Godfather.” Candido said, “you’re the new Michael Corleone!”
Carlos nodded his head in agreement and scratched his cheek using the back of his fingertips and dropping into his best impression of Marlon Brando as the Godfather and said “I am going to make this island an offer it can’t refuse. Do what we want or get the shit kicked out of you.”
The boys broke into laughter at the weak impression but could feel the words that Carlos said were true.
“I think we are going to have a
good year coming up!” said Joaquim taking the joint from Carlos.
“Must be after midnight now so it is the last day of the year. The New Year’s Eve celebration will be going strong in twenty-four hours.” said Carlos. “That’s when everything changes. This next year is our year. Starting tomorrow night, we are going to burn a path long and wide through this place. When people wake up on New Year’s Day the stories will start to spread, and we will be a new level and then we will push ourselves to the next level.”
“You got a plan boss?” questioned Candido taking his turn on the joint.
“We will all split up tomorrow night. We are all going to spread out and put some rage down on the tourists. Just some simple muggings to start. Get some cash for the night. Then we all meet at the festival. There is going to be some big cash there. Everyone must buy a ticket to get in and it is all cash. We are going to hit it. I bet it will be twenty or thirty grand.”
“And crawling with cops.” said Candido with a grim look on his face.
“One step ahead of you Candido and four steps ahead of the cops. I used to work the ticket collection as a kid. Cops don’t show up until they move the money to the bank. Before that they just have it there in a lock box.”
“No guard?’ asked Joaquim
“None.” said Carlos having the joint return to him. “It will be easy. The door to the ticket sales has no lock on it. Checked it out today myself when they were setting up. We get to it as the clock hits midnight and everyone starts to count down and we open the door. Two good punches to the collector and grab the lock boxes and make a run for it down the streets and into the heavy brush. By the time they get the cops there, we will be back here sitting having a drink with all the money hidden.”
“Where we gonna hide it?” asked José.
“Don’t you worry about that, little man. We just need to get the money first. Once we have it we can stash it.” said Carlos shifting in his seat and turning back to the boys. “Then the hard work starts.”