Murderville 3: The Black Dahlia

by Ashley

  “Make a right up here,” Liberty said when she sat up and saw that the street was coming up. Po followed her instructions and turned onto the street. Rocko was impressed with the suburban area. Liberty pointed to her home, and a cold chill overcame her. She saw that the lawn had grown wildly, and the house didn’t have the curb appeal that it once possessed. Po pulled into the driveway and threw the car into park. He looked in the rearview mirror at Liberty’s face. He saw the pain in her eyes and wanted to comfort her, but he could not find the right words to say to her.

  “Give me a minute, guys. I won’t be long at all. I want to go in by myself first,” she said as she pulled the house keys from her purse and opened the car door. She headed to the house and up to the front door. She slowly slid the key in and turned the lock. Click clock! As the sound of the deadbolt unlocking filled the air, her heart began to race. She took a deep breath and walked in. The sounds of her heels hit the hardwood floor as she looked around. She noticed a pile of mail on the floor that had been put through the mail chute in the door. Liberty bent over to pick up the letters. As she examined them, she noticed that they were all addressed to her but had no return addresses.

  “These are all in the same handwriting,” she whispered to herself as she sifted through the numerous letters. She began to walk through the ice-cold home, remembering when it was filled with love and warmth. She would never forget that feeling.

  She looked around the house that she once shared with A’shai and got a weird feeling. She hadn’t been to the house in years. The last time she was there, she was grieving the death of the love of her life. She slowly began to walk through the house, and it seemed as if everything in it triggered a memory that she and A’shai had shared. She kept thinking back on that horrible morning, when she woke up to see the man she loved dead beside her. Liberty began to tear up and quickly clenched her teeth and smiled, trying to remember the good times, rather than the one bad one.

  Just as she began to open one of the letters, she heard someone walking from the rear of the house. She froze in fear and shot a look in the direction of the sound. The face she saw blew her mind. Her knees buckled, and she put her hand over her mouth. “Oh, my God,” she whispered to herself as she locked eyes with a man she hadn’t seen in years.

  EIGHT

  BARON MONTGOMERY LOOKED DOWN AT THE TOMBSTONE, and his heart ached at the sight. He read his son’s name carved into the marble stone, and an involuntary tear dropped from his left eye. It haunted him that he could not attend his son’s funeral a couple of years back, but his most-wanted status had prevented him from returning to the United States. He had to pay his respects years later. He had snuck back into the country after evading the feds and hiding in seclusion. He had grown a heavy beard and dyed it jet-black. His new appearance was a far cry from the distinguished salt-and-pepper beard he used to wear. It was seldom that you caught Baron Montgomery without an Italian custom suit on, but on this day, he was clad in a basic sweatsuit with dark shades that concealed his eyes. He looked nothing like he did when he was in his prime a couple of years back. He was totally incognito.

  “Son, I’m pained that I wasn’t there for you when you needed me most. I am ashamed and wish I could trade places with you.” Baron quickly wiped away the tears and looked around the cemetery. He stood there alone. The only sounds were birds chirping and the ruffling of leaves that the wind had stirred up. Baron just couldn’t grasp the fact that A’shai had committed suicide. He wanted to know what drove him to such a harsh end. He knew that the only person who could provide the true reason to him was Liberty. He understood deep in his heart that she held all the answers to his questions. He knew that he was somewhat to blame for his family falling apart. His wife was murdered, and his only son was gone. His heavy grief slowly began to shift into guilt as he thought about the illegal life he chose. He could have been a doctor, a lawyer, or even a legit businessman. However, he chose to move heavy amounts of drugs. He had been at the top of the drug-dealing totem pole in his prime, but none of that mattered now. He was wanted by the FBI, he had no family, and none of his street credibility could make this right.

  “I’m so sorry, son. I’m so sorry,” he whispered as he broke down crying like a baby. He dropped to his knees and placed his forehead on A’shai’s tombstone. Baron began to have a flashback of the first time he met his adopted son. He slowly closed his eyes and drifted down memory lane.

  * * *

  Fifteen years ago . . .

  Baron held hands with his beautiful young wife as they slowly strolled the edge of the beach. White sand crept in between their toes as the sun’s beams smiled down upon them. Willow, young and beautiful, was only thirty years of age and had traveled all around the world with her husband over the years. To say that theirs was a wonderful life was an understatement. She latched onto his arm and hugged it tightly. It was the eve of their anniversary, and she was the happiest woman in the world. Their annual trip to Tijuana was always one of her favorite times of the year. For her, it was complete pleasure. On the other hand, Baron made this trip yearly for two reasons: one, to celebrate years of marriage with his wife, and two, to meet his coke supplier.

  Baron was in his early thirties but had managed to become one of the biggest drug suppliers in the U.S. He had a direct connection to the Mexican cartel and purchased the top grade of cocaine for the cheapest prices. The Garza family was one of the biggest cocaine manufacturers in the world, and their import and export operation was worldwide. Baron looked down at his wife, and she peeked up at him, giving him the prettiest smile she could muster.

  “I love you, Mr. Montgomery,” she said.

  “I love you more, sweetheart. I have a surprise for you tomorrow,” he said as he returned the smile.

  “Oh, yeah? What is it?” she asked, getting noticeably excited.

  Baron let out a sly chuckle and shook his head. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret, now, would it?” he asked. They both laughed and continued their stroll down the beach, admiring the beautiful scenery.

  Willow’s life was perfect. She only desired one thing, and that was to have a child for Baron. The doctor had let her know years ago that she was unable to have children. That news had crushed her world, but Baron tried to compensate by spoiling her with gifts and trips across the world. It helped, but the lavish things couldn’t fill the void of a child of their own. Baron thought about that void, held her closer, and promised himself he would take the first step and suggest adoption when they returned home. However, he had to take care of business in the meantime. First thing in the morning, he was scheduled to meet his associate and head of the Garza cartel, Diego Garza.

  * * *

  Children and young adults ranging in age from eight to eighteen were packed into a spacious warehouse, mixing and compressing cocaine from the finest coca leaves in Mexico. It resembled a manufacturing company as the youth worked in the sweatshop. Mexican cartel members paced the floor with automatic assault rifles to keep order. Baron entered the building, accompanied by Diego’s henchmen. Baron had been to the warehouse many times, but he hadn’t remembered the workers being so young. It took him by surprise, and he instantly got sick to his stomach. Although he kept his cool on the outside, he was disgusted. It just didn’t look right to him. Nevertheless, he walked past the workers and headed up the steel stairs that led to the office of the kingpin, Diego.

  Diego looked down at the main floor through the wide glass. He smiled sinisterly as he watched a million-dollar operation in the works. Diego was a short, stout, full-blooded Mexican. Tattoos covered his body, and his skin was golden brown, kissed by the sun.

  Baron entered the office, and Diego’s goons all had pistols in their hands, not trusting Baron. Although Baron had been patted down before entering and posed no immediate threat, Diego’s goons stayed on high alert. Baron could feel the tension as always, but all animosity subsided when Diego cracked a smile and extended his hand to his most loyal client.
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  “Good to see you, my friend,” Diego said as he shook Baron’s hand and signaled for his goons to leave the room immediately.

  “Likewise. How are you, Diego?” Baron asked as he kept a straight face, without a smile.

  Baron sat down and clasped his hands while Diego slowly paced the room. Even though Baron had been doing business with Diego for years, he still grew uneasy when he came over to discuss brick prices and quantity. There was something about Diego that was sinister and not right, but Baron knew that he was dealing with the best. He needed his coke, not his friendship.

  “Baron, how was your flight?” Diego asked, with his back to him as he overlooked his main floor. Diego held both of his hands behind his back, standing tall.

  “It was good. Thanks for sending your jet to get the wife and me. We love to visit your beautiful country,” Baron responded.

  “Yes, it is a beautiful country, isn’t it?” Diego said as he glanced back at Baron and released a small grin.

  “Indeed.”

  “So, let’s get to business. I know you didn’t come over to party and bullshit,” Diego said.

  Baron rubbed his hands together and prepared to play this game of mental chess. “Absolutely. I want to boost my monthly orders, but I want the price to come down,” he said.

  “What do you have in mind price-wise?”

  “I want to pay five a key,” Baron suggested.

  Immediately after the price came out of Baron’s mouth, a loud laugh erupted. Diego had been giving Baron whole kilos for ten thousand each. Baron had been buying one hundred per month, and he wanted the price to go down because of his loyalty and consistency with his purchases. Baron was a millionaire and had a plan to retire, but he needed to get the prices down on his product to speed up the process.

  “Five a key. That’s a big difference from what you’re paying,” Diego said with a smile still on his face.

  “I know it’s half, but I need more margin for profit. I keep my product pure and at low cost, so I’m not profiting too much off each kilo,” Baron said, breaking down the math.

  “I can’t come down that low on the kilos. However, maybe I could interest you in another type of business,” Diego said as he rubbed the hair on his chin. “Let me show you something.”

  Baron stood up and joined Diego, standing to the right side of him.

  “You see that down there? What do you see when you look down there?”

  “What do you mean? I see a cocaine factory,” Baron said as he looked at Diego in confusion.

  “No, look closer,” Diego said as he focused his attention on the underage workers. “I see money. In the United States, there is an underground market for what you are looking at.”

  “Diego, I’m not fully understanding what you are getting at. What are you talking about?” Baron asked.

  “You are inquiring about cocaine to make top dollar when you should be inquiring about those down there,” Diego said. His smile turned upside down, and a wave of seriousness came over him. Baron could see the sinister glare in his eyes. Diego looked Baron deep in the eyes and said, “Humans.”

  “Humans?” Baron asked, thinking that he had heard Diego wrong.

  “Yes, my friend. That’s where the money is. One person is worth one hundred Gs. The girls we send to the black market brothels in L.A., and sometimes the boys, too. The boys that we keep, we use them to work the fields and make the coke. I have a direct line through Sierra Leone and Haiti,” Diego said.

  Baron was at a loss for words. His heart dropped when he looked closer and saw how young they were. Human trafficking wasn’t his game. The thought of enslaving young boys and girls for profit sickened him. He had no respect for men who participated in the trade, and he now viewed Diego in a different light. He was dealing with the scum of the earth, and Baron promised himself that he would pull out of business with Diego as soon as he was able to locate a new connect. He hid his emotions and looked down at the victims below him. His stomach turned, and his heart ached for them, but it wasn’t his place to stop anything. He couldn’t save the world, despite the fact that he thought the act of human trafficking was deplorable. Baron’s heart was close to the situation, because his wife had once been a part of human trafficking. She would tell him how horrible her childhood was, and he had vowed never to let that happen to her again. So Baron was angered to the tenth power. People like Diego were the same type of people who had scarred his wife for life.

  What type of sick, deranged shit is this mu’fucka on? Baron asked himself while keeping a poker face. He knew that he still needed Diego for the coke, and he didn’t want to offend him by showing his disgust. “Oh, yeah,” Baron said, pretending to be interested.

  “Yes, I invested in an import/export boat. They call it the Murderville boat,” Diego said proudly, and he rubbed his beard and slowly nodded. “It just looks like an import boat that moves crated goods, but underneath the surface, I’m moving souls. For profit.” The look in his eyes resembled the devil himself. He had no compassion for his fellow humans. It was as if he didn’t even look at them as people, just product.

  Baron clenched his jaws tightly, and his heart began to race. He saw that most of the kids he was looking at shared his skin color, and a deeper issue burned inside him. He was livid. However, he could not show his cards, so he played along. He smiled and nodded as if he was impressed with Diego’s business acumen.

  “So you are saying you basically have slaves?” Baron asked as his insides were on fire with anger.

  “Yes, my friend. If you want to call them that,” Diego answered.

  “Maybe we can talk about them next trip. Sounds interesting,” Baron lied as he rubbed his hands together. He knew that his business with Diego would soon end. He would never be able to sleep at night, knowing that he was doing business with a man of Diego’s character.

  They agreed on a price for the current shipment, and that was the last time Baron ever saw Diego.

  * * *

  Hours later, Baron and Willow were strolling through the town’s market, where the high-end shops were located. Mexico was a beautiful place, and Willow loved shopping there during their vacation.

  “Something is on your mind. I can tell,” Willow said as she held her husband’s hand. Baron looked down at her, smiled, and admired the canary-yellow sundress that she wore.

  “Just have a couple of things on my mind, baby. That’s all,” Baron said with a slight smile. He didn’t want to let Willow know, but the images of those children working in the factory tugged at Baron’s heart. He couldn’t shake the ill feeling he had because of the immoral doings of his business partner.

  “Whatever it is, I know it will get better. You always make the right moves and decisions. This I know,” Willow said. Baron smiled and shook his head while letting out a light chuckle. Willow smiled and looked up at him. “What’s funny?” she asked.

  “It’s just that no matter the situation, you always say the right things and make it better. Even when you don’t know what the problem is,” Baron said.

  “I know, I’m good, right?” Willow said playfully. They both laughed, and Willow looked through the window of a jewelry store. She stopped and marveled at the handcrafted jewelry on display.

  “Oh, my God. This is so beautiful,” Willow said as she placed her hand on her mouth in awe.

  “Why don’t you go into the shop and check it out? I have to use the bathroom, anyway.” Baron said as he spotted a restroom sign in the strip mall across the walkway.

  “OK, great. I’ll be inside.”

  Willow entered the shop, and Baron walked across the street, leaving his wife alone.

  * * *

  The boys hid behind the oversized dumpster and watched as the wealthy American tourists walked the small strip of shops. They were looking for a mark who seemed to have money so that they could snatch a bag or purse. The field workers would do this every weekend, in hopes of hitting a jackpot. A’shai was the youngest of the bo
ys, but he was the fastest, so they usually made him do the actual snatching.

  “You see those diamonds?” the eldest said as they saw a beautiful woman come out of one of the shops. She was dipped in diamonds and blinged as the sun hit her ring, bracelet, and necklace. She was fair-skinned, and her slim body was perfect. She looked as if she could be a famous supermodel, and with the kind of jewelry she had on, maybe she was.

  “Shai, she is the one. I bet you she has tons of money in de’ purse,” the Haitian boy said in a heavy accent.

  “I got it. I got it,” Shai said as he stared down the potential victim.

  He nodded his head as he rubbed his hands together, waiting for the right time. He came from behind the dumpster and began to walk toward her. Shai put his hands in his pockets, trying to look as natural as possible as he neared the unsuspecting woman. His heart began to beat fast as he approached the woman, who held her purse in one hand and a shopping bag in the other. He felt the adrenaline kick in, and that’s when he went for it. He ran up to the lady, snatched both bags from her hands, and took off toward the alley where his accomplices were waiting.

  “Hey! Come back here!” the lady yelled just before she pulled off her stilettos and gave chase.

  Shai was running full speed as the boys cheered him on, but he stepped in a pothole in the road and twisted his ankle. He grimaced in pain and hobbled to the alley. Once he reached the alley, the lady had caught up with him and grabbed him by the back of his collar. The other boys emerged from behind the dumpster.

  “Well, hello there, pretty gal,” one Haitian field worker said as he circled the lady.

  “I just want my things back,” she said, releasing her grip on A’shai.

  The Haitian boy began to fondle the woman, grabbing her butt and laughing as the other boys began to circle her. Shai stepped back, not knowing what was going on. He just wanted her belongings, nothing more, nothing less.