by JC Kane
“Cut the shit, man. It’s just you and me. Tell me the truth.”
“That is the truth.”
Bruce twisted his face and shook his head. He wanted to hear more.
“Fine,” Lee said. “We flew down to San Diego, bought the drugs, then flew back. Each suitcase had 25 kilos. I didn’t have a suitcase. My guys did. That’s the truth.”
“Who else got arrested?”
“Carlos, Andre, Terry, and Ray. They each had a suitcase with 25 kilos of cocaine.”
“What about Jesus?” Bruce asked.
“Jesus wasn’t there. He stayed in San Diego.”
“Interesting,” Bruce said while nodding his head.
“Why do you say that?” Lee asked.
“Well, how did the police know you were bringing drugs in on your flight at that specific time and place?”
“You tell me. You knew about it. Who did you tell?”
“I didn’t tell anyone.” Bruce lied. He told Green. But now wasn’t the time to mention that to Lee. Bruce could look into that on his own. Lee wouldn’t be able to focus on anything else if Bruce told him that Green knew.
“Jesus would never talk. Where the hell is Old Goat - your little motorcycle buddy? Did you find him yet? He could be working with the police.”
“Who did you buy the cocaine from?” Bruce asked. “Maybe they set you up for some reason.”
“No, they had no idea how we were transporting the drugs. They couldn’t have given any details about my flight.”
“You didn’t mention the flight accidentally? No one followed you to the airport?” Bruce asked.
Lee thought about it for a second. “No, I didn’t say shit about flying back to the Bay Area.”
“Are you sure about Jesus?” Bruce asked. “It seems pretty damn convenient that he wasn’t there when you got arrested. Did he know you were flying into Moffett Airfield?”
“He knew, but I told him to take care of something else, otherwise he would’ve been on the flight with us. It wasn’t Jesus, trust me.”
“For fuck’s sake, I thought you were smarter than this. Who did you buy the drugs from?”
“Does it matter?”
Bruce stood up and looked out through the plexiglass window on the door. “We have to figure out who talked to the police. Someone told the police exactly when and where your flight was landing, and they knew you had drugs. It had to be someone that knew about the deal. Maybe it was one of your guys working with the police. Have you seen them, or talked to them, since the arrest?”
“No, but it wasn’t them.”
“How do you know it wasn’t one of them? The only way you would know it wasn’t them is if you actually knew who did talk to the police. Do you know who talked to the police?”
“Don’t give me that lawyer bullshit,” Lee said. “I need you to help me. I didn’t tell you to come down here to bitch and complain about the situation. I called you to help me get out of this mess.”
“I’ve been trying to help you for years. I told you to get out of this business for this very reason but you didn’t listen. Now, you’re sitting in jail and you have shit for options. If you want to get out of this mess, this is what you need to do - go back in time and do what I told you to do three years ago. How’s that sound?”
“Well, now you have to take over the business while I’m in here. You have to keep things running.”
Bruce sat down again. “Are you delusional? You’re sitting in prison facing a life sentence, there is an informant who is talking to the police, we don’t know who, and you want me to continue to run an illegal drug business?”
Lee shrugged. “We built this business together and now you have to step up. If someone doesn’t step in and take control, the vultures are going to start tearing us to pieces. You gotta keep things going until you get me out of here.”
“Yeah, I don’t see that happening.”
“Oh, I do,” Lee said. “You better do everything you can to keep the business going and get me out of here as soon as possible.”
“I don’t handle criminal cases. You know that. I’ll find a good criminal lawyer for you, and Carlos, Andre, Terry, and Ray, but the drug business is done. Forget about it.”
“This is a serious charge, right? They are going to be digging into everything and I can’t share the details of my business with just any attorney. I need you to handle this case so we can talk about the facts and the evidence freely, without giving up any secrets that might incriminate both of us.”
“I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t have the knowledge or experience to handle this type of case in court. I don’t know the procedures or the proper pleadings or any of that stuff. If you really want to beat this charge, we’re going to have to hire an attorney that is really good at handling criminal drug cases. I will find the best attorney for you.”
“Look, I want you to handle this case. I don’t trust anyone else. I don’t have the confidence in another attorney to handle this like you would.”
“Well, sorry. I don’t want to handle it. I will find you a good attorney.”
“Who cares if you want to or not,” Lee said. “I didn’t want to go to prison for you but I did that, didn’t I? Now I need a favor and you don’t feel like it? Well, tough shit.”
“I never asked you to go to prison for me,” Bruce said. “You did that on your own.”
“You’re right. I did it on my own because that’s what true friends do - they make sacrifices for their friends. It was the right thing to do and I spent four years in prison so you didn’t have to. That’s four years locked up while you were partying your ass off in law school. Now, you can’t even do me this favor because you don’t want to? Don’t forget that your ass is on the line, too. If they start digging, who knows what they’ll find.”
“That’s how it’s going to be?”
“That’s how it’s going to be,” Lee said.
“Don’t be an asshole. I said I would help you.”
“No, you said you would find an attorney to help me. I need you to help me, not another attorney. I know you’ll do whatever it takes to get me out of this, even if you have to cross some lines.”
“Fine. You want me to handle the case? I’ll handle the case, but I’m going to hire another attorney to assist me with the case and go to court. I’m not putting on a fucking tie. You talk to me and I’ll communicate with the other attorney. That way, he’ll only know what he needs to know after we’ve discussed everything. Fair enough?”
“That works for me as long as you’re in charge of the case.”
“Good,” Bruce said. “I’ll find an attorney that’s good with drug cases and we’ll get to work.”
Chapter 31
Francisco Carbajal walked into Oceanic Bakery and sat down next to Jesus. The bakery wasn’t crowded but there were a few people enjoying their coffee and baked goods.
“Jesus,” Francisco said. “How are you?”
“I’m doing great. Can I get you anything to eat or drink?”
“No, thank you. I can’t stay long.” Francisco looked around. “Lee’s not here yet?”
“Unfortunately, he can’t make it.”
“He can’t make it?” Francisco asked, surprised. “I see. He has something more important to do?”
“It’s an unexpected personal matter that he couldn’t get out of. But, I’m here. I’m ready to move forward. Let’s discuss the details.
Francisco was curious. It was quite strange that Lee wasn’t present and even stranger that Jesus wouldn’t tell him exactly why he couldn’t make the meeting.
“Are you sure everything’s okay?” Francisco asked. “You’re not giving me much of an explanation. Is there something going on that I should know about?”
Jesus shook his head. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
“I see. You know, when someone tells you it’s nothing to worry about, that’s almost a guarantee that there is something to worry about.”
>
Jesus laughed to break the tension. “I like that saying. Can I steal that from you? I’m going to use that in the future.”
Francisco stared at Jesus, giving him an opportunity to spill his guts and tell the truth. Jesus didn’t think Francisco knew that Lee was in jail, but he couldn’t be sure. It was better to be vague instead of lying directly to his new supplier. It wouldn’t be the best way to start the relationship.
“So,” Jesus said, “you’re happy with the results of our test project?”
“Yes. And, more importantly, my boss is happy. That’s going to be a nice windfall for you and Lee, yes?”
Jesus couldn’t tell Francisco that all one hundred kilos were now in an evidence locker at the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department. There would be no windfall for Lee or Jesus. The roughly eight million dollars they would’ve made from the heist is now just a whiff of a dream.
“And for you, too,” Jesus said. “I’m excited to move forward and I’m looking forward to even bigger and better things.”
“I don’t know if you know this, but we have some things in the works as far as our competition. Your old business partner, Severo Moreno, is making moves to prevent us, you and Lee, from expanding and so we are removing him from the equation as we move forward.”
“That’s fine with me. Just let me know if I can help.”
“You’re not doing business with Severo anymore, are you?”
Jesus shook his head. “No, we ended things as soon as we got the green light from you.”
“Good, good. He won’t be a problem for much longer, but there are a few layers to get through before we’re in complete control. Do you still have a relationship with the Two Zero Five motorcycle club? We could use their manpower to take care of some of these problems.”
Jesus took a drink of his coffee. It was a stalling tactic while he thought of the right way to tell Francisco the answer was no. “Unfortunately, we are still trying to get them to come around and work with us. I should be meeting with them again in the next few days.”
“Well, let me know how the meeting goes. Your relationship with them was an important part of our decision to work with you. If you can’t get them on your side, that could be a problem.”
“I’ll let you know how the meeting goes,” Jesus said.
“Otherwise, we have everything ready to go,” Francisco said. “This Saturday we’re going to deliver two weeks worth of product to you; that’s coke, meth, and heroin. I’ll meet you at our shop tomorrow and you can give me the eighteen million dollars. Then Saturday, we’ll drop the drugs in a safe spot and you can pick it up. I’ll tell you where after we get the money. Then, you guys are going to be rolling in the money.”
Jesus leaned back in his chair. He wasn’t prepared to move forward so soon. “You want all of the money tomorrow? I thought we would get rolling in a couple weeks.”
“No, no, no. When we say yes to a new client, we move forward immediately. Time is money. The faster we move forward, the more money we make, and the more money you make.”
“You’re asking for two weeks worth of money instead of one week, but maybe we can spread it out a little bit.”
Francisco looked at his watch and then crossed his arms. “Is there a problem with the money? This isn’t a lot of money for people like you and I. It makes me nervous to think that you don’t have this much cash available. We just gifted you 100 kilos of cocaine. You could easily sell that for eight to ten million. I don’t understand the problem. This is our first official transaction and you’re telling me you don’t have the money?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s that we typically like to mitigate our risk by spreading the money out. If we give you eighteen million dollars in one delivery and the police happen to confiscate that money, that’s a big loss. If we deliver five million at one time, then five million at a second and third delivery, it reduces the potential loss.”
“I understand risk mitigation, but eighteen million is not a lot of money given the circumstances. I don’t expect the police to be there unless you know something I don’t know.”
“No, I don’t either, but it’s better safe than sorry.”
Francisco looked at his watch again and stood up from the table. “I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know what time to deliver the money. Don’t let me down. I’m quite unimpressed so far.”
Chapter 32
Green sat behind his desk at the Two Zero Five clubhouse in San Jose. He was sending a text message on his phone when Severo Moreno and three members of his security team were escorted into the clubhouse. Severo told his guys to wait in the front of the clubhouse while Severo was escorted by one of the Two Zero Five members back to Green’s office.
“Good to see you’re still alive,” Green said. “I heard you had a rough day yesterday.” Green stood up and gave Severo a hug.
Severo took a deep breath. “Tell me you didn’t know anything about this.”
“Of course not, man. I had no idea this was coming.”
“I didn’t think so, but I always like to ask. I don’t want to be that guy that someone says - well, you didn’t ask me.”
Green stood up from behind his desk. He grabbed a bottle of whiskey from a shelf behind his desk and held it out for Severo to see. “Can I pour you a drink?”
“Yes, please. Make it a double. No, triple.”
Green poured two big drinks and gave one to Severo. He held his glass out. “Here’s to being alive.” They clinked glasses.
Green sat back down. “Do you know who did it?”
“I don’t know who pulled the trigger, but I know who was behind it. Francisco Carbajal. He’s with the Sinaloa cartel. Do you know him?”
Green laughed. “I actually met him a couple days ago. Very confident guy.”
“I guess you know who he partnered with then?”
“I do. But, I have nothing to do with Lee anymore. As soon as Bruce told me he was out, that was the end of my connection to Lee and Jesus. I have no love for either of those guys.”
“If Lee thinks he can take over my territory, he’s seriously mistaken. I don’t care if he’s got the Sinaloa cartel behind him now. I have the Zetas and MS-13 on my side and they’re not afraid to get their hands dirty.”
Green laughed. “That’s an understatement.”
“Those fucking assholes.” Severo downed his glass of whiskey and set it on Green’s desk, next to a pile of junk. “I can’t believe they would try something like that in broad daylight, in my favorite restaurant.”
“I’m glad you stopped by, especially under the circumstances. I have a proposal for you that might cheer you up.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’d like to take over for Bruce. You sell to me from now on and it’ll be like nothing’s changed, except me and my crew will take care of business instead of Bruce and Lee.”
“That’s a big jump. You think you can handle that responsibility?”
“Do I think I can handle it? What the fuck do you think my guys have been doing for the past five years before you even showed up? Who’s been dropping off the product? Who’s been picking up the money? Who’s been taking care of the problems? The Two Zero Five has been doing almost everything except enjoying all the profits.”
“Have you talked to your people about this?”
“Of course I did. They’re excited as hell. We’re going to do the same thing we used to do and make a lot more money doing it.”
“And what about Lee Giordano?” Severo asked. “Do you think he’s going to be okay with that?”
“Last I heard, Lee was in jail. Plus, he kicked you to the curb, so what do you care what Lee thinks?”
“Well, I have news for you, Lee isn’t retiring. Jesus is still out there running things and they have the Sinaloa cartel behind them now. It’s going to be a fucking war zone for anyone who tries to maintain control of this territory.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I have you, the Zetas, and
MS-13 on my side.”
Severo tilted his head back and looked at the ceiling. “Lee will be extremely pissed off, I can guarantee that.”
“Lee’s happiness is not my concern. I don’t give a shit what he wants or expects. I’m not going into business with Lee. I’m offering to go into business with you. Are you interested or not?”
Severo looked around at Green’s office. It was a mess. It didn’t look like the office of someone who was ready to run a multi-million dollar drug empire. “You’re committed to this for the long-term?” Severo asked.
“We are,” Green said. “It’ll be nice to make some high-level decisions and do things the way they ought to be done, the Two Zero Five way.”
Severo stood up and extended his hand. “Okay. I hope you know what you’re getting into.”
Green stood up and shook his hand. “Now comes the fun part, taking some people down a notch or four.”
“You can handle twenty kilos per week?” Severo asked. “That’s the deal we had with Bruce and Lee.”
“Yeah, not a problem. But, I want to make something crystal clear - Bruce is retired. He’s done. He’s out. So leave him out of this. If any issues come up, come talk to me, not Bruce. I’m the guy now. Otherwise, everything stays the same. Fair enough?”
“If that’s what you want, that’s fine with me. But, what are we going to do about Lee and his new partners? They are not going to like this new arrangement and they are not going away quietly. I don’t want you getting killed before we even get started.”
“Are you telling me the Zetas and MS-13 can’t handle a little turf war? Is that what you’re saying?”
“Too much killing is bad for business,” Severo said.
Green smiled “But it’s great for morale.”
“You’re a sick man, Green.” Severo stood up and turned to leave Green’s office.
“Severo, there’s just one more thing.” Green walked over towards the door, closer to Severo. “Because this is a new relationship, and I’m stepping up and buying your product when you have no one else to sell to, I’m going to need a significant discount for this first shipment. Okay?”