Birds of a Feather

by Don Easton

  “Okay, no problem I understand,” said Big Al, getting up. “Puta not for you. We will go outside and I’ll tell my men.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

  “No problem,” said Big Al, with a sideways glance at Jack that left him feeling unsettled.

  Big Al yelled to a couple of his men who joined them, along with El Pero, as they stepped outside. Big Al then went over and spoke to one of the bodyguards, who nodded.

  Jack felt relieved, thinking Big Al was getting him a ride back to El Paso, but it was short-lived.

  “That one is pretty, yes, Jack?” yelled Big Al, pointing at a young Mexican couple in a car creeping forward in a line of traffic.

  Jack glanced at the young couple. They were talking and laughing about something. The woman had long black hair and flashed a beautiful smile … until a look of terror engrossed her face.

  Before Jack could respond, the bodyguards surrounded the car with their weapons pointing at the young man. He stopped the car and seconds later, El Pero dragged the screaming woman by her hair from the car. The terrified husband was told to drive or he would never see her alive again. He started to get out of the car when a bodyguard put a gun to his temple.

  His wife screamed for him to leave. When he hesitated, she begged that it would be okay … and said he needed to look after their baby.

  “You go home and wait,” he was told by a bodyguard. “Maybe then you will see her again.”

  Tears ran down her husband’s face and he got back in the car and slowly drove ahead, stopping momentarily when he got to the end of the block, only to continue on.

  “This one is not a puta,” said Big Al, glowering at Jack.

  El Pero gripped the woman by her arm and forced her through the doorway into the brothel, followed by Big Al. Jack felt both sickened and dazed as he stepped back inside.

  “You take her now,” ordered Big Al. “Then my men will drive you back to El Paso.”

  chapter thirty-one

  * * *

  Jack knew to embarrass Big Al in front of his men could have a deadly consequence, so he grabbed him by the arm, taking him aside before whispering, “This is bullshit!” The tone of his voice was venomous. “I can’t believe you did this!” he hissed.

  “You be careful how you talk to me!” warned Big Al, jerking his arm from Jack’s grip as his face reddened in anger. “You no want puta … okay. I get you a woman who is not a puta. Why don’t you want her? I have heard many stories about Satans Wrath. Something does not seem right with you.”

  Jack shook his head and tried to sound apologetic as he said, “There is something I need to explain to you.” He placed a hand on Big Al’s shoulder, drawing him closer as if he was telling him a secret. “I was ordered by Damien to keep a low profile and not to draw any attention. It’s not just the police we are worried about, but also the people we currently deal with. If they know we are coming to you, they might try to screw us on the final shipments. That’s why I came alone so as not to attract attention and why it is important you only deal with me. My mission here is supposed to be secret.”

  “It is a secret. Only my men know who you are. These putas,” he said, with a wave of his arm toward the prostitutes, “that woman,” he added, with a nod toward the terrified woman being clutched by El Pero, “they only know you are a gringo. They do not know who you really are.”

  Jack gestured to the street and said, “Perhaps, but for you to go out on a busy street when I am with you and snatch a woman …” Jack shook his head in admonishment and continued, “Let her go. Damien would be furious if he found out. This could jeopardize everything.”

  Big Al paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. He did not want to risk blowing a multimillion dollar business relationship by angering Damien. His own bosses would not forgive him … a mistake he knew could cost him his life. Still, he was not ready to relent yet. He looked at Jack and said, “It is okay here. No problema. The police will do nothing.”

  “You can’t be sure.”

  “No, it is safe,” replied Big Al. He pointed to two bodyguards, including the men who had driven them to the brothel and said, “They are policia, but they work for me. Nobody will say anything. We do this all the time. If the husband or anyone complains, we will kill them.”

  “Maybe you’re right,” replied Jack, “but I can’t risk it. If something was said, Damien would not understand and blame me for screwing up. Especially on the first night I meet you. I really like you, amigo. I think we have a lot in common and I want to make sure I get to keep coming back. I like your men, too. I’m looking forward to partying with them tomorrow night. I am sure we will do a lot of business together, but for now I must be extra careful.”

  “Okay,” sighed Big Al. “If you are okay … then I am okay.”

  “I’m okay. This has all been great. A night I won’t ever forget, but I am tired and need to get some rest.”

  Big Al nodded and said, “I will tell one of my men to drive you back to your motel.”

  “Thank you.”

  Big Al spoke to El Pero and said, “It is okay. Señor Jack does not want the woman. He is tired and will be leaving.”

  Jack was shaking Big Al’s hand as a gesture of goodwill when he noticed an evil grin cross El Pero’s face when he looked at the woman and said, “So, the gringo does not want you. Do not worry, I want you.”

  The woman cried and pleaded as El Pero shoved her onto the staircase, before grabbing her by the wrist. It made Jack want to retch. He knew he had to try and do something.

  Jack looked at Big Al and gestured to the woman and said, “I hadn’t realized how pretty she is. All dressed up for something … she really is a beauty.”

  “Yes,” agreed Big Al, looking at her bare legs thrashing out from under her skirt as she was dragged up the stairs.

  “You fight me,” yelled El Pero in Spanish, “and you will never see your family again!”

  “I’m having second thoughts,” said Jack. “You have already gone to so much trouble to get a woman for me … it would be rude of me not to accept, yes?”

  Big Al looked surprised, but then smiled and said, “Yes, it would be rude. Have you changed your mind?”

  “Yes, but perhaps we do not ever need to mention it to Damien, okay?”

  Big Al chuckled and put his finger to his lips and said, “It will be our secret, amigo.”

  “Thank you. I am sure you and I will have a long friendship,” replied Jack.

  El Pero was at a bedroom doorway at the back of the brothel when Big Al yelled to him that Señor Jack had changed his mind.

  El Pero looked at the woman and spluttered something, while stomping his foot for emphasis. He was clearly upset, but turned to Big Al and nodded in compliance.

  Jack hurried up the stairs and took the woman by the arm from El Pero.

  “Call to me when you are finished,” said El Pero. “I will have her next.”

  Jack nodded and roughly steered the woman into the room and closed the door.

  “Please, señor,” begged the woman.

  “You speak English?” asked Jack.

  “Yes … a little,” she cried. “Please do not do this to me. Today my husband and I, we be married for two years. Tonight is the first time we go out … please, señor. I see this place has many beautiful women who want to please you. You don’t need me.”

  “Listen,” said Jack quietly. “Do not speak until I am finished. I am not going to rape you.”

  “Oh, señor! Thank —”

  Jack slapped his hand over her mouth and tersely whispered, “Do not speak until I explain to you what will happen.” He waited until she nodded before taking his hand from her mouth. “Even though I won’t rape you, these other men downstairs will. I am going to try and help you escape. If you are caught, it will be very bad for the both of us. Do you understand?”

  Her wide eyes stared back at him as her brain translated what he said. Finally she nodded and whispered, “Ye
s, I understand.”

  Jack quickly checked out the room. It was sparse, with a ceiling fan twirling over a double brass bed covered with a white sheet. A small, dark bathroom was near the door. At the back of the room, curtains partially hid a window overlooking the back alley and parking lot.

  Jack looked out the window and did not see anyone. He pushed the window up with the heels of his hands and was relieved to discover that it slid open easily. He looked down and tried to gauge the distance to the ground. If a person hung from the window edge and dropped, they might not injure themselves.

  A tap on his shoulder caused him to step aside as the woman peered out.

  “It is not too high,” whispered Jack.

  She looked at him and said, “If it was ten rooms up it would not be too high. I would rather jump than have my husband see me every day and be reminded of the shame.”

  “The shame?”

  “Shame he will feel for not protecting me. My shame for sleeping with another man.”

  “There should be no shame. You chose life over death. There was no other option.”

  “Gringos think different than Mexicans. There would be terrible shame.” She pointed to the bed and suggested, “Maybe we could use a sheet to —”

  “No, to use a sheet would take time. It has to look like you escaped quickly. If you climb out over the ledge, I will hold your hands and lean out and lower you as much as I can. We are only up one storey. I don’t think you will hurt yourself. Once you are free, I will go out the door and say I am finished with you. Then I will yell as if you jumped out the window. Comprende?”

  The woman nodded, but stared at him for a moment and asked, “Why are you doing this? Maybe they will kill you.…” she added, glancing back at the door.

  “Consider it an anniversary present. There is one more thing … take this,” said Jack as he handed her a hundred dollars in American money. “It’s so you can call your husband or pay for a taxi to get you away from here.”

  “That is a lot of money, señor. Twenty dollars is enough for a taxi.”

  “Take the hundred,” said Jack, forcing it into her hand.

  She accepted the money and was about to stick it in her bosom, when she paused and looked at Jack. “They need to think you took me to bed.”

  “I know,” said Jack, “I’ll mess up the bed,” he added, as he turned and ruffled up the sheet and tossed a pillow on the floor. When he looked back, he saw the woman had turned her back to him and was slipping off her panties from under her dress. She dropped her panties on the floor and a moment later, she tossed her bra on the bed, mussed up her hair, and ripped a couple of buttons off her blouse.

  “Thank you,” whispered Jack. “It looks more convincing.”

  El Pero was at the bar when Berto nudged him and pointed to Jack, who was leaning out over the railing above with his shirt unbuttoned. Jack waved and gave them the thumbs-up sign, before turning around and yelling, “Hey!” before running back into the room.

  Seconds later, El Pero and Berto both burst into the room. They saw Jack leaning out the open window and cursing. El Pero stuck his head out the window, but the woman was gone.

  “I am sorry, El Pero,” said Jack. “I never thought she would jump out the window.”

  El Pero cursed and kicked her panties across the floor.

  Jack breathed a sigh of relief and thought of an old undercover expression often used in response when asked about how an undercover operation went. A few drinks, a few laughs … nobody got hurt. He knew the young woman who escaped would never be laughing, but he felt giddy because she had escaped.

  Jack only half listened as El Pero and Berto spoke to each other. His thoughts were elsewhere. It’s been a good night … I’ve done all I can … now get the hell out of here …

  “Come on, El Pero,” said Berto in Spanish, “don’t be angry in front of this man. He feels bad already. Besides, tomorrow we have a delivery at Casa Blanca to look after.”

  “So?”

  “Don’t you still have that red-headed gringo bitch out there to play with? Or have you killed her already?”

  Jack tried not to reveal his shock. Did I really hear what I thought I did? He knew some Spanish, but wasn’t completely fluent. He held his breath, listening intently for El Pero to reply.

  A rhythmic, pulsating sound from the ceiling fan overhead filled the room, sounding like you were inside a giant pumping heart as the seconds ticked past. Jack waited, resisting the urge to grab El Pero and shake the answer out of him.

  El Pero did not respond as he stared at the floor. Slowly he bent over and picked up the panties and held them to his face and inhaled deeply. When he was done he slowly lowered them and looked at Jack and in English said, “I can smell her fear. It is like a good brandy with dessert. She was good to have, yes?”

  “Yes,” Jack replied, while fumbling with the buttons on his shirt, trying to look disinterested in whatever was being said.

  El Pero turned back to Berto and continued in Spanish and said, “Yes, the red-headed one might still be alive, but I am tired with her. She acts like she is dead when I fuck her. Next time she will be.”

  “Do you not give her the choice like the other women? The cattle prod or you. She will be happy to please you.”

  “I have used the prod, but she has quit eating and is becoming too weak to please me. It is time to get a new one. I thought tonight we had.”

  Jack experienced intense emotions that seesawed back and forth between anger and joy. As he stepped out into the hall, a new plan formulated in his mind.

  I’m far from being finished here tonight …

  chapter thirty-two

  * * *

  Jack saw Big Al, who was naked, peering out at him from behind a door from another room.

  “What happened, amigo?” Big Al yelled to him. “I heard you yell. What is all the fuss?”

  “When I was done with the woman, she jumped out the window before El Pero could have a turn,” replied Jack.

  Berto came out of the room twirling the woman’s panties on his finger and then threw them over the railing at one of the men below. His aim was good and it landed on the man’s head, bringing a few laughs.

  Big Al smiled and said, “Do not worry, Jack. There are many women here for El Pero to choose from. I will get you a ride back to El Paso now.”

  “Thanks, but now I feel a little thirsty,” replied Jack.

  “Thirsty for another woman?” asked Big Al.

  “No,” replied Jack, faking a chuckle. “I think I will have another beer. I have also thought of something I should talk to you about in private before I go. There is no hurry. Maybe meet me at the bar when you are done.”

  Twenty minutes later, Big Al joined Jack and they moved to a quiet spot in the room.

  “You have something to say to me?” asked Big Al, sounding sober again.

  “Yes. You have treated me very well tonight. I know you are the guys to do business with and I am looking forward to many more trips down here to see you.”

  “That is good, Jack,” smiled Big Al, slapping Jack on the shoulder.

  “However,” continued Jack, “I still have to convince Damien. As I see it, providing your prices are good —”

  “They will be,” assured Big Al. “My bosses will not risk losing Satans Wrath to anyone else. You and I will get to see much of each other.”

  “Good, but that is not the problem,” said Jack.

  “Problema? What problema?”

  “All this seems like a fantastic dream. Your talk of taking two years to build a tunnel. Talk of the white house.”

  “Casa Blanca?”

  “Yes. It all seems too good to be true.”

  “It is true,” replied Big Al, sounding indignant.

  “Don’t get me wrong. I believe you, but I don’t know if Damien will. He has heard stories of gringos coming here to buy cocaine and being murdered and robbed of their money.”

  “We do not plan to go to
war with Satans Wrath.”

  “No, like I said, I believe you … but I don’t know if Damien will. It might take a few months for me to convince him you are telling the truth and that your organization really can handle the quantities we want. I have met you and trust you … but convincing Damien we should simply believe what you have told me is another matter. It may take time and many more visits … that is all I’m saying.”

  Big Al thought a moment before smiling. “What if you saw the tunnel with your own eyes?”

  “If I saw the tunnel?” said Jack, while trying to appear thoughtful as he scratched his chin. “Wow … yeah, that would work. If it is as you say, it would easily prove your organization is who we should deal with. Of course, I would have to see Casa Blanca, as well, otherwise Damien might think you took me to a mine shaft.”

  “When would you like to see it?” asked Big Al.

  “As soon as possible. I guarantee once I see it, we will be going into business with you immediately.”

  Big Al nodded and said, “For this, I need to speak to my boss.” He glanced at his watch and said, “It is two-thirty. I will check with his security. If he sleeping, I will call him in the morning. If not, maybe I can take you to Casa Blanca tonight.”

  Jack waited while Big Al strode to the far end of the bar and made a call. When he returned, he was all smiles.

  “Good news, amigo. Not only is my boss awake, but he was on his way home and is not far away. He will be here in about twenty minutes.”

  “Great, I’d like to meet him,” replied Jack, wondering if either Guajardo himself would show up, or one of the Carrillo Fuentes brothers.

  Big Al frowned and said, “I am sorry, but I was told to meet him outside. I do not think he is ready to meet you yet. Maybe after we are in business for a year or two he would agree to meet you. I hope this does not offend you or Señor Damien, but —”

  “I understand,” replied Jack. “We are in a business where we must be careful. To me it shows your boss is not careless. That is good. We would not want to do business with someone who was careless.”