Brown Sugar in Minnesota (Cooper Smith Book 1)

by Joe Field

  “I’m Agent Sosa with the DEA,” the Hispanic man said. “You’re coming with me.”

  ***

  We got you buddy – now the DEA owns you. Sosa’s adrenaline was sky high as he dragged Toothpick up on his feet and threw him in the back of his vehicle. They had a mobile interrogation trailer on its way up from the Chicago field office. They planned to have a really good chat with Toothpick tonight.

  Once the trailer arrived, they parked it behind the trees by the police cruiser. They wanted to keep the meeting with Toothpick discreet, because they had no plans to bring him in. Instead, they would use him against his boss.

  ***

  How did this go wrong? I followed the instructions perfectly. Jimmy knew he couldn’t go to jail; he heard too many horror stories from Smokey.

  The agents dragged Jimmy into an RV-like trailer. Unreal. Smokey was literally going to kill him, if he made it out of this at all. Then he thought about the timing, and realized the DEA had already been in place before he arrived. It was a set up. Was it the Latino? Or was it Captain? His mind raced as Sosa sat down across from him in a tiny room barely big enough for the two of them.

  “Mr. James Jones, you are in big trouble my friend,” said Sosa. “What is Smokey going to think when he finds out about this? I suspect you’ll be done for.”

  Thanks for stating the obvious, you arrogant prick. Jimmy didn’t say a word, just stared at the floor, thinking about his options. I could run for it. No, that’s dumb, I would never get away. I could lie, but that’s no use, either. They had him dead to rights.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. You go by Jimmy, right? Well, hello, Jimmy. It’s so nice to finally meet you. As I mentioned, my name is Agent Sosa. Now, we found three kilos of heroin in your bag. That’s some serious stuff; we could put you away for a long time with that amount. And by put you away, I mean prison. Prison, being the same thing as execution, because we both know Smokey would make sure you were a dead man in prison. Isn’t that right?”

  Jimmy was pissed now, and he didn’t even have a toothpick to chew on. If only he could waste this guy and get out of here.

  “But, don’t worry, Jimmy. I know you’re not cut out for prison, and I’d hate to see you get shanked in the shower, or worse... So, I have a deal for you. Right now, no one except us knows about this meeting. Smokey doesn’t know, Captain doesn’t know, no one knows. We could let you walk out of here tonight like nothing ever happened.”

  “In return for what?”

  “The man speaks!” said Sosa. “For a minute there, I thought you were like that Latino mute who can’t even muster a single word.”

  “What do you want me to do?” Jimmy raised his voice.

  “Easy, tough guy. I hold all the cards here, so listen up. We want to take down everyone. That means Smokey, his whole crew, Captain and his men, and your primary dealers up in Red Lake and White Earth. We want the whole network from Chicago to Bemidji.”

  Is this guy serious? Jimmy wondered. I would be a dead man walking if I took down Smokey’s network. It would take them all of two minutes to know it was me that crossed them.

  “Jimmy, I know what you’re thinking. Dead if I do, dead if I don’t. But fear not, for Uncle Sam has your back. In return for your full cooperation, and the successful take-down of the whole drug ring, we are willing to offer you full amnesty, plus relocation with a whole new identity. We will even throw in some protection initially, until you can get settled.”

  “What happens when they find out and order a hit on me from prison?” asked Jimmy.

  “Well, this is where your superior acting skills come into play. We will take you down with the rest of them. You will go to prison, and then we will have you transferred. The transfer won’t be to Stillwater; it’ll be to a new life in a state far away.”

  “Let me guess, Alaska?”

  “Wow, you’re a tough guy, and you’re funny. We’ll try to find you a nice home in the lower forty-eight, but keep in mind there is no state income or sales tax in Alaska. Something to think about as you plan for your future.”

  He considered. “What do you need me to do?”

  “Now we’re talking. We’ve got Smokey’s connection to Captain on camera thanks to your exchange tonight. What we don’t have are Smokey’s dealers on the reservations. We’re going to need you to wear a wire and get Smokey on tape admitting to his drug network up on the reservations. I’m talking names, dollar amounts, and times. We use the recording as evidence on Smokey, and then we take down the dealers the next time you sell them the product.”

  “If one of those guys gets arrested, Smokey will know and go into hiding,” said Jimmy.

  “That’s precisely why we need a trusted man like you to convince Smokey to send two guys out at the same time to deliver the goods. Tell him it’s safer to split the product so it’s not all with one person. Speaking of, has he told you how he plans to distribute it?”

  Jimmy hesitated, but he knew he was all the way in now. “Yeah, he wants to send a kilo to each reservation, and use the other kilo to enter new markets in Minnesota.”

  “Markets like the Iron Range?”

  “Yes, and reservations in North Dakota, too.”

  “Jimmy, did you kill Mr. Johnson up in Hibbing last weekend?”

  Whoa, what? Jimmy was thrown off. A few days ago he had heard Tank telling Smokey about how he had to waste one of their drug dealers in Hibbing, but he only listened passively and couldn’t remember everything.

  “I don’t have many details, but I heard one of my colleagues, Tank, blasted a dealer up there.”

  Sosa looked at him and started to laugh. “That’s what they all say, Jimmy. It was the other guy, not me. You know, our deal might change if we found out you killed in cold blood.”

  “Listen, I didn’t kill that guy. Smokey always sends Tank to do that kind of work. I overheard Tank tell Smokey he thought the dealer in Hibbing had shorted him. When Tank searched the guy’s wallet he found a business card for some reporter. When pressed, the dealer admitted to talking to him. Tank blasted the guy, took the card, and gave it to Smokey. That’s all I heard.”

  “I believe you. Remember, we are friends. I know you aren’t a murderer like the rest of those guys. Now, it’s extremely important for me to know when Smokey sends that product up to the reservations. We need to take everyone down at once. I have this non-traceable phone for you here. The only phone number programmed on it is mine. My phone is attached to my hip 24/7, and I want you to send me a message once you have the confirmed names, dates, and locations for the exchanges between your men and the dealers on the reservations. Also, here is the wire. It’s got a microphone and a recording element. It’s not big and bulky like in the movies, so you should be able to conceal it easily with your baggy clothes. Wear it when you give Smokey the goods, and get the information that links him to the reservations. It’s as easy as that, my friend. Once you’ve done your part, we’ll do ours. Just don’t go running away on me. You know we’ll find you, and things won’t go well for you then.”

  “All right. Just keep me safe. My life is on the line here.”

  “Safety’s my middle name,” said Sosa. “They call me Sam ‘the Safety Man’ Sosa up in the office. You follow my instructions, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

  “Okay, man. Just don’t hang me out to dry.”

  “I won’t. Now, go get me Smokey and his network.”

  Chapter 8

  Saint Paul, MN

  I-94 heading west out of Saint Paul might as well have been a parking lot. There was a twelve-car pileup that morning, and I had an important meeting to get to. I was able to pull together a group of five recovering heroin addicts for an interview at the rehabilitation center in Plymouth. I was not about to reschedule on these people. They were going through a lot, and I knew I was a distraction to their program.

  To make the traffic jam productive, I called Jesse. Please have a source for my story, please. If not, Wild Bill would
give my story to Lisa. My Bluetooth synced with the vehicle’s audio and Jesse answered on the third ring.

  “Hey, Coop, what’s going on?”

  “How is my favorite cousin doing today?”

  “Not bad, the fish have been biting really good this week down on Lake Irving.”

  “Good to hear. Say, I need a huge favor from you.”

  “How huge?”

  “Remember last weekend when you were telling me about the big drug problem up there on the reservations?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Well, I know it’s wishful thinking, but I was wondering if you might have any sources connected to the main dealer there on Red Lake. If not, I would even take someone sitting in your jail right now with the right connections.”

  “What would you need from them?”

  “I need someone willing to be recorded who can identify the main drug dealer and network there in Red Lake. I would, of course, mask the person’s voice for protection. No identifying questions will be asked, but I need someone who is in the know.”

  “I can tell you we don’t have the time or resources to run sources, so I can’t help you there. But just this past week we picked up someone who falls directly below the main dealer on Red Lake in the Brown Sugar pyramid scheme. He got out on bail, but it wouldn’t take much to get him back to see if he would talk. I know he was pretty scared when he was here, so he might play ball.”

  “Jesse, that would be awesome. Did your guy say who the main dealer is?”

  “Yes, a local native named Jason Red Eagle. He’s the point person who works with the supplier out of Minneapolis. The guy we brought in, his name is Roy Cloud. You’d have to come up here in person though, because he won’t do this kind of thing over the phone.”

  “Wow, thanks. Of course I would come up there. Just let me know when you think you can setup a meeting with Cloud and I’ll make arrangements to swing up.”

  “Sounds good, Coop, just don’t–”

  I looked down at my phone and saw Agent Sosa was calling. “Hey, I hate to cut you off, Jesse, but I’m getting another call I need to take.”

  “I was going to say don’t get your hopes up, but I’ll see what I can do. Later.”

  “Bye.”

  I switched to the other call. “Agent Sosa, how are you doing?”

  “I’m doing fine, Cooper. Listen, I need to talk to you about something very important.”

  “What is it?”

  “We have some new information that suggests you have been placed on a list.”

  “What kind of list?”

  “The kind of list you don’t want to be on. Do you remember your meeting with Mr. Johnson last weekend?”

  “Yes, of course. I just got back from his funeral late last night.”

  “Well, Tank found your business card in Ricky’s wallet, and Smokey’s watching you now. We don’t believe it’s an actual hit list at this point, but if you pursue this story you could be in danger.”

  Wellstone continued to idle in the standstill traffic. I was sick to my stomach. I thought about opening the door and throwing up the Honey Nut Cheerios I’d had for breakfast.

  “Cooper, are you there?”

  “Yes, I just. I just need a minute.”

  “I know this may be a lot to take in, but the important thing is you should be fine as long as you get off the story.”

  “What if I take a more passive role and don’t push too hard?” I asked. As sick as I felt, I was not throwing this story away.

  “Hey, tough guy, I don’t know if you heard me. Do you remember what happened to your buddy up in Hibbing? Do you want to join him?”

  “I have to think about it.”

  “You’ll have to do better than that. In fact, I don’t want your death on my hands, so if you don’t agree to stop I’m going to have to pay a visit to your office and make sure your boss takes you off.”

  And that would be the ballgame for me. The second Sosa stepped into Bill’s office, I would be off the story. And as soon as Sosa stepped out of the building, Lisa Larson would be on it. I decided to gamble and push back.

  “If Ricky was really killed as a result of my interaction with him, there is no way I’m going to sit on the sidelines while his killers run free. What’s more, I have a potential source inside Red Lake who is connected to the new boss, Jason Red Eagle.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “You know I can’t tell you that. But I’m willing to share any pertinent information I obtain from him… if you agree not to go to my boss.”

  Sosa paused. “Aren’t you afraid of Smokey?”

  “Yes, I clearly know the risks. The dirt is still fresh on Ricky’s coffin.”

  “We can help line up a meeting.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind. Do you have any updates you can share with me?”

  “We have some positive developments in the works, but I can’t go into any details with you. The main thing for you to worry about is avoiding Smokey and his crew. I want a full readout if you are able to interview your source. Please obtain as much information as you can about Jason Red Eagle.”

  “Sounds good. Best of luck to you on your investigation. I hope we can get all of these guys behind bars soon.”

  Traffic started inching forward.

  “We will, Cooper. Soon enough.”

  With that, we both hung up. If I could make it over to Highway 169 North in the next ten minutes, I could still make my appointment.

  ***

  My phone rang again; this time it was Soojin. I was glad she called; I wanted to fill her in on my conversations with Jesse and Sosa.

  “Hey, babe, how are you doing?”

  “I’m doing well. We are on the campaign trail again today.”

  “Will it be a crazy day for you?”

  “Shouldn’t be too bad, we only have two events today. The first is a pancake feed with the Rotary Club in Red Wing. The second is a meeting with some business owners down in Winona.”

  “Sounds like fun. That reminds me, I still need to take you on the hike up to the top of Barn Bluff in Red Wing. We could get some neat pictures of the Mississippi River up there on a clear day. Also, I’ve been meaning to go to Winona – there is a company there called Sanborn Canoe Company. They sell artisan axes, and I was hoping to pick one up.”

  “Count me in for the hike,” said Soojin. “I’ll keep an eye out for those axes while I’m down here, too. Maybe you can use it on your bachelor trip up to the Boundary Waters with Pete.”

  “That would be awesome.” I had almost forgotten about my upcoming bachelor party. My plan was the opposite of a traditional stag party. Instead of gathering a group of guys and getting a stripper, I had asked my best friend Pete Olson to join me for a fishing trip up in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Pete lived close to the BWCA in Ely. We had planned the party around one of his breaks from being deployed overseas as a security contractor with the military.

  “What are you up to now?” Soojin asked.

  “I’m finally getting out of a traffic jam and trying to make a 9 am meeting for the drug story.”

  I told Soojin about my conversations with Jesse and Sosa, including the part about being on Smokey’s “list.”

  Soojin drew in her breath. Then she said, “Hun, the way I look at it, you have two choices. You can either lay low and hope the law enforcement agencies are successful in their investigation, or you can double down and help put these thugs behind bars for all of the terrible things they’ve done to people in this state, including your friend, Ricky.”

  That was why I loved this woman so much.

  “When you put it like that, it’s a no brainer. I choose the second option. Plus, with your killer martial arts skills there is nothing I need to worry about, right?”

  Soojin laughed. “As long as you are on the campaign trail with me, I can protect you. If you choose to wander afar, I can’t be liable for your safety. Especially if you get mixed in with some Republicans al
ong the way.”

  I chuckled. “Okay, I’ll keep you posted on my trip up to Bemidji for the interview, and I’ll let you know if anything else comes up. In the meantime, eat some pancakes for me and enjoy your day on the Knutson campaign trail.”

  “Are you wearing your Knutson 2014 button to work today?”

  “I would rather wear a Soojin 2018 one. The first female Governor of Minnesota. And, if you were the Governor, that would make me the …”

  “To quote one of your favorite politicians, Sarah Palin once referred to her husband as Alaska’s ‘First Dude.’ I think that has a good ring to it.”

  I laughed so hard I nearly missed my turn. “All right, I have to go. I love you, Ms. Governor.”

  “I love you too, Mr. First Dude.”

  Chapter 9

  Plymouth, MN

  I pulled into the parking lot at the Plymouth Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Center at exactly 8:59 am. The campus looked like some kind of merger between a hospital and a high school. It was set on a secluded area surrounded by trees, not far from the appropriately named Medicine Lake. Recovering addicts from throughout the state of Minnesota went there to heal.

  I stepped into the reception area, which was immaculate. Beautifully carved stones were embedded into the wall around a cozy fireplace. Comfortable looking couches sat waiting for guests.

  The director of the Center greeted me a few minutes later, telling me the group would be ready at 9:30 am. This gave me the chance to take a quick tour of the facility, first. The Center was fully equipped with a dining hall, a patio, meeting rooms, lecture halls, meditation rooms, music and art studios, a gymnasium, bedrooms, and common area lounges, all surrounded by nature. Everything needed was within reach for addicts to recover in their own ways.