City Culprits (Book 1)

by Brittany Nicole Allen

  CHAPTER THREE

  Carlos took Zamora to the room with the safe. She stared at it not knowing what her father was keeping from her.

  “Before I show you what’s inside, there’s something else to know first.”

  “What is it?” She wondered looking into his eyes.

  “Please sit.” He said nicely pointing at the small couch in the room.

  “Okay.” She sat down.

  “What’s inside this safe…Zamora…is what my enemies want…but you’re the missing piece to it. Once I show it to you, you can never look back. I never planned on telling you unless there was no other option. But I see that…you are a Rivera. Whether you like to hear that or not that is the truth…and you deserve to know the truth.”

  “What are you hiding?” Zamora asked him kindly.

  “Are you sure you want to know? Once you know…it’s going to get more dangerous for you.”

  “I need to know.” She told him.

  “Okay.”

  Carlos hesitated for a moment but then proceeded to unlock the safe, reaching inside to pull something out from it. He pulled out a black locked box, setting in on the table.

  “What is that?” Zamora stood up.

  “The answer to your question.”

  Carlos entered the code to unlock the black box.

  “My birthday?” She said noticing the numbers to the code.

  “Yes. This is all about you.” He said opening the box.

  “What the hell is that?” She asked confused.

  Inside, looked like some type of device. Foam surrounded the item to keep it safe, like the inside of a ring box. It was round and black and had wires attached to it. A single button in the middle to press. There was another device next to it, also protected. It was rectangular and thick and seemed to be like some type of data collector device. It had a screen on it and several buttons like a cell phone.

  “What…is that?” She asked confused.

  Carlos pulled out the round device. It was only big enough to fit in the palm of the hand.

  “We call it…The Eye.”

  “Why? What does it do?”

  Carlos proceeded to pull out the other item.

  “This is a data collector, The Eye…as we call it…makes it work.”

  “So what does it do?” She asked again.

  “When it’s on, it connects online to every data base in the world. It can find anyone. No one can hide.”

  “Why do you have it?”

  “Because I designed it.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I made it….to find those who changed their identities.”

  “You mean like, witness protection?”

  “Si. It can hack into the database for wit sec and it can find anyone in the world.”

  (Yes.)

  “You needed to find someone?”

  “People who can bring me down. I used it once, got what I needed, and never used it again.”

  “So how do your enemies know about it?”

  “I never was able to figure out how until a few days before you first arrived here.”

  Carlos returned the items to their place.

  “I designed this…25 years ago, while your mother was pregnant, with you.”

  Zamora listened.

  “Before you came here, I had discovered that one of my own men betrayed me, by slipping it out, what I had created. For 25 years, I wondered, how my enemies knew about it. Petey was his name. He betrayed me by bragging about the device to the wrong person. It got back to my rivals and word spread quickly. They wanted the device to be able to find anyone they wanted to find. To find anyplace they wanted to get to. What they didn’t know was of its connection to you.”

  “What do you mean by its connection to me?” She asked confused.

  Carlos hesitated to answer. He was unsure of how to answer her.

  “There’s only one thing that makes this work. Only one thing can power up The Eye, making the data collector work.”

  “What makes it work?”

  He sighed. “Your heartbeat.”

  Zamora’s face was left with confusion.

  “What?”

  “You were born with an irregular heartbeat. Your heart beats faster than the average person. It’s rare.”

  “I know. I took medication for it when I was a child.”

  “I designed the device…to only work with the sound of your heart. When The Eye is connected to your heart, it powers the data collector.”

  “What do you mean…when it’s connected to my heart?” She wondered.

  Carlos sighed again like he didn’t want to explain.

  “The Eye connects to your chest. It sticks to the skin. When the button is pressed…it releases a thin needle into your chest and bloodstream, collecting the sound waves of your heart. It’s small enough to not leave a scar but it does hurt. After a few seconds when it recognizes only yours…the data collector will turn itself on…and then it can be used.”

  “Have you done it before?”

  “Yes…when you were born. Your heartbeat was the final piece. I had to connect the sound of your beating heart to The Eye, so it can only work with you.”

  “Why did you make it like that?” Zamora picked up The Eye to admire it.

  Carlos paused. “Because if my enemies had ever gotten a hold of it…I needed a way to make sure that it couldn’t be used without the missing piece but I also needed something that they couldn’t get to.”

  “So you used me for it?”

  “I connected it to you so that if my enemies had ever taken you, that you couldn’t be killed.”

  “Why didn’t you just destroy it?”

  “In case I ever needed it again. This can keep my organization intact.”

  “So then how did they find out that it was connected to me?”

  “The one who betrayed me. After it was in the paper about the adoption…Petey had told my rivals that The Eye was connected to you. I knew my enemies that needed The Eye would come looking for you.”

  “The Jamaican Posse? Why do they need The Eye?”

  “I don’t know. They have their reasons.”

  “Who else?” She wondered.

  “The Russians are my enemies too…but…that’s not important now because they don’t know where you are.”

  Zamora didn’t respond.

  “I knew that we were going to be giving you up for adoption, and that I could only use The Eye once. I locked The Eye the day we gave you away. I knew once my rivals found out about my secret child…they would come looking for you so they could make The Eye work.”

  “They think you’re just going to hand it over?” She raised an eyebrow.

  “They would use you against me to get to The Eye. That’s why I connected it to your beating heart. I had to make sure that for the use for The Eye, it had to be connected to your heart for every use. It was a way to keep you alive. I know that you would be subjected to a life of imprisonment…but you wouldn’t be dead.”

  “Would you have given up The Eye? If they had taken me?” She asked him.

  Carlos sighed. “You’re my daughter. I would do anything to protect you, but if The Eye gets in the wrong hands…a lot of misery can take place. People even more dangerous and ruthless then I…would pay a lot of money for The Eye…and you. The Eye is a dangerous creation.”

  “I want to know how it works.” She told her father.

  “Why?”

  “Because I need to know what I’m protecting.” She told him.

  Carlos knew his daughter understood his words.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  He took a deep breath and told his daughter to sit down and lay back on the couch. He took the rest of the items out from their place. Carlos sat down next to his daughter. He got The Eye ready for placement pulling and connecting the wires to the data collector.

  “Okay. Are you ready?” He asked her.

  “How does it
stick?”

  “When I press the middle button, it will stick into your skin and the needle will then immediately enter your chest and listen for your heartbeat. It’s going to pinch until we turn it off.” He warned.

  “I’m ready.”

  Carlos just nodded his head. He lifted down his daughter’s shirt to reveal the middle of her chest. He then held The Eye onto her bare skin.

  “Take a deep breath.” He told Zamora.

  Zamora did so. Carlos pressed the power button. The Eye quickly stuck itself to her skin, and the needle immediately punctured her chest.

  Zamora lost her breath for a short moment feeling the needle enter her chest. She gripped tightly onto the couch with her hands. Carlos let go of The Eye letting it stick on its own. The data collector slowly powered up as it collected the sound waves of Zamora’s heart. She loosened her grip, but still felt the needle inside her chest.

  “It’s working.” He told her. “Does it hurt too much?”

  “It’s bearable.” She told him.

  “Good. Okay. It’s ready.” He showed his daughter the data collector.

  “What do you do now?” She said taking breaths. It was hard to speak without pain.

  “You just type in the information that you want to find. And it finds it.”

  “Good to know. Turn it off.” She told him.

  Carlos quickly powered off The Eye, making the needle immediately exit her chest and unstick itself. The tiny hole from the needle bled. As if it would after you’ve been given a shot by a doctor. Her father returned the items to the safe.

  “Thank you.” She said to him. “For telling me the truth.”

  “Eres mi hija. Usted se merace saber la verdad.”

  (You’re my daughter. You deserve to know the truth.)

  “Aprecio eso.”

  (I appreciate that.)

  “Debe ser protegido a toda costa.”

  (It must be protected at all costs.)

  “Entiendo.”

  (I understand.)

  “Good.” Said Carlos making sure his daughter understood.

  Annabeth was eating her breakfast before heading off to private school. Braydon sat at the table alongside her still in his pajamas. Axel walked into the kitchen, heading to the fridge like he always did.

  “I’m working at the hospital again tonight. I need you to watch your sister.” Salena told her son.

  “Okay mom.” He replied back pulling out orange juice.

  Salena worked part time at the hospital a few nights a week as a receptionist. She liked to feel like she made her own money, instead of it all coming from the cartel. It seemed to make her feel less guilty and she used it as a cover.

  “I won’t be home till after midnight, so get your sister dinner, washed, and to bed.” She reminded.

  “I know mom. I’ve done this before.” He rolled his eyes.

  “Don’t speak to your mother in that tone.” Carlos warned Axel coming into the kitchen. He grabbed water from the fridge.

  “Sorry mom. I can handle Annabeth.”

  “I know.” She smiled.

  “I’m done mommy.” Annabeth interrupted, carrying her bowl to the sink.

  “Good girl. Go upstairs and brush your teeth and then get your stuff ready to go.” She said kindly. “I have to take Annabeth in for school orientation.” She told Carlos.

  Annabeth ran out from the kitchen. Carlos yelled out to her telling her not to run in the house. Braydon was left at the kitchen table by himself. He was quiet, still shy about his new surroundings and people.

  “Aren’t you ready to be in school yet?” Carlos asked Braydon.

  He shook his head.

  “Why not?”

  He just shrugged his shoulders without looking at anyone.

  Zamora and Nikkya both walked into the kitchen together. Carlos and Axel were both sitting at the table. Braydon was coloring. Salena had left to get her daughter off to school while Minnie was off having a conversation with Pito and Alex.

  “There you are.” Zamora said to her nephew looking for him.

  “Isn’t he old enough for school yet?” Carlos had wondered, reading his morning paper.

  “He’s four. And I don’t see the point of preschool.” Zamora answered.

  Carlos didn’t respond.

  “I have to take my nephew to see his father today. It’s his visitation day. I don’t know how you want me to do that, but I have to take him.” She told her father.

  “Where’s he at?”

  “Mid-State Correctional.”

  “Okay. I will send my men to take you up there. They can wait in the vehicle. I have business to take care of today.”

  “Sure.” Zamora replied understanding.

  “I have to go to the college to collect my missed work. I need to catch up before going back in a few days.” Nikkya told Carlos.

  “Sure. I’ll send two of my men with you.” He told her.

  “Okay. Thanks.” She replied grabbing a soda from the fridge.

  “Come on Braydon. We need to hurry and go or we’ll miss seeing your daddy.”

  “Daddy! We get to see daddy?” His face lit up like a light.

  “Yes we do. Hurry up and put your things away so you can get dressed.” She told him.

  “Keep your eyes on both Zamora and Nikkya. Do not let them out of your sights. Do you understand?” Carlos asked four of his men.

  “Got it boss.” They agreed.

  MID-STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

  Zamora had taken her nephew to see his father. Two of Carlos’s men, Nathan and Tiny were Zamora’s new bodyguards. They were distant relatives of the Rivera’s. Tiny was 10 years older than Zamora. Nathan looked more close to her own age with his own style of hair.

  “We’ll be out here waiting.” Nathan told her, who was in the driver’s seat.

  “Okay. We’ll be back in a while.” She told them getting her nephew from his car seat.

  “I wanna see my daddy.” Braydon begged.

  “We’re going lil man. Come on.” She smiled, grabbing hold of his hand.

  “See ya soon.” Tiny said.

  Zamora didn’t reply. She slammed the door shut. Zamora and Braydon walked into the building together, going through security and sign in. They waited until it was time for visiting.

  They walked into the visiting room together, holding hands. It was cafeteria like, with tables, inmates, and their visitors.

  Dice was sitting at a table waiting for his son and sister to arrive.

  “Daddy!” Braydon yelled running to his father when he seen him.

  Dice smiled at the sight of his son. It was the only time he ever smiled while in prison.

  “Hey my little man.” Dice picked up his son, hugging him tightly.

  “I missed you daddy.”

  “I missed you too my son.” He kissed the side of his face.

  Zamora joined her brother and nephew at the table. She sat across from her brother. Braydon sat on his Aunt’s lap.

  “So how you been buddy?” Dice asked his son.

  “I been good. We live in a big house now.” He told his dad.

  Dice glanced at his sister.

  “I know. I heard. Do you like it there?” He questioned.

  “Yeah. I made a friend. A little girl lives there.”

  “Oh yeah. What’s her name?”

  “Anna.” He answered.

  “Well Annabeth.” Zamora interrupted with a faint smile.

  “Wow that’s cool buddy.”

  Dice turned the conversation to his sister. They lowered their voices.

  “So…how’s it going there?”

  “It’s going. My father won’t let me leave the house without bodyguards, nor Nikkya.”

  “Well that’s good. It’s safer that way.”

  Zamora gave Braydon something to play with. She moved him off from her lap.

  “I’m only agreeing to that for Braydon.” She admitted.

  “Yeah. I know you can tak
e care of yourself. What else is going on?”

  “He spoke to Magnum.”

  “So he knows what you did?”

  “Yeah. Magnum told him everything.”

  “Maybe that’s a good thing.”

  “Carlos told me the truth.”

  “About what?”

  “About what his enemies are after. What they need me for.”

  “What is it?”

  Zamora hesitated looking around the room checking if anyone was listening.

  “Something called The Eye.” She whispered.

  “What the hell is The Eye?”

  Nikkya had her own set of bodyguards. Joel and Drew. They weren’t relatives of the Rivera’s. Only his best trusted men. They took their assignments very seriously not wanting to disappoint their boss. They parked closely to the front entrance.

  “I’ll be right back.” She told them opening her door.

  “If you’re not back in 20, we’re coming in after you. So get your shit and get out.” Joel said seriously.

  “Ah okay. But if you two are going to be my bodyguards…you’re going to have to lighten up a bit. You can’t be around me with all this serious shit all the time. Damn like, make a joke or something.” She told them stepping out form the car.

  “Ha-ha.” Drew said sarcastically.

  Nikkya rolled her eyes at them.

  She walked into the building, greeting a few of her friends in the hallway who wondered where she had been. She made up a lie. She told the same lie to her teachers, asking for her missed work or make up work.

  “When will you be returning to class?” Her English professor asked.

  “I should be back on Thursday.” She answered.

  “Okay good. I’ll give you until next week to get it done. Otherwise you’re going to fail.”

  “I understand. Thank you for letting me make it up.”

  “You’re welcome. Hope to see you Thursday then.”

  “Definitely.”

  After Nikkya got everything she needed, she left the building to return to her bodyguards.

  Que had been outside the building. Zamora had mentioned to him before that Nikkya would be going to the school to retrieve her missed work.

  He was on the phone with Tyson. “The girl returned. It looks like she has two bodyguards with her. They waited outside in the car.”