Tropical Passion Killer (No-one said it would be easy. Book 1) Read online

  “Nobody leaves that unit unless they’re handcuffed. They are armed and very dangerous if need be, if you get a shot take it.” The Commander spoke.

  The doors were open, the MPV was parked under the doors. The commander could see the road was free of traffic towards the warehouse, he gave the order “Strike, strike, strike.”

  The response was immediate, four armour protected cars entered the road at high speed. The man in jeans exited the building with an AK47 and pointed it towards the front vehicle. One shot from the sniper and he was thrown off his feet with a blood explosion from his chest. Another, the driver of the MPV who was partially hidden by the vehicle aimed his Glock at the fast-approaching cars. Another shot exploded and he thumped onto the floor quickly surrounded by a flow of bright red blood, the Glock dropping from his grasp onto the concrete floor. The sounds of the gunfire made those in the immediate area take cover inside the buildings.

  The Carlson bodies were quickly dragged out of the Chrysler and dumped on the concrete floor by the men in suits. The rear unit doors were now opening, slowly, too slow. Two unmarked DEA cars were already parked up, the officers had ordered everyone inside, they didn’t need telling twice. The cars were side on to the doors with the officers taking aim at the doors from behind their vehicles, other officers were in cover to the right and left of the doors. The Chrysler came out at speed scraping the roof of the vehicle against the bottom metal bar of the opening door, the loud screeching noise of the metal scraping noise was piercing. The three men inside the car immediately started firing their weapons rapidly and wildly at the DEA officers through the open side windows as the car was clearing the door. The noise was now deafening. The officers returned more precise rounds into the limited space inside the car, the windscreen shattered and blood was spattered inside the vehicle and out onto the bonnet. The shots stopped and the car continued at speed across the road into the rear of another warehouse and came to a hard, stop against the wall in a cloud of brick dust and debris. The officers ran to the car with their firearms aimed at the vehicle. There was steam billowing from the engine and dust from the impacts in a shroud around the vehicle. The front passenger was hanging halfway out of the passenger door, blood covering his head and body wounds. A quick check. Dead. The driver was trapped behind the steering wheel and airbag with half of his head missing. Still check to make sure. Dead. The suited man lying across the back seat was a bloodied mess across his body and spattered across his face and head. He was motionless and silent. Quick check. Still life. They removed the weapons from the vehicle.

  Commander “We have one subject still alive need urgent medical team, multiple wounds to the body and legs, unconscious but breathing at this time.”

  “Can you confirm the area is secure for the medical team evac.”

  Commander “The area is secure for evac procedure. We want 4 officers to secure and keep the injured suspect safe with the medical team. No news to be given of the persons killed and we want total isolation for the suspect”

  “Yes Sir”

  The boot of the vehicle was opened and the four black cases were still intact.

  It was a result and hopefully what the DEA had wanted.

  Sixty kilos of pure white cocaine, street value $6 million. Six dead, two arrested and the closure of another transport route. One possible information source detained if he lives. This route had been watched for months. Identified every cruise from Panama involving the two arrested males. It was anticipated at least one cruise a week into different ports in the USA. $312 million a year. That was going to upset one of the cartels.

  Later a coded phone call was made originating in Fort Lauderdale to Cali, Colombia.

  Chapter 8

  Saturday 14th May

  The Copa Airlines flight touched down in Cali later that morning, the sun was still bright. The girls left the airport, waved goodbye to their fellow holiday makers and both got into a waiting car. Their two suitcases were placed into the boot by the driver. It would be a fifty-minute drive to their destination. The time passed quickly as they relaxed, nearly snoozing after the alcohol consumed on the flight. The car turned off the main highway and onto the single track road that led to the Hacienda. A 5-metre-high stone wall surrounded the immediate perimeter of the Hacienda. A large modern Villa as one would expect to be owned by leader of a multimillion-dollar empire, it was very well protected by a large number of armed guards. The electric gates opened and the vehicle slowly approached the parking area. The girls had been before and were not in awe or had reason to be scared of the place.

  Maria and Susanna got out of the vehicle and walked towards the open doors of the building. They were greeted by a smiling man, not tall, very well groomed and dressed in a dark suit. "He will be with you shortly in the meeting room." He directed them across the large entrance hall and opened the door to the room, he offered them a cold drink and asked them to take a seat.

  The room was square in shape with two sides of full length glass curtain doors, they gave a beautiful view over the surrounding walls of the forest and mountains. One wall was all highly polished tiles and had a door which led to the bathroom facilities. In the middle of the wall was a large screen television. The room was furnished with a large oblong shape table made from Ceiba wood, a tree that had been felled during the clearance to build the Hacienda. There were eight chairs spaced down one side of the table and three larger chairs centrally positioned on the opposite side, all made from the same tree.

  The girls were given a glass of cold water and they took their seats together in the middle of the table facing the three chairs. They sat and waited, both having two more glasses of water

  He walked into the room flanked by his two colonels, Paco and Borja. Very typical business style, groomed and styled. Borja was carrying a small case.

  “Buenas tardes chicas,”( good afternoon girls) Manolo gestured to the girls to stay seated. They were smiling as they took the three seats opposite Maria and Susanna. Paco holding the chair for Manolo to sit before they took their seats.

  “Now, did you enjoy your little expenses paid holiday Susanna?”

  “Yes, we did thank you very much”

  “Did you have any problems or maybe suggestions for the future Maria?”

  “No, no problems it was as you said”

  “The delivery was done, OK?”

  “Yes, it was again as you said”

  “Susanna was there any sign of police in the area?”

  “No, there was nothing.”

  “That is good, we have used this method many times and we wouldn’t want to lose this route”

  Manolo waved his left hand and Paco pressed a button on a control pad on the table. Another man walked in to the room, he was dressed casually. “Amigo, take a seat at the end of the table please”

  “Do you know this man?”

  Susanna and Maria looked towards the end of the table. They recognized the man and looked at each other.

  Susanna “Yes, he was on the holiday.”

  “Do you know why he was there?

  “No.”

  “He was watching my investment…….and you two”

  Paco pressed another button and the television screen opened with a photograph of Susannah and Maria with Felipe and Josh with their arms around each other.

  “Now please tell me who these gringos are?”

  Susanna, "They are just two men we met on the holiday, they are nobody”

  “And what do you know about them?”

  Susanna "They are on holiday, that’s all”

  Paco pressed the control and further photographs appeared of them in company with the gringos, on a canal cruiser, in a booth in Arecifes, Susanna walking through a hotel foyer with Felipe. Standing next to four black suitcases at a bus in Colon. Susanna being given American dollars in Aruba.

  A picture was forming in the heads of Susanna and Maria and it was not a good one. They were starting to panic.

  Maria “We have not done anything; we have said nothing to anybody?”

  “How did he know to meet you in Aruba?”

  Susanna “He saw the cruise liner he could have found out from Colon”

  “Susanna. Why did he give you money in Aruba? Did I not give you enough?”

  “Yes, yes you gave us more than enough. He was just being kind, for drinks it was nothing”

  “They could have been FBI, CIA, DEA, what do you know of them?”

  Susanna, “No, no. They were not American they were from England. They were not police”

  “Are the Americans and British not partners in stopping us?”

  Susanna “Yes, no. Felipe and Josh were just on holiday having a good time not the police or FBI, CIA.”

  “This Felipe had a good time with you, and you?”

  “Yes, yes just good time, I never said anything, anything to anybody”

  “And Maria what about you and, Josh is it”

  “I only saw him on the canal cruise and in Colon. I never said anything we both didn’t say anything”

  “And where did Josh go after Colon?”

  “He said he was going to” she then paused.

  “Yes, where did he say he was going to?”

  “United States. I didn’t say anything, please believe me”.

  There was a long pause, as Manolo looked at both girls.

  “There is a problem. The shipment arrived safely in Fort Lauderdale but can I trust you?”

  Susanna and Maria “Yes, yes, yes you can trust us”

  “A little time later my cousin Pepe and his collection team were ambushed and killed by the DEA. Two of my workers were arrested on the cruise ship. And. Importantly, my valuable shipment was seized and the route compromised. This is costing me lots of money. I am running out of cousins”

  Susanna “No this had nothing to do with us, please believe me”

  “Could you still provide a service for my business, that is the question”

  Susanna, “Yes we can, I will do anything for the business”

  “Ok, I want your mobiles now, is Felipe’s number in it.?”

  Susanna, “No I deleted it. But I know it.”

  Paco gave Susannah a pen and a piece of paper. She wrote the number down. then passed the paper back to Paco.

  “What about Josh?”

  Maria “No, I’m sorry I never took his number or gave him mine”

  “Does Felipe know your number Susannah?”

  “I did give it to him, I’m sorry”

  “Is your phone switched on now, he could be tracking your phone”

  “No. No. I haven’t switched it on since I left Aruba”

  “OK. That is good we will have it checked”

  Manolo continued “I cannot have you working near to the distribution until I can trust you again. And, of course I cannot give you the payment that I promised as I have lost a lot more than you. Borja show them what they would have earned”

  Borja opened the small case and it was filled with used American dollars.

  Maria “You can trust me; I will work for you to prove my trust and honour. I would not take the money.”

  Susanna “I would rather have your trust than money. I will do anything”

  “OK. You will both work in the service area of my plantation for free for one month. Then I will decide if I can use you again.”

  Susanna “I will work to prove my trust”

  Maria lowered her head, “Thank You”

  Manolo waved his hand; Paco pressed another button.

  The man returned and escorted the girls from the room, they were in tears.

  As they left the room Borja slid the small case to the man sitting at the end of the table.

  Manolo “Good job Sergio, there is your bonus. Leave”

  Sergio left the room. The door was closed behind him as he walked towards the large wooden doors to leave the hacienda.

  “I want those two fucking gringo’s dead, I want them to know not to fuck with us, I want their bosses, friends, family to know not to fuck with us.” Manolo spoke quietly with force and meaning in his voice. “I want it done now.” He looked into the faces of Paco and Borja. They looked directly at Manolo and nodded. They got up from the table and replaced their chairs quietly and walked together to leave the room. “I want to know as soon as it is done” Paco turned to face Manolo and again simply nodded.

  Two hours later, Susannah and Maria had been showered. They were in separate rooms. They were ready to start to do service for the farm workers.

  Chapter 9

  Thursday 19th May.

  After take-off, Steve walked into Premium class and stood at the seat next to Jessica. To be fair, he thought, it was a better seat, wider and more leg room. He stood and looked into her face and without speaking asked the question.

  Jessica,” I can explain”

  “I’m all ears.” Steve sat down in the comfortable seat and stretched out his legs.

  “After we spoke last night, I contacted Mr. Newton to ask if he had heard anything from Josh or his friends. I told him that the police were sending someone to Central America to make enquiries. He suggested that maybe I should go to keep him updated and he would finance the travel expenses.”

  “First, who has paid for this upgrade?”

  “That’s me, my own money”

  “Why?”

  “It’s better than sitting on my own”

  “Has my boss, or force been told that you are going?”

  “Not that I’m aware of”

  “Are you intending to follow me around while I do enquiries in these countries?”

  “I would like to be close by”

  “How do I explain that to the International Liaison officers? How do I explain you to the Boss?”

  “Just say I’m a volunteer translator”

  “Do you speak Spanish?”

  “Si, perfecto”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, I’m fluent in Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Russian and a little bit of others”

  Steve paused and looked at Jessica who nodded.

  “We cannot do this, it’s not right. There could be trouble, violence”

  “I can help, I know I can, I won’t interfere with your investigation?”

  “The boss will go apeshit”

  “Don’t tell him”

  “I cannot hide you; I can’t look after you”

  “I’m not asking you to look after me, oh by the way I’ve ordered a bottle of champagne which should be coming soon, which is about now” as she saw the steward walking towards them.

  “Thanks very much. What? That’s another thing I’m on limited expenses. I won’t be going to fancy bars and restaurants. I’ll be with a liaison officer in some dive probably.”

  “I think Mr. Newton might mention it to your Superintendent”

  “When is he going to do that?”

  “Probably when we are on this flight”

  “Shit, shit, shit. He trusts me. If he thinks we have set this up there will be fucking hell on”

  “Language Jimmy”

  “Don’t you, effing start”

  “Oh, here’s the champagne, would you like some pretzels?”

  “Yes please. Woah wait. For a starter, please do not call me Jimmy”

  “Ok. I’m sorry Steve”.

  “I will have to call the boss and just tell him the truth. I didn’t know you were going. I didn’t ask you to go. Mr. Newton has asked you to travel at his expense to liaise with him concerning the safety of his son Josh from any information that might be gathered in central America. We are not involved in your safety. We are not involved in travel arrangements and we are not involved in accommodation. Is that correct?”

  “Yes, I can agree to that statement”

  “I will call him when we land in the states. Where are you staying anyway?”

  “The Radisson in Panama City”

  “Oh, fucking hell, better get another bottle of champagne”

  “We might as well enjoy the flight.”

  Steve put his earphones in, reclined the seat and listened to his rock music and drank free champagne. He looked at Jessica and gave a little smile and a shrug.

  Six hours later they both exited the plane into the transit terminal and Steve switched his phone on. After a few seconds there were constant beeps from the device. He waited until it stopped and opened the first message.

  From Billy

  YOU ARE IN THE SHIT

  From Alan

  Bigstyle shit Jimmy

  From Andy

  You might be in the shit Jimmy

  From Sarah

  He he, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!

  From Lauren

  Might have email from Josh

  THE BOSS,

  RING ME

  Steve looked at Jessica “I think they know”

  Jessica gave a wry smile “No way Sherlock”.

  Steve walked away from Jessica and pressed the numbers for the Boss. It took a while to ring but was answered immediately. “What the fuck is going on Jimmy? You had better not have packed any swim shorts? We are not paying for Love Island holidays. When was this arranged?”