Chapter 11
A/N: Just a warning, this chapter gets a bit graphic on the violence in the end.
In Armando's car...
Armando's driver maneuvered the roads to get away from the scene. The back of the car had two back seats facing each other. Diaz sat in the back holding onto Kristin, with Juarez sitting on the other side of her. Armando sat opposite the three of them, staring at Kristin while holding a gun menacingly at Juarez. Kristin had given up fighting and was staring down expressionless at her hands clasped and resting above her knees. Armando spoke up.
"Diaz, you nearly caused both of our empires to crash because of your careless mistake."
"I suppose I should express my gratitude for giving me a clean getaway."
"I didn't do it out of any allegiance to you. If I had known the federales would be there beforehand I wouldn't have even showed up. But when I saw my friend, Juarez, there I had to find a way to get out of this mess."
Diaz looked nervous as he responded. "And I am forever indebted to you." He looked thoughtfully looked at Kristin, who was trying to avoid all eye contact with anyone, and then back at Armando. "I'll tell you what. I have this woman here that you can borrow for a while as a sign of good faith and as a thank you for getting us out of there. She will do anything you ask, I assure you." He smiled and noticed Kristin tense up at the idea of what he wanted her to do.
Armando stared at Kristin lustfully. He seemed intrigued.
"I could use a good puta to warm my bed. Are you serious, Diaz?"
Diaz let out a small chuckle. "Of course, my friend. And believe me, a tasty one like this? She will take good care of you. She is highly motivated to serve me and my interests, isn't that right, princesa?"
Diaz smiled as he noticed Kristin was uncomfortable. He reached his hand under her chin and forced her to face him, but she maintained her gaze looking down.
"You know what you have to do, doctor." The mention of the word doctor made Armando look at Kristin thoughtfully while Diaz continued talking to her. "Don't forget our little deal. If you don't satisfy him or do as he says, you can forget about your daughter. This is your new life. You'd better learn to accept it...the life of a wealthy drug lord's woman can be very...pleasurable. Now, do I make myself clear?"
Kristin maneuvered her chin out of Diaz's grasp and continued to stare down to try and avoid conversation. Diaz looked angry. Noticing this, Armando spoke up.
"Diaz, let me handle her. You are a doctor? Well, I can only imagine you are new to this world. And while you are packaged rather attractively, something tells me a woman of your intelligence can be of much better use to me than just to warm my bed. You see, I am currently in need of a doctor for my business. Let's just say our last doctor became rather dispensable after he tried to report to the police. You understand I cannot simply walk into a hospital when my men get hurt. I would like for you to join me." He paused for a moment, letting the words sink in. Diaz looked at him suspiciously.
"Come on, Diaz. Admit it. You owe me. The least you can do is give me this woman." He turned back to Kristin. "What do you say, my dear?"
Kristin remained silent, unwilling to give this man any hint of what she was thinking as she tried to come up with a plan. Armando grew impatient.
"Or we could do this the hard way." He cocked the gun and aimed it at her, which made her visibly tense.
"You do realize I could kill you right now and your friends would never find you. I have no intention of calling them to gloat or to exact any sort of revenge. That was Alfredo's mistake. His ego almost got in the way of his success and almost cost me mine." Diaz looked upset at him but didn't say anything. Armando continued. "But I am also willing to hurt your family if you don't join me. That is one tactic besides money that Alfredo and I can agree with. Isn't that right, Juarez?" He looked at the man next to Kristin, who worked for Chief Rodriguez and the Cartagena Police. You see, Juarez let me know the feds were there."
The police officer had a guilty expression on his face as he looked at Kristin and spoke up quietly. "I'm sorry but he was threatening my wife and baby daughter. I had to do what he said."
Kristin shot him a sympathetic look, knowing the man did what he could to protect his family, just as she had. Armando continued.
"It really is the best way to inspire cooperation. Now, one more time, doctor. What do you say to my offer?"
Kristin stared wearily. "I don't seem to have much of a choice, do I?"
Armando smiled.
In another car...
Chief Rodriguez, Nathan, Shan and Crocker all rode in one undercover police car while listening to the conversation that played out in Armando's car. Rodriguez held a tablet, following a blinking dot along a map. They were about five minutes behind the target.
"Bridger, we have to maintain our distance. I have several cars and helicopters in pursuit coming behind us. We do not want to arouse suspicion too early. If they are headed to Armando's complex, this could be the lead we've been hoping for. We must let them arrive at their destination."
Nathan nodded, uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going in Armando's car. He wanted nothing more than to have them barricade the car and shoot the tires so they could get Kristin out of that situation. It made him sick to think what Diaz wanted her to do and now that Armando wanted her to tend to wounded drug lords.
"I just hate subjecting her to much more of this."
"Well, thankfully, she is still wearing the bug and it is our best chance at putting a stop to this group once and for all. I have the entire force listening in and following the coordinates. This is our biggest case. In a way, it is somewhat of a relief to know Juarez was forced against his will and was not volunteering to help Armando for money. I have complete trust in Juarez and know he is, first and foremost, a family man. Which is probably why Armando saw him as the perfect target to threaten into compliance."
"That seems to be the M.O. for most of these guys."
"It is a dirty business, Captain. These people are ruthless. They have no remorse for who they threaten or kill in order to make money."
Back in Armando's car...
The driver, who had remained quiet up until this point, spoke out to Armando.
"Sir, we are almost there."
"Very good." He continued to leer at Kristin.
The car pulled into the driveway of an average-looking house in a typical suburban area of Cartagena. Diaz seemed confused.
"This is where you have your operation?"
"You and I differ on how to best avoid suspicion. I believe in hiding in plain sight. It makes it less conspicuous." The car pulled up to the side of the house.
"Now, what do you say we all get better acquainted inside? Not one word from any of you." He threatened with the gun.
They all walked out of the car and into the front door, with Armando holding Kristin's arm as he maintained a grip on his gun, pointing it at Juarez and Diaz. They walked into a large open living room and kitchen area. Armando locked the door behind them. There were two men in one corner packaging stacks of what Kristin assumed were hundreds of bricks of cocaine. Another group of men were sitting at a dining table with several small pouches full of crystals. Two other men were stacking bundles of cash on the kitchen counter. One of the men saw them walking in and smiled.
"Jefe! What are you doing back so soon? And with some new friends?"
"Hola, mijos!" Armando called to them. "It seems our little transaction didn't go as planned. Our associate, Diaz, almost allowed the federales to catch up to us."
The other men stopped what they were doing and looked upset, all walking towards the middle of the living room. Diaz looked confused and somewhat nervous as to what was about to happen.
"What do you want us to do about it, jefe?"
"I think we should show him what happens when someone makes a mistake."
"Yes, sir." Two of the men grabbed Diaz by the arm and led him to sit down on the plastic-covered couch, with the rest of the men surrounding him.
"Armando, what are you doing? I thought we were to be business partners."
Armando chuckled knowingly and placed his gun back in his pocket. "Business partners? After you almost got us all caught? No, Diaz. You and your pride have gotten the best of you. Most of your men are now in federal custody. What makes you think one of them won't rat you out and lead them back to your hideout? I saved you from the police so I could take care of you myself. I want nothing to do with people who are careless, Diaz. In this line of work we have no room for carelessness. You know that." He smiled wickedly. "Besides, now that you're out of the business, I will have more demand for my product. I have no more use for you."
Diaz looked scared, for once. One of the men quickly tied a gag around his mouth before he could say anything. He shook his head and tried to scream, struggling against the man who was now holding him down on the couch. Another man drew a switchblade from the back of his pocket and walked towards him. At this point, Juarez had turned around to face away from the scene and Kristin tried breaking free from Armando. She would have crumpled up on the floor had he not held a tight grip on her and forced her to watch. He used his free hand to cover her mouth stifle her cry as the man slit Diaz's throat in one quick swipe. She quickly closed her eyes, trying to erase the image. The other men made sure the blood dripped onto the plastic as Diaz's head slowly leaned back and his lifeless body slumped onto its side on the couch. The men looked unfazed by this and seemed to have done this many times before. They quickly started peeling the plastic off of the couch, raising up the ends so as to not spill any blood on the floor, and wrapped the top to completely cover the body. They lifted it effortlessly to drag it out through the kitchen door to the back yard. As the door closed behind them, Kristin felt like she was going to throw up. Armando noticed and smiled as he let go of his grip, letting her drop to her knees in shock.
