Chapter 1: 13 Años Después
Thirteen years had gone by since the conversation that had changed Benicio's life forever. The day after he arrived at the training facility for the FER, he had been subjected to a grueling training regiment alongside soldiers that had been in the Mexican Army for years. He went from studying business to studying ballistic trajectories. He went from practicing how to score a goal in soccer to practicing hand-to-hand combat in the ring against soldiers that had years of experience. He was bruised, beaten, and at times broken as his mother watched, unable to intervene because she knew that this was necessary for him to learn.
But no matter how many times Benicio was bruised, beaten, and broken, he always got back up. Eventually, he went from getting beaten up to beating up others himself. He became an expert in black operations, unconventional warfare, hand-to-hand combat, and counterterrorism. His drive to avenge his father's death by killing those responsible proved to be the perfect catalyst. Determined and driven, he completed training near the top of his class and was immediately assigned to one of the cartel taskforces.
Fighting the cartels in Mexico and Central America was tough but rewarding for Benicio. Donning the mask of the Death Eater he had killed years before, he spray-painted it white and became known amongst the cartels and Mexican military alike as El Cuco – the Boogeyman of Latin American folklore. Regardless of how many soldiers he killed and how many tons of drugs he confiscated, El Cuco never lost sight of his true goal. He knew that the day would eventually come when he would square off against los magos and las brujas. In the meantime, he viewed the soldados and VIPS of the cartels as warmups.
"Coronel! Coronel!" Benicio recognized the voice of Vasquez, a short but well-versed Soldado fresh out of training.
"¡Entra!" Fernandez barked. He finished assembling his father's P220 and slid it into his holster as Vasquez entered the room.
"Señor," Vasquez began. "We finally have a positive ID on the man known as Sirius Black."
Benicio's heart thumped in his chest. He leaned forward, an old fire igniting in his eyes as he spoke to Vasquez.
"Are you absolutely certain of this information, Soldado?" Benicio inquired. "There will be consequences if you are wrong."
"¡Si, Señor!" Vasquez responded as he pulled a photo out of a thick yellow folder. "Shaggy, black hair, gray eyes, haggard, and brandishing a stick."
Vasquez stood before his commanding officer nervously, a single bead of sweat rolling down his neck. He had never worked with the man known as El Cuco before but knew that very few people had been alone in a room with him. Even fewer had come out alive. Time seemed to draw to a standstill as Vasquez slid the photo and the folder across the desk to him, who took it and held it up. At that moment, the only sound in the room was the hum of the building's air-conditioning.
Benicio looked at the photo closely, wanting to be certain that the man in it was who he was looking for. Sure enough, a glossy albeit low-quality photo of Sirius Black stared back at him. Sirius appeared to be standing in a market as he swiped an apple from one of the many colorful stalls that surrounded him. Dark circles were under his eyes, and it seemed that he had lost a lot of weight since his encounter with Benicio 13 years ago. Black reminded him of the prisoners that he had rescued from the basements of cartel compounds, people who had loose lips and almost paid with their lives.
Much to Vasquez's relief, the Colonel cracked a smile and set the photo down. "Today is a day of celebration, Soldado. The man I have been looking for has finally shown his face after thirteen long years."
Vasquez felt the tension leave him like air left a deflating balloon. "Excellent news, señor. Permission to speak freely?"
"Granted."
"Who is Sirius Black, sir? What is our business with him?" Vasquez inquired.
Benicio leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep breath before speaking. "Sirius Black is wanted by Interpol for a bombing that occurred in London thirteen years ago. Interpol has reached out to the Fuerza Especial de Reacción to apprehend him."
That was partially true. Sirius Black was wanted by Interpol and the Ministry of Magic alike for the explosion that Peter Pettigrew had caused in London. However, the FER had not been asked to intercept him. Benicio and his mother, now Mexico's Secretary of National Defense, used their connections from their time in the armed forces to obtain what intelligence Interpol had on Black. At that point, it was a waiting game as the two waited for Sirius Black to slip up. Finally, he had.
"Anything else, sir?" Vasquez asked, recognizing that his commanding officer was deep in thought.
Benicio looked up from his desk. "No, soldado. That will be all. Dismissed."
Anxious to get out of the room as quickly as he could, Vasquez stood, saluted, and left the room as quickly as he could. As he opened the door and closed it behind him, Benicio heard anxious whispers from the other Soldado's waiting outside- no doubt wanting to hear about his encounter with El Cuco. Normally, Benicio would refrain from drinking to keep his mind alert. However, today was a special day. He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a flask, taking a swig from it and feeling the alcohol warm his stomach. He reached over and picked up the phone, dialing and waiting for someone to pick up the phone.
"Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional." A bored voice said on the other side of the line.
"This is Coronel Benicio Fernandez. Please forward me to the Secretary of National Defense." He spoke into the receiver.
"A code is required." The voice responded.
"Kilo. León. Navarra. Uno. Quatro. Uno." Benicio recited the code that changed every five minutes.
There was no response from the other side. An audible click was heard, then another tone as the phone rang for a moment before the Secretary picked up.
"Please give me good news, hijo." Benicio recognized his mother's voice, even over the crummy phone line. "It has been a rough day."
"It's time." Benicio said, smiling to himself. "Señor Black has revealed himself to us at last. He was spotted in a market near the US border."
His mother said nothing, only hanging up the phone in response. As he waited for the call back, Benicio stood and walked around his office, grabbing papers, folders, and the few other documents that said Benicio Fernandez and not "John Doe" on them. Just as he gathered the last of the documents, shredded them, and then flushed them down the toilet, the phone rang. He sat back down at his desk and answered the phone.
"I'm listening." He said simply.
"It's done." Nila Fernandez spoke from the other end. "As far as Mexico and the rest of the world is concerned, Benicio Fernandez no longer exists. All money has been moved to the designated accounts."
Benicio said nothing for a moment as he rummaged through the yellow folder, pulling a paper out and reading it before speaking. "Surveillance shows that he got a forged US passport from a dealer in Nogales. He will attempt to cross the border tomorrow to escape the Sinaloa Cartel cell that's after him."
"When will you move?"
"Tonight." Benicio replied. "I will use my contacts to get the equipment I need, then be ready to intercept Señor Black. He will attempt to cross tomorrow afternoon, when traffic at the border is at its thickest and he will have the easiest time blending in."
"Understood. If you need me, you have the other satphone." Nila responded. "Oh, and Benicio?"
Benicio had just been about to hang up the phone. "Si, madre?"
"You have come a long, long way in thirteen years. I am so proud of you." Nila's voice was filled with pride.
Benicio thought for a moment. "Te quiero, Madre."
His mother hung up the phone, and Benicio "El Cuco" Fernandez walked out of his office for the last time.