A WEDNESDAY IN APRIL 1:12 PM
The cab pulled through the gate of a large fenced in plot of land in the industrial part of town that had once been the famous Chicago stockyards. BURGOS RECYCLING AND SCRAP, LLC. had been the sign over the gate. Riri had noticed a sort of stylized cartoon of a frog spray painted on the arch of the gate as she came in, and remembered an almost identical frog graffiti sprayed on the brickwork at the EL COQUI VERDE. She filed it away to keep an eye out for others.
The taxi pulled up to a trailer office with several cars parked outside, away from the piles of various scrap metal. They exited the car and after a quick exchange of "Jeringonza" the driver left. "This will be quick I think, I'll make it quick as I can. I really want to see if any of my work interests either of you." He pulled a small black box out of his pocket, flicked a switch, pushed a button, and put it back in his pocket, which was odd enough that Riri and Emily exchanged curious glances.
The trio entered the office trailer, Michael first, followed by Emily then Riri. As Riri looked over her shoulder, she saw Terry's Ferrari pull through the gates.
"Gentlemen, I'm Michael Collins Burgos, I own this business. I believe you were selling insurance? You want to talk to me, and only me. Ignore everyone else in this room."
There was something odd about the way he had said the last bit. A certain intensity in his voice. Riri took in the room. Sitting behind the desk, the young woman Mariana looked positively terrified. On the other side of the desk two men in their thirties sat doing their best to project calm menace. Both men started to stand.
"Oh no gentleman. Stay seated." They sat back down. He made eye contact with Mariana, indicating the door behind her with a tilt of her head and she almost ran from the room.
He picked up a wastebasket near the door, walked closer to the two men holding the wastebasket out to them and said "You both feel very safe and relaxed and happy to dias I say. Your weapons are uncomfortable however. You want to get rid of them, and put them in here." Three pistols, four knives, a blackjack and what appeared to be a can of bear mace were put in the trash, and Michael set the basket down again by the door.
"Now I'm curious. Please explain to me who you are and exactly what sort of insurance you're offering. You don't need to threaten or get excited. You feel calmer than you ever have. Understand?"
Both men nodded, and one said "We represent the New Syndicate. He's Ape Horgan, I'm Sam Simms. The Syndicate is taking over protection in Chicago. For ten percent of your monthly gross, we make sure nothing bad happens any of your workers." Ape nodded in agreement.
"I see, and you both would be the bad thing that would happen to the workers here?" Both nodded, looking very relaxed.
"Well. That certainly is a good offer. And I would normally be glad to consider it. You both are very convincing and you're happy I told you that." Both of the thugs smiled happily. "Here's thing. Did you notice the symbol painted on the gate, looked like this?" He pulled up his left sleeve, revealing a black tattoo that was a double of the cartoon frog at the gate.
"Yah, I saw dat!" Ape Horgan said happily.
"Now I'm going to remind you of some things that slipped your mind but you both have known these things for many many years. Just as Wilson Fisk is the Kingpin of Crime in New York and HYDRA is the most dangerous terrorist organization in the world, you know that Profesor Maboya is the most feared crime lord in the Spanish speaking parts of the world. Since before you did your first crime, you've known that you never cross the Nefaria family, you never cross the Golden Claw, and even more you never EVER want to get in trouble with Profesor Maboya. You remember that, right?"
"Oh yeah, that's just common sense. Professor Maboya is a real hard ass, he'd kill your whole FAMILY if you got in his way." Sam Simms sounded like he believed every word.
Ape Horgan nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yah, I'd rather spit right in Thor's face than get Profesor Maboya to even know who I was!" Riri noticed Ape even used the proper Spanish pronunciation.
Using American Sign Language Riri asked Emily "You ever heard of this guy?"
"Never. I'm dying to see where this is going," signed Emily.
"See, you remember it 100% right," agreed Michael showing his forearm tattoo again. "What slipped your mind is that frog design is a marker. Any place marked with it, anyone wearing it or with a coqui tattoo is paying Maboya protection. Anyone who even THREATENS someone under his protection gets Profesor Maboya's full and complete attention. So you know what it means now that you came here trying to run a protection racket, threatening my cousin, even driving INTO THIS PLACE?!"
"OH #$&!" Simms shouted.
"We gotta get outta Illinois!" Ape replied.
"Yep. You're lucky I reminded you both about this mistake. You better both get out of Illinois fast as you can. Before you leave town you better remind all your friends. Maboya is the scariest dude in the world and NEVER mess with anything wearing the symbol. Maybe that'll get you some mercy. Ok?"
"You got it buddy, thanks for reminding us! C'mon Ape we gotta run!" Both men jumped to their feet and scurried out the office door. Riri saw them running to their car and driving off quickly.
In her earpiece, Riri heard NATALIE. "What was THAT!?" She repeated the question to Michael.
He reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out the little black box, pushed the button and flipped the switch and held it up to show it off. "And it's off. I call it The Hechizador. It makes everything the holder says sound believable and trustworthy. Choose your words well and it makes you an incredible hypnotist. It'll revolutionize psychotherapy."
"Who is Profesor Maboya? I thought Maboya was one of the Taino evil spirits in Puerto Rico? I never heard of a crime lord by that name?" Emily sounded both puzzled and curious.
Michael pocketed the device. "To test the Hechizador, for about a year I've been telling that ghost story to that sort of lowlife for about a year around the city. Seeing if they spread the rumor, how far it goes, you know? My marionetas are very devoted, they've made Profesor Maboya as famous as Resurrection Mary or La Llorona in Illinois. Someone's even been putting my tattoo everywhere," he laughed.
"Now I GOTTA see your lab," replied Riri.