The president of xico was Vicente Fox, the man who had ended the Institutional Revolutionary Party’s seventy-year grip on power.
“Welco.”
He greeted with a bright smile.
“Yes, Mr. President. It’s a pleasure.”
We shook hands and took our seats.
“I agreed to everything because of the request from the United States, but I still don’t believe you can actually accomplish anything.”
His tone was so blunt it bordered on hostility. I simply smiled.
“I don’t have high expectations either. But I ca because I made a promise to the U.S. governnt, so I hope you understand.”
“You’re going to waste your ti. If effort alone could fix this, I would have already done it myself.”
“Still, it’s worth trying. Who knows? I have no ties whatsoever to the drug cartels. I neither hate them nor favor them. That might allow to negotiate with them more objectively.”
Vicente chuckled.
“They’re not people you can reason with. Do you think we haven’t tried?”
“Even so, I’ll try. That’s why I’m here. Just don’t interfere. I’ll handle things my way and report back to the United States.”
“This is xico. xico—not the United States. You’ll report your progress to at all tis.”
His aggressive attitude was almost laughable.
Suppressing a sneer, I replied, “I ca here at the request of the U.S. governnt, not to work for the xican governnt.”
“....”
“If you have complaints, don’t bring them to —take them to Washington. I don’t see why you’re picking on the wrong person.”
He couldn’t say a word to the Aricans, yet here he was trying to intimidate . I didn’t like it.
“And personally, I don’t trust the xican governnt. Who knows how deeply you’re connected to the cartels?”
“What did you say?”
“Are you denying it? Maybe you don’t know, Mr. President—but how many of the people under you are clean? Your predecessor was plagued by cartel-related scandals. And if I recall correctly, even the so-called godfather of the cartels used to be a federal police officer.”
“We’ve made significant reforms since taking office. There are no such people in this governnt. Do not dismiss .”
“I didn’t say I was dismissing you. I said I don’t trust you. If I were dismissing you, we wouldn’t even be having this eting. Just stay out of my way. I’ll handle things myself. Whether you turn it into your political achievent or not—that’s none of my concern.”
I had no intention of currying favor with this man. He had barely a year left in his term, and his approval ratings had already collapsed.
And besides... the real rulers of this country were soone else entirely.
“If civilian casualties beco severe, we’ll have no choice but to act.”
“If I intended to wipe out the cartels completely, I wouldn’t have co in with this small a force. How could I succeed where your governnt couldn’t?”
“....”
“I’ll try to resolve things through dialogue as much as possible, so don’t worry.”
If dialogue failed, I would resort to force—but that wasn’t sothing I could say out loud.
“I’ll trust you, then. By the way... I hear you’re a famous investor in the United States.”
“I’ve been fortunate.”
“Have you considered investing in xico? It’s quite an attractive country.”
“Well... it won’t be attractive until the cartels are dealt with. If things go well this ti, I might consider it.”
I had already made a fortune during xico’s economic crisis. There was no reason to co back.
And even if I did invest, it wouldn’t be a conversation I’d have with him.
“I understand. I’ll look forward to it.”
That was the end of my conversation with Vicente.
“The Director of the Federal Investigation Bureau is waiting outside. You can discuss the matter with him.”
“Thank you.”
I left the presidential office without hesitation. I didn’t want to waste another second.
Outside, a man approached .
“Charlie?”
“Yes. Are you the Director of the Federal Investigation Bureau?”
“Nice to et you. I’m Genaro García Luna.”
He extended his hand with a friendly smile.
“Pleasure to et you. Charlie.”
“Let’s head to the Bureau first.”
“I’ll follow your lead.”
We left the presidential palace and moved to the Federal Police headquarters.
“Please, have a seat.”
Once inside his office, Director Luna personally brewed coffee and gestured toward .
Maybe this one was worth talking to. I sat down and waited.
“Here.”
I accepted the cup and inhaled the aroma.
“That slls good.”
“I’m quite fond of coffee.”
“Must be high-quality beans.”
“Right? It was a gift.”
He seed easygoing. Though who knew what kind of man he really was.
I took a sip, set the cup down, and spoke.
“Who is it? El Chapo?”
His hand froze mid-motion as he was about to savor the aroma.
“I know about your relationship with El Chapo.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. What relationship would I have with a criminal like that?”
The man directing all cartel-related operations takes bribes, leaks the movents and plans of his own agents...
If the man at the top behaves like that, of course cartel leaders never get arrested.
“If you don’t know, then fine.”
“....”
“I didn’t bring it up to accuse you. I need soone who can reach [N O V E L I G H T] El Chapo—or at least locate him. Otherwise, I can’t even begin a conversation.”
Corruption in xico’s federal police was worse than anywhere else.
There were even cases where high-ranking officials took bribes, leaked operations, and got their own n killed.
Other countries had corruption, but few sold out their colleagues’ lives like this.
And this man was deeply tied to El Chapo. Our intel suggested he had even been involved in his escape.
“It wouldn’t be a bad deal for El Chapo either. Arrange the eting, and you’ll be compensated.”
I smiled leisurely and lifted my coffee.
A flicker of hesitation crossed his face.
“I want this done quickly. My ti is expensive. You don’t have to answer today—but I’ll make the sa offer to others. Whoever arranges the eting first gets one hundred thousand dollars.”
“One hundred thousand?”
“Yes.”
His eyes widened.
“And if you put in more effort, I can offer more. What do you say?”
After a mont, Luna spoke.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but... I’ll look into it.”
“Please do. If soone else arranges it first, the opportunity will be gone.”
Playing dumb, was he?
Judging by the greed in his eyes, he’d probably contact El Chapo the mont I left.
At that rate, he might bring him to within days.
As if none of that had been said, I continued calmly.
“And one more thing. I want all the Bureau’s data on the drug cartels.”
“All of it?”
“Yes. I’ve already cleared it with the president.”
“....”
His hesitation was obvious, so I pressed harder.
“It’s essential. I’ve done my own research, but your files will be far more extensive.”
But Luna didn’t seem focused anymore. His face was serious, but his mind was elsewhere.
“I’m not interested in smaller organizations. Just organize the relationships between the four major cartels—their structures, their networks.”
I pulled out an envelope and placed it on the table.
He looked between and the envelope.
“Consider it paynt for the information.”
Even if both governnts agreed, nothing moved unless the people on the ground did. This would motivate him.
Ten thousand dollars.
Luna opened the envelope, checked the contents, and nodded with satisfaction.
“If it’s just the four major cartels, that won’t be a problem. I’ll have it prepared imdiately.”
“Send it to the residence where I’m staying. If sorting it is difficult, just send everything.”
“Understood.”
“And...”
I listed a few additional requests—nothing difficult for him.
Then the most important condition.
“The federal police will do nothing in this operation. I don’t want information leaking.”
“The DEA always conducts joint operations with us.”
“Yes. And they always fail.”
I t his gaze coldly.
“The firepower I brought is more than enough. Wiping out a cartel wouldn’t be difficult. Just give the information.”
“You still need to share information with us.”
“After everything is done.”
Luna sighed deeply and leaned back.
“You expect to take all our intelligence and give nothing in return?”
“I’m here to complete a task for the U.S. governnt and leave. I don’t intend to stay here for months.”
He shook his head.
“If things escalate, we’ll have no choice but to intervene. No one—not even the U.S.—will be able to stop that.”
“I’m not trying to stop you.”
“...Just don’t start a full-scale war. If that were the plan, we would have done it already.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“We’ll send the files through one of my n.”
As I was about to leave, he called out.
“Charlie.”
I turned.
“About that promise...”
“If the eting happens, you’ll get paid.”
He nodded.
“I’ll bring you good news soon.”
For , a hundred thousand dollars ant nothing. For him, it was enormous.
Probably more than he’d received for helping El Chapo escape.
No risk. Just arrange a eting.
“I’ll be waiting.”
A few hours after returning to the house, the files arrived.
Despite being just four organizations, the volu was staggering.
“What the hell is all this?”
Ramos asked, stunned.
“Files on the four major cartels. Straight from the Bureau.”
“...They actually gave you this?”
His disbelief was understandable. The Bureau had never cooperated like this with the DEA.
But DEA agents couldn’t bribe their counterparts. That was my advantage.
“You know how it works here. Money talks.”
“...Unbelievable.”
“You have similar intel, don’t you?”
“We do, but not like this.”
“You can review it too. It’ll make things easier.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. It’s not like it wears out.”
I ordered Marcelo Castro to study everything as well.
Then I picked up a box of docunts and began reading.
It would take days to go through all of it.
* * *
A full day had passed since arriving in xico.
“It’s ti to leave.”
“Already?”
I set down the file and checked my watch.
“Let’s go. We can’t be late.”
I put on my coat and stepped outside.
I was about to et soone... special.
“Welco, Charlie. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
The man known as the true king of xico stood before .
User Comments
0 comments from readers