by Ginger L. Fernandez

Created on: October 31, 2008

Off and Running

Early Monday morning we all meet in the conference room located at our corporate offices in the Palms building. Red tosses a package wrapped in brown paper bag in the center of the table. Memphis jumps to his feet fishes a switchblade from his pocket flicks if open and cuts a small slash on the corner of the package. A stream of pink flakes spill onto the table; he tastes it on the tip of his tongue.

Shaking his head he signals, "Good. I think we have it. We hit the mother lode."

David sitting at the helm stands and sanctions the deal.

"Let's get into production," he declares.

Before the end of business that afternoon a lab is up and running at our stronghold, an apartment building the Collinwood Apts. at 2404 Collinwood and Hamilton. Within hours, we have processed fifty pounds of product for distribution. The game begin and we are off and running. Together we create a thriving drug empire that rapidly takes on a life of its own. Rapidly growing we need a steady stream of raw material.

The upsurge in business calls for changes. They elect me to play mule. I thought about it and concluded that I can handle the extra trips. I have no sense of fear in fact I look forward to the intrigue. I have my family at my back and take the chance, much to my surprise the whole thing comes off without a hitch. In the beginning, I make one or two trips a year, no problem. The couple of hundred grand a year I pocket masks any doubts. Demand increases so we add four more trips a year to the roster. The money is good, but the risk is beginning to worry me. After careful consideration Dad, Red, and I conclude that I make one final trip.

ee

The day begins much like any other. Up early or in late from an all-nighter we head for the airport. An hour before departure we have breakfast in a quaint little sandwich shop at the airport. I was just getting ready to say something when over his shoulder I spot some plain clothes cops ducking around corners. Two federal agents walk through the door engrossed in conversation. I knew they were cops I could smell them before I could see them. I reached across the table and took hold of Red's hand rolling my eyes in their direction. That is all it took to alert him that something was wrong. "Just be cool baby. Things aren't looking bad for us. We are clean as the board of health."

I objected, "Yea I know, but I'm goanna take it as a sign... let's cancel this trip rework our arrangements and get a new face to make the trip using

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