DOPE (The Cartel) Episode 2 Written by Erasmus Ugochukwu Okafor
**The plantation**
The white large estate suddenly became too small for Hugo’s comfort. He abruptly began to feel emotionally barricaded by his father’s paranoia and overprotection. He was even denied access to his phone, which was the best means of communication with Larissa who he loved so much and willing to share his life with. This was just the height of his emotional torture.
It dawned on him that he was being shut out of the truth, making his life to be cocooned in the dark and limbo. He wasn’t ready to be enwrapped in ignorance anymore, so he made up his mind to sneak out from the house to a safe location where he could find peace of mind and be free from such unwelcome bureaucracy.
He thought he was really smart but didn’t know that Ramon was smarter by injecting a tracker in his left arm to help him monitor his movements and trace his steps. It was only Ramon, Stone and Gustavo Paulo (the chief computer programmer) that knew about this because Gustavo and Stone were privy to almost the entire information in the cartel.
Gustavo was a loyalist that swore an allegiance not to divulge any classified information he was trusted with.
As Hugo was trying to cross the perimeter fence using a long ladder, he was surprised that Ramon suddenly appeared with no bodyguard which got him startled and jittery.
“Dad!” he howled, “How did you get here, even without your men, not even one? Now, I’m busted,” he said lowering his eyes as he heaved a sigh of giving up.
“I got here exactly how you did,” Ramon answered and smiled. “Come down, son,” he said and stretched out his arm to help him come down the ladder.
“Don’t always try to outsmart me because I’m your father and I know a lot more than you do and will always do my best to keep you in check and make sure you’re safe,”
“Here comes the same speech that rings a bell in my tympanic membrane all the time,” Hugo angrily grumbled as he came down grudgingly, “I feel that I’m being bottled up as you conceal this secret that I know nothing about, just to keep me safe. You may have succeeded trailing my steps but I’ll not rest until I get to the root of this,”
That sounded like a threat to Ramon’s ears. He was sad to admit that his son was right, and if he knew him well, Hugo would stop at nothing to get to the bottom of the information because he is as smart as his dad.
“Okay, I give you that,” Ramon said and held him on the shoulder to lead him back to his room but Hugo pushed his hand away and started walking with a heavy thread.
“Hugo, you don’t have to do that but listen to me first,”
Obediently he stopped and turned, “I’m here, Dad,” he said submissively but daunted in a serious sense.
“Let’s go for a ride. We have a lot to talk about” Ramon convincingly said.
“That sounds like my dad,” Hugo said and dimpled a smile, “but can I drive this time?” he added as he nursed the excitement feeling that his dad may approve of his request this time.
“Oh, no. You can’t,” His dad disapproved again making him frown and pout dispiritedly.
“Not again, please,” he murmured.
“Even though I’ve thought you how to drive, you’re not yet eighteen,” Ramon reminded him, “so you need to wait until you reach the driving age.
The reason why I thought you how to drive is in a case of exigency so that you can know how to navigate through the roads and find your way out or in, depending on the situation. I’m trying not to attract the wrath of the Brazilian government, so try and reason with your old man,”
“Okay, dad, I’ll keep that in mind, even though three years from now is still far for me to wait,” he said patiently but not satisfied with his dad’s reasons.
Ramon and his son left the compound without any bodyguard which is unusual because Ramon always goes with his entourage and convoy.
The nature of his discussion with his son demanded that they go alone and have a private talk with each other without being distracted or badgered.
As they drove along the streets of Copacabana, silence thrived in between them because it was still hard for Ramon to start a small talk, but notwithstanding the uneasiness, he still had to start somewhere.
Hugo was calm but really eager to hear his dad out. He knew it wasn’t easy for him but he had to be patient and wait; especially when he’d promised to let him know what he’d been seeking to know for a couple of years.
When Ramon finally summoned the courage to start a conversation, he gave an impish grin and cleared his throat and then said in a coarse voice: “Mortos Rio is the name of the cartel and I’m the CEO of the business,”
“I know of that already, dad,” Hugo interjected politely, curious for more insights.
“I try all I can to stay in business and keep it protected from other rival cartels,” he mouthed and tapped him gently on the lap as he drove along the lonely streets, “If we don’t source funds to keep our business alive and strong, our rivals would have kicked us out of business since and that isn’t good.
I have enemies and they are all after me with the aim of trying to force me out of business but I do my best to stay in the business as well as ensure that you’re safe too. Your mom died as a result of this fight, that’s why I keep protecting you the way I do. I may be overprotective though, but I’m doing all I can to keep you strong and safe so that when I’m gone, the business can still flow,”
The sobriety of his speech made Hugo think that his dad was a very good man devoid of corruption or sleaze but he didn’t know that his dad was among the deadliest men in Brazil.
“I feel so sad for misunderstanding you all this while,” Hugo apologetically said, trying to vent his apologies, “I’ve always known that you mean well for me but I thought you were being too protective and paranoid, that was why I’ve been restive and trying to make you understand my discomfort for such. I’m deeply sorry, dad,” he added and lowered his eyes out of remorsefulness.
“It is well, my son.” Ramon said and brushed Hugo’s hair gently, “Now that you know, please don’t question my authority next time,”
“I won’t, dad,” he submissively said, “but dad, what’s actually the nature of the business that you’re into that makes you have many enemies that want you dead just to oust you from business?”
That question was really daring because that was the main part that Ramon was avoiding.
“Well, I…I must tell you the truth,” he faltered and pulled over, “I have a plantation. You can call it a farming business,” he lied.
“What kind of farming is that that can make rivals to come after you? It’s not really clear to me, Sir, ” Hugo shrewdly said, “Dairy farming, horticulture, fishery or what?”
Ramon suddenly pulled over, hunched over the steering wheel, trying to figure out the best way to make his son understand, at least to start gradually until he could make him understand fully the nature of his drug business.
“I plant cocoa which, in the combination of other plants are processed into finished products for exports in commercial quantities,” he benignly said but wasn’t sure that Hugo would stop without asking further questions.
“Dad, why was your lips shaky when you were saying that?” He asked, which got Ramon’s face changed into a frown. Observing his father’s change of mood made him feign that he was okay with his explanations, “Okay, I now understand, dad. That must be a lucrative business. I’m proud of you,” he hugged his dad fondly even though he was still eager to learn more.
“I always love you, my son,” Ramon said and zoomed off with a loud screech into the streets.
“So, where are we heading?” Hugo asked, but carefully observing his dad’s mood to ensure that he was still okay with his questions.
Hugo always knew his father to be the stern dad but being that he is the chip off the old block; he has the same temperament with his dad which makes it easier for him to confront him without fear even when he’s afraid of his strict nature. Every other person fears Ramon except his son.
“We’re heading to the plantation so that you’ll get more insight into the nature of the business,” Ramon said making Hugo to be pregnant with joy as he imagined seeing his dad’s farm for the first time.
Hugo had always admired farming but never knew the kind of farming that his dad was clueing about.
This time, Ramon was ready to reveal everything to the son because the earlier he knew about the business, the better for the family and higher the chances of the longevity of the business.
Hugo was so happy hearing that he’d for the first time, visit the dad’s plantation. It was a memorable day for him, which made him so gleeful and hopeful.
“Dad, I hope I could join the workers in the cultivation. I wish to learn the business and how to work on the farm. I love farming and I admire farmers,”
“Oh, that sounds like my son,” Ramon happily voiced, “Now, you’re beginning to make me feel so proud of you,”
“Thanks, dad, but I have one more thing to ask of you,” he added making his dad weak again with expectation of another hard-to-answer question from his smart son.
“What’s that, son?” he gleefully said, feeling happy that Hugo was eager to learn from him but uncertain about the question he’d ask.
“Can I have my phone back?” he said, looking unsure if his request would be greeted with an affirmative response.
Ramon was eased of the uncertainty because the question wasn’t as tough as what he expected.
“Yes, you can have it back…”
“Wow, thanks, dad,” he shouted and bunched his fingers into a wrist out of happiness and boxed the air.
“I was still talking,” Ramon said and continued, “You may have the phone back but I’ll discard the sim card and buy a new one for you so that you’d be more focused on the business than spend much time thinking more about a girl in your school,”
At the mention of that, Hugo’s face suddenly transmogrified from the happy boy to the sad one. He was really melancholic for hearing such from his dad, especially when he was almost having Larissa’s attention.
“But dad,”
“No buts, please,” Ramon said trying to discourage him but he wasn’t at all, especially when it concerns the girl of his dream.
“There must be buts this time,” he muttered dispiritedly but with resolve to say what he wanted to say, “I’ve always obeyed you. Why are you denying me my rights to emotion? The consummation of your love with mom led to my birth as your son. I have the right to have friends and feel loved. At least let me start somewhere. A journey of a thousand miles must start with a step,”
Ramon didn’t answer that but kept driving. Getting closer to the woods, he pulled over.
“Get down from the car, let’s enter the woods,” he said and unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car for him.
Hugo wasn’t happy at all, which made him unwilling to go further with his dad but he still had to obey to avoid nudging his dad’s anger that’s usually too pronounced.
“Dad, can I go home now?” he wearily asked and remained seated in the car as the wintry breeze from the air conditioner founds its way out of the car through the open door.
“Hey, son,” Ramon said and pulled him closer, “Let’s alight from the car first, the chopper is waiting. We’ll discuss more of this when we get home,” he handed the car keys to Hugo. “Keep the keys safe. I don’t joke around with my Rolls Royce phantom,”
Hugo couldn’t understand that they had to be conveyed to the plantation with a helicopter after spending a long time driving on the road to get to the location.
They quickly boarded the helicopter that took them into the plantation.
The location of the business plantation site was hidden so that it wouldn’t be easy for the government or security operatives to locate it.
They spent about fifteen minutes in the air before getting to the location.
On getting there, Hugo was so perplexed to see the numerous numbers of workers that were employed by his dad to work for him. He was beginning to come to terms with the fact that his dad may not be telling him the whole truth about sourcing money from local businesses to keep the cartel protected.
Ramon’s presence changed the tempo of the working environment and made everyone serious to avoid attractive the boss’s wrath or disapproval, which could lead to dismissal.
Hugo simply followed behind his dad having the mixed feelings of ecstasy and confusion as he observed around.
“This is where we work. Now, I have to take you around as we talk more about the real business of the day,” Ramon said and held him by the shoulder to show him places and locations.
The bodyguards gathered around the boss to protect him but Ramon dismissed them because he felt secured being with his son.
“Dad, are you really the owner of all these?” Hugo asked bewilderedly.
“Yes, I am. We cultivate cocoa and marijuana, which is used to produce a cocaine which has made millions of money for the cartel,”
Hugo couldn’t believe that he just heard that from his dad because he never expected that his dad would be in such illegal business. He remained dumbfounded, with parted lips as he stayed wowed and numb. He felt cold and worked up because the thunderous revelation left his mind in a fiasco.
He was enshrouded by fear and muddiness and felt like running out to meet the police and report his dad’s illegal business to them.
“Dad,” he croaked, “You just informed me that you’re a drug dealer,” he reminded him, to be assured that his assertions were right.
“Yes, that’s what I do and I have made lots of money from this,” he said unequivocally, “To be frank with you, I don’t source any dime from local business owners because I already made fortunes, though it’s hidden out from the sight or a common man.
I have a huge amount of money stored in dollars but in a safe and secure location which is to serve as a contingent because this kind of business isn’t a secure one, especially when security is involved. The money is somewhere in the United States, but for now, I’ll keep the exact location classified,”
“But dad, if you trust me, you could have told me about it,” he said in a bid to lure his dad to expose the location.
“Like I said,” Ramon iterated, “This is classified but with time, you will know. My plan is that when all these dramas are over, we can have a more secure and relaxed life, devoid of bloodsheds and paranoia. Then we can start a new calm life and forget about the drug business,”
“But dad, I heard that drug dealers are murderers. Have you killed before?” he curiously asked and held Ramon by the shoulder with a deep gaze into his eyes to know if he’d be honest about his answers or lie.
That question brought back the memories of Breno’s death in Ramon’s mind which made it hard for him to keep his eyes fixed on Hugo’s eyes to lie right before his face.
It was obvious to Hugo that Ramon was about to lie which made Ramon not to answer the question immediately because he was assured that his son already knew the truth.
“Well,” he said and took a deep breath, “it was a mistake; you can call it murder out of self-defence,”
Hugo believed his dad, for accepting that he had killed before but he never knew that it wasn’t just once that Ramon killed but many times. At this time, he was afraid because the only kill he enjoys are the ones he does while killing enemies when he’s playing 4D games.
“I’m sorry, you had to do that, but you were fighting to keep yourself alive,” he said to defend his Dad’s action just to make him happy and not that he was convinced.
“Are you ready for the business, son?” Ramon asked, to be sure of how to handle the situation.
“Dad, to be candid, I don’t think I can do such business, please. Don’t feel bad about this but I’m trying to be real here so that you won’t be disappointed,”
Ramon didn’t want to take ‘No’ for an answer, “I don’t believe you, especially observing your body language. You’re confused; therefore, the only answer I’ll accept is that you’ll give it time, to think through it and make up your mind. It was hard for me at first when my dad; your grandpa, introduced me to it. It’s unfortunate that you didn’t get to meet him until his death. With time, you’ll get used to it,”
“I hope I can,” Hugo said and shrugged. “If you inherited this dirty business from your dad, that means it runs through the bloodline and it’s not a good one,”
“Dirty? No. Any business is what you make it be. It’s a clean deal and not a dirty one,” Ramon defended but his body language said otherwise.
Hugo started sauntering around trying to figure out lots of questions in his mind.
Stone suddenly showed up and disturbed the private chat. “Sir, I think you need to come and check out the new plantation site,” Stone said as he interrupted the discussion.
“Oh, yeah. That’s very important,” Ramon said, “I’m glad that my son is here. He’s learning the business already,”
Hugo tried to object to that because he wasn’t ready for such business but Ramon nudged him so that he wouldn’t disappoint him.
“Yes, I’m learning and I need to know everything about the business,” Hugo said and shammed being interested but truly, he wasn’t at all.
Stone was infuriated because he already knew that Hugo wasn’t going to be his problem but his answers that he was ready to learn just added him to the black list because he planned to eliminate anyone who could stand on his way to attaining the position of the Mortos Rio’s boss.
“Well, that’s good and fine,” Stone said and feigned a smile, “It’s very good to have a son who is interested in the business,” This time, he was so angry but had to conceal it with a faked smile.
“Can we go now?” Ramon suggested.
“Sure we can,” Stone answered,
“But we need more choppers to accommodate the bodyguards,” Ramon said and made calls for more choppers.
“Is it necessary?” Stone asked.
“Yes, it is,” Hugo answered audaciously, making Stone surprised at the boy’s boldness, “When my dad says anything, he means it,” he added stubbornly.
Ramon was so happy seeing that his son was already taking after him and he seemed to be a tough one who could pilot the affairs of the drug business successfully.
“I think you’re right,” Stone concurred and pretended being okay with it but serious anger and wish for death for Hugo occupied his mind, “Let’s go for the real business,” he added after being thoughtful for a while as he imagined how he’d kill Hugo and his dad to be the boss.
He kept smiling and whistling war songs as this happened but he wasn’t suspected because he was Ramon’s closest friend.
#OpraDre DOPE DOPE DOPEDOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE
To be continued…
