DOPE (The Cartel) Episode 6 Written by Erasmus Ugochukwu Okafor
**Jose Veneno Rosa**
With his Dassault Falcon 900 private jet, Hugo took a solitary redeye trip to the US without even a single bodyguard because he was going for a trip that was as important as his existence even without knowing what he was going for and why, except the fact that he wanted to meet his dad’s twin brother who possibly had much information that made Ramon have his name on his lips while dying which was a clue that shouldn’t be considered frivolous but as important as a million dollar tip.
Hugo was drowned in solitude and reminiscence as he grew more uncertain as the journey lasted. He was just sauntering with deep thoughts in the jet, feeling so restive and unable to stay put even during turbulence in the air.
After approximately nine hours in the air, Hugo’s jet landed at Miami international airport (MIA). He didn’t have to carry much luggage but simply took his briefcase containing his computer and few personal effects. In order to remain safeguarded and confident, he was smart enough to discover and locate the gangster areas and hired a pistol from the bad guys who leased their guns with at high prices but that money wasn’t Hugo’s issue because he was willing to give up anything just to know what Ramon knew that he wanted him to see.
He mingled with the street guys who are in a better position of having information that he needed.
It took him about three days as he tried to get to the root of his search as he snooped around the streets of Miami until the fourth day when he was going to a night club and met a street hooker who directed him to Tiger-tail Ave, near Coconut grove, where he discovered a shop, Veneno Rosa by name, which was obvious to him that he just got a huge clue that could lead to the unravelling the mystery behind the dying words of his father.
He met a large bearded man who was almost closing for the day and knocked at the transparent entrance door for him to open the door for him but the man didn’t open which made Hugo brandish his gun before him in a way to let him know how determined he was in seeking answers.
Quickly, the man opened the door feeling so jittery and shivering, “You can take all but spare my life, please,” he begged for his life with great quivers.
Hugo dragged him into the shop and closed the door behind him, making sure that there were no secret cameras monitoring the deli which seemed to also be a place of residence for the deli shop owner.
“I’ll spare your life only if you answer my questions without hesitation,” Hugo assured him but the fear that already encompassed the man couldn’t allow him to utter a word except for few nods that signified that he concurred.
“I can give you all the money I made for the day only if you can spare my life,” the old man reiterated.
“Old man,” Hugo barked, “I’m here for a question and not robbery. Who is Jose Veneno Rosa?”
“I’m Pablo Bernardo,” he shiveringly answered.
“Lies,” Hugo said and brought out a twine rope, “with this, I’ll kill you and make it appear as if you committed suicide. For the last time, who is Jose Veneno Rosa?”
Pablo already saw how determined Hugo was in seeking answers which made him think of what next to say to be saved from his wrath.
“This shop is Veneno Rosa which means pink poison,”
“I’m Brazilian like you and I know what it means, so tell me something else, not translating the language for me,” Hugo threatened.
“Isso é tudo que eu sei por agora,” he lied and remained committed not to divulge further information.
“That’s all you know? Is that what you can tell me?” Hugo growled angrily and tied the rope around his neck until he began to choke, “I’ll make sure that you die here if I can’t get the information I need,”
Pablo began to pass out which made Hugo free him to avoid losing him together with the vital information since Pablo’s life worth more than seeing him dead. Hugo knew that the man was hiding something but he was determined to crack him.
He brought out the gun, sat comfortably before the man and began to load some bullets into it to convince Pablo that he was ready to kill him if he fails to give him the final true and informative answer.
“Wait, can you put away all these weapons that make me edgy. I promise to tell you all I know about the name you mentioned,”
That answer sounded cooperative to Hugo so he took the bait and put the gun away and was open to friendly discussion but Pablo was smart enough to clout Hugo’s jaw and bolted into the inner room and tried jumping through the window but Hugo was fast enough to kick him down using his karate skills and martial combat.
Out of anger, Hugo hit Pablo with the gun and he blacked out but that didn’t make Hugo feel pity. He revived him forcefully using cold water, making him get up.
“I feel like strangling you to death right now for trying to be a hero but I’ll give you one last chance,” he yelled and held the trigger, ready to kill. He was really determined to end Pablo’s life and forfeit whatever information he had if he tries something smart or cunning with him. At this point, he was furious and determined.
Seeing the determination on Hugo’s face, Pablo made up his mind, to be honest.
“I’m Jose Fuentes,” he politely answered.
Hearing his surname made Hugo sober which made him realise that the large bearded man was really a close resemblance to his dad, though the beards made him seem different and older in age.
“Are you Ramon’s twin brother?” Hugo asked and put the gun away.
“Yes, I am. You have a name, kid?” Jose asked to be sure he was the one before he reveals any information to him.
“I am Hugo Fuentes, Ramon’s son,” Hugo maundered.
“Why did you come here?” he curiously asked, “don’t tell me that something bad has happened to my brother,”
“Why did you think that something bad might have happened to him?” he asked as Pablo’s reply triggered his suspicion.
“Because he said that he’s the only one to come for this mission except he’s dead. Is Ramon dead or incapacitated?” he tearfully asked as he anticipated a heartbreaking answer.
That question conjured in Hugo’s mind the flashes of how he buried his dad in the woods, making him shed profuse tears that gained possession of his cheek.
“He died in my arms during a gun battle with the US D.E.A and I buried him in a shallow grave in the woods because I couldn’t take him home for a proper burial,” Hugo replied as he fought those lonely tears in his eyes.
Jose quickly pulled him closer and cuddled him for comfort as he shed tears, “I feel so bad and that’s the major reason why I left him and came down to this place for a calm and fear-free life. Drug business is as risky as its name sounds”
“Why then did he give me your name as he was dying?” Hugo asked as he tried manning up to face the future and then give the thoughts of his late dad a break.
“Because of…” Jose paused to be sure that Hugo was the real son of his late brother before he further reveals the location of the hidden money that Ramon kept under his watch and guard, “what’s your password, son?”
“Oh my God! Do I have to go through that scrutiny and thorough vetting?”
“I’m sorry, but I need to be sure,” he said and tilted to look closer into his eyes, “If you don’t give me the password, then be assured that the entire bullets in your pistol would pierce my heart or brain because nothing will make me give it out,”
That statement made Hugo realise the importance of the password, so he had to give it out just to be trusted. “Herdeiro,” he answered, “My password is herdeiro. Can you now tell me the secret, Sir?”
Ramon pulled Hugo closer and hugged him having been assured that he is his blood.
“Ramon has lots of fortunes in cash which he hid in an underwater cave, off the coast. I was privy to this information because it was the only way for me to escape the inhuman brutality that existed in Mortos Rio’s modus operandi, and I wasn’t willing to keep on seeing that my brother was as ruthless as the devil. When I tried to leave Brazil, he detained me in his private cell located at the emergency exit of the white estate,”
Mentioning the emergency exit was information alien to Hugo because his dad never discovered any emergency exit to him, though he’d heard Ramon talk about it once. He then remembered that the only information that Uncle Luciano gave him about Ramon was that he was a very secretive man.
“I really have many questions right now, but first of all; let me know how much that is involved and the exact location of the money,” Hugo asked as he tried knowing the amount that could be worth his long travel. Even though he came for the treasure, he was so happy that his dad’s twin brother had been found.
“One billion US dollars loaded in a large safe that is impervious to water. It’s well hidden out of sight but I can take you to the location whenever you need me to,”
The amount Jose mentioned got Hugo thinking of how his dad made such fortune to that magnitude. He was so perplexed and surprised that his mouth remained agape as he thought about the huge amount.
“Now, I know why my dad never divulged the location. This is cool cash,” Hugo said with his tongue clung to the roof of his mouth, “you also mentioned emergency exit at the white estate. Where exactly is it located?”
Jose stood and went to the fridge and brought out an ice block, which he placed on his swollen head caused by Hugo’s assault on him with the gun. “When you go back to Copacabana, use the hidden button located under the cabinet of the spacious bedroom, just under the large golden bed; type ‘Jose’ and watch what happens next,”
Hugo was shocked about this revelation but he had to complete his assignment in the US first before going back to Brazil.
“I’m really sorry for treating you this way uncle, but…”
“You were desperate for answers,” Jose justified, “I’d have done the same if I were in your shoes. If not for your doggedness, I wouldn’t have given you the information you sought, so congrats,”
“Thanks for understanding, Uncle Jose, but still, I am deeply sorry for the injuries,” Hugo apologised with deep remorse. Hugo collected the iceblock and helped him with the massage on his blemished face. “Just be still even though it would hurt a bit,”
Being that he trusts Gustavo just as Ramon trusted him, he made a call across to him and told him everything about his trip so that he’d be the only one privy to the information about his trip to Florida.
Gustavo was very happy to hear that and encouraged him to do everything possible to locate the money and leave the drug business for a better life because he may end up like his dad if he continued staying in the drug business.
To be continued…
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