The Cartel Affair Read online

  “Where are we going now?”

  “I have a house in DC on the Potomac River. No one will be looking for you there. You can stay with me there and I can make sure you’re safe and away from prying eyes.”

  “Why would you do that for me?”

  “I made a promise and I intend to keep it.”

  “What kind of promise and why?”

  “Mrs. Baker, I made a promise to your husband. I’m not a fan of his, but I gave him my word I would keep you safe.”

  “Why don’t you like my husband?”

  “Because your husband is responsible for the deaths of my wife and son and four Marines trying to protect them.”

  “My Bill would never be involved with anything like that!”

  “He was. Your husband is charged with treason because he’s in bed with the drug cartels. I personally witnessed him in Columbia working with the cartels to bring millions of dollars worth of drugs into this country.”

  “He would never do anything that you’re suggesting.”

  “He’s also responsible for your children’s deaths. Because he was so power hungry and greedy, the people he dealt with had your children killed. You’re lucky they didn’t come after you.”

  “If this is true, why are you helping me?”

  “Because I told your husband if he pleads guilty to treason, I wouldn’t go after him for extortion, bribery and murder. I also told him I would make sure you’re not harassed by the media. You do understand that treason is a hangable offense in the United States, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I know that. But why would he do something like that?”

  “Because he wanted power and money. His greed took over his common sense.”

  “Why would he do something that would put his family in danger?”

  “Because power became more important to him than family.”

  “Bill would never put power or anything else before his family. He loves me and his children more than anything in this world.”

  “So tell me you haven’t seen changes in his behavior as he gains more and more power.”

  “Of course I have. With power comes more responsibility and pressure.”

  “Did you ever stop to think about how he kept gaining more and more power on Capital Hill?” “I just assumed that he was working harder and gaining the respect of his peers.”

  “Do you ever listen to yourself? Gaining the respect of your peers does not give you the kind of power he yielded on the Hill. Hell, half of the people on Capital Hill owed him favors. That doesn’t come with respect. That comes from having some very powerful friends that intimidate people and have very deep pockets. Just think about it for a minute. How could he wield that kind of power without some sort of backing?”

  “Oh my God. I’m so sorry that you and your family had to suffer because of his selfish wishes. I guess he never really cared about me or his family.” “His caring about you is how I got him to agree to this.”

  “So, what happens now?”

  “He will be found guilty of treason and hanged. The legacy he worked so hard to build will be destroyed. You will be left to pick up the pieces and carry on. Do you have any idea how much he’s worth?”

  “No. We never discussed anything to do with finances.”

  “When he dies, you’ll be worth 40 to 50 million dollars - a lot of which came from illegal dealings with the cartels and shady dealings on Capitol Hill.”

  “Oh my God. I had no idea.”

  “You’ll be a very rich lady.”

  “I promise you that I’ll use some of that money to do good and try to atone for some of the things my husband did.”

  Travis pulls out of the garage and heads for the airport to meet the plane. Once on the plane back to DC, Travis can at last relax.

  He only hopes that Mrs. Baker will keep her word and use some of that money to do good.

  THIRTY-SIX

  Washington DC

  THE JET ARRIVES safely in DC and Travis takes Mrs. Baker to his home. She’s been very quiet on the flight back and on the ride to the house. Travis can only imagine what’s going through her mind. He knows that what he revealed to her probably has her physically and emotionally in shock. When they arrive at Travis’s home, he takes her inside and shows her around. He shows her the room that she’ll be using and excuses himself. She asks him to stay for a moment.

  “Mr. Bones, you’ve been gracious enough to open your home to me after everything my husband did to you. You’ll never know just how grateful I am for that. I meant what I said to you and I want you to be the very first thing I take care of. I’m forever grateful to you for being honest with me. Most people just tell me what they think I want to hear. You were brutally honest, and I really appreciate that. The first thing I’d like to do with the money is set up a scholarship fund in your wife and son’s name and fund it every year at a school of your choosing.”

  “Mrs. Baker, that’s a truly lovely idea. I would be very honored to have that happen. Thank you! Please call me Travis.”

  “Ok Travis. I would be honored to do that for you and your family. If it’s not inappropriate, could you show me pictures of your family?”

  “It would be my pleasure.”

  Travis proceeds to show Mrs. Baker pictures of Sarah and Jamie. He tells her stories about them as the pictures come up. He tells her about what was happening when the picture was taken. This lasted well into the night. Mrs. Baker goes off to bed and Travis sits back and thinks about what has happened today. Suddenly he is very tired.

  Travis gets up the next morning and finds Mrs. Baker already up. Travis tells her he’ll be gone for several days and isn’t sure when he’ll be back. He makes a call to Langley and speaks to Guardian. Guardian agrees to house sit and watch Mrs. Baker and take care of any needs she may have until Travis gets back. Travis tells Mrs. Baker what is happening and waits for Guardian to arrive. Travis makes the introductions and heads out to the airport. It’s time to take care of the Williamson situation once and for all. Travis has looked forward to this for months. He knows Williamson will still be on guard but is probably feeling better about the situation. Travis will use this to his advantage.

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  Casablanca, Morocco

  TRAVIS ARRIVES AT the airport in DC and books a flight under the alias Gordon Schumacher, an engineer from Topeka, Kansas. He’ll take TWA to Nouasseur. He’ll arrive at Terminal 2 and catch a taxi to Casablanca, 30km away. He’s booked a room at Hotel Colbert, 3 Rue Chaoula, Casablanca.

  Travis arrives at his hotel and checks in. He will rest today and start the search tomorrow. Travis settles into his room and places a call to Langley Op’s Center. He gets Squeaker on the phone and tells him what he needs. Travis relaxes and runs scenarios through his mind as to where and how he’ll take care of Williamson. It will be extremely slow and painful - not a quick job. Travis doses off with visions of mayhem in his mind.

  Travis wakes up the next morning refreshed and ready to go. He calls Langley and talks to Squeaker and finds out that Williamson is staying at the Hotel Central, 20 Place Ahmad El Bid Aoui, Casablanca. His room is on the fourth floor. How does Travis know he is in Casablanca? He remembers when he was training these guys; Williamson obsessed with the movie Casablanca. He remembers him saying if he ever has the money, he would live in Casablanca.

  Casablanca is like most Moroccan cities. Tightly packed buildings with narrow streets. Lots of squares and fountains and mosques.

  Travis catches a cab to the Hotel Central to verify that Williamson is there and to start his recon of Williamson’s habits and routines. He arrives and takes up his roost in the Plaza outside the hotel. He watches everyone coming and going out of the hotel. It doesn’t take long for him to spot Williamson leaving the hotel. He follows him to a café. Travis isn’t too worried that Williamson will spot him as he has let his hair and beard grow out. Williamson would have to get a very hard and close up view of Travis to recognize him. Travis will make
sure that didn’t happen until he was ready for it to happen. After Williamson eats, he heads out to the local marketplace and does some shopping. After he’s done he ventures back to the hotel and stays there the rest of the day.

  He follows this routine three days in a row. Travis is starting to put his plan together. Travis notices that Williamson is carrying a pistol with him at all times so this will have to be figured into the plan. Travis knows just how good he is with a weapon and with his hands. He helped train this monkey. But Travis knows he didn’t teach him everything. Some things are reserved for a need to know basis, and he didn’t need to know at the time.

  On the fourth day, Williamson varied from his normal routine. After going to the marketplace, he went to the Mosque and spent three hours there. Travis had no idea what he was doing there. Travis followed Williamson and on the eighth day Williamson did the same routine as on the fourth day.

  Travis went back to his hotel and tried to figure out what Williamson was doing at the Mosque every fourth day. Travis decided to go to the Mosque and see for himself what might be going on. Travis sits outside the Mosque and watches for anything out of the ordinary. He knows Williamson isn’t there for the religion. Not a guy like Williamson. He has to be there for another reason. Most likely it has something to do with money.

  Suddenly, Travis notices that men are bringing crates into the Mosque. It looks like military writing on the crates. Travis gets out his binoculars and takes a look. He can make out some of the words on the side of the crates. Just what Travis thought. Looks like Williamson is dealing in illegal arms. That would fit right in with Williamson, anything to make a buck. Travis heads back to his hotel and starts laying out his plan. He decides to take him at his hotel and use Williamson’s own room to get things done. Travis knows how to keep him quiet while he goes about his work. Travis prepares his tools for the work coming up. He’ll take Williamson tomorrow.

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  Hotel Central

  TRAVIS WAITS AT the hotel for Williamson to return. He has stationed himself around the corner from the stairs. Travis has a needle filled with the appropriate dosage of succinylcholine to take him down but not kill him. He also has the equipment in his bag to keep him breathing. Travis will inject him, get the key out of his pocket, drag him in the room and then deal with him the way he wants. Travis hears him coming.

  He waits for him to come around the corner and injects him. Williamson’s eyes go wide as he realizes he can’t move, and he goes down hard. Travis grabs him by the collar and gets the key to his room. He drags him in the room and starts taking care of his breathing. Once he has him stable, he moves him to the bed and gets him secured. Travis monitors his vitals to make sure everything’s going well. Williamson is awake but cannot move. He’ll be able to feel everything that Travis does to him, but he cannot make any noise. His throat is paralyzed along with the rest of his body. Travis inserts the breathing tubes needed to keep Williamson alive. He then tapes Williamson’s head down. Travis does this for a specific reason.

  “I’m going to ask you a series of questions. I want you to blink once for yes and twice for no. Do you understand?”

  Williamson blinks once.

  “Do you know who I am?”

  Williamson blinks once.

  “Do you know why I’m here?”

  Williamson blinks once.

  “Have you ever been deer hunting and skinned a deer?”

  Williamson blinks once.

  “Have you ever skinned a deer while it was still alive?”

  Williamson blinks twice.

  “It would hurt like a son of a bitch if you did it while they were still alive. It’s a little trick I learned from the cartels in Columbia. And since you want to take their money for killing my family, I’m going to show you what it feels like to experience that.”

  Williamson blinks twice and closes his eyes. Travis sticks his finger in Williamson’s eye to make him open them.

  “First I’m going to cut your eyelids off, so you won’t be able to close your eyes. I want you to see everything I do to you.”

  Williamson blinks twice.

  “Sorry, but you don’t have a choice in the matter this time. You see, your ass is mine now and I’m going to make this as painful as possible and make it last as long as your heart will hold out. You’re mine now you son of a bitch!”

  Williamson blinks twice several times in a row.

  Travis pulls surgical clamps out of his bag and attaches them to Williamson’s eyelids and lifts them up. He then takes a scalpel out and starts to cut the eyelids off. First the top and then the bottom ones.

  “Damn, that’s got to hurt like a bitch! It makes me hurt just looking at you.”

  Travis sees tears roll out of the corners of Williamson’s eyes. “Don’t cry yet. We’re just getting started. We haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet. I thought you would be tougher than this.”

  Next, Travis starts cutting the skin around the outside of the soles of his feet. He cuts across the ball of the foot just below the toes. He then pries the skin up and starts peeling it back toward the heel of the foot.

  “How does that feel so far? Are you comfortable? Of course, you’re not. Right about now you’re hoping that you’ll pass out. But I know just when to stop to keep that from happening. Hell, that’s just one foot. We still have one to go. But I’m going to rest for a minute and let the pain really start to take a hold of you. Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be right back.”

  Travis walks away and decides what he wants to do next. He spends a few minutes getting something to drink and cleaning up a little. Now he’s ready to continue.

  “Now I’m going to make an incision all the way around your leg just above the ankle and then up the outside and inside of your leg and then peel the skin back to your knee. Do you want to watch? Oh, that’s right, you have to watch. Try not to pass out on me if you can.” Travis sets about doing just what he described to Williamson. Just as he’s finishing up, Williamson passes out from the pain.

  Travis takes a break and waits for Williamson to wake up. Travis has all the time in the world to inflict pain on this man and inflict pain he will. He checks and sees it’s time for the next injection in order to keep Williamson at the level he wants him awake and alive and feeling everything he does to him. Travis isn’t some savage animal, but he does get a measure of peace from causing this man pain for what he did to his family. It’s not what Travis was raised to do, but it’s something Travis needs to do.

  “Hey asshole. Wakey, wakey!! It’s time for your next dose of pain. You actually lasted longer last time than I thought you would. This time will be shorter as the pain just keeps compounding itself in your system. It must feel like your legs and feet are on fire. Just wait until I do the same thing on the other leg. Damn, I would not want to be you right now. Stay awake and watch this.” Travis repeats the same procedure on the other leg and Williamson passes out right as Travis starts peeling the skin back.

  Travis takes a break and freshens up. This is going to take a long time to finish, unless Travis grows bored and decides to finish it early.

  Travis has already gone into the night and he’s getting tired. He decides to grab a couple of hours rest before continuing. He checks Williamson and gives him the necessary dosage to keep him at the level he needs long enough to grab some sleep.

  Travis wakes in the early morning and checks on Williamson. He injects him again and makes ready to start. He gets things ready and begins where he left off. He moves to the upper thighs and then to the stomach and chest. By the time Travis accomplishes this, the sun’s coming up. He decides to stop and clean up. After cleaning up, he decides to go get some coffee and breakfast. He injects Williamson who has passed out yet again.

  Travis returns about an hour and a half later refreshed and ready to inflict more pain on his victim. He knows he should go ahead and end it, but he feels he needs to inflict more pain before he does.

  “Wakey
, wakey asshole. It won’t be long now. I’m going to remove your fingerprints and take the skin off your face to make it hard to identify you when they find you. I want you to be thrown in an unmarked grave to rot with nobody knowing who you are.”

  Travis sets about doing just what he told Williamson he was going to do. First he removes the fingerprints by cutting the skin off of his fingertips. Then he makes an incision around his face and lips and eyes and slowly peels the skin off. No one will be able to identify him now. Travis steps back and looks at his handy work. He’s satisfied and decides it’s time to end it. Travis goes about wiping the room down for fingerprints and cleaning up. He walks over to Williamson.

  “Well, as much as I have enjoyed this, parting is such sweet sorrow. Not really. I’m going to put you out of your misery now.” Travis gives Williamson a massive dose of succinylcholine and watches as Williamson’s heart stops beating. Travis is pleased to have kept his promise. He’s not proud of what he did, but it was necessary to accomplish his ultimate goal. Travis turns and calmly walks out and heads to the airport and gets on the plane and comes home.

  THIRTY-NINE

  Washington DC

  TRAVIS ARRIVES AND goes through customs. He gets his car and heads home. On the ride home, his mind wonders back to what he did in Morocco. He knows there’s a special place in Hell for him and he can live with that as long as he gets his revenge for Sarah and Jamie. Travis arrives at home and goes inside.

  Travis is greeted by Guardian and Mrs. Baker who’s gushing about how sweet Guardian has been while he was gone. Travis looks at Guardian, who’s blushing and breaks out laughing.

  “Well, I’m glad that he took such good care of you while I was gone. I knew he would.”

  “Oh, my goodness yes he did. He basically waited on me hand and foot.”