Terry Neale - Jo-el

“Sally!” I screeched in my mind.

“Sorry, boss, missed that one. Still, tested the shield.”

She knew, for damn sure, she knew. I was livid. Well just for a moment.

“Enough,” I said and raised my hand, “before I lose my temper.”

“What do you want?” exploded Espinosa.

“I’ve told you, your human trafficking business will shut down as of now.”

“What are you saying? I don’t, what did you call it, traffic humans? I provide work for the poor. They escape poverty and find opportunity in growing countries. They are grateful.”

Jeez! Now this asshole was denying what he did.

“Shut-up, Felix and listen to me.”

“No you listen, I’m an honest business man, I work hard. Why do you come here and make accusations? You are wrong!”

The bodyguards were paying attention to their boss and nodding, they even looked like they were ready for another go at me. I’d been passive up to that point, maybe I needed to exert a little pressure.

“Sally, whack him in the leg.”

No sooner said, (or thought about), then done. Espinosa received a blow to his right thigh. Sort of funny really, he jerked sideways in his chair and let out a rasping scream. He started rubbing the bruised area, what a pussy.

“Now will you shut-up. One more word and I’ll whack the other side.”

His mouth opened and I could see he dearly wanted to speak, but it closed slowly and he slumped back in his leather chair and waited. The bodyguards seem to cower away.

“Right, Felix, here’s how this is going to work. As soon as I leave you will get really busy. Call all your deputies, or whatever you call them and tell them you are getting out of the business. They are to release every girl you currently have in captivity and give each of them one hundred US dollars. You will call off all the men you have looking for more victims; you will fire all your employees. You are worth about four hundred million US dollars.” I heard whistling sounds from the men around me. “You will deposit three quarters of all your wealth in a new bank account in the US, I will send you details. That will take a while I realize, but you will start the process today. I am being very generous you can keep one quarter of your wealth. You understand?”

His face flattened out like a pancake, you could see appeasement in his eyes, I knew exactly what was coming. “Senor, surely you jest? You want me to give you three quarters of my money?”

I wasn’t going to stand there and negotiate, I’d had enough and wanted to leave. “If you do not comply with my instructions I will return tomorrow and cut off your left hand.”

“Oooh! now we’re having fun. That’s my boy, Jo-el!”

How did I know Sally would salivate?

Felix Espinosa was silent. He starred at me with daggers in his eyes. His desire to see me fed to alligators or ripped to pieces slowly was written in large letters in his eyes. He hated me and now there was nothing in the world he wanted more than to see me dead.

“Also, Felix, if I have to return tomorrow the amount I will allow you to keep will drop to fifteen percent. In other words, you lose another ten percent. That’s it, I’m leaving now, I hope I will not see you tomorrow. Adios amigo.”

Sally was on the ball, she bounced me back to San Francisco.

Sally put her arms around my neck and made as if to kiss me. She was grinning like a Cheshire cat.

“You think he’ll do what you said?” she asked.

“Nope!”

“So we slice him tomorrow?” she was ecstatic.

I nodded, then left her in the family-room to make a cup of tea. I guess I should have felt more excitement but I didn’t. Even though this man was evil and what I was doing was truly a good thing, carrying out the threat, for me, I knew would be difficult.

When I returned to the family room, tea in hand, I asked Sally what Felix Espinosa was doing.

“Shall I show you?” she asked.

“No, just tell me.” I didn’t want to see him.

“Nothing. He threw the bodyguards out of the office and poured himself a drink. Now he’s just sitting at the desk with his feet up, sipping his drink.”

“Well, I guess he has to consider his next move?”

“He has been touching his left wrist, rolling it around in the palm of his right hand, bet you can guess why he’s doing that?” She shrieked with what I thought was way too much excitement.

“I can’t imagine what he must be feeling. Just seeing me disappear out of his office must have scared the shit out of him.”

“He genuflected, as soon as you were gone.”

“Right, well let’s leave him to his misery.” I sat down and sipped at my tea.

“You going to see Yerchenkov?”

“Maybe,” I said, “update me on CNN.”

“They caved, you’re on at seven. They’re frantically searching around for data on you. About fifteen minutes ago they announced that Jo-el, the man with wings would be interviewed on the seven o’clock show. I think that Cathy Vogel is worried you just won’t appear. She’s emailed four times with questions. When, exactly you’ll be there? Do you need a chair? What about makeup? What do you want to say, she repeated that one, she’s worried you’ll say something that could result in legal problems for the network?”

“Tell her not to worry, I’ll be there at seven.”

“She asked that you come through security on the second floor then ask for Bob Sanders, he’ll take you to the studio.”

“Oh, crap, more security. Tell her I’ll come straight to the studio, but don’t tell her how. That’ll generate some attention. What does the US press know about me?”

“Only that you can fly. Nothing’s out about the meetings with the CIA etc. They don’t know you were behind all the intel on the children kidnapped or the terrorists that have been arrested. But there’s tremendous speculation and many people have concluded that you must be connected.”

“This is really going to open a can of worms.”

I checked the time, I only had a little more than one hour. Did I have time to deal with Yerchenkov? This Superhero job was demanding. I really wanted to spend the next hour thinking about what I should or shouldn’t say on CNN.

Sally said. “The FBI are reacting. They’ve called CNN and told them that you’re a wanted criminal and that you will be arrested as soon as you enter the studio.”

“So I assume they’re sending a squad of commandos or whatever?”

Sally looked surprised, I could tell she was reviewing something.

“What?”

“They’re going nuts. Fifty men, Delta force, Marines, anybody they’ve got in Ney York right now.”

“What does it matter?”

“Wow! They’re sending in guys with shoulder, rocket launchers. I don’t think they want you alive, Jo-el. They’re clearing out the building and some of the surrounding buildings. I don’t think you’re getting any air time. Wait a minute, Cathy Vogel just sent an email. She says it’s off. FBI and Homeland Security just shut them down.”

“Damn, I assume the FBI are monitoring our emails to Vogel?”

Sally nodded. I sat back down on the sofa. This wasn’t working at all. So much for freedom of speech. I just didn’t understand why the authorities were so frightened of me?

“Jo-el, another email from Vogel, she asked if you would meet a reporter in Australia?”

I remained silent for a moment, thinking. “When?” I asked, racking my brain, trying to figure out what the downside might be, but came up with nothing. The media hated being told they couldn’t talk to somebody, they were adamant beyond reason that their First Amendment rights were paramount. “Sally, can’t I talk to Vogel without the rest of those idiots listening in?”