Or trim their nails?
On the other hand, she says, I hear they are now flinging drugs across the border on catapults. Maybe you can hitch a ride on one of those.
I see where this is going, he says.
She stays with me. She’ll go to private school. I’ll be the best mother in the world. Apparently this is how god works, Indio. I have my child.
She places money and the revolver in a small satchel along with his now-laundered clothes and a few more trousers, shirts and socks. You have plenty of capital. I kept five-thousand of your dollars which I will invest for you. A man is waiting in the garage. Take the stairs. Maria Guadalupe will need to see her uncle once a week. Wednesday evening works for me. Plan on dinner.
* * *
The man’s name is Xosé Villalobos. This is what his card says. Beneath the name is a phone number and an elegant rendering of a spotted jaguar with green and red highlights. Teresa has told me a lot about you, he says.
She only met me yesterday!
Ah, Indio, these women …
I will agree with you there.
You are interested in the food cart business?
So I have suddenly discovered.
Ah, Indio, these women …
Do you know what I have in here? He shakes his bag.
A Smith & Wesson .357 revolver and several thousand dollars. More after you shit.
Oh my god
What are you willing to do?
Ask me first what I won’t do.
Go ahead
I won’t hurt people, I won’t steal and I’m not a drug dealer.
None at all?
A little blow and a little weed, nothing more.
Whores?
No children.
Why all the principles?
Evil begets evil. I’ve seen enough. I would prefer to live. And I have a niece, as you know.
Ah, Indio, you are too much!
I have adequate money for a cart and a corner. I have a powerful sponsor. He points above: The Queen of Spades.
Xosé laughs. The safest woman in Valdemoro. Yes, they take very good care of the conjurer who disappears their money.
* * *
Three thousand dollars buys a handsome cart and a street corner three blocks from Hotel Montalbanejo where, it is well known, the Swiss and Germans stay. These are “in town” for a substantial piece of the “investment business.” Of course, says Xosé, Teresa has connections. Otherwise you’d be somewhere east of the airport.
What’s east of the airport?
Absolutely nothing.
Then how am I so fortunate? Somebody didn’t get killed, did they?
No no no. The lady sweetened the deal a little, that’s all I’ll say. Everyone’s happy.
So if I get blown away on that street corner …
I will absolutely guarantee that your predecessor is today a most healthy, happy, prosperous man, god as my witness. He raises his right hand. You will meet him soon for the passing of the flame. His name is Chino.
* * *
Chino does indeed seem happy, even if it is tequila-happy. He confirms that he’s been offered a deal he cannot refuse.
So what will you do now? Epifanio asks.
Start another business, of course! Business is my life.
And where will you do this?
East of the airport.
But there’s nothing out there!
Not yet. But with value-added all this will change.
What value?
A water slide. Didn’t you hear? They gave me some land, five acres! We will build Mickey Mouse and a water slide for children, a beauty spa for mother, and a gym for dad. The gym is also a whorehouse. The whores will do nails and hair at the salon and operate the water slide for the kids. This is my value-added dream, a family destination. We’re drilling for water now. Perhaps we will also hit oil. That would be like winning the value-added lottery!
* * *
The next day that great entrepreneur Chino introduces Epifanio to another Epifanio, Epifanio Ramiriz to be exact, concierge at Hotel Montalbanejo. This is our golden boy, Chino says, motioning toward Epifanio Gomez - The man who conquered the heart of our lady Teresa. Xosé tells me this.