The Cartel Lawyer by Dave Daren (ebook reader below 3000 TXT) 📕

get through the men that hurried past my ancient blue Honda, but I finally reached the spot that I had started to think of as my own and slid it into park while I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. I had a solid plan, and I was sure that I could convince Osvaldo that I could have Camilo released.

The metal stairs wobbled under my feet as I climbed to the second floor. I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants while I passed Alvaro’s office, and I glanced inside. The door was open, but the tall, intimidating second in command was nowhere to be seen. He would probably be in Osvaldo’s office, in the corner of the room like a shadow, and ready to strike if the boss so chose.

My employer sat behind his desk, a scowl on his face as he read the documents in front of him, and his suit jacket was slung over the back of his chair. His Rolex glinted in the sunlight that poured through the windows, and the shadows that fell over his face made the deep scar that cut across his cheek look even deeper.

Alvaro sat in a chair opposite him with the sleeves of his button up rolled to his elbows. I could see some of the tattoos on his right arm, though it was obvious the artwork ran the length of his arm. His shoulder length black hair was half pulled up into a bun like some Shogun warrior. Even with his back to me, I was sure that he could be up and ready to attack in seconds, though with his legs stretched out in front of him he almost looked relaxed.

I knocked on the open door to get the men’s attention, and my stomach flipped as Osvaldo looked up at me. He set his paperwork down on the desk and then stretched as if he’d been in the same position for a long time.

“Jipato,” the intimidating cartel man said with a grin that showed the three gold teeth on the left side of his mouth. “Come in. Sit. How are you doing today?”

“I’m fine,” I responded as I took the free chair next to Alvaro and set my briefcase down.

“Alvaro told me you saw my boy,” Osvaldo said. “Do you have any plans to get him out?”

“I do,” I replied.

“Go ahead,” the dark-haired man said as he sat back in his seat and folded his hands over his stomach.

“Well,” I said with a glance toward Alvaro as the enforcer leaned forward to toss a folder onto the boss’ desk. “We know that Everson Juvenile Detention Center is not using their funding to take care of the kids in their care. And Camilo mentioned that some people have bought their freedom, so we also know they accept bribes.”

“Are you suggesting that I pay for my son’s release?” the cartel man questioned with a lifted eyebrow.

“No,” I responded as I shook my head. “No, I have a plan to have the facility shut down.”

“Okay,” Osvaldo nodded and motioned for me to continue.

“I have proof that they’ve been using the kids to make products that they then sell at a higher markup,” I began again. “And that the facility has been donating to Super PACs so that they can pay off judges and other politicians.”

“Judges?” Alvaro asked with his usual smirk that made me feel like he was about to use a garrote on me.

“Yes,” I replied while I wiped my hands on my pants.

Osvaldo leaned forward again and began to tap his fingers on his desk as he processed what I’d said. He had a small grin that made my skin crawl, like he was the cat who ate the canary, and I really didn’t want to be the bird in that scenario.

“The judge who sentenced my son,” the cartel man said with a knowing nod.

“Exactly,” I agreed. “I think he’s been on their payroll for years.”

“What have you found on him?” my employer asked.

“He’s living way beyond his means,” I explained. “He has a massive house that he’s put in his wife’s name, two brand new luxury cars, and he belongs to one of the best country clubs in all of Miami.”

Alvaro made a sound in his throat that sounded like he was choking, but when I glanced over at him he had a smile so big that his dimples showed, and I realized that he had laughed. He shook his head as if I’d told a joke, and a shiver ran down my spine as I wondered what I had said that was so funny.

“Please, continue,” Osvaldo said as his scowl returned to his face.

“I dug into Judge Williams’ financials to see if I could find where he was hiding the payoffs,” I said. “His salary is a matter of public record, and his wife is currently one of the more well known socialites. She doesn’t make any money or have a job, but she does give plenty away to various charities.”

“And their kids?” the scarred man asked, his fingers drummed on the desk, and I couldn’t tell if he was angry or excited as he licked his lips then took a long sip of his water.

“He has three kids from three different marriages,” I said as I shifted in my seat.

“That’s quite a bit of alimony,” my boss replied.

He stood and walked over to the window, his hands behind his back as he stared down at the docks and the cargo ships that came in and out of his business. He was so silent that I wasn’t sure if I should continue. I had good leads, and I could prove that Judge Williams and the Everson Juvenile Detention Center were corrupt if my boss would let me explain.

“He does pay his first two wives alimony,” I