The Hand of Mercy (A Porter Brown Journey) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Tobin Wells
thoughts were interrupted by Mario again. “And to bring him back to his Mexican home as often as possible, I would like to present him with this small gift.” Mario motioned to a black Land Rover at the back of the crowd. Porter stood dumbfounded. With the crowd in full celebration, Mario leaned into Porter and whispered in English, “I hope you will accept this. Your car and the men in its trunk are two miles offshore at the bottom of the Pacific. I thought it best to leave no trail for anyone to follow.”
Without hesitation Porter said, “I am honored to accept your gift,” certain that Don Mario had great experience in cleaning up the unseemly side of his business. “Honored,” Porter said again audibly. Shit , was his inaudible response.
*****
Porter spent the better part of the next week enjoying the hospitality of the Peréz family. He observed sincere gentleness and love between Mario and Ines, and their seven children, especially their youngest Renata. He offered his input to Mario’s architect on the details of his future home. He rode along with third son Rodolfo in the early mornings to tend to the cattle herds. The afternoons were typically consumed by leisure trips to the Pacific for surfing, which Porter found much more difficult than he had first imagined. Dinners alternated between grand feasts at Mario’s estate and fish tacos from Renata’s favorite restaurant on the coast. The Don introduced Porter to a few of the most beautiful and eligible senoritas in the area who were more than eager to serve him in any way he liked. Porter respectfully declined these advances with a variation of the line, “It is a pleasure to meet you. I would be honored to get to know you when I return.” By the sixth day, Porter knew he was a member of the family and felt as if he could stay on Mario’s estate indefinitely. He also knew Connie would worry if he did not return home quickly.
As Porter was preparing for his return trip, Don Mario assigned two escorts of four guards each to accompany him across the country. “Now that news has traveled that you are family, there are many of my competitors who would love nothing more than to take you from me as they did Renata,” said Mario. “Your safety is now of great importance to me…as important as any of my other children.” Porter sensed Mario meant what he said and accepted his embrace. “When you return, and I hope it will be soon, I would like to discuss your methods for finding and disposing of the evil we have in our world. With the extensive drug problem we have here in Mexico, it would be helpful to get your thoughts on how to eliminate those associated with that business.”
Porter tried to mask the hu mor he found in this request as he thought Mario was either playing coy or he truly believed Porter did not know the lifestyle he enjoyed came from more than just cattle and crops. “Certainly Mario,” said Porter. “I'll be glad to talk to you about that.”
“Thank you Porter," Mario added. "Also, when you get to Nuevo Laredo, would you please deliver this to the border guard who helped you bring Renata home?”
“With pleasure ,” said Porter as he strained to put the brown leather satchel in his backseat. He would not view the contents of the gift but presumed the clanging metal he heard had a yellow hue. For those who acted generously towards the godfather of the Sinaloa cartel, the Don rewarded them handsomely. Porter smiled again and said, “With pleasure.”
Chapter 3
Killer Bonding
January 2002
Each return visit to Mazatlan made Porter long less and less for the United States. His first return to Mexico came three months after he first crossed the Rio Grande. As promised, Mario welcomed Porter as family. When he entered his new home on the Peréz estate, the remaining family members were waiting inside to greet him. Renata purposefully placed herself at
Without hesitation Porter said, “I am honored to accept your gift,” certain that Don Mario had great experience in cleaning up the unseemly side of his business. “Honored,” Porter said again audibly. Shit , was his inaudible response.
*****
Porter spent the better part of the next week enjoying the hospitality of the Peréz family. He observed sincere gentleness and love between Mario and Ines, and their seven children, especially their youngest Renata. He offered his input to Mario’s architect on the details of his future home. He rode along with third son Rodolfo in the early mornings to tend to the cattle herds. The afternoons were typically consumed by leisure trips to the Pacific for surfing, which Porter found much more difficult than he had first imagined. Dinners alternated between grand feasts at Mario’s estate and fish tacos from Renata’s favorite restaurant on the coast. The Don introduced Porter to a few of the most beautiful and eligible senoritas in the area who were more than eager to serve him in any way he liked. Porter respectfully declined these advances with a variation of the line, “It is a pleasure to meet you. I would be honored to get to know you when I return.” By the sixth day, Porter knew he was a member of the family and felt as if he could stay on Mario’s estate indefinitely. He also knew Connie would worry if he did not return home quickly.
As Porter was preparing for his return trip, Don Mario assigned two escorts of four guards each to accompany him across the country. “Now that news has traveled that you are family, there are many of my competitors who would love nothing more than to take you from me as they did Renata,” said Mario. “Your safety is now of great importance to me…as important as any of my other children.” Porter sensed Mario meant what he said and accepted his embrace. “When you return, and I hope it will be soon, I would like to discuss your methods for finding and disposing of the evil we have in our world. With the extensive drug problem we have here in Mexico, it would be helpful to get your thoughts on how to eliminate those associated with that business.”
Porter tried to mask the hu mor he found in this request as he thought Mario was either playing coy or he truly believed Porter did not know the lifestyle he enjoyed came from more than just cattle and crops. “Certainly Mario,” said Porter. “I'll be glad to talk to you about that.”
“Thank you Porter," Mario added. "Also, when you get to Nuevo Laredo, would you please deliver this to the border guard who helped you bring Renata home?”
“With pleasure ,” said Porter as he strained to put the brown leather satchel in his backseat. He would not view the contents of the gift but presumed the clanging metal he heard had a yellow hue. For those who acted generously towards the godfather of the Sinaloa cartel, the Don rewarded them handsomely. Porter smiled again and said, “With pleasure.”
Chapter 3
Killer Bonding
January 2002
Each return visit to Mazatlan made Porter long less and less for the United States. His first return to Mexico came three months after he first crossed the Rio Grande. As promised, Mario welcomed Porter as family. When he entered his new home on the Peréz estate, the remaining family members were waiting inside to greet him. Renata purposefully placed herself at
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