FORBIDDEN FRUIT

I decided to “skip” Mexico and head for Canada instead. I needed to make sure everything was running smoothly.

Ricky and his wife waited for me at the Montreal Airport before taking me to the Ritz Hotel in Centre Ville.

The city was exciting, very cultural, and full of beautiful people. Bustling restaurants and cafes stretched across downtown and the safe environment contributed to my exploring it without inhibition. It was summer-time so the weather was yet another factor for keeping me outdoors throughout my stay.

I contacted Gaspar, a Colombian who I hired to conduct all the “dirty-work” in the warehouse where the merchandise was brought and stored. He had no problem undoing the containers and handling the “coca.” He did this along with a French guy who worked for the Italians in the city.

I didn’t care for this part of the process, I didn’t want to touch anything except the money even though this was also a hassle and a risk. The good part was that my share was given to me in company checks from a friend who ran a legitimate business. This would allow me to appear as if I earned it legally and I would cash them at a local currency exchange that had ties to his business. The whole thing was interchangeable, convenient, and lucrative in the way negotiations were handled. He would charge me 12% for the transaction but that was okay. As long as I was able to take it back to Colombia in bills is what counted.

The first thing I did was settle my debt with Mr. Montero. I didn’t want to have any problems with him or anyone else for that matter. From the remaining handsome “loot” I made on the deal, I was able to buy some property around the city of Bogota and a beautiful apartment on a mountain-top over-looking the capital.

Money-wise, things were working out perfect for me. After my sixth trip to Canada, I went to Mexico to see my kids and to come “clean” with my wife about a woman I’d been seeing. Obviously, the news hit her hard and it crippled our marriage. We were soon separated. I could have opted to continue the deceit but for some reason, it felt better to confess the truth.

Afterwards, I returned home with Angie. We got along real well. With her everything was fun. We used to travel all over the globe, even to Canada where my “drug-deals” was by now, a booming and customary thing. We enjoyed every moment of it until a turn of events corrupted, soured, and destroyed our love-affair.