King of All I Survey
Chapter 51: Checkmate

Chapter 51: Checkmate

Dad and I continued to watch from the Status Room at headquarters as the van pulled up in front of Maribel’s house. Two men got out of the front wearing grease-stained overalls. They walked around to the back, and a third man in normal clothes stepped out. The three walked up to the door. One of the invisible drones hovering near them did a quick scan. Manny did not register at all since he was wearing a shield ring that blocked the sensors. Rafael was unarmed. The other man though had a knife in his right boot.

"Manny," Dad said, "He has a knife in his right boot." As Dad thought about the intended recipient, Joe read the intent and relayed the communication directly to Manny’s earpiece, audible to him, but not to anyone around him.

As they reached the door, Manny turned and said, "No weapons inside."

Rafael shrugged, "We’re unarmed." He looked a Manny who made an obvious glance toward the other man’s boot.

Rafael turned to him, "I told you to leave your weapons at La Ciela."

The other man shook his head, "You told me to leave the gun. I did."

Rafael, familiar with his bodyguard’s habits, looked pointedly at his boot. "Give him the knife, handle first."

He did as he was told. Manny took the knife, flipped it up in the air, caught it by it’s blade and threw it overhand. It thunked into the trunk of a tree about fifteen feet away, the blade of the heavy knife buried about three quarters of an inch into the wood. "You can pick it up when you leave," He told them.

I turned to Dad, "That was cool. Did we teach him that?"

"Yes, knife skills are part of the implanted training," Dad told me. "Our paramilitaries are proficient in all sorts of weapons and hand-to-hand combat."

Back in Guatemala, Rafael raised an eyebrow. "Delivery man, huh? She knew ahead of time we were going to divert that truck and planted you as the driver." He paused a moment, "Or are all the drivers trained soldiers?"

Manny turned and knocked on the door. Luis opened it at once, exchanged nods with Manny and stood back to let Rafael and his companion inside. Manny remained outside. When the door closed, he got back in the van and drove away.

Maribel had a large screen television on, showing the news. As the two men entered, they saw a picture of Maribel and Rafael and a third shadowy figure emerge from the restaurant at a run. Two shots rang out as they continued running. The video froze on a view that showed Rafael and Maribel’s face clearly. A reporter’s voice asked, "Who is this mystery woman? The man in the center has been identified as Rafael Camal de Leon, a successful businessman who has long been suspected of being involved in drug smuggling, although he always seems to avoid prosecution. The woman seems to be completely unknown. She charges toward the gunmen alongside him with seemingly no thought to her own safety. If you know this woman’s identity, please call this telephone number on the screen. Police are looking for any information to help them find her identity. Both are being sought for questioning about the shootings, the bodies found on the steps of the Palace of Justice early this morning. At this hour, police have been unable to locate either Camal de Leon, the mystery woman, or the other man."

Maribel switched the television off and turned to face the newcomers. "Well, it looks like we are famous." She looked at Rafael’s companion. "This is a man you trust? We are going to be discussing some confidential things here today. Things that we cannot have leaked."

"I have trusted Miguel with my life for many years," Rafael replied.

"Like the man who was supposed to stand watch at La Ciela the other night?" Maribel asked.

Rafael’s face contorted in a brief rage, then showed resignation. "Yes."

"I see," Maribel replied glancing back and forth between the two men.

"I would die for Rafael," Miguel said.

"As long as you remain loyal to him, I don’t think we’ll need to go that far," Maribel looked into his eyes, the implied threat obvious to all.

"His loyalty is beyond question," Rafael interjected.

Maribel looked back at Rafael sharply, "No one’s loyalty is beyond question until it is tested."

"His loyalty has been battle-tested many times, I vouch for him," Rafael responded.

"All right then," She said, looking straight at Miguel," absolutely nothing we say here today leaves this room, nothing." Maribel ordered, "Now, let’s discuss business. Please sit gentlemen." She indicated the chairs at the dining table. She and Luis sat on one side facing the other two.

"As we have discussed, you have a decision to make Rafael. Either continue as you have been with no further contact from us... unless you get in our way, of course, or join us fully, and work with us to crush the cartels."

Miguel’s eyes flew open wide, completely shocked. "You cannot go against the cartels. They would kill you! That’s crazy!"

"I think," Maribel said in the same tone she might use discussing the weather forecast, "the cartels are crazy if they go against us. Our goal is to bring peace and prosperity to all the people of Guatemala. No more drugs, no more corruption, no more criminal gangs, no more taking advantage of people who are poor and uneducated. I assure you we have the means to accomplish this. Rafael, you make a convenient figurehead for our efforts. Your face and reputation are well known here. We can use that. What we can not use is your temper, your tendency toward rash actions, your murderous instincts, and a whole host of personality traits unbecoming to a President. If you agree to work with us, you must understand that I give the orders, you will work for me even if you are the President of the country. We will need you to sit down and cooperate with a therapist to help you deal with your anger issues and learn how to behave like a human being."

"You think I am crazy, Maribel? You want to send me to a psychiatrist, put me on pills to control me? Then have me be nothing but a puppet, dancing on your strings. No, I can not be that. I refuse."

"You misunderstand me, Rafi. No pills, no medications, not even a lobotomy." She smiled, "I just want you to talk to someone who can help you manage your anger, stop your pain and rage from controlling your actions. When you let your anger out, it controls you, not the other way around as it should be. I would just like you to meet with a man who can help you put reins on that beast and guide it to the path you would follow rather than letting it drag you into mud and destruction. As for being my puppet, many men would jump at the chance," She smiled playfully, "but that is not what I have in mind for you. We will make you President of Guatemala, but that is a difficult and narrow path. If you step off the path we lay out for you, you will fail. If we write a speech for you, you will read it as written. Of course, we will discuss it beforehand and take your input, but once finalized, your words and actions must fit the pattern to get you elected. Once President, you will have more freedom, within certain guidelines. No drugs, everything you do must serve the people before yourself. You must become the hero of Guatemala. Our plans are larger. We intend to bring about a lasting world peace under a single government, peace, prosperity, and freedom for all. Eventually, Guatemala, under your leadership, will agree to become a part of that world-wide government." Maribel leaned back in her chair as she finished speaking.

Rafael’s gaze was cool and calculating. "What’s in it for me?"

Maribel laughed. "What’s the goal of everything you have done in your life up until now? Money? Then why didn’t you walk away when you had it? Revenge? That is a poor meal that leaves you still hungry no matter how much you eat. Power? You’ll have more power with our plans. If you join us, Rafi, no one in Guatemala will ever suffer what you and your parents suffered. Isn’t that what you really want?"

"Damn you, Maribel." Rafael said softly. "It seems you have me check-mated. I have no escape. If I decline your offer, I am a marked man headed for prison or death. You win."