Tropic of Evil by Preben Ormen

Author:Preben Ormen [Ormen, Preben]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-22T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 54

Outside by the Aduana office some five kilometers from shore, the cool Gulf wind swept over the pier, and Marco stopped to make a quick call. Pickup on seven.

“Ramirez, did you ever tell me what you found out about the container shipper?”

“The company listed on the manifest is non-existent. The address is for an empty lot on the west side. The RFC is registered, but with the same bullshit address.”

“Any idea about who is behind this company?”

“Nothing concrete, but one of my informants made noises like the company is a front for a cartel or gang or something fishy like that. A friend of mine at organized crime in Mexico City says they have no record of this one, which is consistent with our theory about a new player, but it’s still just another dead end.”

“One more for our growing collection. We’re going to talk to Aduana now. Maybe we’ll learn something new.”

Marco hung up and signaled wrap-it-up to Chuy who was pecking away at his phone, and they went inside. A bored receptionist sat by the door to the right surfing the net on his phone. He looked up as they approached and pushed the visitors’ registry towards them.

“How can I help you, Señores?”

“We need to see someone right now who can help us with some shipping papers.”

The police IDs made the receptionist crystal clear on the now part, and he quickly disappeared down the corridor behind him. Ninety-seconds later he reappeared with a young female customs officer self-consciously adjusting the ride of her baggy blue uniform cargo pants and pulling back strands of hair loose from her ponytail. Marco sensed she disagreed with Aduana’s official fashion style, but she moved past it and got to the point with the right question.

“What can I help you with today?”

“We need to know what you know about a shipper. Chuy, show her the manifest.”

Chuy held his phone up for her to see and she pulled it closer and squinted at the small screen to read the small type.

“I don’t know them, but let me check on the computer.”

With that, she and the phone disappeared down into the dark corridor. This time the wait was longer before she returned with a bundle of paper in one hand and Chuy’s phone in the other.

“We only have a record of one shipment for this company.”

Marco thought about that. One shipment only. Not a sign of a booming business, at least not using containers. Then he turned to Chuy.

“Show her the man.”

Chuy quickly brought up the right photo for the custom’s officer.

“Have you seen this man?”

Watching her wince at the picture of the dead chapulin with all his facial and head tattoos, Marco knew almost before she knew that, yes, she had seen him.

“That’s a gruesome picture. Is he dead? Oh, sorry, yes I have seen him. How can anyone forget a face line that? He was here.”

“What was he here for?”

“I think he just dropped off some papers. Oh, maybe these? Could be, it was swift.

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