THE TIJUANA TRADE

I am Don juan and she wants me. All 6 foot 0 inches.

Her full lips are turned up in a slight grin as her eyes ransack me from head to shoe tip.

She looks away as i approach and when I get to her desk,her eyes are on her screen, fingers are no longer dancing across the keyboard.

“I am here to see Morgan”. I announce.

I am at Barry & White a law firm in downtown Newyork .I am here because i was interested in discussing a deal.

She looks up slowly from her screen head tilted to the side.

“Do you have an appointment?

Black silken hair,olive skin,brown eyes the shade of summer leaves,and peachy breasts perfectly perched. I like what i see and this time i am the one with the grin

“No, but i would be happy if you made room for me say...... 8pm?

Her brown eyes hold mine, she smiles. My heart leaps.

“I think i have Yoga.... he is waiting for you Mr. Devlin........over there.” her delicate hands point towards the door to my right.

“Call me Carlos” I reply as i walk towards Morgan’s door.

Days later we have just finished dinner and the skys are busy with light.We are glued to each other on the sidewalk of my apartment, dancing to music only two of us can hear.

Her hair is loose hanging down to her waist.

She is a vision in red as we swivel and twist to the Salsa.The dance is done, we are out of breath gazing into each other’s eyes.

I don’t hesitate, i don’t wait for an invitation. I lean in claiming her lips...............

Krrrgh....the sound of metal rubbing against metal. My eyes flutter as my hand drops from my manboob.

I inhale and instantly regret it.The stench almost makes me gagg.

Piss and vomit.

I grab my head because it feels like someone tossed in a grenade and closed it up.It takes a while to get used to the throbbing as my eyes open. My throat is dry.

I squint, my vision clears .The metal bars are unmistakable. Dirty vermillion walls and a bucket near my bed-the source of the stench.

It’s only after the fog clears from my brain that it registers.I am in a cell.

Where am i?

I manage to sit up and drag myself to the door. The bar stops me from falling.

“Hello” I call out.

How did i get here?

I try to recollect. I was in an office attending a job interview. I had been offered the job. I.T. support! The man who hired me had offered a brandy. I started to feel dizzy and then everything went blank.

A setup! My heart beats faster.

Footsteps! and moments later a middle aged woman and a man in brown jacket are standing in front of the cell door. He is bald and well built,she is slim and dressed elegantly in red.Both are the same height, both look hispanic.

We all stare at each other through the bars. Thier eyes spit cold indifference. Like they are looking at an animal. My skin crawls.

“This is the new one” the woman asks

“Yes” he replies

She steps closer to the bars

“It took quite some effort to get you here senor Devlin.But I believe you will be worth it”

“D-d-do I know you?”

“He does not remember?

“Maybe the drugs ” the man replies

“Good”

I look from one to the other. Who are these people?

“Look i’ll give you whatever you want, please just let me go” I plead.

“I don’t think so but......... it’s nice of you to offer....” she says calmly as her well manicured hands fish out a cigarette from her purse. The man promptly light it.She puffs.

The staring continues.

“Look i am an American citizen. I have rights.”

“True..... but in Mexico it’s easy to pay the authorities to forget those rights”

“I am in Mexico? I whisper

“Tijuana, it wasn’t easy smuggling you and others across the border” he said

My head begins to pound.“Why? what did i ever do to you?

“Why? that’s the big question isn’t it?In your case it’s simple.I own you,you are now property” Another puff. The smoke ascends.

“Property..what are you?

“Oh.....you were asleep when the bidding was done of course”

“What...“then it hits me.The company that recruited me, they were in on it.There had been rumors of people disappearing when they got recruited by a firm in Houston.Why hadn’t I been more careful.

“No..No...” This can’t be happening.I grab the bars. I don’t want to crumble to the floor.I won’t gve them the satisfaction.

“Why?..what do you want with me? I demand.

“Do you know how much organs cost on the black market these days? You could get as much as $50,000 for a kidney.You have two, then there’s your liver and other parts.Get the picture”

“You can’t do this....I am not cattle”I reach for her through the bars.She is fast.I grab air.

“Enjoy your stay Senor Devlin or should i say your final days,months you can’t tell with these things” she gives me a grin. They walk away.

“Stop..stop, come back” i start screaming ” You can’t do this, please”

Krrrghh!

I am alone again. I rub my right shoulder. I pray the tracking device wasn’t damaged.

“I hope you guys got everything through my eye cam.I think i hit the lode” I whisper

I lay back on the bed.

Now comes the wait.Working for the F.B.I., what dangerous fun.