Chapter 4: "Cartel, Companero, Chaos"

"Don’t make a sudden move, pendejo!" the man shouted, pressing his gun to the back of my head.

I yawned.

"Why the hell are you yawning?!"

"Seriously? Do I need a reason to yawn while being held at gunpoint?"

"Well, I mean… uh…"

"Anyway, what cartel are you from?" I asked, buying time while waiting for Ramirez to return.

"None of your business, Los Azules!" he spat, pressing the gun harder into my skull.

"Los Azules, huh? That narrows it down."

"Shut the fuck up and walk. Now."

"Walk where? We’re inside a storage unit, Einstein."

"Over there."

"Where? Sorry, I’m dyslexic."

"To the left!"

"Your left or mine? This is getting confusing, cabron."

"Uhh—your left!"

"Got it." I turned right on purpose.

"I SAID RIGHT—!"

As he shouted, Ramirez suddenly appeared behind him.

"Freeze, hijo de puta!" Ramirez barked.

"Huh?! You want your friend to d—"

Before he could finish, I grabbed his wrist and twisted, quickly disarming him.

"You really shouldn’t get this close to a trained officer."

Ramirez slapped the cuffs on him. "Looks like we’ve got ourselves another source of info."

"And about the CCTV?"

"Let’s talk about that at the station. Right now, we gotta go."

But just as we stepped outside—

BANG!

"Mierda—there’s more of them!" Ramirez shouted.

We peeked out to see cartel gunmen already positioned on the surrounding rooftops.

"Stealth is off the table. Ramirez—did you bring that thing from the station?"

"You mean the 'Boo Companero'? Yeah, I got it."

"Perfect. Hand me one."

Ramirez tossed me the little device.

The Boo Companero—a modified ghost-hunting speaker—was designed to mimic voices and sound cues to distract enemies. It had just become our best friend.

I hurled it toward the left side of the warehouse.

"¡Es hora de jugar, niño!" the speaker shouted in a distorted, ghostly voice.

"Huh? What the hell is that?"

As two gunmen moved toward the sound, we slipped quietly through the side path.

But our exit was blocked—by a towering guy in a lucha libre mask. Great. Just as I suspected.

"Mierda… We’ve got a wall of meatheads at the exit."

"What now, Hernandez? I can’t hold this guy forever."

"Jose said the Boo Companero had a new feature… Let’s see if—"

POOF!

A hidden smoke grenade exploded from the speaker. The luchadores ran off, yelling orders.

"Perfect. Let’s move, más rápido, Ramirez!"

"¡Sí!"

We bolted through the smoke. I led the way, checking corners while Ramirez carried the suspect.

"We’re clear—head to the patrol car!" I shouted.

"Cover me!"

As Ramirez opened the back door, a bullet hit his shoulder.

"Ahh—mierda! Hernandez, help!"

I returned fire toward the sniper’s direction and pulled Ramirez behind the car.

"Time for me to drive."

I turned the key.

Nothing.

"Mierda, why won’t it start?!"

"The keys, Hernandez!"

"What about them?! I just turned it!"

"Those are YOUR keys. Use mine! In my shirt pocket!"

"Wait—what?! Why won’t my keys work—never mind."

I yanked the right keys from his pocket, jammed them into the ignition, and finally—

"Gracias a Dios."

I slammed the pedal.

We sped off, bullets ricocheting around us.

"You okay, Ramirez?"

"I think so... I can still feel the bullet. Pretty sure that means I’m not dead yet."

"Don’t die on me. I’m calling the hospital and Fernando."

As I reached for the radio—

BANG!

"Hernandez, look out!"

A bulldozer slammed into the side of our car.

"Dammit! I forgot how insane this cartel is."

"This is Los Hermanos del Dolor, isn’t it?"

"Yeah. Bingo. I HATE those guys—they go full psycho every time."

The bulldozer rammed us again.

"One more hit and we’re toast, Hernandez!"

"I know, I know—wait—BINGO!"

I swerved hard to the right.

The driver was caught off guard and slammed right into a power pole.

"Hehe~ See? Told you my driving’s not that bad."

But Ramirez was unconscious.

"Tch… damn lightweight."

I floored the gas and got us to the nearest hospital.

Once there, I made sure the suspect was still cuffed in the back, then rushed Ramirez onto a gurney.

"Please take care of him, doc."

"Hernandez? Oh, shoulder wound. Could be worse. Better than the last time."

"Yeah. Last time he got shot in the ass." I smirked. "Anyway, I gotta go."

"Good luck, detective."

I nodded, then left the hospital and headed to the underground garage where I parked. I made sure we weren’t being followed.

Once I confirmed the coast was clear, I got into the car and drove—not to the station—but to the outskirts of Mexico City.

I lit a cigarette and waited for the suspect to wake up.

Note to self: stock emergency cup noodles in the patrol car. I'm starving.

"Ugh… Where am I?"

"Ah, you’re awake. Good morning, sunshine."

"Who are you? Wait—I was supposed to kill you!"

"Yeah. Big fail there." I flicked away my cigarette.

"What… what are you gonna do to me, Los Azules?"

"Can you NOT call me that?" I kicked the car door. "It’s getting on my nerves."

"Okay, okay… sorry!"

"Now. You’re gonna tell me something useful, or I might 'forget' to turn you in. You know what happens to failed assassins, right?"

"Yeah… I get killed before I even see a judge."

"Exactly. Now—did Los Hermanos del Dolor send you?"

"Sí, señor."

"Thought so. Next question: Do you know anything about the missing chemical shipment?"

"I-I don’t know anything, I swear! Please, just let me go!"

"Wrong answer."

I opened the back door and dragged him onto the ground.

"Please, por favor! Don’t kill me!"

"That depends, pendejo. My partner got shot, and I’m pissed."

"Okay, okay! The shipment—it’s hidden at a place called Rancho Sombra Verde!"

"Green Shadow Ranch? That toxic dump? Seriously?"

"Yes! That’s why they hid it there—no one dares go near it!"

"Tch… Fine."

I uncuffed him.

"You’re free to go."

He bolted down the road like a rabid dog.

With Ramirez in the hospital, I had no choice but to return to the station… and face Fernando.

Chapter 5 is now available!