The Enigma Rising

JC openly began, “Carlos I want you to know that I-- we-- both appreciate all that you and Juan have done for us. In these last seven months you guys got us out of some serious trouble in the U.S. and have given us fair pay for work that isn’t too hard to do.”

Carlos interjected with a smile, “So you’re here to give me a rebate?”

JC and Robert grinned a little. JC was obviously the spokesman of the pair.

“Actually we want to leave the group. We came to you as we want your understanding and approval. It has nothing to do with you, Juan, or the team. It’s just that, well, I’m homesick and want to go home. Robert feels the same way. We mean no disrespect to you, Carlos, or Juan. We just want to go home.”

Carlos saw Juan prowling a ways off. Juan displayed a keen interest in the serious discussion and was ready to provide backup if needed. Carlos indicated with a shake of his head that Juan should stay put for the time being. Carlos moved his gaze from JC to Robert and then to his glass of wine while thinking of the right sort of response. These poor gringos had proven quite useful.

“I am not surprised at your request, but I had hoped that you might come to call Mexico home. Especially after all we have been through. I understand your desire to return home. I too have had similar feelings for my home village which I can no longer return to.

“I should point out that they will be waiting for you since you are fresh on their minds. Your escape made them look foolish. You do get that you can’t just go home and step back into your old lives, don’t you? Anyone who knew you and any one they can use to bait you into returning to your old lives is being watched. Anyway, how much have you saved to try and take back home? I suspect that the amount is not nearly enough to keep you and your loved ones safe,” Carlos conveyed like a concerned parent.

JC presented, “We’ve each got about a quarter million stashed with that bank we’ve being flying to with the inheritance valuables. We are following your example of keeping ahold of our money so it can’t be grabbed.”

Robert added, “We also thought about getting new identities so we could go back as new people. So long as we don’t draw any attention under our new identities, we should be able to remain under the radar. Neither of us have wives or steady ladies, nor do our families want contact to any great degree at this point.”

“I don’t understand. This desire to return home is not for families or love? What are you going to do once you get back to the States with your new identities? You can’t just go get a day job because that seems too out of character. Pilots in the United States have to have background checks which new identities rarely pass. You can’t go back to your old locations and friends because the federales are hoping you’ll do just that.

“Even with what you have saved, which is commendable, you don’t have enough money to retire. So logic suggests that you will end up in your old line of work: robbing banks and running drugs. You can do that from here, and it doesn’t require an identity change.