The Colombian Conspircy

By Harold Dennis King

Michael and Jesse partners are assigned to find an underground drug lab in the Colombian jungle. "How are to find a drug lab in the jungle when we can't even find our Jeep?" Jesse asked. But they do fine it to be chased off the hill where they make a life decision to either jump to their death or be shot on the hillside. They decide to jump into the waterfall and take a chance of surviving the fall. Later as the current takes them down the river they are amazed to be alive only to be captured and retuned to an underground prison where they are beaten for information and thrown into a dirt floor cell. Time is running out. They have 24 hours to escape as Michelle confronts the agents and helps them escape to be chased out of Colombia to return for another day. They need rest and food as they leave Colombia to stay safe, but it is not over. They have a score to settle with the main man.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harold Dennis King
• Release date: Apr 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311769213

Harold Dennis King

Born in Dallas, Texas with a degree in business and a major in accounting. Began writing at a later stage in life when I should have been thinking about retiring. In sales for the past...years was becoming boring eating alone several days of the week being away from the office. I was always reading someone's work when I had an idea for a novel. Deciding I would try my hand at a novel I found it fun and entertaining. Most of my writing has been sitting at a table around lunch time working in long hand. The background noise never bothers me, so I continued the experience until I had a 330 page novel on my hands. This is where I developed my character's, but the funny thing is I have not edited this book for publishing. I went on the next one and then the next one, and etc. I have it sitting on my desk, and I made myself promise it would be the next project to complete. It has been typed into the computer, so the hard part is done, and now the dreaded editing will begin.

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The Colombian Conspiracy

By

Harold King

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 by Harold King

All Rights Reserved

Prologue

Our war at home from the seventies has primarily been The War on Drugs. and its Numero Uno distinction as the World’s leading supplier of illegal drugs at 80% has now taken a backseat to a new threat, The War on Terrorism.

Colin Powell’s scheduled visit to discuss the progress on the War on Drugs was canceled with the attack on September 11th. The World Trade Center shifted our focus from illegal drugs to a different threat to our country by our enemies in the name of religion. The focus drifted to a very real target to all US citizens home and abroad, and away from the drug users and dealers.

The Plan for Colombia which was developed in the year 2000 was a joint effort between our two countries. Its design was to eliminate illegal crops in exchange for legal cash crops such as maze and other grains. At one point the US was paying farmers to drop the cocoa plants for a money-based crop. They were paid based on the number of acres they farmed, but this turned out to be a mistake. The farmers took the money, moved to an alternative piece of land and started replanting the coca plants all over again. With Bolivia as a major supplier of plants to the growers they have little trouble starting a new crop in a new area. The crop production went up instead of down as planned costing US tax payers millions.

After the exchange program failed The Plan for Colombia, started crop eradication that kills foliage and coca crops growing as high as eight feet. The crops prefer the moist east side and a minimum of 1500 meters above sea level. This idea, although effective had its drawbacks as well because the chemical used kills all the plants, not just poppy, and coca crops. Over 2.4 million hectares of tropical forest has been destroyed by growers and eradication. Along this line the cocoa crop averages 15% more profitable than legal plants.

The sub-heading under The Plan for Colombia is The National Policy of Eradication Progress. Between the years 2000-2008 the US paid out approximately $458 Million. Under the supervision of the State Department Bureau of International Narcotics, and Law Enforcement Affairs, a private company was used to destroy 2.5 million acres of coca, and opium poppy crops in Colombia.

In the original Plan for Colombia the US was to provide a budgeted number of $2.636 Billion (35%) of the budget dedicated to institutional, social, economic, trade, and military. Along with these efforts 90% of all cocaine entering the US comes from Colombia, and 80% of the worlds share comes from the same area.

Times have changed since the capture of Pablo Escubar. The guerrillas once used to protect the growers have now taken over this segment of the illegal traffic flow in drug production. Currently drugs are marketed by three different factors, the growers, the processors, and the distributor. The small scale grower who processes his own product takes three steps to produce the cocaine paste. He starts by chopping up the leaves and adds ammonia, and lime. After this step he adds this mixture to diesel gasoline. He drains the barrel of the diesel to another barrel and adds ammonia to separate the components.

The ammonia turns the liquid to a milk color, and more gasoline is added. Continuing to stir he adds water and sulfuric acid. The gasoline collects the compounds where he pours it off again and adds ammonia to make the paste. Because of the chemicals this is why the product is so dangerous to smoke.

There are times the grower can actually lose money, because no paste is produced. One kilo cost $700 in materials which he can sell for $1000. The $300 in profits is double what he could earn in the job market, and usually his materials are purchased on credit. The smaller pays his debt and starts the process all over again.

Unknown too many there are more than 250 varieties of the coca plant, but only three are grown for illegal use and distribution. The Huanuco variety is grown in Bolivia and Peru. The Amazonian coca is grown in the Amazon River basin, and we have the coca.

The coca plant itself goes back over 4,000 years where it has been associated with medicines, drugs, and poison. It is believed to have originated by Pre-Inca in the Andes Mountains of South America. The Aymara Indians originally name the plant Kuka, Food for the workers.

It was first isolated and purified in the late 1800’s, but in the 1900’s the harmful effects were discovered, and a law was passed to make the plant production illegal. Making the plant illegal seen to only make it more desirable. The US alone spends billions and thousands of man hours tracking down shipments coming into the US.

Some have said we have a user problem, not a dealer problem. No dealers, no drugs, but no buyers, no dealers. Each side of the argument has a point. As of today the government has taken the stance it is better to prevent distribution than usage. Catch them at the borders, either by land, sea or air. If it was this simple, why do we still have a problem?

Nancy Reagan may have said it best, Just say no.

Dedication:

To Mikayla who believes every book is a best seller.

A special thank you:

To Darlene Monk who with her little red pencil corrected my many mistakes.

Chapter 1

It was a hot humid afternoon in the Colombian jungle. The sort of humidity where you start sweating the minute you step outside your air-condition hideaway and the heat slaps you across the face like an x-girlfriend. The sky was blue and clear of all cloud cover with a bright sun shining down through the treetops. If you could stand the heat you would actually appreciate the beauty of the lush greenery and the terrain around the base of the Andes Mountains.

The occasional lonely waterfall appears out of place, but a perfect Kodak moment if you dare to venture close enough. This lovely waterfall appears to drop forever with a violent turbulent spray descending from the heavens above and down below to a large basin of water which will run all the way to the Amazon. It is the world’s largest river and second only to the Nile in length. But, unlike the Nile the Amazon contributes one fifth of all fresh water entering the Atlantic Ocean. Depending on the season it ranges from nine million to thirty two million gallons of water a second and three tons of sediment flowing into the Atlantic. The clear and clean waterfall looks inviting from above, but way too high to attempt a dive if you trust your head and your instincts.

Let’s stick to the trail so we don’t get lost, Michael was saying to his friend Jesse Munoz and CIA partner for the past twelve years. They have been best friends since high school, and through college.

Hey I agree who knows what’s in those weeds if you wonder off this trail and I’m not looking to be snake bit in Colombia. You’d never find me a doctor in these hills.

I’m not sure I could find our Jeep.

That’s reassuring I guess I should have brought you a string.

I know you could find a needle in the dark with your eyes closed, Michael said to his close friend.

Don’t hustle me. I know you’re not lost.

No, but I could be without this GPS unit I insisted we bring along.

You were right we needed it, but don’t gloat. I hate it when you gloat.

Jesse, could it get any hotter out here?

I’m half Mexican, and I’m hot. Look at my shirt, not a dry spot on it. I’m so hot I started to jump over the waterfall.

Except it was too high, even for you, and I have never seen you back away from a leap. Besides it‘s just hot and humid in this jungle, I don’t care what you are. If you are out here you are going to feel it.

You’re right, I know you’re right. Like that movie line, African hot."

I believe I started sweating in the shower.

Let’s find this place and get back to town where it’s cooler and before the sun goes down. Tell Paul we searched, but it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. An underground drug lab somewhere in the Colombian hills, he must have confidence in us. I see now why they do the aerial sprays to kill the coca crops. It’s easier than trying to do it on foot. Paul is their boss with the CIA and the man who recruited the pair straight out of college before they even graduated. To say he was partial would be an understatement. He hovers like a bird on all their assignments.

How does Paul expect us to find an underground cocaine lab in a jungle on this mountainside? Do you really believe it’s around here? Even Burton couldn’t find the source of the Nile and he could see the river, Jesse commented.

His friend Speke found it he just didn’t believe him and it was also around four thousand miles on foot, referring to the English pair.

According to Paul’s resources he believes the lab is here. And for some reason I’m getting that feeling, Michael was saying.

That’s not good we must be getting close, Jesse commented to himself.

Side by side they walked further up the hill until they reached the top where they could just see over it. They were looking down at the plateau. This could be it Jesse. There’s movement and I see army types walking around for security.

Yes, army types carrying automatics, but I don’t see the lab, Jesse answered.

It’s there, I’m sure. There wouldn’t be this many men guarding a Jeep. The lab has to be there under some of the grass and dirt roof.

You know, if we can see them they can probably see us too, Jesse commented. Now I wish I had worn the Army fatigues like you suggested. We would blend in better.

Too late, but you’re right we better move out of sight and wait until dark before getting any closer.

So much for leaving before dark, Jesse commented. Finding our way out of here in the middle of the night won’t be easy.

I don’t like this, we can’t protect ourselves and we sure don’t know the terrain. I was told to be very careful that these guys guard their coca fields by planting landmines around the perimeter, Jesse was saying. More have been killed here by landmines than there have been in Iraq.

I guess that would stop the poachers. One thing for sure, I don’t see crops around here, just the lab, Michael commented. This field looks old and hasn’t been worked for a while, so no landmines."

Small consolation.

Jesse, you know Paul would have our heads if we left here without pictures and the only way is to get closer.

I know, but I still don’t like it.

Then we agree, Michael said. Without a telephoto lens and this tiny camera we have to get inside the compound.

I was afraid you were going to say that.

Look at this way after we take the pictures and get out of here we won’t have to come back.

Now I like that idea. You know it’s not safe here. When Columbians catch you spying around their territory you usually disappear and the Police are too scared to even look for you, Jesse commented.

Then let’s not get caught, Michael commented and turned to start the circle to the other side of the compound. It was on a flatter piece of ground and appeared to have underbrush for cover. Together they circled around the backside of the compound to get a closer look and a place to stay while they waited for it to get dark. It took about thirty minutes to backtrack down and make their way to the other side of the lab where they could plainly see a rear entrance and a truck being loaded.

We should be safe here until dark, Michael said.

Good you watch and I’ll take a quick nap, Jesse commented.

Jesse had just dozed off when the silence was broken and gunshots burst overhead. It had both men ducking behind a nearby tree.

How did they see us? Jesse yelled.

I’m not sure, but let’s get back to the waterfall in double time. The bark was flying off the tree as they crouched lower waiting for a reload to start running.

Hey you’re not waiting on me, Jesse commented and the big guy took off like a big antelope looking for the trail to safety and back to the Jeep.

Michael following his friend two paces behind as they made their way around the hill, and through the brush. Gunfire seemed to come from everywhere, but was only an echo. In quick time they made the waterfall just to dodge more bullets from behind them as the security guards were catching up. That was close, looks like they know the trail better than we do, Michael yelled.

Too close, Jesse said sticking his finger through a bullet hole that went through his shirt, and missing his ribs by only inches. More gunfire and the two dropped behind some high grass taking cover crawling along on their belly.

Jesse, we have to go over the falls or we don’t have a chance. Two choices leap or have these guys kill us right here on this mountainside.

Are you crazy that’s over a hundred foot drop?

More, but what choice do we have? I know we will never make it on foot.

Are you ready? no answer from Jesse.

Jesse, you ready, we don’t have time for this?

I’m thinking. Not much of an option, die from the impact or drown by the undercurrent. Better yet get shot and left for the wild dogs and buzzards to pick our bones.

While you’re thinking I vote on the falls, and bullets started flying. Michael jumped not leaving Jesse any choice and their pursers watching as the two men leaped to what appeared to be imminent death.

Crazy Americans, one of the guards yelled in Spanish.

The force of the fall pushed them fifteen feet into a dark abyss, but seemed more like twenty as the currents twisted their bodies like a pretzel causing each of them to fight for their lives as the strong current tried pulling them under and upside down. It took all their strength to reach the surface to see the blue sky of safety.

Because of the spray and turbulence when they surfaced the men from above could not see they had survived the jump. The noise from the falls was like a freight train going through your living room so, they couldn’t hear Jesse yelling for his partner. Finally he spotted Michael being carried down by white water on his back. Eventually the current slowed enough where Michael began swimming for the shore. Jesse did the same as he spotted his partner on the bank. They had drifted over a hundred yards downstream before finding a calm spot to swim to shore.

Jesse crawled up the riverbank on his belly and all fours looking back at the falls, Don’t ever ask me to do that again.

No chance, I can’t believe we lived through that, Michael said to himself. He was exhausted from fighting the current and the swim to safety. Hey we may have broken a record there.

I’ll call Guinness and let them know, Jesse said laughing. But, no one would believe it anyway.

I wasn’t sure there at first when I thought I touched the bottom. I didn’t think I would ever get to the surface. I opened my eyes and could see the blue sky, but it took forever for my first breath, Jesse said.

I know me too. A hand glider would have been nice, Michael said.

Or an automatic like they had. That would have been a better option than jumping, Jesse commented.

One of the men chasing the two strangers called back to the compound and told Rudy Cruz, the man in charge of the lab, what had taken place. I’m telling you they jumped over the falls. No way could they survive that drop and we didn’t see anyone floating down the river. I believe they are on the bottom snagged by a tree root or something.

Rudy remained calm listening to security tell him what had happened. Now listen to me Manuel, you take the men and your lazy ass down the hillside and look for bodies along the river bank. If they did drown, you will find them. I want to see bodies before I believe they are dead. Do you understand?

Yes Sir, I will take the men down the trail and when we find them I will call you.

Don’t call me until you have proof one way or the other, slamming the phone down disgusted with this one guard. I can’t stand that guy.

Manuel waved at the men following him and said, Rudy wants us to find bodies and not to come back until we do any questions?

No one spoke out.

Spread out and look for anything floating along the river that could be from these guys. Who knows they may have made it.

Jose, you really believe anyone could survive that fall.

No, I don’t, but we have orders directly from Rudy. You want to cross him?

Everyone knows not to cross Rudy since he was the boss’s number one man in charge of operations. Otherwise you could find yourself floating down the river.

Feeling his importance Manuel yelled, Let’s find these guys.

He started down the trail alongside the waterfall and they were safely at the bottom in twenty minutes. At the basin it was wet and loud. Manuel wanted to position his men on each side of the river, but there was no way to reach the other side as he looked across the rolling waves. Spread out, he yelled to be heard over the noise of the falls. The men shook their head and started looking for debris or signs showing someone had disturbed the riverbed. After walking along side the river one of his men spotted the area where Jesse had crawled up the bank, and then Michael’s footprints were spotted coming out of the river. Using his hands he signaled to Manuel pointing at the spot in the mud, and then he started tracking the footprints onto the trail. This way, he whispered.

Not far ahead of the guerrillas and band of regional military Jesse and Michael were slowly making their way along a path.

Michael, you really believe they will send men down the trail to look for us?

I do. I bet he wants to see the bodies before he tells his boss we are dead or finds us alive.

Then they couldn’t be more than fifteen minutes behind us, Jesse commented. No weapons, no GPS and no cell phone and we’re lost, Jesse said.

We’ve been lost before, Michael said.

But not in Colombia, Jesse reminded his friend.

I wonder how many men from the company are unaccounted for while for looking for this same lab, Jesse asked.

I’m not sure, Paul wouldn’t tell me. Another simple assignment he told me.

So, more than one I bet, and there’s nothing simple about this so far, Jesse said.

I bet too, Michael said to himself as he made his way along the trial and away from the river.

Manuel using his Military training was smart enough to access the situation, and decided to outflank the men he was chasing. He knew the trail would eventually lead the strangers to the highway and if they turned right it would lead them back to Cartagena. He decided to split up his group of six and send three of his men off the trail where three would take a direct route that was a shorter distance. These three should be able to overtake the strangers near the end of the trail. He picked three of the smaller and faster that knew the terrain. The remaining three and he would follow behind the strangers to prevent retracing their steps.

When these guys pop their heads out onto the highway I want you there to escort them back to me, Manuel shouted.

Do not kill them. Do you understand?

They each shook their heads, and took off at double the pace.

The going was slow for Michael and Jesse losing the trail several times along on the way, because it had overgrown and then to be picked up again a few hundred feet further. This is slow losing the trail every hundred feet, Jesse was saying.

It’s all we can do, and hope it opens to a clearing or a highway.

As long as I don’t step on a snake, Jesse said. I hear they have some bad ones here.

How do know that?

I saw a documentary. They have all kinds here, Jesse was saying.

After forty-five minutes of hard going Michael stopped. Jesse, listen, do you hear that?

Sounds like a car or a truck.

How about a bus I just saw a flash of yellow. There’s a road up there in front of us. I would say we made it.

Finally, Jesse commented.

Cautiously Michael walked up the trail looking all around to make sure it was safe. No signs of any movement Jesse, he whispered.

We missed the bus too. I bet there’s not another for half a day.

We should probably stay off the main road just in case our lab technicians are cruising the highway, Michael commented.

Jesse stepped out of the bush onto the road with Michael close behind. They were still wet from going over the falls. Now maybe we can dry our off in the sunshine, Jesse was saying.

Seconds later after his comment three armed guards stepped onto the road from the opposite side. Maybe not, Michael remarked.

The guard in front spoke in Spanish, Manos arbia, and waved his rifle toward the sky. Michael didn’t speak Spanish, but understood the jester. Hands up. Then he waved his rifle back toward the trail indicating to turn around and head back. The man appeared to be someone who knew his way around a weapon, so there was no argument. Michael turned back toward the trail.

Jesse looked at his friend turning his back toward the lab and the falls. Long walk for nothing it seems, Jesse whispered. You wanted to see the lab, Michael.

Not this close and not this way.

It didn’t take long to meet up with the other guards and less time to reach the lab. Manuel called ahead to Rudy where he was eagerly waiting to meet the two strangers as his men escorted them back to the compound.

Michael and Jesse instincts kicked in taking in the surroundings and any avenues for escape as they could see a man standing at what appeared to be a stairway leading down inside the lab. They could easily tell he was in charge of the compound as he stood his ground sizing them up.

Welcome to my operation. I am Rudy Cruz the one in charge of this place and the one you are going to tell why you are here, With that he spread out his hands gesturing to the lab. You have wondered into a misfortunate place for the next few days unless you would like to tell me who you are and why you are spying on my lab.

Neither said a word as they stepped down the stairs