The Paradise Passage

By J E Murphy

The story of Gil, a two-bit purse snatcher who gets recruited by a Mexican drug cartel in Miami. Gil moves rapidly up the ranks of the cartel until he is made the mayor of a small but strategic town just across the Mexican border from Arizona. Here, Gil encounters an unusual individual who convinces him to turn against the cartel, resulting in an adventure beyond his imaginings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J E Murphy
• Release date: Jun 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393860983

J E Murphy

J E Murphy (Jim Murphy) is a retired network and computer analyst. He has spent much of his personal life in a comparative study of religions, and in pondering the nature of reality, humanity and what makes us human. His writing, while fast paced, and full of physical adventure, also explores the adventure of the mind and the soul.

Book preview

The

Paradise Passage

by

J. E. Murphy

The Paradise Passage

Copyright 2019 by J. E. Murphy

All rights reserved .  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews.

PUBLISHED BY PORTRAITS of Earth Press

Direct inquiries to

Portraits of Earth Press

8 River Road Dr E

Mayflower, Arkansas 72106

U.S.A.

Special Thanks

For their very helpful suggestions and insights that have made the book better than it would have otherwise been I would like to thank the following people: Charles Pyle, for insights, observations, and corrections; Jim Montgomery for his keen eye in finding typographical errors; Mike McCrory for his excellent observations on word usage; Valerie Lower Nagle for insightful suggestions; Elizabeth Dodson for meticulously finding spelling and usage errors; and to Kayte del Real for suggesting wonderful enhancements to the story.

J. E. Murphy

June 2019

Table of Contents

Contents

Copyright 2019 by J. E. Murphy

Special Thanks

Table of Contents

People and places and things in this book

c-1 La Reina del Cielo

c-2 Salvador

c-3 Ishtar

c-4 Luca

c-5 Accolades

c-6 Business as Usual

c-7 Meeting the Competition

c-8 Price War

c-9 Preparations

c-10 Capitalism

c-11 Escalation

c-12 Annihilation

c-13 Exodus

c-14 Olmos

c-15 Good Works

c-16 Other Works

c-17 Infrastructure

c-18 Conflict

c-19 The Monster of the Cedars

c-20 Juan Jose

c-21 Santiago

c-22 Bennie

c-23 Lessons

c-24 Disgraced

c-25 The Hunter

c-26 Nikaio

c-27 Sucoro

c-28 Los Cedros

c-29 Return of the Mayor

c-30 The Bull of Heaven

c-31 Death of Nikaio

c-32 The Lions

c-33 The Scorpion Gods

c-34 The Tavern by the Sea

c-35 Elrey

c-36 The Hills of Paradise

c-37 Uri

c-38 Mrs. Colbert

c-39 When the Truth Hurts

c-40 Charity

c-41 Forgiveness

c-42 El Paraiso Del Cielo

c-43 Doctor Lão

c-44 Mrs. Milfoil

c-45 El Pasaje al Paraiso

c-46 The Paradise of Heaven

c-47 Manna

c-48 The Passage to Paradise

c-49 Down the Rabbit Hole

c-50 Halfway Into the Woods

c-51 Heaven Calling

c-52 Something Wicked

c-53 Stories of Old

c-54 The Size of a Heart

c-55 Mrs. Sylvestri

c-56 Mr. Novak

c-57 The Ferryman

c-58 Mr. Doolittle

c-59 The Gathering

c-60 The Immortal

c-61 The Queen of Heaven

Other books by J E Murphy

People and places and things in this book

Gil ( Giollaiosa) Ganesh – Purse snatcher and mayor

Salvador – Sicario assigned to Los Cedros

Los Cedros – Cocaine and meth lab

Señora Ishtar - Mysterious queen of the Ishtar Cartel

Luca de Leon– Ishtar upper management

Sheriff Olmos – Sheriff of the town of Sierra Caliente

Santiago, El Cuchillo – The sicario sheriff

Juan Jose, El Asesino– The sicario who Gil offended

Nikaio - Japanese girl lost in Mexico

Bennie – Helicopter pilot

El Toro del Paraiso – a helicopter, The Bull of Paradise

El Toro del Cielo – a helicopter, The Bull of Heaven

Sierra Caliente – a town in northern Mexico

Paraiso Hills—  a town along the coast of California.

El Paraiso del Cielo — An institution near Paraiso Hills

The Blue Plate – A restaurant in Paraiso Hills

Sidra – Waitress who saves Gil from drowning

Nell – Ancient waitress at the Blue Plate

Elrey Anna – owns the Blue Plate restaurant

Uri Fährmann – previous owner of El Paraiso del Cielo

Mrs. Colbert – guest at the hospice

Doctor Lão – hospice administrator

Mrs. Milfoil – guest at the hospice

Mrs. Sylvestri – guest at the hospice

Mr. Novak – guest at the hospice

Mr. Doolittle – guest at the hospice

El Pasaje al Paraiso – the cave system under the hills

Stephanie – office manager for the hospice.

Luciana – the cook at the hospice

c-1 La Reina del Cielo

The little Mexican town of Sierra Caliente still celebrates the day that the Japanese bridesmaid kicked the gringo mayor unconscious, and stole his motorcycle.  

Why did Sierra Caliente have a gringo mayor? The people who lived there only knew that their election had been stolen and given to this detestable gringo. The gringo mayor thought he had been duly elected by a majority of the voters. But he also knew he owed this election to the voters who worked for the organization he knew as Ishtar. He also knew it was highly unusual for a gringo to be a mayor in Mexico. However, he also had learned it was often best to simply play the part that was given, and ask no questions.

Gil, or Mayor Gringo, as the people called him, had gone to work for Ishtar many years before, after he had snatched her purse in downtown Miami.

Gil had snatched many purses in his career as a purse snatcher; this was not new to him. But what was different was that this time he found himself pursued on foot by four men in business suits, and they were relentless in their pursuit. Gil had glimpsed the purse sitting on a back seat in a limousine with the window rolled down about half way. The chauffeur was just stepping out from behind the wheel, and Gil did not see anyone else standing guard. Chauffeurs had sit-down jobs, so Gil was pretty sure he could out run him. Seeing his opportunity, he ran up, reached in, and ran off with the purse. Something he had not allowed for was that other, unseen men would begin to pour out of other vehicles and begin to chase him.

Sometimes, after stealing a purse, a woman’s husband or boyfriend might chase him down the street for a while, but Gil was very fast, and the pursuer would soon be left behind, panting and humiliated. But this time was different. He could not shake them. If he ran around a corner, they would split up—like a wolf pack, and cut off his escape routes. If he tried to hide, they would tear the place up, whether restaurant or store, and, after they flashed their handguns, no one would try to stop them. They surrounded him as he hunkered behind a trash bin in a dirty alley. One of them was carrying the purse that he had long since abandoned in the hope they would quit chasing him. They pointed their hand guns at him, and he thought he was about to die.

What is so important inside that purse? he asked.

We wouldn’t know that, one of them said. The important thing is who you stole it from.

One of the others was speaking on a cell-phone and saying, Yes, boss. Yes, boss. Yes, boss.

He hung up the phone and holstered his gun under his shoulder. Bring him, he said. But don’t hurt him.

Who is this person? Gil asked.

La Reina del Cielo, one of them said.

The Queen of Heaven? Gil translated.

Si. Where you probably will not be going.

Surrounding him in a way that would not draw too much suspicion, they marched him down the street to a parked limousine with darkened windows, and put him in the front passenger seat. Don’t turn around, came a voice from the back.

Climbing in, he had already noticed that there was a darkened partition between the front seats and the back. It was opened about an inch at the top. One of the men who had chased him had already gotten into the driver seat and now kept a gun pointed at him from a low angle.

It was a woman’s voice, that came through the partition, probably the woman who owned the purse he had stolen.

You run very fast, she said.

I lettered in track, he replied. Your employees also run very fast.

They were running for their lives.

Because of a purse?

If they had not brought me that purse, I would have had them shot.

No way.

You don’t know who I am, do you?

Should I?

No. You shouldn’t. It would be dangerous for both of us if you did. Why did you steal my purse?

I need the money.

Is this how you make your living?

Mostly. It pays better than pushing grocery carts.

Do you lack education?

I have some college. I had to quit when my father died.

What did you study in college?

Political science.

Very interesting. What is your name?

He did not answer.

Am I boring you? she asked. Would you rather go play with the boys?

Gil, he said. My name is Gil.

Short for Gilbert?

Short for Giollaiosa.

Seriously? I have never heard that name before. It doesn’t sound at all like the name you use. It sounds Spanish. Are you Latino? Cuban, perhaps?

It’s Irish. I hate it.

Why did you pick ‘Gil’ as a nickname?

It matched my initials, and sounded better than ‘Jill’ or ‘Jolly’.

Are your parents Irish?

Mother is. Dad was Hindu. He’s dead now.

So, your mother is alive?

Yeah. She lives with me.

Does she know what you do?

No. She thinks I work at a grocery store.

Any other languages, besides English?

I grew up in the poor parts of Miami.

So, you’re saying you speak Spanish?

Si.

Do you have a lot of girlfriends?

No. None.

Then there are some unlucky girls in Miami.

I don’t care for the kinds of girls who would go out with a purse snatcher.

She laughed at that. You have ambition, then. Are you saving yourself for the right woman.

Yes. I suppose so.

Are you a virgin, then?

Yes. It is nothing to be ashamed of. My mother is a good Catholic.

And you?

Maybe not so good.

But you are waiting for the type of woman who would like the sort of man who you want to become?

Yes. As you said, I have ambition.

I may have a job for a fast runner, if you’re interested. It pays better than purse snatching.

What is it?

Deliveries. I’m a secret agent for the CIA, and that is the last question I will answer about that. Interested?

What if I’m not?

Then I will enjoy watching you run foot races with my men again.

I will take the job.

Good. One of my men will become your close friend today, and later he will bring you to your final interview. You should clean up before you come. What is your last name, by the way?

Ganesh.

I have heard that name before. Is there someone famous with that name?

Not in this country.

Well, Gil Ganesh, perhaps when you have worked for me for a while, you will become that famous person, and you’ll find that woman who you deserve.

c-2 Salvador

Gil’s mother had many questions about this sullen acquaintance who watched him so closely.

He’s with the CIA, Gil told her. I’ve applied for a job there, and they have to check me out. But I can’t really talk about it.

You be careful, she said. That is a dangerous line of work. She retreated to her own bedroom, telling them she would fix breakfast for them in the morning.

The apartment was small, more like a hotel suite than a true apartment, and the presence of the other man made it seem even smaller. The man made himself at home by lying on the couch without taking off his shoes. Although he did take his gun out of its shoulder holster an lay it on the floor beside him.

Gil sat in the only chair, next to the only table, and asked the man if he wanted to watch television.

You can watch television, if you want, the man said. My job is to watch you.

The television was small, and the picture was poor, so Gil did not bother to turn it on. What should we do then? he asked.

I suggest you get yourself cleaned up, the man said. Take a good long shower. Brush your teeth. Put on some clean clothes. Nice clothes, if you have any.

I don’t have anything that’s clean, Gil said.

Then we should go to the laundry mat, the man said.

I don’t have any money.

Fuck! Do I have to pay for your fucking laundry too?

Gil shrugged.

Come on then. She won’t be happy with either one of us if you show up in smelly clothes. Holy Mary!

I’ll pay you back, Gil said. After I get this job.

Shit. Get your fucking laundry and let’s go.

So, they spent the rest of the afternoon washing and drying Gil’s clothes in the laundromat down the street.

Did you have to bring everything? the man asked.

I didn’t, Gil said. I just brought some things to choose from. I need clothes for the interview, and also some clothes for the job. Don’t you think your boss would want me to wear clean clothes for the first day at work, as well?

You’ll probably never see her again after the interview. You have to work your way up the ladder to have a job like mine. I don’t think you have what it takes to do that. She won’t waste time with a wallet thief.

Gil did not answer the unpleasant man, but finished up his laundry and carried it back to his apartment without the man’s help.

In the early evening, the man called for a taxi, and took Gil to a fancy downtown hotel, the kind of place where only the wealthiest of Miami’s visitors stayed. They took a long elevator ride to the top floor, and when the elevator door opened, they were already in the foyer of the penthouse suite. Another unpleasant man stood in front of the elevator with a bulge under his left arm.

Gil’s unpleasant friend asked the other unpleasant man, Is she ready for him?

Yeah, he said. Send him in, but we stay out here.

Gil entered a darkened room. He could see by the filtered city lights that it was a large sitting room with very expensive furnishings. As his eyes adjusted he saw an even darker doorway on his right. Her voice came from that door.

Fix yourself a drink. The bar is on your left.

No, thank you.

Would you like some coke instead?

Do you have diet?

She laughed. No. I’m afraid all our coke is full strength.

I have to watch my weight.

She laughed again. Please come into the bedroom where we can talk more freely. Don’t turn on the light. Go across the room and sit in the leather chair.

Why keep it so dark? he asked as he sat down.

It is to protect my identity in case you decide you don’t want the job.

In the opposite corner of the room, he could make out the dim shape of someone sitting in another chair. A light glared directly into his eyes without shedding any light on the figure behind it.

Has anyone ever told you how good looking you are?

My mother.

One thing I am not is your mother. I don’t believe I have ever met a purse snatcher as innocent as you. What do you do with the money?

I give it to my mother.

It is good to take care of your family. But she doesn’t know you steal the money?

No. She thinks I earn it.

But you know it is stealing, right? If you get caught, the government will call it stealing. You’ll go to jail.

I don’t care. The government always works to help the rich, not poor people like us. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I have just as much right to that money as the rich do.

If you worked for me, would you think you could steal from me?

No. One doesn’t steal from one’s benefactors. Even dogs know this.

Good dogs, perhaps.

What is the business you’re in? Gil asked.

I negotiate with government people. Other governments. It is all top secret stuff. Does this sound good to you? It sounds as if you’re good at keeping secrets.

Yes, but what would I do in this organization?

You would be a courier. It is a respected profession.

It doesn’t really pay that much. I checked into it once.

It depends on what you are carrying, she said. Because you would be carrying top secret items, you would receive top pay.

How much?

When she quoted a figure, he said he didn’t see how he could turn that down.

The job comes with strict rules, she said. You cannot open the packages, or ask what is in them. Failure to deliver comes with harsh penalties. Only the best people can do this job, but, because of this, the potential for advancement is great.

Would I work directly for you?

No. Salvador will put you in contact with our local office, and you’ll take your orders from them.

Who is Salvador?

The man who has been with you all day. Did he not introduce himself?

No. I don’t think he likes me.

Don’t worry. He will like you if I tell him to.

Is it just for me to say yes, then?

If you want it, we can try you out and see how good of a fit you are. But first you have to pass a physical exam. Take off your clothes and get into the bed.

c-3 Ishtar

Gil did not get to spend the night. Shortly after midnight, the mysterious woman asked him to get dressed and meet Salvador out in the elevator foyer.

Salvador was on his cell-phone when Gil came out. He put the phone away and turned to Gil with a big unfriendly smile, his teeth clenched.

Hello, friend, he said. How did you impress the boss so easily?

I can’t talk about that, Gil said, and saw a brief frown flash across Salvador’s face.

Well, the boss says we are going to start your employment right away. In the morning, we will go to the local office. Would you like a diet coke first? The boss said I should ask.

In the morning, Salvador drove to the local office. Gil was disappointed to see that the office was a single door in an alleyway with no sign saying what it was.

Inside the office, a man who was talking on a cell phone waved them in when he recognized Salvador. He sat on the edge of a pool table, one of several in the large room. There was a bar at the far end. The man put the cell phone away and asked Salvador, Who is this? pointing at Gil.

He is your new courier, señor. His name is Gil. Code name Diet Coke or DC. Salvador turned to Gil. This is señor Luca DeLeon, your new boss.

Thank God, Luca said. Come with me. He led them down a hall to another room and waved his arm at a pile of brown packages. Do you know Miami? he asked Gil.

I grew up here.

Purse snatcher, Salvador added, to round out the resume.

Any good? Luca asked.

Fast but not smart, Salvador said.

Perfect, Luca said. You can start right now. The packages aren’t addressed. These are all the same, so you can put as many as will fit into that leather pouch over there, and take this list of addresses to see where to take them. Check off the address after delivery. You have to put the package into somebody’s hand inside the address to consider it delivered. Here’s a cell phone if you have questions. So, don’t stand there looking at me; get started.

On foot? Gil asked.

There’s a car parked out front, Luca said.

I didn’t see a car.

That’s not the front door, moron. The front door opens on the street. This is the sicario entrance. You can use the front entrance unless I tell you otherwise.

Luca handed the key to the car. The last guy retired early. Here’s the rules. You get paid to do what I tell you. Don’t do nothing else. Don’t give the package to anyone who is not actually inside the address. If you open a package, or lose one, you will be seriously fired. Any questions?

Yes, Gil said. How do I get in touch with the big boss.

You don’t. Salvador said. Luca is your boss now. You have no reason to speak with señora Ishtar. But, if you think you do, you can tell Luca, and Luca can tell me. I’m the communications manager for the señora.

Gil went to work filling his courier pouch. The packages were about the size of bricks, but not nearly as heavy. He found the address list, and a ball-point pen, and set out to make his first delivery. The way to the front door led through a typical looking office where there were a few people talking on telephones, or typing. A sign on the wall said Ishtar Insurance Inc. Where dreams come true.

There was only one time he had to call Luca. Hey, this is Gil, he said.

Jesus! Luca said. Don’t use your right name. Hang up. I’ll call you back in a few minutes. Keep moving.

When Luca called him back, it was from a different number than the one Gil had dialed.

Is this DC? Luca asked.

Yeah, Gil answered, remembering his code name.

What’s the problem?

One of the addresses has police tape around it. What do I do?

Don’t even go near it. Make a note on the address list, and go to your next delivery.

At the end of the day, after making three separate trips, the pile was mostly gone off the pool table. Luca paid him with a stack of bills that was more money than he had ever held in his hands at one time.

Are you going to pay me like this every day? Gil asked in astonishment.

Yeah. We got to do something with it. Otherwise, it just stacks up. Doesn’t look good.

While Gil counted his money, he asked Luca, What does señora Ishtar look like?

"How would I know? You’ll have to