Apparently, it worked, because Raul suddenly burst out laughing. “What, my friend,” Raul said, “are you afraid we may be police? I can promise you this, we are the farthest thing from police.” He looked at Eduardo. “Eduardo, tell him.”
Eduardo grinned at Noah. “They are not police,” he said. “You may be a very lucky man, because Raul is probably the best man you could meet, for what you are wanting to do. He is also probably the only one who will talk to you, because he does not fear the police, not even the American police.”
Noah grinned, then, trying to give the impression that he was relaxing. He started to speak, and then suddenly looked at Raul. “Wait a minute, were you worried that I might be…”
Raul and Eduardo both began laughing. “I did not think so,” Eduardo said, “because American agents have been here before. They never come in alone, so when I saw you walk in by yourself, I knew that you were here to buy drugs, but I also knew that you had not done this here before. If you had, you would have made sure that someone who was known here brought you in.”
“John Baker,” Raul said, “I am glad that we have met. I do not have the cocaine, but I can get you heroin. The only question is how much of it you want.”
Noah sat there and looked into Raul’s eyes for a moment, then smiled. “All I can get,” he said, “as long as we can find a way to get it to Chicago.”
Moments later, Noah was sitting at the table with Raul and his friends. The man with the glare was still unfriendly, but Raul and Pedro, the other man, were laughing and happily drinking the beer that Noah was buying for them all. Three girls came in, and Raul called out to one of them. She let out a squeal, and hurried over to sit in his lap.
Another of the girls honed in on Noah. He suddenly found her leaning over his shoulder, her hands caressing his arms as she whispered into his ear. “Se?or, I am Felicita. You would like some company?”
Raul leaned over and whispered, “These girls are whores, of course. That means they will do anything you want, and they know how to keep their mouths shut.” He chuckled as he sat back.
Noah turned and looked at the girl, and was surprised to see clear skin and bright eyes. Her hair was clean and long, and she was small, with an athletic build. He knew that most men would find her very attractive, and he had already decided that it would be in character for him to take advantage of the prostitutes that frequented the bar. He smiled at her, and pulled an empty chair close.
“Sure, sweetie,” he said. “My name is John. Sit down, can I buy you a drink?”
She sat quickly, and broke into a big smile, then called out to Eduardo. A moment later, he set a glass in front of her. “Ten dollars,” he said, and Noah gave him another twenty. Felicita snuggled up to him, caressing his leg under the table and making sure he knew that more than just her company was available. Noah smiled and put an arm around her, while he continued talking with Raul.
A couple of hours later, a deal had been struck that would make Raul a million dollars richer, and cause a large supply of heroin to appear at a certain loading dock in Chicago two days later. Once Noah’s “client,” who would be played by a borrowed DEA agent, confirmed that the product was real, Noah would tell Neil to transfer the money.
“This is good business,” Raul said. “Is this all you’re looking for? Are there other things that you wish to buy? Perhaps old Raul will know someone who has them.” Noah grinned and started to say something, but then shook his head and took a drink from his beer bottle. Raul caught it, and smiled at him. “Come now, do not be shy, my new friend. Tell me what you wish to find, and I will see what I can do.”
Noah looked up at him, and chewed on his bottom lip for a moment. Finally, he nodded. “Okay, but don’t get pissed at me, okay? I’ve got this client, a woman, and she’s wanting to buy something that’s—something that’s very hard to come by. Something like someone might use to make a great big bang, if you get my drift.” He watched Raul’s eyes closely, and caught the instant when the man realized what he was asking for.
Raul’s eyebrows were high, and he searched Noah’s face for any sign that it was a joke or a trick, but the tall, blonde American seemed genuinely nervous to be asking for such material.
He leaned very close to Noah and spoke softly. “I will tell you this,” he said. “I do not know where to get such things. However, there is a man who might help you with what you seek, if he believes that you are true.” Raul flicked his eyes toward Eduardo, the bartender. “Eduardo has an uncle, Pablo Ortiz. He comes here sometimes, just to drink and to play with the girls. He is a man who can find anything, it is said, but I would not wish him to know that I told you his name.” He sat back in his chair, once again.