The Job

In the mid-80s Washington Heights area in New York City, was a big melting pot for illegal activities in particular drug dealing. Young men were interested in making a quick buck and getting the indulgences they felt they deserved right away. The premiere of the movie Scarface, starring Al Pacino in 1983 made them believe it was possible.

Juan Luis Gomez arrived at Washington Heights area NYC from the Dominican Republic 3 weeks ago, and lucky for him he was already working. His cousin Pedro got him a job driving Gypsy taxis. Juan Luis was happy with the job. He was making quick money and got to sleep late. At first, he got lost and was not familiar with addresses, but a few months later, he got around with no problems. He loved the city and made a lot of new friends.

He sometimes bumped into other drivers at the taxicab base and they would get a bite to eat and a few beers. some of the drivers told him he could make extra money if he were willing to do odd jobs. "What kind of odd jobs." Juan Luis asked, the guys looked at him with raised eyebrows and respond with innuendos. They usually laughed at his gullible questions.

Juan Luis worked mostly the night shift and weekends. Most of his customers were young guys about his age with thick gold necklaces wearing the latest trends. He wondered how these young guys had so much money. The fares ranged from five to twenty dollars and he was getting handed $100 bill as payment and told to keep the change like it was nothing to them. Even the women were tipping like this. Sometimes he got roundtrip jobs with waiting and those were the best. Juan Luis was doing well in the short time he was taxing, but he still wondered what these odd jobs were all about.

One night his cousin Pedro said he had a few odd jobs and wanted to know if he wanted in., he explained that it would involve his taxicab, dropping some things off and picking them up from other locations with no passengers. Juan Luis was a bit confused about it, but he wanted into this world and was willing to do whatever to be like everyone else. He trusted his cousin, so Juan Luis did not hesitate and said yes. He wanted money, and he did not want to have to work hard for it. Nobody else was. Pedro handed him a gun and told him to keep it under the seat in his car. He assured him they would not have to use it, but it was good to have just in case. Juan Luis was like, just in case of what. He decided he would ask no questions and do what his cousin told him to do.

The next evening Juan Luis and Pedro drove up to a building on 193rd and Broadway. A young man opened the back door of his cab, and got in, he told Juan Luis to go around the block. He placed a brown paper bag, and when Juan Luis returned him to where he picked him up, he exited the cab without the bag. They went to another location, and the same thing happened, except this time the bag was gone and another one left in its place. Pedro reached over and picked up the bag and handed Juan Luis two thousand dollars. Juan Luis stared at the money in shock.

"What is this?" Juan Luis asked?

"Our pay". Pedro said.

"For what? We didn't do anything; those two rides were less than $20. Juan Luis said.

"Just take the money and do not ask any questions." Pedro responded.

Juan Luis and Pedro did about 3 to 4 of these pick-ups and dropped off per week, and after a month, Juan Luis was barely working. He slept late, ate good food, and had a brand-new wardrobe. Life was good.

One night right before heading home, he was at a red light, when a very well-dressed older gentleman jumped into his car. Before he could say he was not working, the man said 153rd and Riverside Drive. He was wearing black shades even though it was nighttime. He was very strange Juan Luis just drove. When the gentleman arrived at his destination, he placed a crisp 100-dollar bill in Juan Luis's hands. Before Juan Luis could say anything, the stranger disappeared into the night. Juan Luis noticed he had left a brown paper bag in the back seat.

At first, Juan Luis was confused because he did not have any pick-up or drop-offs scheduled for tonight, and Pedro was not with him. Juan Luis looked around before carefully moving the brown paper bag to the passenger seat next to him. He opened it and was shocked to see it was full of money—a lot more money than the other times. There was also a black book on top of the money. His trembling hands retrieved the book and read the note on the first page. Radames Ramirez must die. Go to the payphone in the corner of Sherman Avenue and Dyckman Street at midnight for more instructions.

Juan Luis thought about it for a moment and called his cousin from a payphone, but he got no answer. He then drove to the location given in the black book. As he approached, the phone was already ringing. He answered it, and the male voice said. "The $20,000 in the bag is yours upon Radames Ramirez's expiration". "The details are in the black book." The line went dead.

Juan Luis went home and could not sleep. This new assignment was not like the other odd jobs he was doing. he thought about it for a while and was happy he did not reach his cousin. He could do this alone and keep all the money. I am not a killer, but I do want that money. He thought. He looked at the money again and touched it. Perhaps this Ramirez guy was a bad guy. He negotiated with himself and made his decision.

A few blocks away on Academy and Broadway by the payphone in the corner, Radames Ramirez sat in his taxicab staring at the brown paper bag with and all that money inside. He considered all that he was told and still holding the black book. He looked at the instructions again. Juan Luis Gomez must die. Radames Ramirez made his decision.

The well-dressed gentleman with the dark shades picked up the payphone on the corner of Dyckman and Broadway. The brown bags were both delivered, boss. Now we wait to see who will get the job.