A Digital Era

Chapter 5

Pedro sitting at home relaxing on the couch in Portland. Just another lovely day on earth as the sun begin to rise. The day has the potential to be ordinary or extraordinary. Not been planned, free to do whatever today however expected a call from Charlie. Pedro a lover of his family and a big brother to two siblings, a brother and sister. The type that visits his parents and siblings as much as he can and enjoys the holiday gatherings as well. With elderly parents already being taken care of by other family members and living in a totally different countries. Resembling many other characters, often do the best they can with what they have. Family relationships, and clear communication from a distance. Never having the opportunity to go to college. Pretty much making his living traveling around picking up odd jobs here and their whenever the life opportunity presents itself. Also like many people, doing the very best he can to avoid run-ins with the law enforcement officials. Not being a troubled man, just being aware. Presenting himself accordingly to every situation. Growing up in multiple different areas as a child. Moving around a few times, never having the most stablest lifestyle during childhood. The few simple encounters with the law that he has experienced, taught him a valuable enough lesson to last a lifetime. Never any major problems, I guess you could say good old fashion learning children. The nonviolent type. The desperate for money but not crazy type. He has been working hard for a really long time now, putting together certain dynamics on his side of the operation. Getting contacts ready, aligning all the essentials for a safe, healthy and long term trade relationship with Charlie. Finally securing all his partners for the years to come. Today would be just like any other day to Pedro. He has to make a drive to pick up a few things while he awaits the family and the product that’s kelp everyone in business for the past year. Just waiting around the house peacefully. At this stage in the organization, the last thing he needed, was too be caught up in the middle of a troubled political drug war. Time goes by, patiently spent as he awaits the calls of his people. Always working on something in life. Something that would provide for them in life, whatever desire or internal fulfillment may be. It's difficult to take care of family and friends without the financial support. Taking care, by being physically present and an able body capable of service was pretty much the best he could do growing up. It's also probably one of the best reason he finds himself waiting around for his cartel family. Thinking of them as political contacts as well, someway made his experience more thrilling to the imagination. Being aware of the potential hazards that lie ahead at the same time, attempting to maintain a sense of balance. Day to day life goes on as he awaits. The family arrives after the long wait. Always attempting and acting to appear more a family based structure rather than drug kingpin. Often a few members of the family would drive the product up from the border. Often, however not much, he would drive himself down south, picking up the product and driving it back up north. Depending on the family dynamics that were occurring and the arrangements made. Sometimes all the parties would have to wait depending on the alignment of contacts and the emotions of the element. Taking the opportunity while they have the moment, to do some backyard grilling. Calling to his cousin, asking him what they would like to grill for tonight. Their relationship state, the highs and lows of the relationships as with everyone in functioning families. The meal choice could be a highlight for tonight’s engagement. The new unexplored personality traits discovered during the growth and involvement of the relationships. Nothing like enjoying time with loved ones, regardless of whatever is going on in life. Reflecting on the past with loved ones seems to be one of the things most people really want. Being alone doesn’t bother him much, however being around loved ones he actually enjoys. The night is going very well actually, the next morning he will be seeing his family off, back home, so enjoying the moment is what they did. The next morning, the departure morning, never even feels to him like a secret drug deal from the day before. Only feeling to him like a family visit, a good family visit at that. The day was starting out to be a wonderful day. Wonderful enough to enjoy a walk into the city while waiting to make contact with Charlie. Early enough to ride into town to pick up some brunch. Only having the opportunity to enjoy coffee this morning with the family, this time they had to get back on the road early to head south as early as possible, maybe next time they would enjoy breakfast as well as coffee. They had to get an early start, they would have to drive for quite a few hours before arriving back home. Pedro didn’t care too much about the Intel on the source, only the quality and consistency. It’s not like he's attempting to play an authority figure. Now with a consistent and steady supply of quality product, he could now begin to prepare and build for the future in his mind. This far everything has been going according to plan, and everyone becoming more and more happy financially. Now being able to see the light to come in the future. On the highway headed into the city to pick up a bite to eat. The scene changes, the scene in the city could really engulf the mind at times. The scenery, the culture and the people are one of his major reasons for remaining in the city of Portland. A simple dining experience for brunch this morning would do the trick just right. Nothing to over the top or extravagant. Only a morning for a simple brunch, something to curve his appetite just right for today. Elated to have the opportunity to drive into the city for the experience, rather than being broke and incarcerated. Already discovering the wealth of not being incarcerated is enough wealth to keep him happy for the rest of his life regardless of financial wealth. Working diligently alone side Charlie to pull off drug trafficking, smuggling and distribution. Their relationship has strengthened since joining back together for a good cause, since their initial breakfast from some time ago. Gaining clearer insight into the relationships of their coworkers, over topics of breakfast and routing directions. Charlie awaits a call or an email from Pedro to notify him that the time is right. The standard operating procedures of drug dealers acting as representatives of American political beliefs. The harboring of substance, one would consider illegal and the other a secret and others totally normal. The ways the world attempts to justify their actions when going against the system that they have learned from childhood or any other indoctrination received is quite interesting and entertaining when watching the political disputes over braking news media coverage. With the age and life dynamics changing within him, he has noticed a chance in outwardly expressed personality traits of himself. Finding himself doing more things that one would consider that the older age would do, in the moment the age factor creeps in making him more aware of the moment. The old walk through the park at mid-morning, or just sitting in alone and or visiting a place that the elderly would normally congregate for some reason. Mexican was the choice for brunch this time, let’s just say it was alone the route taken to an inner city food destination. The handy dandy Wi-Fi cafe or restaurant, offering the finest ingredients for hungry locals and tourists alike. Just a simple place where he could sit inside the food joint to enjoy business or pleasure. Finding his seat, at the moment he was thinking food, but when he noticed the Wi-Fi for customers, he thought he should go ahead and inform Charlie on the current status of his order. A few moments pass by speaking with the host waiter at the restaurant. What all could be said? Simple talks while orders are being filled. A simple selection from the salad bar alone with a simple drink choice off the menu would be enough to satisfy the moment. The habits of the olden and new world cyber experimenters, as they would carry around their laptop like businessman with suits and actual presentations saved on their hard drive, was not the frequency that he was carrying with him. The collar club criminals is what the FBI would label them as, in the world of indoctrinated corruption. More than likely labeling them as cash cows on the corrupt end of the spectrum. Either way their public perception was one thing, not being caught in association was another. The time to sit alone and enjoy the lunch, he decided he would take the opportunity to inform Charlie on what’s going on. Logging in to the domain, he knew it would probably take a few hours before Charlie could or would get back in touch with him. Taking the opportunity to let him know, simply composing 'call me'. At this phase, Charlie should know what’s going on. Usually takes a short while before he would receive a response. Why be in such a hurry? There for a moment he assumed it would take a while, was mistaken when he received a response even before leaving the restaurant. Charlie would notify him before getting on the road toward his location. A long drive for the price of security. Their system so far as they have created it, seemed to be working. Pedro having his fill for the morning, makes his way back toward home, just to relax and wait some more. Back home, hanging around the house, just relaxing and watching television. Lounging on the couch, nothing like comedy in the evening just to relieve the mind with a few laughs. Logging into his terminal just to connect to the network. Simple kind of lifestyle, maybe just relaxing today, waiting around the house for the drop off, pickups and calls was just what he had in mind for the evening. He thought to himself, that just maybe he could actually get his life back on track with the earnings. Not having to leave or risk much just to establish profits. Only really acting as a medium from the supplier to the consumer, with the profits seeming to be free and clear without any risks at all. He begin to think about the long term security once more, and how doing this for the long haul would work out for him. Not enough profits to retire to a luxury lifestyle, nowhere even near that kind of kingpin. However the earning he's been receiving has really helped and continues to help. Helping him grow happier and happier. Enough to help with daily life but not enough for total security. Facts are, he never had in his mind in a greedy mindset. Possible that the variable alone could be the reason for the secure and peaceful state of mind. They say it's one of the deadly sins 'greed'. Often taking many days to complete a transaction, just another day around the house to Pedro. He has recently landed a steady, decent paid part time job. Working with a shipping company. Loading and unloading, shipping and receiving. A subsidiary company of a large postal service. Part time and steady, made for a great opportunity, however without the secondary stream of revenue, he wouldn’t be able to begin to build a life. So what's a man to do? Feeling blessed to even have landed a decent steady job in the first place, finally feeling like he has begun to stabilized his life after years of financial struggle. He has finally found a sense of peace with the added security, a strong foundation to prepare for the future. Glad to have the extra stream of passive income, and feeling thankful about being able now to plan for the long term in life. Now with the ability to make upgrades in life to comfort the material desire from within. The peace we desire on earth and the things we do to achieve a desired level of comfort. Relaxing, the time passes around the house hour after hour. Getting the call from Charlie later on in the evening, letting him know that he would be leaving out tonight headed in his direction. It would take him a few days before he would arrive, after all it's a long drive from Atlanta to Portland. Always making the trip alone and undercover in a variety of vehicles. This trip he has choose to drive a RV camper. On the past trips, he has driven everything from an ambulance to a bus and even a hurst. They found a good source of rental transportation. A car dealer with access to the whole lot of vehicles apparently, all kinds of cars that no one would ever expect. They have been extremely fortunate and level so far, after all they were cross country trafficking. He preps everything and gets ready for the travel. The hidden compartments, cubby spaces and any other ways a person could think of smuggling would be thought of on the trip. A simple hollowed compartment space accessible from within the RV would have worked just fine for him. The area is out of plane sight, secured in the subconscious mind, operating the motor vehicle on faith and not by paranoia. A lot different from the moving rental truck idea, which included the loading and unloading of furniture multiple times. Going the distance to avoid exposure and arrest. The profits have been leveling out almost perfectly for everyone involved. The mental attitude of the ones involved, begin to incline, becoming aware of the security they have created through the profits, as if the alleviation from the struggle has already changed their state of mind. The effects have been noticed in the mirror. He gets all his gear together, puts on his RV cover and heads out the door. A few hours into the drive, he dreams at the rolling hills as they meet the eastern skyline, the beauty is breathtaking enough to distract him, nearly off the road if not careful. The beauty of mother earth, the hillside in the distance are light up with the security lights from the homes on the colonized hillside like shining stars in the eastern sky. Why not enjoy the views while he has the opportunity. A small cafe up ahead, not even a cafe, more like a self-serve coffee station attached to a high volume truck stop. A energy supplement. A delicious carbonated beverage to begin his trip, a trip that would take a few days. He thought what better way to start the journey. A simple road snack and a soda. Simple and easy. Not taking the time to enjoy the visit, more focused on the road, time and safety. The cars passed by like glowing eyes on the freeway. The night sky sits on display in the background of the travel. Like a fixed reminder of the heavens that overlook him. The traffic made for a peaceful drive, calm and a peaceful journey on the highway. The silence of the long term gamble, the state of mind that becomes highlighted. Heightened senses, a feeling of continual awareness and a calm uncertainty shivered down his spine the entire ride. Some moments felt like artwork fit to be hung on a wall of art. These moments captured in his mind as he finds inner peace and silence in the uncertainty of what’s to come. The next morning Pedro's alarm goes off earlier than usually, this morning he has to go check on a couple of people he would want to call his friends. Pedro was also a supplier, a drug supplier in his local area. Dealing with a few guys over the past couple of years, he has been able to negotiate a price in a way that everyone involved would be able to make a rise in the economy. It's really helped out. The passive income has really helped provide support for them all. He would be making an exchange this morning to a few higher lever street providers. They usually purchase a couple of times in a yearly quarter. Providing him with a decent profit with nearly no risk. The consistency provides the well worth security. Not to mention he attends their churches and communions regularly. The gossip begins to spread about the new friendships and associations that’s being discovered. Let’s face it, theirs never really a secret anyway. More like small town communities, once again peace is found. Making the extra effort to be friendly as possible has been really paying off. The businessman take a notice, the businesswomen love it. Never being a part of the criminal type, or one to associate with the criminal element. Fairly decent levels of discipline are the strong suites of his associates and it’s a good thing. Thankful to have the security for the long term, careful to avoid the crime. He would go on breakfast dates to make exchanges as well, or a planned evening dinner in a restaurant where a briefcase would be exchanged without being detected. Upgrading his life to a more professional level in his new home, settled him. Being able to do so is a gift to him. I guess you could say he has confirmed and reconfirmed with the thoughts of the long term. Always making the best attempt to communicate the best he can with the people he works with. Doing his best work. Never really focusing on the ramifications of his actions as it goes against the childhood indoctrination. Being aware of the corruption within the drug trade and never focusing any of his will on it. To make the story line even more interesting, the men he deals with are of the occult religious community, if you haven't already discovered. Two of the communities he supplies are religious communities. Two pastors using their congregation as well as the substance on religious levels, when you scope right in on it. Attempting to work the gossip the best they can during their sermons in hopes of remaining in the good grace of the drug gods. Besides when you’re living at home, it's not like anything is a secret. Once again people talk all the time and the detectives trace down the source all the time. The power of truth is great at all times. However starting a nonprofit organization to launder drug money into the local economy as a way of remaining in harmony with the corrupt power players in the area held the potential to backfire, but we don’t focus on that. Believing the source of all the suppliers are tracked and monitored by the US military and multiple drug agencies. Police corruption as we know it, that he works alone side, keeps his senses heightened. The plan was to have breakfast like always and a nice long conversation about nothing, just to have a friendly day. The conversations that would normally be discussed to help the reader to better understand the dynamics of this sort of relationship. Relationship stuff, liberty and happiness. Normal people having a normal encounter, a normal dinner. For the cuddling up on the couch to catch a good movie after dinner. The evening draws to a close as they cuddle on the couch as they desired, enjoying the movie as two lovers would do. The temperature is rather gentle, the energy in the room is sensual and loving at this phase in the evening. Nestled and settled into the couch, loving on his women, they fall asleep, deep into the blissfulness of each other’s company.