can a frustrated single mom and failed big city journalist save her family and salvage her career by returning to a town run by a gang of bungling thugs?


“The Resurrection of Puerto Cielo” is a novella published in serial form, 43 posts.




28


“City Corruption Scandal”

From the angry shouts coming through the closed door to the mayor’s office, the sheriff knew somebody was upset. He also knew the rage being vented had something to do with today’s Star headline.

Not my problem, Eddie thought. He didn’t want their crooked money, he just wanted to do his job, his way.

The yelling carried on as Eddie walked away.

***

Ricky sat alone in his corner in the Red Rooster, thinking as he slowly savored the rich cup of espresso. The machine behind the bar was installed solely for his use and made life in small town Puerto Cielo a bit more bearable. The Star headline glared up from the tabletop.

He thought about Roddy and the other clowns in the city government, a bunch of greedy, inept fools. They’d suffer now.

But I can’t let things get out of hand, I’m paying those bozos to leave my rackets alone and things would be much tougher without that protection.

He took a cigar from the inside pocket of his blazer, lit it, and slowly inhaled. After a pause, he blew a cloud of smoke towards the ceiling, then looked again at the Star headline.


“City Corruption Scandal”


Yes, he thought, Esperanza Diaz had become a formidable opponent.

***

Sitting on the open veranda at Mama G’s, Espy and Carmen were plotting how to get Carmen elected as the next mayor of Puerto Cielo. Inside the restaurant, gathered around their table, the ladies of the circle chattered excitedly about the shocking Star headline.

The lights went out.

Mama G emerged from the kitchen wiping her hands and looked around, then summed things up, “No electricity, we can’t, cook.”

Espy called Lucy. The power was also out at the Star office.

More calls were made and it was soon clear that the entire block, from the 3 B’s store down to Mama G’s was blacked out.

Standing beside carmen and Espy, Mama G wondered, “No storm, what happened to the power?”

“I think we know what happened.”

In the dim light, the trio turned to see Dona Consuelo.

She continued, “Estaban Salazar, a city worker, was told by his boss, the city engineer, to turn off the electricity to this part of town. His wife, who is the daughter of a lady in our circle, says he did this under threat of being fired.”

“So the big boys are pissed off with being exposed,” Espy smirked.

Dona Consuelo replied, “And now, they have, as you say, ‘pissed off’ all of us. They will pay for their insolence.”

The small white haired head turned and rejoined the Circle. Every lady at the table was texting or talking on her phone.

It took about two hours, but the lights finally clicked on again.

Later, the city engineer, returning to his palatial home for lunch, found a note pinned to the door.

“You are not welcome here. Go stay with your brother”

The man’s wife had received a call. She’d been told that her social standing in Puerto Cielo was at risk unless she disciplined her foolish husband.

She had taken immediate action.

***

School was okay today, Manny thought as she walked home. She hadn’t made any new friends, but kids weren’t avoiding her like they did the girl in the wheelchair.

As rain pummeled the pavement, Manny stayed under the shelter of Main Street’s arcades. Then she remembered her phone account needed more money. She stepped into a phone store. Somebody was arguing. Peeking around a display, she saw two guys dressed in black confronting a young man behind the counter.

“You really need to pay up, Felipe, or things are going to get tough for you,” said the tall thin guy.

“Yeah, you might have an accident,” chimed in the shorter, fat guy who took a new phone off the counter and dropped it on the floor.

“Oops!” said fats in mock surprise. Then he squashed the fallen phone with a heavy boot, adding, “My bad.”

Felipe watched with frightened eyes.

“You’d better find a way to pay, amigo, or there’s going to be a much bigger ‘accident,’ “ thin man threatened.

Felipe threw up his hands, “I can’t give you what I don’t have. Business is slow.”

“We’ll be back,” said thin man and turned to leave.

Thin guy scowled at Manny as he passed. The fat guy with the pig’s face and beady black eyes, gave her a look that made her shiver. She watched them enter a black SUV, then realized they were the thugs who’d tossed the brick through the Star window. She started after them, but tires squealed on the rain soaked street and they were gone.

Manny walked up to the counter. “What was that about?” she asked.

Felipe pulled out a wrinkled bandana and wiped sweat from his face. He shook his head, “You don’t want to know. Just another day in Puerto Cielo.”

Pocketing the bandana, Felipe smiled, “How can I help you?”

***

Troubled, Manny left the store. She hated the goons who had hurled the brick threw the Star window, who were terrorizing the town.

But what could she do about it?

Hood up, backpack gripped tightly over a shoulder, she plunged into a river of rain at the corner and splashed across the street and up the high curb to the shelter of the 3 B’s Store porch. The brothers, always there, nodded to her. Arnold and his buddy Lazy were nowhere in sight. Trust them to have found a warm, dry place for a siesta, Manny thought.

Then she saw them.

Protestors, a crowd of them, holding umbrellas and placards on the steps of City Hall. 

“Throw them out!”

“Jail the crooks!”

“We want our $ back!”

Wow! People must be really mad to be out in such miserable weather. Manny brightened. My family and the Puerto Cielo Star sparked this protest.

She entered the Star office, still wondering, what more can I do?

Espy was at her desk on a phone call. Mother and daughter waved to each other.

Manny passed through the courtyard, raindrops plipping and plopping off the leaves of the maze of plants. She stopped at the altar sheltered under the balcony, and saw her grandmother’s face smiling back at her. 

There was a noise from under the altar table and Manny bent down. Snuggled together in a well padded basket, Arnold and Lazy were sound asleep. The loud snoring she’d heard had come from the very small dog. The cast on his leg was quite the worse for wear, but had no effect on his contented dreams.

That solves the mystery of the disappearing dogs, now what were those delicious aromas coming from the kitchen?

Lucy looked up from the cutting board as Manny entered. “How was school today?”

“All right,” Manny replied, her nose twitching with scents of cilantro, garlic, and peppers.

“Good. Here, you can help me.”

Lucy was making chile rellenos and  she put Manny to work shredding cheese.

 “Smells great, what can I do?” Espy inquired as she came in.

“You can add onions to the beans and start the rice,” answered Lucy.

As the three generations of Diaz women worked together in the kitchen, Manny shared her experience at the phone store.

“Why don’t people throw the thugs out?” she concluded.

Lucy and Espy looked at each other.

Finally, Espy answered, “Some people are afraid that they or their family or their business will be hurt. Some don’t think they can do anything alone that will make a difference. Some just turn a blind eye because they don’t think the bad things going on are their problem.”

“Are you scared, Mom?”

Espy considered the question. “Yes, sometimes I’m scared. I don’t want the people I love to be hurt. I don’t want anyone to be hurt. But, I know that unless we stand up against bullies, against their threats, they will take our freedom away.”

Standing unseen in the corner, the ghost watched the women of her family finish preparations for dinner.

***

As all ate together around the table, Manny once more shared her story from the phone store.

She ended with, “I want to do something to stop these hoods!”

The table was silent.

Then, Sam looked at Manny and smiled, “Let’s all go for a drive.”

***