The Final (for now) of Wendy’s War.  

I decided to keep going and finish the story rather than stop and post as I finish parts. This is the final part(s) along with an epilogue. I plan to review the entire story editing and revising as I find mistakes as well as adding where the story needs closure. When I do, I will post the major changes here when it’s finished, I will post the story in several formats.
 

 Part Two
             The open sign turned on as Owen unlocked the door and Ana stood by the register. Sam was in Las Vegas for the week doing some gambling and as he put it, “whatever.” His trip was really a show of confidence on the two as well as a test run for the eventual takeover. San knew that if he were there, he would be the boss, but Owen and Ana needed to take charge if he was ever going to retire. Their first customer was a man looking for ammunition for a lever-action 45-70 government. A new shipment destined for Wendy just came in, and the man left with two boxes along with a cleaning kit and a campsite cooking set. The camping gear was Ana’s idea, and so far, the new inventory was bringing in new customers that wouldn’t have come in. A man in a dark suit wearing sunglasses walked in and over to the counter. In a blunt, gruff authoritarian voice he said, “don’t speak just listen. I know everything, and if all of you want to stay out of prison, you’ll give this to the woman calling herself Wendy.” He handed Ana a large envelope and left without another word. Ana handed it to Owen and asked, “what did he mean by calls herself……. Isn’t that her name?”

        ​A voice came over the water, get down on your knees and put your hands on your head.” The boat moved closer to Jorge with several men on deck with weapons trained on him. His call for help was answered by the U.S. Coast Guard. He dumped all the drugs and was several miles away from the body. All he had to do was convince the Americans he was out on this boat then the owner fell in and drown. The back of the boat had damage from there exit from the port, but that was in Mexico, and this boat was one of many on the ocean. The Coast Guard boarded and handcuffed him as they searched the boat. A lieutenant helped Jorge to his feet then sat him down and asked him in Spanish, “who are you and why are you on this boat.” Before he could answer a seaman came up from the hold with the P90 as well as a brick of heroin. The lieutenant said, “don’t say a word.”

​           That was about a month ago. Jake and his supplier were quietly finding dealers across the southwest. They found that people with ADHD became addicted to the drug almost on the first pill while others found the pill sharpened how they saw the world as the pill became known by 4K. Some of the clients would turn violent, and a few of them committed suicide. The company was turning a profit on a drug they thought they had destroyed. As soon as they saw the money to be made, they started to manufacture the drug out of the country, and instead of pharmacies, they turned to dealers. Jake’s cousin worked in construction and was also someone that could be trusted to help move the drug from state to state. Neither men knew they were being watched by a camera that was recording them plotting. Jake was nearly a millionaire with his part of the deal, and he used much of that cash to help his family turn the illegal moonshine operation to a legal one. He also was paying for the cancer treatment for his mother and his father’s hip surgery. 

         Wendy slipped into bed with Cathy, and the two lay there not talking or sleeping. After what felt like hours but was really minutes, Cathy said, “I reminded her about your time in prison and what happened there as well as how we first met Gary.” Wendy asked, “is that why she apologized?” Cathy replied, “yes and no. I think most of her apology was about how you gave her a chance when so many people just wanted her gone.” Wendy quickly said, “we gave her an opportunity, and she made her own chance.” Cathy shifted over to Wendy and said, “no that was you. I didn’t want another broken person in my life, but I know that as long as I love you, I’ll have to deal with your strays.” Wendy replied, “that’s not fair to you or them.” Cathy said, “life’s not fair my love. Never has been nor will it ever be, all you can do is deal with the inequities the best you can.”

         ​Two hours later, Cathy and Zoey were back from the doctor. Wendy already knew what was going on by the look on Zoey’s face. Cathy walked over to Wendy and said, “we need to talk about what happened this morning, but that can wait.” Zoey walked over to Wendy and hugged her saying, “I’m sorry about this morning, and I do understand.” Wendy looked to Cathy who was nodding. Wendy said, “I’m sorry about this morning as well and no matter what we will support you.” Zoey replied, “I hope so because I’m having this baby with or without Gary.” Wendy stood back from Zoey then walked over to the storage room and opened the door. She said, “this room is bigger than the room you’re in now. We could convert it to another suite with a bathroom and connect it to your room to work as a nursery.” 

            Wendy put up her hands and asked, “do you want to keep the baby?” Zoey sat up in her chair and asked, “I don’t even know if there is a baby, but either way is that any of your business?” Cathy took a breath and said, “my doctor told me that the tests they do are so like those tests that if it says you are, then you are. What Wendy is saying is that if you are pregnant, we should get you to the doctor and make sure everything is ok.” Wendy put up her hands and said, “also if you want the other, we need to do it sooner than later because the law dictates when you can have an.” Zoey interrupted her saying, “stop I don’t want to hear that word.” Cathy said, “and yet you are thinking about that word.” Wendy stood up and said, “either way you should see a doctor so get your jacket and let’s go……... Now.” Zoey stood up and said, “this is my life, not yours.” Wendy said, “it's not just your life anymore, and I’m not just talking about the baby.” Cathy said as calmly as she could, “why don’t I take you to see my doctor. She will help you either way even if you decide to do that word you don’t want to hear.”

​              Jorge doubled back then around another block making sure he wasn’t being followed. Once he was sure no one was behind him, he made his way to his truck only to find it surrounded by police and what looked like FBI agents. He had just bought the truck the night before the raid on the gang house, but somehow, they already tied him to it. Worse of all the American FBI presence made it clear they knew about his work in the States. He left a bag filled with extra ammunition for the P90 as well as his Glock 19. The P90 had fifty-rounds along with fifteen rounds in the Glock, but he knew he couldn’t win a shootout with the army, police and the Americans. He had the cash and papers that could get him across several borders including the American border. From there he could either rent a boat or hire a private plane for the trip to Hawaii and his sister. He never sailed, but something about sailing to Hawaii sounded like something he could do. 

           ​Jorge walked around the gang-controlled block to the car with the two men. Both men were gone. He placed a grenade under a tire then pulled the pin with the pressure from the tire holding the handle in place. From there he made his way to the front door and using the keycard went inside. He passed men as they went outside and toward the building with the cameras. Down a hallway, he found a small staircase that seemed to be shabbily retrofitted going down. At the bottom, he found another security door left open. Inside was a sea of cash in Mexican Pesos, Euros and American Dollars. In another room was an arsenal of weapons including explosives and rocket launchers. Jorge took off his jacket then the tactical vest replacing it with one with pockets. He knew leaving with a bag would get him stopped then shot. Back in the cash room, he found what had to be the banker. He was maybe five foot three in his fifties with a deep-set hairline, a bald spot, thick glasses, and a pencil-thin mustache. He also had a small automatic pistol in his hand. The Banker asked, “what are you doing here?” Jorge shot him in the head saying, “making a withdraw.” Jorge packed his vest with cash both Euros and American Dollars replacing the body armor plates with cash leaving the room with around four-hundred thousand dollars. 

              ​Using parts from several air conditioners, Jorge built a hiding place on the roof where he could sleep hidden in plain sight. He woke to the sounds of a door opening and people walking around. He counted seven armed men. Jorge slowly picked up his rifle trying not to make any noise. The seven men walked around searching for something then three of them left, and three men with boxes came up and started to set up cameras. None of the men noticed the extra air conditioner. An hour later the cameras were installed facing out, and the men were gone. From what he could tell the cameras had motion detectors. He would have to get off the roof without setting off the detectors or getting away before someone could show up. He thought, “setting off the alarms might not be a bad thing.” The gang would call for reinforcements allowing him to blend in and get into the building through the front door. For his plan to work he would need one of the key cards the gang uses as identification. He needed to find someone who wouldn’t be missed.