Spoils from the Hurricane

Spoils from the Hurricane
a short story by
Austin Mitchell

Junklin packed the boxes into the small store-room he and his friends had captured. Tonight they would go for another load. Already Delhi was cautioning them against any further looting. Junklin and Latty had disagreed with him because despite they having looted the warehouse two times last night, the owners kept on piling boxes into it and there was hardly any security. Latty had easly picked the locks each time. Junklin wondered if the owners of the warehouse had a trailer parked somewhere. The boxes were packed high. By next week they would start to hit the streets probably moving it down to Oscar and Winky, their associates in Ocho Rios and Spanish Town. Junklin thought he heard a car drive up to the gate. He went and opened the window slightly, it was Norris. Junklin went and opened the door for him.
“Bally says that he knows somewhere that we can get loads of stuff from tonight,” he told Junklin.
“You’ll have to let those other guys go with you for it,” Junklin said. Norris was a tall, thin guy and was twenty five years of age.
“So you guys all right here?” Norris asked.
“It’s tonight we’re planning to finish cleaning them out. We saw them bringing in a lot of boxes this morning,” Junklin replied.
“About how much money do you think we’ll make off this stuff,” Norris asked.
“About half a million dollars. We can use the money to really set up the syndicate,” Junklin replied as his cell phone began vibrating.
Tenny, another of their associates was on the line.
“What’s going on, Junklin? Bally says that he saw the owner still moving boxes of goods into the warehouse today,” he reported.
“Tell him not to move until I give the word. Make sure that you get the truck to borrow from Welshman,” he reminded Tenny before hanging up.
Welshman didn’t live far from them. He had agreed to take five thousand dollars but would wait until they sold the goods. As his truck was the only one within easy reach they couldn’t afford to renege on their promise to pay him.
“We really need some big guns to control our section, Junklin. Have you seen Dutch or any of his crew lately?” Norris asked.
“No, they must have gone underground with the curfews and all that. This is an opportunity we can’t miss. Once we get some bigger guns we can start to run things,” Junklin said.
Norris was thinking that it was hardly likely that Dutch and his crew had gone underground. They must be out there planning something.
“It’s some big work you guys going on with tonight,” he said. “But I don’t figure what’s going on. Do they know that it has been raided?”
“I’m sure they do but we believe that a trailer came in for them and they’re unloading the stuff and storing it there. Or it could be that they are moving them from another warehouse, which they feel isn’t safe,” Junklin said.
“Still I don’t like it, have they tried to change the locks, maybe put in additional security?” Norris asked.
“Cho, Norris, everything will be all right. You just try and contact Spree and the others and let them help you dig down that supermarket,” Junklin said before he and Norris touched fists and the latter departed to make his contacts.
As it was mid-day, Junklin locked up the store-room and made his way home. His father had been shot dead by the police while looting during Hurricane Gilbert. His mother had had her left little finger shot off also looting during the same hurricane. He had been seven years old and didn’t remember much about it but this present one had created opportunities for him and his friends. He normally went out after midnight. That way his mother and sister didn’t know that he was out looting.
He noted that most businesses were closed down this Sunday. Many were battened down to try and keep out the raging winds and rains of the hurricane and of course, marauding looters. He took a taxi over to his base as he wanted to eat some food before going on the road and contacting the other members of the syndicate to firm up their plans for tonight.
Junklin was worried. Their area leader, Shadrac, was recuperating in a Miami hospital after being badly wounded in a drive-by shooting. His two deputies Gustas and Bad-Joe were now engaged in a war with each accusing the other of being responsible for Shadrac’s shooting. From all indications Shadrac’s wounds might not allow him to resume his presence on the streets again. He had heard that Shadrac had planned to introduce a system whereby all residents and business operators in his area, who paid up their dues and were not criminally tainted, would be allowed free passage in and out of the area. Junklin wasn’t sure how such a system would work nor was he sure that wasn’t one of the reasons behind Shadrac’s shooting.
Junklin ate his meal of corned beef and rice and then went to take his nap. When he woke up it was three o’clock and he took a bath and prepared to go on the road. His sister hadn’t returned from town and his mother was asleep. As he made his way out to Cross Roads his cell phone rang. Latty was on the line.
“Latty, is everything all right?” he asked of his lieutenant.
“Everything is sailing smooth, Junklin. it’s just for us to go and pick up the goods and we have everything to put the owner's sign on the truck,” Latty replied.
“How’s Norris’ set up, everything all right?” he asked Latty.
“He got his crew to go and dig down the place,” Latty replied.
“That’s good, Latty, you can tell Tenny and Delhi to try and contact me,” he told Latty as they both finished the conversation.
Things were falling into place fast Junklin thought. As he didn’t have a car he would go past the warehouse in Delhi’s car.
Delhi had only bought the car after coming into some winnings at the races and later that month on the local lottery. He was still in two minds as to whether to resign his present job as a warehouse assistant in Spanish Town or to run his car as a taxi. He had grown up with Latty, Junklin, Tenny and others and was a part of their syndicate for moves like the one they were now finalizing.
Junklin and Dehli had driven past the warehouse in the late afternoon. The place was locked up tight. It wasn’t battened down like other warehouses they had seen. They circled and went past it again.
“That’s how I like it,” Junklin said.
“Yeah man, maybe I was wrong for wanting us to stop from last night,” Delhi said.
“Still I don’t blame you. After I saw what they had in that warehouse I knew we couldn’t take enough in one night. They’ve locked it up so tight that they figure they don’t need any guards,” Junklin said.
“Let them stay, when they see what we’ve done with it they’re going to regret that they didn’t hire a guard,” Dehli replied.
“Maybe if they had a guard we might have had to kill him,” Junklin said as they reached his gate. His mother was on the verandah.
Both men came out of the car and went into the house.
“Junklin, where were you? Your baby mother, Ventrice, came to look for you. Dehli, your car looks nice,” Miss Ritel said as she slapped him on his back. She and Delhi’s mother had been best friends before her untimely death at the hands of gunmen.
“Miss Ritel, see I’ve dropped home your son for you safe and sound,” Delhi said.
“I know that it’s Cindy you come to look for but she has gone Downtown,” Miss Ritel said .
“Delhi, I’m going inside, I’ll soon be back,” Junklin said and made his way to his room.
“So are you waiting on Cindy?” Miss Ritel asked of Delhi. She would like to see Cindy start talking to somebody like Delhi and stop talking to that worthless guy, Carbide, who only knew to sit on the corner. At least Delhi had a car and he was working.
“Miss Ritel, I just remembered I have a job in Half Way Tree. Tell Junklin that I’ll contact him tomorrow and you can tell Cindy that too,” Delhi said slipping Miss Ritel a five hundred dollar note. The middle-aged woman shook his hand whereupon he departed.
Dutch, Villie and Bissy were sitting on a long bench in a park in their section of the community.
“I’m telling you, Dutch, that the whole time I was there they were just packing the warehouse full of boxes,” Bissy was saying.
They were talking about the Donaldson’s warehouse. Dutch and his crew had gotten wind that Junklin’s crew had looted it the night before and had begun to spy out the place in an effort to find out what they were up to. With most places battened down and the police on the streets looking for looters, Dutch and his crew wondered how come their rivals were so lucky in finding somewhere to loot and re-loot.
Dutch was a tall man and was twenty six years of age. Villie and Bissy were short men and were both twenty one. Dutch had done a year for robbing a woman two years ago. Villie and Bissy had done six months each for wounding. They knew that while none of Junklin’s crew had served time they had at one time or another been held on suspicion but were eventually released.
“I saw Bally spying out the place. Seems to me that they’re going to raid it tonight again,” Villie said.
“We’ve spied it out haven’t we? What we should do now is to check their every move. They are using Welshman’s truck. Their current store-room is full right to the top so it can’t hold anymore plus I understand that they’re also going to raid the Lym’s Superette. We have to find out where they’re storing these goods then take it from them,” Dutch explained.
“How are we going to do that?” Villie asked.
“Once we find out where they’re hiding the rest of the stuff we can raid them one night. I don’t think they can guard these places all night. We might even get Welshman’s truck to borrow,” Dutch said.
They all knew that that the man lent out his truck to do all sorts of illegal activities. It had actually been stolen several years ago and was only driven at nights. For ease of passage some big named company’s logo was put on it as the regular licensing fee and insurance had gone unpaid.
They knew that once they relieved Junklin’s crew of some of their goods they had their associates, who could easily dispose of it for them.
At eight o’clock that evening Junklin and his crew met down by the level. This was a piece of ground that had been cleared by the boys in the area to play six- a- side football on.
“Everything’s just right for tonight. I just have to put their sign on the truck,” Latty, who would be driving it said.
“Those people are some fools, everybody will be laughing at them after we tear down the place tonight,” Delhi said as he lit a cigarette.
“The whole time I was there, they were just coming and going as if nothing had happened,” Bally said.
“They have so much goods there that they don’t even seem to miss what we took but after tonight they’re going to cry, trust me,” Junklin said.
They all touched knuckles.
“The brands that we took are common in Jamaica and we’re going to tear up all the papers we find there,” Junklin said .
“What happen to my part of the deal?” Norris asked of Junklin.
“You’re covered Norris, I’ve got Martin to go with you. You, him, and the other guys should be all right,” Junklin said.
“We’ll be taking their expensive liquor, cigarettes, toiletries and anything that we see look expensive and will sell fast,” Norris explained.
“It’s mostly small televisions, component sets and the like we are taking,” Junklin said.
“So what about jewelry?” Tenny asked.
“We never saw any, seems as if they keep them in some vault or something,” Junklin replied.
“Don’t worry yourself Tenny after we are finished with this deal you can wear any chain you like and I know that you want to outfit your girl regally,” Dehli said and they all started laughing.
“Trust me, Tenny, after tonight people will be looking at us differently,” Junklin said.
“I want a stout to drink and I don’t want any man to feel that I start celebrating already,” Norris said.
They all felt that Norris was right. Junklin took some of the money they had gotten from the sale of their first television set. Latty volunteered to and buy the drinks at a nearby shop and Bally went along with him.
The men drank their stouts while beefing up their plans for tonight. It was agreed that Bally would be the lookout for Junklin’s party while Spree would be the lookout for Norris’s party.
It was also agreed that Norris and his crew would raid the Lym Superette at twelve thirty and Junklin’s crew would be at the Donaldson’s warehouse an hour after that. With that the men departed for their respective homes.
When Junklin reached home his mother was asleep. Since the passage of the hurricane she had become more concerned that he not stay out late because of the expected curfews. After he had a light meal Junklin had a bath and decided to call Ventrice on his cell phone.
She was upset with him and asked him if he didn’t realize that it was weekend and she needed things for the baby. Junklin told her that he was working on something and would let her have some money tomorrow. She told him that he had better have it. Junklin knew that she wasn’t threatening him. She knew him better than that to try those things with him.
As Junklin sat around the table thinking, his thoughts ran to Dutch and his crew. While not being enemies the two crews hardly worked together. He knew that like his syndicate Dutch and his crew were out there somewhere. They couldn’t go far because of the curfews. They hadn’t seen any of them. Then a thought struck him. Could they be out there watching them? During the raid they would discuss possible precautions they could take against being raided by Dutch’s crew. It was likely that Shadrac would be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Nobody would take orders from a man in a wheelchair. Thus with Bad-Joe and Gustas failing to control the area more crews would spring up and there would be more turf wars. Junklin felt that the money they would be getting would enable them to get in some guns to protect themselves from forays by other crews.
Junklin went to bed knowing that he didn’t have much time to sleep. He thought he was dreaming. He was in this room and a bright light was shining. He jumped out of his sleep when his cell phone rang. It was Dehli and he said that he was waiting for him.
Junklin lit a candle and looked at his watch. It was twelve-thirty. He quickly put on some clothes put out the candle and locked up his room door.
Delhi and Tenny were already in the car. They had all bought five hundred dollars worth of credit so as to be able to keep in touch with each other during the operation.
“So is everything all right Delhi?” Junklin asked.
“Latty is driving there right now and Bally says that everything is cool down there,” Delhi said as they drove off.
Junklin wanted to tell them about the dream he had but decided against it, nevertheless he would ask if it might be some cash pot number.
“Norris and the others have started. They phoned to say everything is going as planned. As soon as I drop off you guys I am going to see how they are doing,” Delhi said.
“Yeah, man but remember to come back and pick us up after we
finish storing the things at our warehouse,” Delhi said.
A few more minutes and they were at the warehouse. None of them came out of the car. After a few minutes a man came out of the darkness. It was Bally. He approached the car.
The men came out of the car as he came up to them.
“Everything’s cool, Junklin,” Bally said.
They didn’t have long to wait before Latty came with the truck. With a few skilful manoeuvres he reversed it into the front entrance of the warehouse after having picked the gate locks. Latty picked the warehouse locks and they pushed up the shutters. He then picked the other set of locks and they were in the warehouse.
Delhi told them that he was going to check on the others and drove off. Junklin turned on his flashlight and the big lantern they had brought with them. It would give them just enough light.
They approached the boxes. Junklin took up the first box. It was empty. Latty, Bally and Tenny were also taking up boxes too. But all they were coming across were empty boxes.
“Something’s wrong,” Junklin shouted as he saw the bright lights being directed at the warehouse.
“It’s a trap!” he shouted and then they heard cars pulling into the warehouse premises and the four men froze. Then a voice came over a micro-phone.
“You men in the warehouse come out with your hands in the air.”
The four men looked at each other.
“They were tricking us all this time. Pretending to be loading goods into the warehouse when all they were doing was loading empty boxes,” Junklin said.
He, Tenny, Bally and Latty went out to the policeman.
“You boys have been tricked. Mr. Donaldson noticed that his warehouse had been broken into. So he moved most of what was left to another warehouse and started packing this one with empty boxes to entice you boys to try the same stunt again,” the police Inspector said as he saw a car coming down the avenue. It was Delhi and on seeing the police cars he jammed down on his brakes hard and tried to put the car into reverse but a police jeep that had been coming up behind him blocked his path. Other policemen seeing what was happening ran down on Delhi’s car
Realizing that he was cornered Delhi came out of the car with his hands in the air. A quick search of the car revealed goods from Lym’s Superette. Delhi confessed on the spot that it was being raided by the rest of the syndicate and some policemen sped off to catch Norris and the rest red handed.
Dutch was asleep when his cell phone started singing, waking him up. Villie was on the line.
“Dutch, they’ve taken away Junklin and his crew,” he said.
“Try and contact Dexter and find out what’s happening in his section. I’ll contact Bissy to find out what’s going on at his section,” Dutch said before switching off the phone. Dexter was a new recruit to their crew who had been assigned to watch Junklin’s store-room.
Dexter reported that everything was quiet in his section and Dutch informed him about what had happened. He called the others members of the crew and planned an early morning meeting to map out strategies. He knew that everything depended on Junklin’s store-room remaining intact.
Despite Mr. Donaldson telling the police that Junklin had a store-room
somewhere, where he had stored the rest of the goods, it was not until late Monday night that they were able to get the location of the warehouse from Junklin.
Dutch and his crew were loading the last of the stock into a van rented to them by a man named Clichie when the police swooped down on them. Ruddy, their associate from Red Hill’s Road and who had his store-room ready to receive the merchandise was raided when he was fingered by Dutch. In jail the latter reflected that he had never given Junklin any credits for intelligence but on reflection maybe the same thing applied to him for having fallen into the same trap the man had fallen into.
In jail Junklin reflected that the bright light he had dreamt of was a warning that he should have heeded. The End. Please visit my blog at:http://stredwick.blogspot.com