Two Faces

My name is Kevin Bingham and I live in Tampa, Florida. I’m a retired DEA officer. In my almost 30year old career I’ve had a lot of close encounters with the country’s most notorious criminals and have successfully taken them down. Was even close to death when I and my squad were raiding a Mexican drug group and got into a shootout, a bullet went just 2cm past my heart. For some reason I chose not to wear a vest that day but well, hardly matters now, I’m still alive. I was a very persistent son of bitch, that’s why guys from the other side hated me so much. Just wouldn’t stop until I got every law breaking ass incarcerated. Well, that’s all in the past now. I’m a settled pa and to be grandpa now. My wife, two sons, their wives and a child coming. We all live together under one roof, big roof I must say and pretty unusually these days in the city. I don’t wish to brag but, my boys really do earn some good cash. Now to the story, why am I sitting here in a bench on the sidewalk, facing the coast during this winter time? Well it’s never really cold at this corner of the country. I got a box full of chocolates. No, no I’m not cheating on my wife; I love her too much to do anything like that. These are for my best bud, Frankie. Franklin Dwight Andrews. We were together all the time since we were just toddlers, he was my neighbor. I loved his parents a lot too, they were amazing people. We’re meeting after over 30 fucking years. The little bitch took off during our college years to join the army and left to who knew where? He used to write letters but they were always from a different state. Cheeky bastard was trying not to let me track him down. I tried to pull my rank and get some intel about him, got to know he was deployed to Iraq but nothing further. His letters didn’t tell me a lot about how it was going in his life but apparently he knew about mine. Whenever I thought that he’s outta my life somehow his letter came in to remind me that he’s always with me. I was just glad that he was alive somewhere. Well last week another letter came in. He really loved writing but I thought it was a bit too crazy to still use letters writing while we have the mighty e-mail, but of course, how could he know my mail when he didn’t leave any room for two way communication. I was jumping through the roof when he said he’ll be coming to meet me here, our teenage hotspot to check out the chicks during summer. Damn he loves chocolate, if you know what I mean. Eh, maybe I should stop blabbering now and let the play begin.

(Kevin noticed a burly man in his fifties approaching him. His attire and accessories were of the most expensive kind and one look at him will reveal that he would have been very handsome in his youth. Presently, he stopped in his tracks and leaned against a tree. He looked tired. He looked ahead, noticed the bench and reached Kevin.)

Frank: Can I sit down with you mister? Or are you waiting for somebody?

Kevin: Yeah I’m waiting for a mother fucker who hasn’t shown his face to me for over 3 decades.

Frank: Wow. Usually when people meet after such long time they greet each other with strong emotions.

Kevin: A punch to your jaw would be a very strong display of my emotions.

Frank: Hahahaha….! Oh, you little rascal! (Sitting down beside Kevin) 30years and you’re still the same arrogant fucker.

Kevin: Well I can’t help it. You left me in a very frustrating position.

Frank: The final exams? You are still fucking angry about that?

Kevin: Hey, I’m not the bastard who broke his promise, cause of you I ended up in the DEA. One disastrous exam is all it took.

Frank: Man you ended up as one of the most respected agent in the bureau! You took down Pablo Escobar! You should thank me for I changed my mind at that shitty time.

Kevin: Shut the fuck up. I never got a hint of where you were all these years so I have all the right to be angry regardless how foolish the reason may be. And here are your fucking sweet chocolates.

Frank: Hahaha, so you still remember, eh? Acting like my girlfriend and all. Can I have a hug now sweetie?

Kevin: Oh fuck you!

Frank: Hahaha, alright. Well since I was well aware of what was going on in your life perhaps you would like to know what I was doing in the meantime.

Kevin: You bet your ass I would. Man you never told me what you were doing. And what was your obsession with letters?

Frank: Oh well, I have a fetish for the seal.

(Both of them chuckle for a moment)

Kevin: So how have you been man? 30 years dude, you must have gone through a lot. But first answer me. Are you married?

Frank: No! I would have told you that in my letters!

Kevin: Well…must have been tough.

Frank: Yeah… had some my tough times but I managed. So you really made that shit-bag Donovan your best man?

Kevin: Come on man, he was with us since college. Well at least with me.

Frank: You know he’s a shit-bag.

Kevin: Well ya, he is. But he was he only guy who knew me the most at that time.

Frank: You could have at least got somebody good enough to replace me.

Kevin: Nobody could replace you man.

(Frank’s face is softened by a little smile)

Frank: Well. I guess I need to tell you about my 30 years.

Kevin: Oh wait! (Checking his pocket)

Frank: What?

Kevin: Oh nothing. Thought my phone was vibrating, you know old age brain plays tricks with you and yeah 30 fucking army years.

Frank: Yeah, about that. Not exactly army years.

Kevin: What?

Frank: Well, not really in the army either.

Kevin: Eh? What the fuck? You mean to say you were in secret service?

Frank: Well, kind of yeah but not really.

Kevin: What? What the hell do you mean?

(Taking a deep breath)

Frank: You remember the day when I suddenly disappeared after class and came a couple of days later?

Kevin: Yeah you went to the army camp right? Got inspiration from there?

Frank: Yeah, not really that. I was taken to meet my parents.

Kevin: But they came to meet you every week.

Frank: Well this time, my real parents.

Kevin: Yeah, the ones we knew were clones right?

Frank: No they were, well, substitutes.

Kevin: You’re getting on my nerves, you know that?

Frank: I know it’s hard to believe…

Kevin: Oh hard you say?

Frank: Would you let me speak?

Kevin: Alright. Carry on your fiction before I knock you out.

Frank: I’m telling you the truth. If it’s getting on your nerves just imagine what I must have went through! After 20 years suddenly I’m taken away and told that the people I grew up with aren’t my real parents! That my whole life was nothing but a lie! A play! A fucking show!

Kevin: Then who the fuck were Carl and Jenny??

Frank: Actors you dickhead!! They were just fucking Actors!

Kevin: You’re going way out of line man! Stop fucking with me right now!

Frank: I’m not fucking with you I’m telling you the truth! I came here to tell you the truth now you wish to know what really happened that day or not?!

Kevin: Alright, alright. Calm down. Tell me what really happened that day.

Frank: You remember how we used to think that it would have been so amazing to have all the money in the world.

Kevin: Yeah?

Frank: Well, it turns out my real parents apparently had that much money.

Kevin (frowning): Bullshit!

Frank: No. They really were filthy rich.

Kevin: I’m trying to believe what you’re saying but could you please tell me what the fuck really happened that day?

Frank: Well, after the game when we were leaving I got out of the ground before you because, well, I didn’t want to disturb your romance with the cheerleaders.

Kevin: OH! So…

Frank: …Shh! don’t disturb me now. So as I was leaving two men dressed like fucking Hawaiian honeymoon couples came and put gun to my back and took me to their car. They shoved me in, I tried to resist. I kicked the other guy in this nuts but the man with the gun was like fucking ninja and he wacked me right in the head.

Kevin: Oh damn! Must have hurt.

Frank: Yeah. So much that woke up only after reaching Mexico.

Kevin: Mexico?

Frank: Yeah Mexico. Apparently my “family” had their own private jet.

Kevin: Noooo..!

Frank: Yeah. And guess what? To make things more ridiculous, my “Mother” and “Father” didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak bloody Spanish!

Kevin(bursts out laughing): I could only imagine how awkward the situation must have been! Well what after that? What was the entire charade about then? Hiring “parents” for you and shit?

Frank: Well, they sent me away to keep me safe from their enemies, so that they wouldn’t kill me.

Kevin (sarcastically): Why? You were the heir of a drug lord or something?

Frank: Yes.

Kevin: Say what?

Frank: Yes. My father was a drug lord. He smuggled cocaine and heroin from New Mexico to USA. He was the main rival of Pablo Escobar.

Kevin: You mean…

Frank: …I was the hidden heir. He wanted to keep me away from all the galore until I finished college but Escobar'sMedellín Cartel was closing in on us. The turf war was going wild and they discovered about me. He decided to bring me back and tell me everything so that I would be safe within the walls of the family house.

Kevin (almost expressionless): You’re not joking.

Frank: I’ve been trying to tell you all the while that it’s the truth.

Kevin: My best friend was…

Frank: …A drug lord’s son, yeah.

Kevin: And by Escobar’s main rival you mean the Cali cartel?

Frank: Yeah. My real name is Frankie Rodríguez Orejuela.

Kevin: So you’re the son of Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela?

Frank: Yeah.

Kevin: And Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela is your uncle.

Frank: I’m afraid so.

Kevin(taking a deep breath) : Wow. This is a bit difficult to comprehend.

Frank: I understand.

Kevin: So all the while you were in Mexico? How were you keeping track of me?

Frank: I was in Mexico until Escobar was shot and killed. But after that I’ve been roaming around in States. And for knowing about your life, Shit-bag Donovan was doing a great job.

Kevin: Donovan was a spy?!

Frank: Yeah I was surprised too. He was in our college only to watch after me but after knowing that you were joining DEA I just felt I should hand him the responsibility to keep track of you for me.

Kevin: To know if I was on to you or something?

Frank: I would never do that! It was just, I just had to know you’re safe.

Kevin: So you assigned Donovan to protect me?

Frank: No his job was just to observe. You see keeping track of you was easy but keeping you safe was the difficult part.

Kevin: What do you mean?

Frank: Well, as years passed by you kept neighing to cases for smuggling from Mexico. So you were on the hit list of a lot of bad guys. So I had to keep people around for protection.

Kevin: How many exactly?

Frank: Well, including your neighbors and some for your family I guess about, over 10 people.

Kevin: What???

Frank: I thought that wasn’t enough! I was gonna deploy 5 more to keep track of your boys in school and you wife in her office and you while you’re out.

Kevin: You don’t mean to say the Morrisons across the streets were also spys?

Frank: No they were assassins.

Kevin: That was a family of assassins?? For over 2 decades I have been living across assassins?

Frank: Well, Rodriguez family on your right and Anthony’s on the left too..

Kevin: And the gay couple?

Frank: Them too. They were the best actually. And not really gay.

Kevin: Oh you’re worse than NSA. And I thought me bring you chocolates would be a great surprise.

Frank: Well, you didn’t react as bad as I expected you would.

Kevin: I still feel like throwing up.

Frank: Still better than me.

Kevin: Well, why are you telling me all this right now? Couldn’t you have just kept it a secret? Why me, a DEA officer!

Frank: Ex-DEA. That’s why. And I think at least you of all people deserve to know the truth about me. You know there was a moment where I just wanted to jump in front of you and tell you everything.

Kevin: Oh yeah? When?

Frank: During the Escobar raid.

Kevin (astonished) : You were there?

Frank: Actually I kind of saved your life.

Kevin: What the fuck?

Frank: Well it was me who shot Escobar because he was about to shoot you.

Kevin: I…I don’t understand…how…?

Frank: I was behind that broken shed watching. I was there to kill Escobar but then I saw you and I just froze. I was informed you wouldn’t be in the field.

Kevin: I decided they would need me.

Frank: You decided? That decision almost got you killed! He was right behind you with his gun to your head you stubborn piece of shit!

Kevin: So it wasn’t one of ours…So that means when I turned around…you…YOU SHOT ME!

Frank: I…I didn’t mean to, I just…just got scared you’d see me!

Kevin: SO YOU FUCKING SHOT ME??

Frank: Well I’m sure the bullet missed all your vital organs, didn’t it?

Kevin (he stands up in a fit of fury and starts shouting): YOU’RE SURE? YOU ALMOST KILLED ME YOU MOTHER FUCKING PIECE OF LYING SHITBAG!

Frank: Kev! Stop it! I was scared but I knew what I was doing! I’m a good shooter!

Kevin (almost screaming): YOU!

Frank (Raising his arms trying to keep Kevin down): Calm down man, I was trying to keep you safe.

(Kevin stops for a second and then throws a right jab at frank)

Frank: What the hell!

(Frank gives back a slap)

Kevin: Oh you’ve got some nerve you prick

Frank: Hey, wait, Kev. I didn’t mean to…

(Kevin swiftly gets on top of him and punches him then Frank overturns Kevin a grabs his neck)

Frank: Stop this! Stop this you idiot! We’re too old for this shit!

(Both of them panting get up. Stare at each other)

Frank: Calm down man, I was trying to keep you safe.

Kevin: Yeah…yeah…(He marches towards him screaming and spears him down)

(Both men are down, exhausted and lying on their back)

Frank: Awww my back…my back

Kevin: I think I dislocated my shoulder.

Frank: Get up now, let’s sit down again. You sure you’re done now?

Kevin: Yeah, yeah I’m done. But it doesn’t make any sense. The Cali cartel is supposed to be dead. We got Gabriel and Miguel there was no heir to the position and…you…

Frank: Yes, Me. After father and uncle went away I took the reins and decided to take the organization underground. I was too deep in this dirt to get out clean.

Kevin: You’re telling this to a DEA. I could get you arrested man.

Frank: Ex-DEA. And you can’t man. I don’t exist, Frank Andrews is officially KIA and Frankie Orejuela was never born.

Kevin: Why are you doing this? You can still stop. Just surrender…

Frank: ...You think I don’t want to?! I can’t man! I’m looking after the orphans of the turf war in Mexico! You have no clue how gruesome things were when Escobar was at his peak! You haven’t seen a thing! To stop all of it I had to get my hands colored red. I can’t stop now man. Why do you think I’m travelling over U.S for these deal? I could just sit back in Cancun and bask in the sun or run off to Havana and enjoy expensive cigars. No! I don’t such things so that I could make sure the stuff we bring is not sold to teenagers and kids! If I go away somebody else will take over and there will be another Escobar! Or even worse!

Kevin: You know you won’t be able to keep this going for very long.

Frank: I know. But I’ll keep delaying another uprising of other ruthless cartels as long I could. And I’m really sorry that I kept the truth hidden from you. I’ll move all the assassins away if you want.

Kevin: Oh no why would I want the neighborhood full of assassins away from my family?

Frank: Alright if that was because you’re angry I understand but if you were being sarcastic, man this isn’t really the best time.

Kevin: Yeah well, I don’t know to react to so, you think maybe we could discuss this over my pace tonight?

Frank: I would love to but I can’t. Some problems at Puerto Rico. Gotta get there tomorrow.

Kevin: Well…when are you gonna get back?

Frank: Soon. Not gonna keep you waiting for long this time.

(A car arrives besides the sidewalk)

Kevin: Nice ride you got there.

Frank: Thank you. (He opens the door of the car)

Kevin: Hey! Don’t forget the chocolate box.

(Frank smiles and walks up to Kevin. Kevin swiftly embraces him in his arms.)

Kevin: Take care of yourself idiot and come back soon.

Frank: Yeah I will, I promise you and I won’t break it this time.

Kevin: You better not.

Frank enters the car and leaves. Kevin keeps on watching for some time and turns around. He takes out a small rectangular blinking device from his pocket and presses a tiny button on its side. The device stops blinking. He looks hard at it, his face crinkled with concentration. He makes up his mind after a few minutes and then starts walking. While walking he clicks the button and the instrument played:

“Well. I guess I need to tell you about my 30 years.”