In the room with the desktop computer, I Googled Ramon Lopez. He had received a 10-year sentence for drug dealing. He was out in six and was deported. He is suspected of being one of the leaders of the Rio Bravo drug cartel. When I steal that money, Ramon and Poppy's friendship is going to be tested.
I started developing my escape plan from the perspective of Poppy. I knew that Maryanne's real estate company was on the verge of bankruptcy the day I walked in. How? I'll explain that later. First, let me talk about me and my business.
As you probably know, I am James Poppy Diaz. The Poppy came from my mother calling me her little Poppy. It stuck and I am still called Poppy 40 years later. As a kid, I was bigger than most. I liked sports and football became my favorite.
I excelled in high school and earned a scholarship to a university on the Gulf Coast of Florida. My problems started when I was told that my mother was sick and needed an operation. She could not wait until I got a signing bonus. I let some guy talk me into riding on a boat with him as he went to the mother ship. I helped him load 50 bales of grass onto his boat and we sped off for a secluded inlet along Florida's nature coast.
Thatshole forgot the extra gas can and we ran out of gas. The Coast Guard came to our rescue the next morning. I ended up doing 3 years of a 5-year sentence at a federal prison in West Texas. Mama died and I did not get to go to the funeral. in prison. My cellmate was a Mexican by the name of Ramon Lopez.
We became good friends. Since that prison was about 60% Mexican, it was good to have a Mexican friend to watch my black back. We talked a lot. His family was in the import export business in Mexico. They imported drugs from Colombia and exported them to the States.
He suggested that I go into business with him when I got out. He would have to clear it with his uncle, Julio Lopez, the head of the cartel, but he was sure I could become one of his dealers. We were released the same month. I moved back to Memphis, my hometown. I had no way of contacting Ramon Lopez, but he had told me not to worry.
He would contact me. Two months went by without a word. I was beginning to think it was just bull talk between two federal inmates just to pass the time. Then one day my doorbell rang and there stood Raone with two other men. We hugged and I invited them inside.
He asked if I was ready to start working for him. Hell yes. I can't find a job anywhere and grandma is working as a maid. We barely have money for groceries. He handed me a wad of cash about $1,000 and took me to a Mexican restaurant.
There in a private room, we discussed business over a steaming plate of fajitas. When we were finished, I offered to pay the check. I own this place, Poppy. Work hard and invest your money in legitimate businesses. That's the way to get ahead in this world.