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Category:
Crime
Publisher: Authorhouse
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 298
Copyright: Aug 2007
ISBN-13: 9781425993696
Back in the early 90’s, David ‘Duke’ Ley was an impulsive young man from Peru. He made ends meet by doing whatever his good looks and physique allowed him to do in difficult times; some fitness instruction, strip tease shows in gay joints, small business deals, etc. But he was not happy with it. He felt dejected. Then he met Fernando, a secretive gay man with a past. He introduced Duke to crime. When the chance to fly to the UK to join an international gang of drug dealers presented, Duke took it. He contacted Frey ‘Charly’ Russo, an English ex-lifer on license, and things went on from there. At first everything looked so easy; just acting as a go between, small importations of drugs and lots of money. So far, everything seemed quite good.
As things escalated, life became more complicated. He stayed put by the luring promise of a great financial reward and a life settling change. The Big Deal was on going. Little he knew of the terrible price he had to pay at the end. The trap was set from the start, nobody saw the end coming.
This book is a harrowing factual account of the events as they happened, written in detail by a real insider; enter the felon’s names, personalities and states of mind, the places and the dealings, up to the inevitable conclusion.
In his very own words, David Ley shows the reader that there is not an easy way to riches through crime, and brings a hidden warning to all those who ever thought about trying it out. It is said that the path to hell is paved with good intentions. David took that path at a high cost. He wrote this book after his release from an 18 year prison term.
After explaining previous business he had done with these guys, he went:
- ‘The man is called Frey, I call him Jaguar because he’s used to drive a burgundy Jaguar car, the guy is all right as long as you don’t fuck about with him I suppose. He’s the first person you’ll meet through Joseph, and the main guy as long as our business deal is concerned. I want you to be good to him, you can trust him, but still you’ll have to keep your eyes open’
- ‘Why is that?’ I didn’t like his last remark.
- ‘Because the man had just finished a life sentence for double murder. He spent twelve years in prison. So, although he looks pleasant enough, he can be as dangerous and cold as a snake. Just be on the good side of him, ok’
- ‘Is he the only person I’ll deal with, or is there someone else?’
- ‘No, there’s also another man, his name is Peter, an Irish man. I call him Oso (bear) and that’s because he’s built like an ox. He’s a hundred per cent reliable in business matters, hundred per cent honest guy, and he likes to deal with people in the same way. He doesn’t take shit from anyone and he doesn’t trust his own shadow. He used to be a professional boxer, and being an Irish guy he won’t hesitate to put a bullet in your head if he smells a rat’
- ‘That’s a comforting thought’ I said with sarcasm. ‘Anyone else?’
- ‘At the moment these are the main guys I want you to acquaint yourself with. Whoever come next doesn’t matter. You’ll be dealing with these two guys mainly. They’re my friends and I want to give them the whole tamale’.
- ‘All right. Now, once I see them what would be the deal?’ I enquired.
- ‘They already know the deal, at the moment we’re dealing in small deals, to keep the financial side afloat, five to ten units (kgs) at the time. But they are up to a big one. We’re talking anything from one to five hundred units. But not just now, it has to be planned and prepared with their people, and of course with us. They have some people in Russia who are interested in working big money. That will come later on. First let’s do the small ones’.
- ‘Yeah, of course’ I said hesitantly. I felt doubtful, thinking that maybe the shoes were a little too big for myself, this was dangerous business.
- ‘Now, they owe me some money from a previous deal, twenty grand. Once you get in touch with Frey you’ll remind him of that, ok. They know how is with the rest; they have to send me three grand in advance for every kilo; two are to pay the tombos(police)at the airport, for their mules to go pass the controls with the drugs, and one grand more is for the transport of the gear to Lima, the pressing workers, etc, a small advance, ok. The rest is on credit until they sell the stuff. Once we deduct the expenses, we split the money in two; you’ll send me my half by Western Union, and that’d be that. No need to say, you’ll keep constantly in touch with me; I’ll let you know how much you’ll take from my part afterwards, ok.’ he said, ending the talks.
And with that we shook hands like true business partners, on a series of deals that were going to change my life forever. I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing dealing in drugs; of course it was not right, but having tried on almost every right thing available and failed, this was the only thing left for me at the time or so I tried to convince myself, now I was on the horse.
Once I heard a say which I didn’t like, but it struck a cord in me just for being so unpleasant: ‘Beggars are not choosers’ it said, and I felt like a fucking beggar now, without a word or choice, I had to take my chances.
Its funny how a firm belief in yourself can turn to jelly with the proximity of a crime to be committed; a day before I had a strong drive to carry on with this business and succeed, and today I’m full of doubts and fears, but I can’t let my conscience to take over, I took the decision to do it myself.
It felt ironic too that, for all my life ever since I was in primary school I’ve learnt to love the English culture, their people, their traditions, their music and monarchy, their heroes and inventors, etc. They were all over my books. I even loved their boring movies and dull sense of humor; I’ve learnt to love every bit of them. And now I was going to introduce myself to UK as a real criminal. Deep in my heart I felt dirty and hypocrite. But, did I really?.
God forgive me for doing this, I thought; life stinks most of the time and I was a desperate guy and a stupid one at that, I’ve never committed any mayor felony in my life and now I was going to play Scarface, in real life.
My mind was racing through all my feelings of guilt, and I felt like a failure already, even though I haven’t done anything wrong yet. I was recalling then every time I watched a police movie I enjoyed when the baddies got caught and had to pay for all the shit they’ve done, and now I was on that bad side.
Fuck it, my mind was really killing me. I had a sick feeling of guilt.
That night I didn’t sleep at all. Gilberto came by six o’clock in the morning:
- ‘Hey man, wake up!! We got to be at the airport now or you’re going to lose the flight. Get your fucking ass moving!!’ He screamed rapping at the door.
- ‘Ok, ok I’m awake already, just give me a minute to wash!’ I yelled back.
I had to get my act together I thought, if I wasn’t confident I was prone to fail. I’m an amoral person living in an amoral world, so what’s all the fuss about?. After a small but sincere prayer, I kissed my old life goodbye and left the room. Gilberto was fuming and I didn’t give a fuck. Off we went.
Excerpt
The author was born in Lima, Peru.
He finished his studies in Hotel Management at the San Martin University Tourism Faculty. Afterwards he traveled to Europe, and lived in Spain. At his return he studied foreign languages and tried on a business enterprise without success, due to the country’s previous recession and terrorism.
As things went, he got involved with international drug barons and went to UK following instructions. He was sooner arrested and spent almost a decade in high security British jails.
Inside, he achieved advanced qualifications in Adult Literacy, English and Communications, as well as several Computers and Sports awards.
At his release, he wrote this book based in his past experiences.
He actually works as an English Teacher, Interpreter and freelance writer.
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