Chapter 35: Bury It!

Sanders drove home, elated from his successful deal. He had managed to secure contracts without spending a dime, convincing the girls to sign away their futures. In just one or two years, he could have earned over six thousand dollars per person. This business model, with no upfront costs, seemed foolproof.

As he approached his somewhat rundown two-story building, Sanders began planning for a more impressive office next year. A better location and additional staff would help him sign even more contracts. If he could secure 30 contracts annually, he would earn hundreds of thousands of dollars. With 50 contracts, that would be around $300,000, and with a hundred, over half a million. The prospect of becoming rich filled him with glee.

He entered the office, closed the door with a flourish, and poured himself a glass of wine. Music from the phonograph filled the room as Sanders reveled in his good fortune. He laid the stack of money he had just earned on his desk, savoring the sight of it. The smell of money was intoxicating.

After placing the money in a drawer, Sanders retrieved a long key and approached a painting on the wall. He moved the painting aside to reveal a small safe. After unlocking it and entering the code, Sanders admired the money inside, adding his new earnings to the stash.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the office door.

Startled, Sanders hurriedly closed the safe, hid the key, and returned the painting to its place. "Who is it?" he called out.

"Checking the water meter," came the reply.

Sanders was puzzled. "Water meter? We don't have a water meter here."

He opened the door, only to be met with the barrel of a gun. Shocked, Sanders stepped back into the office. As he closed the door, Matthew punched him hard in the stomach.

"Ugh!" Sanders groaned, clutching his midsection in pain. He fell to the floor, curled up.

Matthew, not done yet, tied Sanders' arms behind his back. Meanwhile, Henry began searching the office, focusing on the leather bag that Sanders had brought. Finding only documents and no cash, Henry then turned his attention to Sanders himself. He found a key in Sanders' wallet.

"Where's the safe?" Henry demanded.

"I don't have a safe. That key is for my house," Sanders moaned.

Matthew punched him again, causing Sanders to cry out.

Henry held up the key, showing its Diebold trademark. "We're not idiots. This is clearly a safe key."

"No, please, I don't have any money. You can't take it," Sanders begged.

Another punch silenced him. Henry found the safe behind the painting, inserted the key, and demanded the combination.

"09-15-21," Sanders gasped.

The safe opened to reveal the money inside. Sanders watched in despair as Henry and Matthew transferred the cash into Sanders' own purse.

With the office cleaned up, Henry and Matthew dragged Sanders out to a car waiting outside. They drove out of downtown Los Angeles to a secluded area in the forest where a pit had been prepared. 

The car stopped, and Henry grabbed the leather bag before getting out. Sanders was thrown into the pit, and the cold rain quickly sobered him up. He struggled in vain against his restraints.

"Please, don't kill me! I'm with the Spanish gang! If you kill me, Red Dani will come after you!" Sanders screamed.

The mention of the Spanish gang caught Hardy's attention. He had suspected that Sanders might have connections, but hearing it confirmed made the situation even more complicated. The Spanish gang's involvement in Sanders' operations only added to the gravity of the situation.

"Henry, find out everything he knows," Hardy ordered.

Henry questioned Sanders, who was now desperate to survive. Sanders revealed what he knew about the Spanish gang, the role of his brokerage company, and the names of other brokerage firms tied to the gang. He also mentioned the Spanish gang's film company, "Miki Pictures," which specialized in adult films.

Hardy, having done his homework on Hollywood's industry landscape, recognized "Miki Pictures" as one of the many underground film companies operating in the area. It became clear that Sanders' operations were just one piece of a larger, darker puzzle.

Satisfied with the information, Hardy gave the final command: "Bury him."

Sanders' pleas for mercy went unheard as he was buried alive. The pit was quickly filled in, and the ground smoothed over. The area, covered in grass that would soon grow tall, concealed the grim evidence of what had transpired.

The team left the site, their task complete. Hardy, satisfied with the resolution, knew that this dark chapter was closed, but the implications of what he had learned were far from over.