America 1982-Chapter 562 - 117: An Old Friend Calls

David Kennedy’s off-stage campaign efforts were clearly very timely. Just three days after the TV debate ended, Miami’s television stations broadcasted the news.

The Miami Police Department’s Coastal Patrol intercepted two boats carrying Cuban stowaways, which had been converted from offshore fishing vessels. Through the lenses of accompanying journalists, it was possible to see that when the boats were hailed to stop and be inspected, the crew, brandishing firearms, forced the Cuban stowaways to jump into the sea. They used this opportunity, while Miami Police Coastal Patrol was distracted rescuing the stowaways, to attempt an escape.

However, after the police department’s aviation patrol helicopters locked onto the vessels, both smuggler boats were eventually intercepted and gave up on fleeing. All the crew members involved in human trafficking were arrested. The authorities rescued 253 Cuban stowaways from the sea, but sadly, thirty-one had already drowned, including seventeen women and six children. It was unclear if there were any other people missing. The Miami Police Sea Patrol and the Florida Coast Guard were still searching for survivors, and volunteers, including Jeff Raven and retired National Guardsmen, were also participating in rescue operations.

In an interview with the press, a visibly exhausted Jeff Raven, who had just completed a search in a section of the sea, said, "Right now, I’m not interested in discussing elections or race. Rescue is the only thing I care about. I indeed loathe those Cuban illegal immigrants in the Eighteenth District who cause security problems, but we can’t disregard human life. These people are innocent. The real villains are those who deceive them, who paint Miami as a paradise and lure them onto this deadly path."

The identities of the two fishing boats’ owners were also uncovered. It turned out that both owners and crew members were Cuban-American citizens of Cuban refugee background who had obtained legal status after stowing away to the United States. They charged each Cuban stowaway as much as 1500 US dollars, and they conspired numerous times with relatives in Cuba. The relatives in Cuba would contact the stowaways and collect the fees, then use sailboats to transport them to the waters near Florida, from where the two modified fishing boats would transfer the stowaways to Miami.

While the police were gathering evidence, it was discovered that the two Cuban-American owners of the boats, who had ordered the abandonment of the stowaways that resulted in many drowning tragedies, had in fact donated multiple times to the campaign action committee of Iliana Leti, a Republican. The reporters even found photos of Iliana Leti posing closely with the two boat owners.

David Middleton, the commander of Miami Dade County Police Department’s Sea Patrol who had been talking on camera in the TV news, stood in front of the turned-off television set, facing David Kennedy and Tommy. With blond hair, a tall frame, and dressed in a fashionable casual suit, Middleton wore a humble smile as he said,

"Mr. Kennedy, if Iliana Leti continues to persist, the police investigation will soon find that the criminals received funding assistance from CANF when they bought the two fishing vessels."

David Kennedy stood up from the couch and poured a glass of wine for his guest before turning to Tommy, "David is a fine young man from Massachusetts, my homeland. Starting from his grandfather’s generation, his family has followed the advice of the Kennedy Family, working in the Boston Police Department. But after he came of age, he came to Miami to work for me. He’s been doing well. At twenty-nine, he’s already the commander of the Sea Patrol. You know his nickname? Ace agent. If it involves police work, there’s no problem he can’t fix. I think, before he turns thirty, he’ll likely be promoted to captain."

"Thank you, Mr. Kennedy," said the action commander known as David Middleton.

Noticing that Tommy had not responded and showed no desire to converse with her guest, David waved his hand dismissively, "Remember to bring your wife and kids to my home for dinner this weekend."

Understanding the hint, Middleton placed his glass down and turned to leave. Once he was gone, David turned to Tommy, who was still gazing thoughtfully at the spot where Middleton had disappeared, yet remained silent. With dissatisfaction, David spoke up, "I didn’t introduce you to other people because this kid is here. He’s a loyal and reliable knight for the Kennedy family. You need to give him enough respect, just like I’ve always respected Mr. Page by your side."

Tommy understood David Kennedy’s dissatisfaction. Just like he said, David didn’t want to just show off how many connections he had mobilized for Tommy. What he wanted to relay was that the young man named David Middleton, who was present, was there based on the trust between the Kennedy family and his family. After serving the Kennedys for three generations, Tommy could rest assured that there would be no issues with the smuggling case.