Down South: A Story From Cabo San Lucas

When Ted Keyes fled to Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the Baja California peninsula, it was a quiet and remote little fishing village. A perfect place where no one knew him, and he would never be found. He bought a charter boat business from another American, and with his wife, Maria, and her six children, Captain Ted's sportfishing business, after time, grew suspiciously to include a luxury hotel and condominium resort.

Juan Benicio Cortez had demanded a cut of the profits from Captain Ted's Billfishing Company, but instead, Captain Ted struck a deal with Juan Benicio. He needed new boats for his sportfishing business, and Juan Benico needed somewhere to invest his money. Juan Benicio was in the marijuana business, the same business which had driven Ted Keyes to flee Florida after his partner, Quicksilver Charlie, had been found floating face down in the ocean. It was told the boom to his sailboat had hit him in the head, knocking him overboard to drown but Ted Keyes knew better.

Juan Benicio had attempted to extort Ted Keyes but, in time, through their working partnership which included the construction of an upscale hotel and condominium resort complex, found an affinity for him and his family. Juan Benicio had been orphaned to the streets of Mexico City at the age of six, and the scars of that vicious childhood would never leave him. He saw what he had always wished for in the Keyes family when wandering those dangerous and mean streets as a child, brothers, sisters, and loving parents.

For Ted Keyes, however, exposure to being involved with Juan Benicio's investments was becoming too great for him and his family, too many questions were being asked by the locals, as well as the authorities. Both men had a lot to hide as well as outlive.