What's Left is Right: Book two of The Detective Bill Ross Crime Series

by Irving Munro

  Chapter 35: Fish in the net

  Special Agent in Charge Dave (Doc) O’Connell was sitting in the FBI Dallas field office briefing the members of the Critical Incident Response Group (CRIG) who had been selected for the mission.

  Agent John Anderson had been selected to lead the main Swat Operations Unit (SOU) that would hijack the Rodriguez Trucking eighteen-wheeler on route from its depot in El Paso to the Colinas Verde Ranch. He would lead a team of 40 SWAT agents and they would be hidden in the back of the truck, ready for the assault. Agent Oscar Lopez was selected as a native Spanish speaker to take the position up front with the driver to ensure that he did as instructed when they arrived at the ranch.

  Agents from the field office in El Paso had determined that there was a truck scheduled to leave the El Paso depot the day of the Christmas Party and that its ETA at the ranch was scheduled for 6 p.m. That was too early in the day to make the plan work, so Texas Highway Patrol was asked for assistance to pull the truck over and, in doing so, delay the arrival at the ranch until 8 p.m. when the party would be in full swing. This would not arouse any suspicion as their trucks did occasionally get pulled over for routine checks.

  Captain Art Johnson would be the lead pilot for the Tactical Helicopter Unit (THU). There would be three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters with eight SWAT agents in each. The plan was to fly to the border checkpoint at Marfa for a spot inspection, and two Texas senators volunteered to fly in one of the helicopters to carry out the inspection. They would remain at the checkpoint when the choppers were called into the ranch for the real mission. The choppers were scheduled to arrive at Marfa at 4 p.m. the day of the party.

  The drone for Eye in the Sky support would be controlled from the Dallas Office.

  ~

  Enrique Rodriguez suspected nothing. He was high on cocaine and on the prospect of the vast sums of money to be made now that he was in sole control of the empire. Someone had done him a favor by taking out Garrison McMullen; it was unfortunate that his brother Jimmy had to die, but so be it.

  His network of spies and informants had told him about the spot check that was happening that day at the Marfa checkpoint and that a couple of Texas senators were flying in. “They just want another fucking photo op!” had been his response.

  ~

  By 6:30 most of the important attendees at the party had arrived. Eddie Tang and his entourage were in the west wing of the ranch and had already started partying. Pablo Zambrano and his Zapata people were scheduled to arrive at seven. The feast preparations were already underway and everyone could smell the pork and beef cooking on the spit. Enrique did another couple of lines of coke and a shot of tequila. He was ready to party.

  By eight o’clock the party was in full swing. Zambrano and his people had arrived on schedule with several others from Mexican law enforcement who were on the Zapata payroll. Feliz Navidad was blaring out on speakers; the voice of Jose Feliciano was unmistakable.

  The eighteen-wheeler with its cargo of SWAT agents had been waved through the security gates with no problem as the two guards sipped on their beers, wishing that they could be at the main ranch enjoying the party. They suspected nothing.

  The eighteen-wheeler with its deadly swat team cargo parked in its usual spot, ready to be loaded up with its cargo of cattle, drugs and illegals the next day. It was parked about fifty yards from that main ranch house and Agent Lopez could see everything from his position in the cab of the truck. The driver, with his duties completed, had been handcuffed and was now in the back of the truck with the other agents.

  “Go!”

  Agent O’Connell gave the green light from his control center in Dallas.

  The Black Hawk helicopters lifted off from Marfa to make the six-minute flight to the ranch. Two minutes later one of the circling drones fired a rocket into the desert to the west of the ranch, creating a huge fireball.

  “What the fuck was that?” yelled Enrique as he and everyone else ran to the western side of the ranch to see what had happened.

  The main SWAT team from the eighteen-wheeler had exited the parked truck and had already reached the main door at the eastern entrance to the ranch house. They took out the two security guards who had made a poor decision and tried to engage. At the same time, the helicopters landed and unloaded their teams.

  ~

  It was all over in less than 30 minutes. The only casualties had been the two security guards at the front door. Everyone was rounded up. The key players—Rodriguez, Eddie Tang and Pablo Zambrano—were immediately transported by helicopter to Dallas. The others were herded into the eighteen-wheeler for a rather uncomfortable ride back to the El Paso field office where FBI agents stood ready to process them.

  Special Agent John Anderson and his team were given the task to go over the ranch with a fine-tooth comb and gather all the evidence needed to support the prosecution of the leaders and particularly Enrique Rodriguez. The scale of the illicit operation was immense and the FBI and DEA joint task force removed all of the computer and communications equipment from the ranch offices and loaded it onto the helicopters for transport to Dallas and then on to FBI headquarters in Washington, DC.

  They found the tunnels into Mexico and the staging area for the drugs and illegals that were brought through the tunnels into the U.S. In two huge warehouses they found over a ton of cocaine, and adjacent to that warehouse two bunkhouses containing over 60 illegals sleeping in conditions resembling those found in concentration camps during WWII. They spent a maximum of two days in these filthy conditions in transit from South America and Mexico.

  ~

  In Washington, DC, back-to-back press conferences were held. The first was hosted by FBI Director Sam Forrester and Special Agent Dave O’Connell, who had flown in overnight from Dallas.

  “Last night a joint FBI and DEA task force under the leadership of Special Agent Dave O’Connell carried out a successful operation to close down one of the largest, if not the largest, drug and human trafficking operation in the USA. The raid was on the Colinas Verde Ranch in southwest Texas. The owner of the ranch, Enrique Escobar Rodriguez, was arrested along with others suspected of being complicit in the running of this illegal enterprise, including Eddie Tang, a Chinese national and the CEO of Deng Tang Corporation, and Pablo Zambrano, reputed to be the head of the Zapata drug cartel.

  “This operation was a direct result of the continuing investigation into the death of Garrison McMullen by the Travis County Police Department in Austin, Texas, and this extensive illegal enterprise would not have been uncovered without the diligent efforts of Travis County Police Department Chief Bill Dunwoody and his team.

  “I must also thank Texas Governor Raymond Shaw and Governor-elect Gavin McMullen for their support.”

  The FBI director went on to describe the ongoing commitment to securing the borders and stopping the flow of drugs and illegal aliens into the U.S.

  A statement from the President closely followed this news conference, and then the political dance continued. On-camera interview after interview followed. Senators and congressional leaders were each getting their moment to bask in the success of the operation and describe the key role that they had played in this as part of their undying commitment to the safety and wellbeing of the American people. It was the typical Washington tap dance after a successful operation.

  Chapter 36: Gavin McMullen

  Two weeks later the Austin Convention Center main hall was packed to capacity for the inauguration of the next governor of Texas. Security teams were everywhere to ensure that nothing bad happened to the “Who’s Who” of Texas society.

  As the invited guests mingled together, dressed in their finest attire, looking for their table assignments and enjoying pre-dinner drinks, all the talk was about recent events and whether Gavin McMullen would be able to survive politically. They were waiting with unbridled excitement to hear his acceptance speech for any clues as to how he planned to defend his corner. Everyone loves a good fight, an
d to this crowd a political fight was to be savored and enjoyed.

  After the dinner had been served and everyone was settling down with their drinks, the main event was about to start and the room went immediately silent when the person from the red corner, Gavin McMullen rose to address the crowd.

  My fellow statewide elected officials, members of the judiciary, members of the House and Senate, friends and Texans, it’s an honor to take the oath of office as your governor.

  Before I look forward to the job ahead I must also reflect on the tumult of the past few weeks and months. The man I thought was my father was a stalwart of the Republican Party, but he was able to be in that position by fraudulent means.

  It’s important that I do not gloss over these events or attempt to put a spin on them to protect myself from the fallout. I must be honest, candid and forthright and only by being so will I be able to emerge from this with dignity and respect. Only then will the great people of Texas be able to trust this person who stands before you today, the person you elected to be the next governor of this great state.

  The reality is that the man I understood to be my father was a liar, a cheat and a murderer. He was a despicable human being.

  While he made public condemnation of the lack of action to protect our borders from the flow of illegal aliens, he ran the largest human trafficking operation, a super highway, if you will, exploiting those whose only desire was to get a better life to feed their families. While being critical of the current administration that there was not enough being done to stop the flow of drugs entering our country and poisoning our citizens, he ran the largest illicit drug business in the country, adding to and extending the misery of drug addiction.

  To protect himself from being revealed for what he really was, he killed my mother and my real father and arranged for the killing of my brother.

  This man was not my father. This man’s blood does not run through my veins. I am not like this man in any way.

  My father was Achak Muguara, a direct descendant of Chief Muguara of the Penateka Comanche. My mother was Alyana Parker, a direct descendant of Quanah Parker, the last great Comanche Chief. I am Comanche; I am a first nation Native American.

  This explains my lineage, but it does not tell you who I am, what I believe in and what my vision is for this great state of Texas.

  My brother was Mike Muguara, a Marine and a member of our Special Forces. He fought for his country as part of a Special-Forces team in the desert of western Iraq searching for and eliminating scud missile sites that were being used to rain down terror on Israel.

  This team of six patriots and protectors of our way of life consisted of one Brit, one Australian, one Scots/Irish, one Hispanic, one Italian and my brother, a Native American. It was the sum of their parts that made them strong. They did not focus on their differences but on their strengths. They watched each other’s back. It was all about the team, the unity and the camaraderie.

  This great state of ours is a melting pot of cultures. Like that team in the desert, it’s the sum of our parts and our diversity that makes us strong; we all bring something unique to the table. We all have a strong lineage and, with the possible exception of my first nation brothers and sisters, we all came here from somewhere else; we are all immigrants.

  If you come here legally and you want to work hard and contribute, we welcome you. If you come here illegally and try to game the system or sponge off the efforts of others, there is no place for you in Texas. We are a diverse state, a rich state, and we will be made richer by the influx of legal workers with special skills who will add to our wealth, our diversity and our prosperity.

  I will focus on jobs and business investment that creates jobs. I will ensure that we have a state government that stimulates and supports innovation and entrepreneurship. I will be a champion of women in the workplace and will look to drive opportunity for more women-owned businesses.

  As our forefathers did, I will fight for and protect religious freedom. Being a melting pot of cultures, we must recognize that these cultures have different religious beliefs. We are predominantly a Christian nation, but we must recognize that others will be of different faiths and we must be respectful of their beliefs and their customs as they are of ours.

  It’s not about exclusion, it’s about inclusion. I will look to collaborate for the common good, not confront and look to win a point for some meaningless political game. With me it’s about being united in a common purpose to make this great state the greatest place on earth for our children and our children’s children.

  When I leave office I hope that I will have done something of real value and will have earned the right to have had my name on the door - Gavin McMullen-Muguara, Governor of Texas.

  May God bless you, bless this great state of Texas and bless the United States of America.

  Thank you.

  There was a standing ovation. He had touched their soul; they now knew why they had voted for him. Gavin McMullen-Muguara was a good man, potentially a great man, and he had the makings of a great governor.

  ~

  In Washington, DC, members of the Republican Party national committee watched the speech live.

  “This boy from Texas is quite impressive; he speaks from the heart. We need to watch his progress over the years. Might be just the ticket to have a strong, conservative Native American in the White House!”

  The following morning The Austin Statesman published the first part of an exclusive three-part editorial written by Latisha Williams called “The Fall of an Empire.” It described the empire built by Garrison McMullen and Enrique Rodriguez from its early beginnings in the cattle and horse business to drugs and human trafficking.

  She described how the intoxicating lust for power had created evil men willing to do anything for their drug of choice (power) and how they met their eventual demise as a result of the unrelenting and diligent efforts of members of the Travis County Police Department’s cold case team.

  Chapter 37: Their journey to the other side

  It was a freezing cold February day. The burial ceremony was scheduled for mid-afternoon to ensure that it would be completed before sunset. The remains of Achak Muguara, Alyana Parker and Mike Muguara had each been wrapped in a Comanche Indian blanket and then placed in separate coffins. The site chosen by the tribal council was close by the grave of Cynthia Parker in the Post Cemetery at Fort Sill, near Lawton, Oklahoma. It was within sight of the Chief's Knoll where many of the great chiefs of the southern tribes are buried, including Quanah Parker.

  It was bitterly cold, and the assembled funeral party dressed accordingly with heavy coats and scarves to protect them from the wind that gusted across the plains. A place of honor by the graveside was reserved for Gavin McMullen and for the representatives from the tribal council and the elders. Gavin had his arm around Antonella Aguilar, who looked very frail and had a Comanche blanket wrapped around her. Chief Dunwoody, Tommy, Bill and Marie stood together with Yolanda and Julian Hernandez. Claudette and Saul Weiss had flown over from Germany and they stood alongside Bill. Bill handed Claudette the silver money clip that had belonged to Mike Muguara and kissed her softly on the cheek.

  The three hearses navigated their way through the cemetery and slowly pulled alongside the gravesite. Eighteen young Comanche men stood ready, six for each coffin, and they performed their duty with honor and respect, carrying the caskets to the graveside and lowering them into their final resting places.

  Throughout history when great chiefs were buried, oftentimes young braves would cut off a lock of their hair and place it with the chief. At the end of the burial ceremony and before the earth covered the caskets, Gavin McMullen stepped forward. He took out a knife that he had brought with him for this final tribute and he cut off locks of his hair and placed one on each coffin. He then stretched out his arms wide and held them up into the air and looked to the heavens. Gavin McMullen-Muguara spoke with the spirits. They were all there stretching back to the time wh
en the buffalo roamed the plains: Peta Nocona, Quanah Parker, Buffalo Hump and Chief Muguara of the Penateka. Gavin McMullen-Muguara spoke with them and asked that they watch over his family as they made their journey to the other side.

  A hundred yards away, up on the hill by the Chiefs Knoll, a solitary figure stood unseen by the other funeral attendees. When the ceremony was over, Joe Nichol quickly left and headed back to the airport.

  Chapter 38: The Parting Glass

  I have a surprise for you but you’re going to have to trust me,” said Bill Ross.

  Tommy had invited Bill and Elaine over for dinner. After the burgers, Tommy and Bill were sitting together on Tommy’s patio watching the sun go down while Elaine, helped by Claire, cleaned up in the kitchen.

  “Okay, I’m in,” said Tommy, “So tell me what you have in mind.”

  It had been an intense few months and they had just returned from the burial ceremony in Oklahoma and were ready to draw a line under the “Burning Cross” case.

  “We’ll set off early Friday morning and drive down to Houston. That’s all I’m prepared to say at this time, but you should plan to be gone Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and be back in Austin on Monday. Claire will be staying over the weekend at Mimi’s house. Where we’re going will be cold, so pack accordingly,” said Bill.

  ~

  The day of the trip arrived and Tommy had packed as instructed, and he and Bill set off early in Bill’s SUV for the drive to Houston.

  “The first stop is to see Martha and Jacob Goldman and to buy them lunch at the deli on Market Street. We would never have made the breakthrough on the Burning Cross case without their help. I have everything arranged and they’ll meet us at the deli,” said Bill as they approached the outskirts of Houston.