“I’m gonna try,” Jack replied as he noticed Ashley walking down the rise toward him. Her expression told him she had found something.
“Guess what I found,” Ashley quietly declared, making sure the sheriff didn’t overhear.
“The killer, I hope.” Jack quipped.
“Another one of our crop circles,” Ashley revealed. “Just like the one we found near the other body. It’s about fifty yards over the berm.”
Jack’s phone rang, interrupting her report. Jack held up a finger and answered the call, struggling to hear thanks to the marginal reception.
“Juan Pablo Rosario,” Jack told Ashley after he got off the phone. “He’s muscle for the Carlos Castillo car-tel.”
Ashley shrugged her shoulders.
“A Mexican drug smuggling cartel that operates in this area,” Jack clarified. “They’re especially violent and have even been known to make attempts on border patrol and federal agents that have gotten in their way.”
Jack and Ashley’s eyes met.
“You know what I’m thinking?” Jack cocked his head.
“Oh yeah,” Ashley agreed. “Let’s go see Paco.”
“Great minds,” Jack said as he motioned toward the car. “I’ll bet ya this is the guy who sold Paco the truck.”
“Leaving so soon?” the sheriff called out as he saw the agents head for the car.
“Yep,” Jack smirked. “It’s called following leads. You ought to try it sometime, Sheriff. Makes it easier to solve a case.”
The sheriff snarled and tossed down his cigarette, glaring at the pair as they drove out of sight.
Jack’s phone rang as they raced cross-country, navigating their way back to the highway.
“This is Looper,” he answered. “Talk quick. I don’t know when I’ll run out of bars out here.”
“If you got anybody who can link your dead guy to your ambush, we need them,” declared Federal District Attorney Price Barnes, one of the few people Jack answered to.
“News travels quick, don’t it?” Jack wondered just as he hit a bump and was thrown into the roof, holding the phone with one hand and the steering wheel with another. Jack reckoned the prosecutor had been kept in the loop after Jack made his detailed daily reports to headquarters.
“Anything with the name Carlos Castillo gets red-flagged in my office,” Barnes replied. “I’m this close to making a RICO case against him. His muscle is lying dead in the middle of the desert very close to where you were ambushed by a group with a very Castillo-like M.O. That seems a little more than coincidental, don’t you think?”
“Yeah,” Jack’s head slammed against the roof again. “I’ve figured that one out.”
The old cruiser fish-tailed as it hit the black top and squealed in the direction of the reservation where Paco lived. The remote outpost, Jack had learned during an earlier conversation with Kyle, was located on the south side of town, several miles off the main road.
“Intelligence we have from inside the Castillo family says there’s a real shake up going on within the organization,” Barnes revealed. “Your arrival came at a bad time.”
“Well, I’ll be sure to apologize to him about that when I see him,” Jack mocked as he took a hard turn onto the side road that lead to the reservation.
“My suspicion is that your dead guy screwed up and was made an example,” Barnes continued. “And, I further suspect they plan on eliminating anything or any-one that ties the Castillo organization to your ambush.”
Jack was uncharacteristically quiet as he continued racing through the frontier. Ashley shrugged her shoulders, only getting Jack’s side of the conversation.
“What’s going on?” she mouthed.
Jack took his hand off the wheel to hold up a finger. Ashley quickly grabbed the wheel as the car bounced from ditch to ditch on the crude dirt road.
“Your report referred to a local who had purchased the truck from your dead guy,” Barnes began. “We need that man. He is the one remaining connection be-tween the truck and the ambush of two federal agents. If we can connect the truck to the ambush and then the ambush to Castillo, that’s all we will need to make the RICO case against him.”
Yet another side case had arisen from what began as a murder case. Now, not only were he and Ashley try-ing to solve the cultist murder and the potential murder of a sheriff’s candidate but they were also trying to help in the racketeering case against a Mexican drug lord.
“What do you want me to do?” Jack asked.
“Bring him to us,” Barnes said. “Convince the local guy to cooperate. It would be in his best interest. The way I see it, he may be the next one to die. Tell him we will see to his safety. I’ll send you specifics of where to rendezvous tomorrow morning.”
Jack gritted his teeth as he hung up and tossed his phone to Ashley.
“Well?” she asked.
“More work, same pay,” Jack rolled his eyes, explaining what the prosecutor had told him.
A twenty-minute drive through the wilderness came to an abrupt end as they approached the crest of a hill on the outskirts of the reservation.
“A welcoming committee,” Ashley said, pointing to a trio of Jeeps that sat in the middle of the dirt road.
Eight men stood near the vehicles, rifles in hand. Badges revealed they were law enforcement, likely tribal police.
“What now?” Jack griped as he climbed out of the car, Ashley urging him to wait for her. “Don’t worry, these are my people.”
“Huh?” Ashley wondered as she climbed out of the car.
“Native Americans,” Jack confirmed. “I’m like one sixteenth Cherokee. You got to remember, I was born and raised in East Tennessee.”
“Um, I don’t think these guys are Cherokee,” Ashley cautioned. “And, they don’t look too happy to see us so I wouldn’t …”
Jack waved her off as he walked up to the group of men and held up his hand. “Howgh.”
Ashley dropped her head in embarrassment as she stood a few steps behind him. “Don’t do it, Jack.”
The men stood looking blankly at Jack. He sensed the confusion and continued.
“I am … Agent Jack Looper … from the Federal … Bureau … of … Investigation,” Jack yelled in a slow, pronounced voice.
The men continued staring at him, not responding to his insulting greeting. Jack looked the men over and glanced at Ashley over his shoulder.
“I don’t think they speak English,” Jack declared. “You don’t speak Indian, do you honey?”
“I speak perfect English,” said one of the men, step-ping forward and throwing his carbine over his shoulder. “I’m a graduate of Arizona State with a degree in communications. Sorry, but I have to admit, I don’t speak much – “Indian” as you called it. What exactly is “Indian” anyway?”
Jack’s face turned red.
“You’ll have to forgive my partner,” Ashley began.
“Boss,” Jack butted in, getting a glare from Ashley and a shake of the head from the men who were standing nearby.
“He doesn’t get out much,” Ashley continued, giving Jack a warning look to shut up. “We’re here on official business to meet with a Paco Gonzales. He lives on the reservation. Can you help us?
Giving Jack a hard glance, the man brushed past him and extended his hand to Ashley.
“I’m Colt Roberts,” he said, taking Ashley’s hand. “I’m chief of the tribal police.”
Introducing herself, Ashley detailed the reason for their visit, assuring Colt that Paco was in no trouble but was instead wanted as a material witness. After a short conversation, the chief brushed back by Jack and talked quietly with his officers who were still waiting by the vehicles.
“Follow this road about a mile and you’ll come upon their trailer,” Colt told Ashley before turning to Jack.
“I’d advise you to get your business done and be out of here before dark,” Colt gave Jack a sincere look.
“Is that some kind of threat?” Jack qu
estioned.
“No. It’s just some good advice,” Colt nodded. “We can’t assure your safety after nightfall. If you know what’s good for you then you won’t let the sun set on you inside the reservation.”
The eight officers loaded up and headed down the road leaving Jack and Ashley standing in the wake of their dust. Ashley hacked as she breathed in the trail, fanning her hand in front of her face, spitting out the grit.
The sun was low on the horizon as they found their way to the double-wide trailer where Paco and his family lived. Barking dogs announced their arrival, a couple of small children paused from their play to look at the strangers. They were obviously not used to company.
Paco apprehensively stuck his head out of the door, hearing the commotion outside. He gave the agents a nervous wave as they approached. He was joined at the door by his wife.
“Is this the man?” Jack asked without ceremony, pushing the phone with the picture of the dead man.
Paco’s eyes told the tale as he looked at the picture of Rosario that Jack had snapped at the crime scene. “Si.”
Jack and Ashley exchanged looks. Paco was now the key to the federal case against the Castillo cartel. The question was, would he cooperate with authorities and tell what he knew on the witness stand?
“I need you to explain to Paco and his wife what’s going on,” Jack told Ashley. “And, make sure to tell them about Castillo and that they may be in danger if they stay here. Tell them we can offer protection for their family.”
“Castillo?” Paco gulped, overhearing Jack’s conversation with Ashley. He pointed to Jack’s phone. “Castillo did this?”
“We believe so,” Jack replied, eyeing Paco. “I see you learned to speak English since the last time we met.”
Paco looked nervously at his wife, speaking in Spanish to her. She was obviously horrified by what her husband was telling her, the name “Castillo” causing her eyes to widen every time he spoke it. His wife nearly in tears, Paco grabbed her and hugged her tight.
“What do I need to do?” Paco asked as he held his wife. “Castillo is a killer. I’m afraid for my family. Can you help us? I’m sure they will come for me.”
Jack nodded his head. “We can put you in witness protection. I can have a team to take you out first thing in the morning.”
Paco looked around, seeing the sun about to set on the horizon.
Ashley gave Jack a long look. Paco’s fear was real and palpable. Jack shrugged his shoulders and pulled out his phone. He stepped away for a few moments, holding a finger in his ear, trying to make out the bro-ken reception as he talked to the federal office. He re-turned shaking his head.
“The earliest we can have a team meet us is at six in the morning,” Jack revealed. “That’s the best they can do.”
“It’s Castillo,” Paco pleaded. “There may not be a morning for me, for us.”
“We’ll stay with you,” Ashley announced, catching Jack by surprise.
“We will?” Jack looked at Ashley.
“We most certainly will,” Ashley narrowed her eyes. “We aren’t leaving these people alone tonight and we certainly can’t parade them back into town.”
Jack let out a long sigh. “I suppose we’re having a sleepover, then. Guess we better break out the party favors.”
PASSING NOTES
The barking of dogs woke Jack from his light sleep. He rubbed his neck, a crick left from the uncomfortable rocking chair in which he had chosen to take first watch. He glanced at his wrist. It was just after two in the morning. The dogs continued barking. Something was moving in the darkness. Jack strained his eyes, trying to use the moonlight to reveal what or who was out there.
“Ashley!” Jack hissed.
“What is it?” she answered from the pallet she had made for herself in the living room next to the rocking chair.”
“We have movement,” Jack whispered as he caught a stirring out front of the trailer. “Get Paco and his wife. Tell them to get down and stay down.”
Jack slowly eased toward the window, lowering the SKS he had been clutching during his rocking chair vigil. It was one of the “party favors” he had packed in the trunk of the patrol car. Ashley held the other – a fully automatic Uzi which was one of Jack’s favorite in his personal collection.
Jack had barely stationed himself in front of the window when a shout from outside in the darkness froze him.
“Paco Gonzalez!” the voice boomed. “Show yourself and we will spare your family!”
Ashley hushed the frightened children in the back bedroom where the family was huddled.
“We won’t warn you again!” the man yelled. “This is your only chance! Show yourself, Paco!”
Jack looked for an aim point outside as he leveled his weapon. He heard stirring in the darkness but couldn’t see any movement. Then, a blinding light appeared. Jack ducked just as the windows imploded on the front of the trailer, spraying the room with glass. Jack cautiously raised his head. They had blown up Paco’s truck that sat about fifty feet from the front door.
Jack heard a stirring beside him as Ashley crawled through the broken glass to his side, the light of the burning truck now bathing the front yard, revealing several gunmen standing in a skirmish line. Jack had hidden the patrol car several hundred yards behind the house, behind a berm. Castillo’s men didn’t realize they were there.
“What do we do?” Ashley whispered as she rose up to look outside.
“This is the Federal Bureau of Investigation!” Jack announced from under his cover. “Throw down your weapons!” You’re all under arrest!”
“You’re kidding, right?” Ashley looked at Jack in the glow of the burning truck, realizing he had just giv-en them away. A quiet ensued. Then all hell broke loose as bullets blazed through the front of the trailer, one buzzing Ashley’s ear as drywall rained down from the back wall and ceiling.
“Let ‘em have it!” Jack screamed as he dropped the gunman nearest to the burning truck with a volley from his SKS. Ashley joined in, blindly spraying the front yard with Uzi fire, afraid to lift her head up to see what she was firing at.
Their volleys were answered by another burst of fire from outside, this one coming from all angles.
“Stay down back there!” Ashley yelled as she changed clips. Jack continued laying down a wave of fire on the front yard.
“What’re we going to do?” Ashley asked as she jammed the clip in. “There’s too many of them!”
The answer to her question came in the form of more gunfire. However, this wasn’t gunfire aimed at the trail-er where they were hidden. It was gunfire from behind them aimed at the gunmen in the yard. Ashley rose up to see two more gunmen go down. She looked at Jack, who was in the process of reloading. He shrugged his shoulders as he saw the remaining gunmen retreat, a volley of gunfire chasing behind them.
“Hold your fire in there!” came Colt’s voice. “It’s the police!”
“Holding fire!” Jack called out.
Ashley quickly checked on Paco and his family, all of whom had taken shelter under a bed. They were shaken but unscathed. Ashley was shaking like a leaf as she returned to the living room where Jack was opening what was left of the door for Colt.
“I told you to be out of here by dark, didn’t I?” Colt pointed out as several of his deputies combed the area for Castillo’s men. Three of the gunmen lay dead in the front yard, left behind by their comrades during their hasty retreat.
“We couldn’t leave them,” Ashley defended, point-ing back to the family huddling together in the hallway. “He’s a witness against the Castillo cartel.”
Colt looked around the bullet-ridden trailer and back at Paco and his family.
“Well, I guess it’s good you don’t take advice then,” Colt pulled off his cowboy hat and rubbed his head. “With that said, this isn’t a safe place. We don’t know how many more of Castillo’s men are out there. We need to move them out of here - now.”
Twenty minutes later Pa
co and his family were crammed into the patrol car, a portion of their possessions stuffed into the trunk, the rest left behind at the trailer. Arrangements were made for a National Guard helicopter to rendezvous with them at dawn, forty miles north of New Hope. Barely able to move his elbows in the overcrowded car with Ashley and one of the children pressed against him in the front seat, Jack headed through the dark, using the moonlight to follow the path through the desert that connected - he hoped - to the main road.
Mindful of an ambush, since no one knew how many of Castillo’s men had been sent out or where they had retreated following the fire fight, everyone in the car was pressed into serving as lookout as Jack wound through the scrubland without headlights. He didn’t want to give the bad guys a target, especially since there were four civilians whose lives depended on him.
The downside of remaining stealth without head-lights was the agonizingly slow speed as they picked their way through the desert.
After what seemed like forever, they came upon the main road. Jack took no time airing out the old cruiser once he hit the pavement, its motor straining under the full load it was carrying. They covered the final thirty miles in half the time it took them to make it through the wilderness. The helicopter appeared in front of them just as the sun broke the horizon.
“Perfect timing,” Jack said as the chopper sat down a few hundred yards off the road, kicking up a wall of dust in the morning light.
The stress of the pre-dawn shootout combined with the lack of sleep hit the pair of agents after they loaded Paco and his family on the helicopter and watched it take off safely.
“I don’t know about you, sweetness, but I could use a nap,” Jack yawned as he waved to the departing chopper.
“I think I’ll start mine on the way back to town,” Ashley said, catching Jack’s contagious yawn. “Wake me up when we get there.”
Jack turned to head back to the car. Ashley stood staring at where the helicopter had just taken off, sup-pressing another yawn.
“You coming, Sleeping Beauty or do you want to camp out here?” Jack called back over his shoulder, noticing Ashley wasn’t behind him.
Paradise Ranch (Jack and Ashley detective series Book 2) Page 13