by Doug Ball
“Only the real bad ones, Padré. I do not do this with ordinary crooks and killers. Madré would not approve.”
“Your mother would not approve of what we do if she only knew. She thinks I am a puppet Colonel guarding the border with the Norté Americanos. She knows I have friends in high places in Arizona and approves of me working with them to bring peace between the two countries or at least our country and Arizona. Her college friend, the ex-governor, is in full agreement with what your mother wants.
“Let’s change the subject. How are the new recruits working out? What do you have, 42 of them?”
“Yes, father, 42. We washed out over 60 in the first two months of training, most of them in the first week. I fear our young men are getting soft. They do not like to sweat.”
“I fear you are correct. Look at the way our men acted in the war with Arizona. Many never fired a shot and surrendered without even trying. It cannot be accounted for by thinking they may have friends on the other side or just fear. All men have fear when they go into battle, but few are frozen into cowardice.”
“Yes, my father. I agree. I learned much from this man.”
“We can speak of that later. I need to meet with my officers in ten minutes. Call Tan and let him know. If it is pertinent to his cases, that is.”
“Si, it is pertinent.”
24
The Colonel left thinking about his role as Spiderman in the last war. How he’d helped the cause of peace by assisting both sides, one to win and the other to lose. If he had been this sector’s Colonel at the time, the war would not have begun, let alone, been lost in such a demeaning way for Mexico. Mexico was proud, is proud, of her might and riches. Both sides need to know that.
The son made his call.
The phone was answered, “San José.”
“Santa Gabriella. I have information for you from the man who triggered the bomb at Naco.”
“And that information is,” Tan grabbed his note pad and pen.
“He was paid to build the bomb, build the trigger, hire the driver, and trigger the device exactly on the border line. His wife says she knows nothing, but we will see after a few days in the hole with no bathing, bad food, and no sanitation other than the bucket in the corner which isn’t being emptied. Cruel to a lady, but sufficient to gain knowledge. The wife had ten thousand American dollars in her cookie jar, literally.”
“Who paid him, did she know?”
“She said it was a dark man, with a mustache, who passed himself off as one of us, but was not. The man paid in cash and said there would be more work for her husband if he succeeded in this one. She thinks the man was a military man from Florida or Cuba or maybe another Gulf of Mexico island. Maybe even South America.
“From the man I found out he had done a couple of other explosive jobs in our country before being called by this man and then meeting him. He agreed that the man was, ah, well tanned he called it, that the man went by Colonel, and came well recommended. We are looking for the one whose name was used as the referral. I do not hold out much hope for finding him. I feel the referrer is dead because the Colonel wants no, how you say, loose ends fluttering in the breeze of the investigation.
“Finally, I have made it known through my channels that there is a large group, 30 or more, going north tomorrow evening directly north from Chipazo to a pick up point that has never been used and the coyote is selling spots cheap. We, of course, will be that group and the outriders that will tag along for the surprise. I will send a message to you with a map of the route and the coordinates of various possible ambush points. These points have been checked out in the route from the beginning. This afternoon, men from my unit will go to those spots and dig in deep to wait and tell us where the shooters set up. When we have that information, I will reroute my men to capture or kill as many of the shooters as possible.”
Tan came back with, “I have two men, Tank and Abdul, who might be recruited for something like that sometime this evening. They’ve tried once before, but the recruiter was a no show. I’ll let you know. Wouldn’t want them killed. I’ll let them know before they get hired. Of course, they wouldn’t be hard to identify or miss.”
“Ah, the negro and the redneck.”
“You got it.”
“That’s the news for today, stay tuned for the grand finale.”
“I hope so. Stay safe.”
“That doesn’t come with the job.”
Santa Rita Mountains
“Look, Colonel, the phone broke. I’m using my personal. I was in the mountains finding good ambush spots around the springs and other things that draw the coyotes.”
“I will forgive this one time. Do not call me if the phone you are on now breaks. I will not answer. Now, I have a big one for you tomorrow night. A large group is heading north, drugs and people. Could be as many as fifty in the group. Some will be armed and some not. I want them dead to finally show these people of Arizona they need me to guide them and not the weak kneed professional politicians they have elected. They are nothing but fops acting like the royalty in early Europe. So inbred they have no strength, no intelligence, no elegance, or fight left in them. I will rule and you will be at my side.”
“That sounds like fun, Sir. I will need to recruit more men in a short time. That means there will need to be more money in my account by 7 PM so I can front the new guys an advance.”
“Thirty thousand dollars will be deposited within the hour. Use the unlimited card at the ATMs and hit as many as you would like. Just don’t over pay. Five hundred should be enough to get these men on our side with a promise of another ten thousand.”
“Ten grand for one night?”
“Yes, it is that important.”
“Done. I will get another throwaway phone and call tomorrow for more details.”
“That will be fine.” The line went dead in Brad’s hand.
Tucson
“Here’s the dope you wanted on the prints, boss. Some clown in Phoenix lost the info distribution list on all this. Took me half an hour on the phone to get him to fax them to the hotel. Otherwise I’d had to go down to the police station to receive them and that would be another hassle.” Matarese handed them to him with the clipped stack in chronological order,
Tan handed them back. “Send each with an address to the department that has jurisdiction and the others I’ll take right here. Get me a copy for my own files of each and every one of these.” He turned to walk back into his room.
“This is your master copy. The ones I have already shipped to local law enforcement have a green bar of color across the top, like this one,” she held one out. “The others that do not have the green bar are being searched for right now by my three private rookies from the South Tucson Police Department. I told them ten minutes on each and then give it up.”
“Why ten minutes?”
“Well, a girl can only con a guy into working for her if she makes the end of the work sound close. You, of course, will call me in twenty minutes and rescue me from the monsters. Although the slim one does have possibilities although I’m not looking for a husband or a date. I have a job I love and want to be secure in before I tie myself down with a man and kids.”
“What about just a man?”
“Nope. Can’t have one without the other.”
Tan turned aside as he thought about the logic. When he turned back, she was gone. He was alone with his files and paperwork. “Yippee,” he grumbled.
He called Joan.
Supper time rolled around with Tan picking up the tab, on the state of course, for Abdul, Tank, Materese, and himself. The Silver Saddle Saloon lived up to its reputation for fine meat and quick service.
While they waited for the steaks to come, Tank and Abdul updated Tan and his assistant on the Jungle they would be in and what happened last night and what they hoped would happen when they went back that night. Matarese told them of two arrests and three to come if the addresses were correct. As if on cue, her p
hone rang informing her of a dead end and an arrest. “Make that three arrests.”
Tan told the two men, “You don’t go anywhere after that bar without talking to me. If the man won’t let you call home, tell him it’s a necessity due to your sick mother, Matarese, needing around the clock care. You’re only out tonight because your sister is watching Mom, again. Matarese will answer to Mrs. Reece, and nothing else after we leave here.”
“Oh, I’m married now am I?”
“And eighty-two years old.”
They all got a laugh out of that which carried them to the delivery of the food.
“Let me say Grace before we eat,” Tan asked. Everyone nodded. “Lord, you sometimes call us to the dangerous things in life. Tonight I pray that this food will strengthen us as much as your love comforts us. I pray each of us will do what is necessary to end this epidemic of blood on our borders. There can be no true peace on earth until Your Son reigns, and I ask that He come soon. Protect Your people and our first responders that are constantly in the line of fire, I particularly asked that you be with Tank and Abdul as they go in harm’s way. In the name of Jesus, Amen.”
Abdul asked, “Can we eat this now. My stomach is mad cuz my nose gettin’ all the good smells and it ain’t gettin’ no food.”
“Eat.”
Tank said, “Amen.”
During the meal Tan’s phone was busier than his jaws. Another man was caught in Kingman and was spilling the beans. All he knew was he met the man at a survivor store and was paid two thousand dollars. He knew no one in the group and all he did was take the money and jewelry. The only weapon he had was a .22 auto in his belt. The man’s name that recruited him was Manny, a short stubby guy that liked to drink. He would recognize the rest of the group if he saw them, or so he said.
Bisbee cops reported that a man had walked into the station and confessed to being the driver of the truck and detonator of the bomb. “This guy wants to be on the front page no matter how he gets there,” was the comment from the Chief of Police.
Then there was the report of three men hunting down a cougar. Each had a rifle and they were all on horses with dogs way out front. Some passing tourist called the police on them saying, “I’m sure they’re hunting Mexicans.” The AzBP man that investigated said they were both from Pennsylvania and had never seen men on horses carrying guns except in the movies. They were also scared because they were lost in the maze of two rut roads south of Sonoita which was over 40 miles away from where they thought they were.
After the cougar hunters report, Tan rerouted all his calls to voice mail and finished his meal. Strangely, it never rang again until they were out in the parking lot talking of the evening’s endeavors.
And, that was a wrong number he answered without thinking.
“You want back up when you go in?” Tan asked. “Tucson offered a man they have that works the streets?”
“Nah, boss. Ain’t no way that joint can be any danger. They ain’t but fifteen chairs in the whole danged place. The bartender talks too much for it to be much of a secret. Biggest problem gonna be selling ourselves. We ain’t exactly combat ready fitness and such. I know how to use an AR 15, but Abdul don’t. I can show him right quick, but it takes a lot of practice to look like you know what you is doin’. Probably better off if just I go in and Abdul plays follower.”
“Ain’t gonna happen, little buddy. I can learn anything and I done learned AR 15 and a few other fighting styles. I even know Colt .45 and Winchester ’94. If needed, I also know chair.” Abdul smiled as everyone else in the group laughed.
“You both go in. Two brains are better than one and in your cases, two brains make almost one.” Tan opened the car door. “Of course I am only kidding . . . not.”
Matarese added, “I’m not too sure, boss. Those heads are awfully small.”
Everyone backed off a bit and said, “Ooooooooooo.”
Abdul said, “I am deeply hurt.” He turned to the Deputy, “And you, my friend, so sweet and innocent, how could you say such a thing?”
“With my lips, big daddy.”
Abdul puckered up and leaned toward her.
Much to his surprise, she leaned in and gave him a peck on the lips. “Happy times,” said Abdul as he broke into his rendition of a happy dance. “I will never wash these lips again, no way.”
Tan said, “Okay, best you get to the Jungle and really look hungry for a job.”
“Lookin’ hungry not gonna be a problem here, boss,” Tank said as he patted his size extra-large belly.
On 1-10, entering Tucson
Brad took the exit in the Jeep and, catching the light just right, he went back up the on ramp watching the traffic behind him and on the interstate. He could see no one that appeared to be following him. He took the next exit off, crossed under the big road, and returned to the interstate going back the way he had come for town and home.
After switching the Jeep for a Toyota Corolla at a car rental place he had never used before, he went to his home neighborhood. It took him three times around the block before he was confident there were no new cars in the area and no one was parked in the visitor’s spots that had a car that yelled, ‘cops.’ He pulled into a visitor spot and slowly got out carrying his gear in his left hand. His right hand hovered over his low thigh holster and the black gripped auto that was in it.
The telltales were still on the door which opened with ease indicating the trip lock above the door had not been activated by an intruder. The dust on the shelves was not disturbed and the refer door was still shut. He had rigged the door to lock open if a certain sequence of actions was not done. He finished his tour of the house with a scanner in one hand and the gun in the other. No red lights or triggers.
He quickly made six calls and then showered before putting on fresh camo over his armor and back up gun which resided in his left armpit in a shoulder rig. Resetting all the alarms, telltales, and triggers he took the rental car to the Jungle.
The odds of him finding four men in one night were short, but if he didn’t, he’d just fill a hole himself and go with what he had. There were five ATM’s on the way to the bar and he tapped each of them for the max they would give. At the bank, he tapped it for all he needed.
The bar was quiet and only two patrons were in sight. Each of them was an old drunk that was already loaded and would soon fade into the darkness to find a hole to sleep in, probably the mission two blocks down. The mission would take anyone that could walk.
The spot he liked was open. He grabbed the beer the barkeep handed him and sat in the back corner with his back to the wall and a table in front of him. The wait began.
25
Tank and Abdul walked into the Jungle and bellied up to the bar. “Couple a drafts here, my man.”
“Coming right up,” the barkeep looked to the back corner and pointed with his chin.
Tank turned around to get a good look. Abdul just sat digging out the funds to pay the tab. The beer arrived, “First one’s on the house.”
“Thanks,” Tank said as he turned back. To Abdul he said, “Man looks to be a soldier.”
Abdul bobbed his head, grabbed his beer, and walked to the corner table. “This seat taken?”
“No. Fill it.” Brad replied.
“Thanks.” Abdul sat and nodded for Tank to come over.
Tank arrived, “Howdy. I’m Tank and this is my bud, Abdul. Understand you’re looking for workers in the field, so to speak.”
“Who would have told ya that?”
“Little birdie told us. We kinda need work. Work that pays. There’s lots of weeds out there that need diggin’ out. We can dig.”
“I need a reference. Name the man that sent you.”
“The man is scared of you. Says you are the baddest man in the valley and fear nothing. Don’t look that bad from here.”
Brad set his beer back on the table and stood up. “Wanna go outside and see who’s bad?”
“Not really. I’m a bit out of t
raining and shape.” Tank turned his head, “Abdul, you wanna take this guy outside.”
“Nah. I’m in enough trouble and don’t wanna do nothin’ that’ll bring cops around. They put me back again and I’s there for life, specially I kill another white boy.”
“White boy!? I am no boy in anybody’s definition.” Brad’s dander was coming up. “I love a good fight and if you want one let’s go.” He pushed his chair back to the wall. “You want some of me, come and get it.”
“I don’ want nothin’ of you, I wants a job, my man. Boy be just a figure of speech. Sit down and tell us, we got a job or not?” Abdul was putting on the show.
Tank said, “Thirty seconds and I am outta here. There’s a guy hiring over to Yuma. Sending troops to Bolivia they say.”
Brad sat down. “Sit down and hush for a moment.” He lifted his bottle and took a long slug. “What experience you got? What outfit were you in? Why do you think you two fat boys can do me any good cutting weeds?”
Tank went first. “I was in the Wichita PD for six years. They cut me out when I took down a man that was coming my way with a gun in his hand. Problem was that man was 150 yards away and I yelled ‘halt’ once and shot him. Three rounds in the chest before he hit the ground. Come to find out, the gun he had wasn’t loaded. But, he was wanted for killing a little girl in a very nasty way.”
“Me, I ain’t done nothing but poke holes in paper with a gun. Now, with a knife, I done been in Florence for usin’ a knife in a way the law don’t want. I killed two men and done two terms. Tank, my man here, can teach me to use a gun in no time at all. I done watched this boy shoot a couple a times. And, I need a job. I done hocked ever’thin’ I own and I got enough in my jeans for two or three more beers and then I is gonna have to hit a liquor store or something. Ain’t no future in that.” Abdul signed his statement by slamming a ten inch knife into the table hard enough that it penetrated the inch thick top. “Any more questions?”