by Tom Ellis
“I would like that El Jefe.”
The crime lord looked at his watch.
“Senor Bradford, Senor Kroll, I must go to another meeting. Your meal tonight and whatever else you may desire,” El Jefe smiled at Kroll, “is on the house.”
El Jefe got up and left the restaurant. As soon as he disappeared, a waiter arrived at the table with the first course. They didn’t even have to order.
“This is excellent, El Jefe does it up right,” Kroll said between bites.
“Yes, and you made a good impression on him. He will be checking you out. When he is satisfied, you are in our corner. You will learn about the special project.”
“And you know what that is?”
“No, I don’t know yet. The money offered is twenty-five million US dollars’ cash. Five million of that is yours.”
“I would piss on the White House lawn and shit in the lobby of the Hoover Building for less.”
Their escort took them back to the club. Bradford wanted another drink and decided on a liaison with a Latina chick who pawed him while he sipped his drink. They retired to a cubical. Kroll hoped the girl who groped him earlier had left for the evening. The last thing he needed was the attention of a Mexican whore. She appeared out of nowhere and straddled his lap grinding her pelvis on his manhood. Lap dances were not unheard of during undercover assignments in the US. Kroll was unprepared for the Mexican style lap dance. The hooker deftly unzipped his fly and was grinding her thong clad crotch on his bare member before he could stop her. When he got aroused; the girl stuck her finger in her mouth and made a sucking motion. Not missing a grinding beat she pointed toward a cubicle. Bradford reappeared just in time with their guide.
The assignment was almost up when Bradford slipped on the ladder. Fortunately for him, he was able to hang on. Finally, they exited the massage parlor on the US side and walked unescorted back to where the SUV was parked.
“Do you mind driving back to Tucson. I’ve had a little too much booze to be behind the wheel this late at night. I damn near busted my ass or worse on that ladder.”
“Sure, give me the keys.”
Once they were northbound on I-19 Bradford decided to impart some advice on his colleague.
“Kroll, if you decide to buy Mexican pussy, bring your condom. Porn Dude always said the Mexicans make theirs out bicycle tire tubes. I believe him.”
“I keep that in mind. But I prefer to buy mine stateside. I appreciate the rescue. Who is Porn Dude?”
“One of my men. You will meet Pauli tomorrow when you move to the ranch. He used to be a porn actor. He’s one gross SOB, but a damn genius with a computer. He speaks Spanish too.”
After a few minutes, Bradford was snoring. Kroll drove to an all-night diner across from his hotel. He woke Bradford saying. “Brad we are across from my place. You want to go into this dump and get some coffee.”
W. Ashton blinked a couple of times and opened the door. “Good idea Kroll.”
An hour later Kroll was in his room. Bradford wrote directions to the ranch on a napkin. Ron promised he would make it down there in a few days. He took out his phone and considered texting Ivalou Vargas. It was three AM that would not go over well. Kroll decided he could report tomorrow and went to bed. Before he dozed off, he thought about Vargas and his abbreviated lap dance. Waiting until tomorrow to see her was the best idea.
It was noon before Ivalou Vargas, in Penelope attire was able to meet Kroll. And he thought she looked exceptionally hot in short shorts and a tank top.
“Aren’t you the hottie,” Kroll said when he entered the cheap hotel room.
“Yeah, keep thinking that big guy. But my butt’s covered and I’m not wearing a damn thong.”
“I saw enough thongs last night to do for a while. I thought I was gonna have to call you and ask how to say get off my lap in Spanish.”
“Oh, lap dances across the border. Have you gone to the clinic to get checked?”
“I don’t think that is necessary.” Kroll gave Ivalou the details of the previous night’s meeting. She wrote down everything he said, and he made no mention about the strip club lap dance. When they finished, she went over her notes and clarified a few things. She put her notepad back in her purse.
“I will email my report to Havelee when we get back to the motel. You know she will be coming out here now that we have a location we will be working from.”
“You and the guys probably need to relocate to Nogales. It is the closest place with motels. Right now we need a heavy duty four-wheel drive pickup with four doors. We all need to drive down for a look at this ranch I’m going to. Bradford says it takes about an hour to drive from Nogales. If I’m going to move in down there, we are going to scout the place as much as possible.”
“Why don’t I call Havelee right now and see if she can get a truck like that for us.”
Vargas made the call and explained to Harris what they needed. She hung and looked at Kroll.
“Havelee is going to find us a truck. She will get back with me asap. She approved us moving to Nogales and told me to book rooms for the whole team. She checked online and said there was an extended stay hotel that didn’t look too bad. We’ll have to look that over as well.”
“Great, how long before M&M starts beating on the door?”
“He won’t be they are observing from a different parking lot. I drove my undercover ride down here. It’s a beater Nissan that runs a hell of a lot better than it looks.”
Kroll was looking a map Vargas spread on the table.
“Our Penelope trick will work in Nogales. I can’t see the town of Patagonia having a no-tell motel.”
“I can’t see it having much of anything,” Vargas said looking over his shoulder. She was close enough that Kroll realized she smelled a lot better than the Mexican lap dancer. Ivalou’s phone rang before he could formulate a comment.
Vargas disconnected that call and immediately sent a text. She smiled at Kroll.
“That was Havelee; we got our truck. I sent the guys back to Tempe. The motor pool is bringing it down to the motel and will take one of their cars back. Des and M&M say no one-tailed us here.”
“Good, it sounds like things are coming together. We can’t relax on watching for a tail. It could come from Bradford or El Jefe. I would love to bag that bastard as part of this package. He is not the stereotypical drug lord type. I saw through the façade a couple of times. That is one scary Mexican. He has eyes everywhere down there. He even knew when I squeezed a hooker’s ass.”
“I need to put that in my report.”
“Like hell you do.”
“Alright, Kroll come clean about the hooker and the lap dance,” Ivalou ordered with a mischievous smile.
He recounted all the details with an aw shucks it happened you know attitude.
“That girl must get a lot of practice. I can’t get my zipper down that quick. I would have loved to see the look on your face when she grabbed your cock.”
“Try it and see for yourself.”
“In your dreams Kroll.” She punctuated that answer with her favorite gesture.
“A man can dream can’t he?”
“Not on the job with the fabulous bunch of idiots he can’t.”
“Don’t go all feminist on me now.”
“Don’t go all macho super-agent man and get yourself hurt either. I’m beginning to like you, Kroll. Even if you do get lap dances from Mexican hookers.”
He didn’t have a smart ass answer for that.
“It appears the Bad Apple’s investigation is bearing fruit, no pun intended.” Ransom Carter told the Director as part of a daily briefing.
“How so?”
“Kroll has gotten enough of Bradford’s confidence that Bradford spirited him across the border for a face to face meeting with El Jefe. He only spoke in generalities, but it is apparent to Kroll there is a criminal partnership between Bradford and the drug load. Kroll believes that in addition to narcotics smuggling they
have plans for human shipments. El Jefe is not into running undocumented aliens across the border. So this is likely a white slavery human trafficking operation. The real interesting thing is the mention of a special project. One that Bradford has offered Kroll five million for his part. We will know about this when El Jefe has vetted Kroll. I think we need to have him indicted for striking Glover and making sure it is in the system for El Jefe to find.”
“I will handle that with the AG. I don’t want Kroll to get busted while we still need him in place.”
“That is simple; we don’t tell Skinny Winnie where he is.”
“Once Kroll establishes himself with El Jefe, I’m going to have the indictment quashed.”
“That will work. Agent Harris is leaving for Arizona today. She will be on the ground out there until Bad Apple’s concludes. They are setting up shop in Nogales which is on the border. It is the closest place to this ranch Bradford is using.”
“Good, maybe this thing will work after all. Catching El Jefe would be good for us. If Kroll makes that happen, I might decide to let his retirement go through.”
Chapter Twelve
Jolene sat on top of a wooden picnic table. The table perch afforded her an excellent view of the San Rafael Valley and the Rocking H Bar Ranch. Located in what might be called the front yard of the casita, the table was near a large rock surrounded fire ring. Hadfield was enjoying the morning. She decided the night before they would not cook inside the luxurious Renegade Motor Home. The forty-foot long rolling house suited her perfectly. Burns got the computer system set up while she explored the coach. They would use the computer and sleep in the RV. Meals would be eaten inside the casita or on the picnic table, which was her preference. She sipped coffee and contemplated her surroundings and valley before her. She decided to see what Burns was doing in the barn.
She found him putting shoes on a cleaned up, brushed, and seemingly docile Don Cameron. A well-brushed Jazz lay on the dirt floor watching the process. The horse was cross tied in the barn aisle. The horse whinnied a greeting. Burns spoke but went about nailing a horseshoe to a hoof. It was the last one. Andy began crimping the nails and using a rasp to smooth off the crimps. Once he finished with the four feet, he applied a hoof sealer. As Burns gathered up the shoeing tools. Jolene asked a question.
“Will he let me pet him?”
“I think so just talk to him in a normal voice and pet his neck. And don’t act afraid either.”
She took a deep breath and approached the horse.
“You are the big beautiful guy, and I bet you know it.” She said softly. Don Cameron nickered as she stroked his neck. Jazz got up and walked over to her. She felt his paw touch her leg. She wound up rubbing the horse with one hand and the dog with the other.
“They are both starved for attention,” Burns said walking up to the horse on the opposite side.
“What kind of magic did you work on them? Two days ago they were wild.”
“I am probably the first person they couldn’t intimidate. And I suppose it is a matter of trust. Both of them wanted somebody they could trust. Apparently, they decided that was me. Being a total stranger probably helped more than anything. This big fellow is one the easiest horses I’ve ever shod. I wish I could have known Lyon Hamilton. He did an excellent these animals.”
“I bet Don Cameron and that mare you have at home would make a pretty baby.”
“Careful you’re beginning to sound like a horsewoman.”
“Jo is the prettiest sweetest animal I’ve been around. Burns, you did a good job of raising and training her. I won’t ever forget the first time I saw her. She ran up to that fence and slid to a stop. I thought she was going to fall over. She looked at me as if to say, who are you?”
“I knew she was from a good bloodline when Rabun and the humane society people brought her the Mustang and the burro to the place. I was surprised to find out registration papers came with her. If Lois Thornton will sell me, Don Cameron, I will breed the two of them.”
“So you are still convinced Hamilton is dead?”
“Yes, I’ve believed that since the beginning. And Carson Bell telling the story about this horse and dog showing up at his place validated it.”
“When are you going to ride him?”
“As soon as I put a saddle on him.”
Jolene watched as Burns put a saddle pad on Don Cameron. The horse paid little if any attention to that. Burns came back with the heavy saddle in hand. He effortlessly sat the forty-pound mass of wood and leather on the horses’ back. After buckling the cinch straps, he retrieved the headstall and bit. Don Cameron accepted the bit without hesitation.
Burns unhooked the cross tie ropes and led the horse outside to the large corral. He adjusted the stirrup length. With reins in hand holding a fist full of mane, Burns swung into the saddle. Don Cameron didn’t move. Burns squeezed him with his legs and the horse started forward. Andy walked the horse around the corral, turning him and reversing him. After a few minutes, he urged him into a trot. Cameron settled into an extended trot and lapped the corral. Burns nudged him into a lope.
Leaning over the fence rail Hadfield watched. She wasn’t much for horseback riding. She rode the mare, Jo. She’d ridden the Mustang a couple of times. She just wasn’t comfortable in the saddle and never felt she could control the horse. Burns rode as if he was born in a saddle. Only he grew up in a city and rode his first horse, a pony, in an amusement park. Watching Burns ride Don Cameron reminded her of the first time she saw him ride Major. She could tell Burns was happy. Jolene looked down at Jazz, the border collie sitting beside her. He might as well of been smiling. She didn’t hear the ATV approach and stop.
“I’ll be damned if I ever thought I would see that.” Carson Bell said as he walked up beside Jolene.
“That half-breed Apache Russell wasn’t spinning a tale when he said Andrew Burns knows horses. He sits that horse as good as Lyon Hamilton ever did. Damn, I wish Lyon were here to see it.”
Burns slowed Don Cameron and walked him to the gate he leaned forward and opened it with the horse sidestepping out of the way. Once the gate closed, he rode over to where Bell and Jolene stood.
“I’ll give a hundred dollar’s cash for him right now Carson,” Burns said.
“Yeah I bet you would. Try that with Lois Thornton and see how quick she tells you where to go. She knows what that horse is worth.”
“And I will pay her price and expect her to sell me the dog as well. All she has to say is how much I need to write the check for.” Burns got down from the horse and petted Jazz.
“Maybe I should have mentioned that to her this morning when she called me,” Carson said.
“Lois told me a real interesting story about a woman detective she hired to come out here and work with a private eye to find out what happened to Lyon. I didn’t tell her I’d already met the lady. My question is when were you folks going to let me in what’s going on?”
“As soon as we got a feeling for the situation out here and the lay of the land so to speak. When you told us about the horse, I figured I see if could make peace with him first. Jolene works for Lois Thornton. I work for her husband, the General. He is called General Clout behind his back. Our job is to find Lyon Hamilton and to get the ranch back. Buddy Russell and Bernie, aka Burrito Cruz, are working with us. You and your hands are welcome to join the team. But there is a price for that.”
“What might that be, cowboy?”
“You know that this valley is full of busy bodies and nosey neighbors. It is worse than a small town. Our business stays on this ranch. Sort of like what happens in Vegas. I’m not going to tell you about any laws I break, which will be a few. And in return, I expect you and your hands to keep quiet about us and what we are doing. We are just a pair of wealthy tourists minding our business and enjoying the culture. Carson should anyone asks about us; we have taken the RV and gone camping, the Grand Canyon comes to mind. Comprede’ Mi Amigo?”
Carson
Bell looked at Burns for a moment before speaking. “Well, I’m sure as hell glad somebody is taking this serious. I might be seventy-five years old, but I’ve got one rodeo left in me. Count all my hands in and me. All of them will keep your secrets, and expect the boys to be over here offering to help. And you will find your neighbors to be the same way. Nobody in this valley likes what happened on the Rocking H Bar. And I wouldn’t have believed anything you said if I hadn’t just seen you riding Don Cameron. Maybe you can ride rope and shoot with the best of them.”
“I’m a little slow in the roping the department. I’m going to get my chaps and spurs out of the RV. Then I’m going to explore your ranch. Tell TR and Butter Billy I’ll be riding with them to check the Rocking H Bar cattle. Jolene why don’t you offer Carson some coffee and fill him in on what we know.”
“I can do that. If Carson can drink my coffee.”
Burns walked off toward the motorhome leading Don Cameron. Jazz trotted out in front of them.
“Miz Jolene, I think the General has the right man for the job, and he has a good woman behind him. Some things that happen around here have a way of going to the grave with these folks. You know what I’m saying. Let’s get some of your coffee. Maybe Lois Hamilton will sell Andy Burns the Rocking H Bar to go along with that horse and dog. He needs a good barn.”
“He has one Carson. It’s got the prettiest registered buckskin mare you ever laid eyes on in it. A bay mustang gelding, a burro named Jackass and a couple of mules. The mules belong to his hired man and caretaker. Wilson Gilmore plows with them.”
“What are the horses’ names?”
“The mare is registered as Baldwin County Jo. The local sheriff and humane society removed her, the Mustang and the burro from someone who couldn’t take care of them. I saw them the first time three weeks after Andy got them. He said I wouldn’t believe how bad they looked. He was still taming the Mustang, and Jo wasn’t quite a year old. The burro’s name fits. Andy was pleased when Rabun the deputy showed up with the registration papers for Jo.”