San Rafael Jacked

by Tom Ellis

  “I had my heart broken over a cowgirl once. And it hurts. Tobias my advice is to approach with caution. That woman is armed and dangerous. And FBI agents tend to be FBI agents first and foremost.”

  “Carson told her about Don Cameron. She hasn’t mentioned wanting to see him yet. And that could be a problem for what you are doing.”

  I don’t need her nosing around. She will take one look at Don Cameron and know someone has been riding him. That woman knows horses.”

  “That’s right. Havelee rides as good as any cowboy I’ve seen. I guess you can say she rides ropes and shoots with the best of them. That is a mean looking rifle she carries.”

  “I can attest to the fact she shoots well. I built that rifle.”

  “How did you wind up building a rifle for Havelee?”

  “She was assigned to the Mobile Alabama office a few years back. I do special weapons work on contract for the FBI. Her issued rifle needed an overhaul. She helped Jolene during a really bad time. So I returned the favor when I built Havelee’s rifle.”

  “Wow, I would love to have the kind of relationship with Havelee, that you have with Jolene. If I can ask, why don’t you marry her?”

  “Tobias, that is a question I can’t answer. I hope you and Havelee can work through the FBI thing and have something. And I hope she’s not playing you.”

  “Thanks, Andy. Now, what are going to do about her seeing Don Cameron? Why don’t you just tell her why you are here?”

  “That is where this gets complicated TR. The FBI doesn’t play well with private investigators. Lyon Hamilton’s sister hired us to find him. The FBI is investigating the so-called new owner of the ranch. Harris would love to know what we know and would arrest us in a heartbeat for interfering with an FBI investigation. That is why she doesn’t need to know we are here.”

  “What about Don Cameron?”

  “We take a wait and see on that. Did Havelee tell the sheriff’s people she was FBI when she came over after that shooting?”

  “No, and she texted me telling me not say anything either.”

  “OK, we have determined the fellow Kroll on the Rocking H Bar is an undercover FBI agent. Her not mentioning being FBI means they have an active investigation involving Bradford and Rocking H Bar. I appreciate you guys keeping quiet about us. That helps what we are doing. Let Carson in on what I just told you. If Havelee remembers, Don Cameron, ask Carson to tell her that he moved the horse to a better facility for its safety. She will understand keeping an unruly stud horse being a problem.”

  “I’ll talk to Carson this evening. She’s gone back to Nogales, and she has to go to Tucson tomorrow. I’ll hear from her when she’s back in Nogales.”

  Burns watched TR ride off. He slung the rifle case over his shoulder and walked to the motorhome. Jolene drove up in the rented SUV as he got to the motor coach. Burns put down his rifle and helped her with the groceries.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Supervisory Special Agent Havelee Harris, reported to the Tucson SAC Adele Lane and was shown to the secure conference room. Harris was scheduled for a secure link video conference with Ransom Carter, Special Assistant to the Director. While they waited for the link connection with FBI Headquarters, SAC Lane pointedly engaged Havelee.

  “Special Agent Harris, your investigation could be better served by this field office, if you shared what you are doing. The classification is unprecedented.”

  Before Havelee could respond the link became active, and the tech left the room. Ransom Carter’s face filled the screen.

  “Ms. Lane, you are correct in Special Agent Harris’ investigation classification being unprecedented. It is that way for a reason, and Agent Harris will not be sharing any information with you until the Director authorizes your need to know. You will continue to ensure your teams are aware of a special investigation and to respond as backup should the need arise. When we are prepared to serve arrest warrants, you and your people will be briefed. Until such time you will continue to support Special Agent Harris’ administrative requests. Do you have any questions regarding what I have just told you?”

  “No Sir, but I would like to be on record as opposing this highly unusual classification of what is obviously an important investigation happening within the area served by this field office. I believe I should have a need to know.”

  “Your statements are noted and will be made known to the Director. You may excuse yourself from the secure area.”

  The SAC left the room and locked the door behind her.

  “Agent Harris, I commend you for your performance under difficult circumstances. SAC Lane has brought enormous pressure on the Director for her to be read in on the Bad Apple’s investigation. We will do this when arrests are imminent. I’ve read your reports, and unfortunately, Ron Kroll hasn’t provided enough evidence to make a solid case against Bradford. We have examined aerial photographs of the Valley and the ranch in question. We have determined that HRT sniper teams could infiltrate the area for a long time surveillance. However, we cannot justify such surveillance at this time. When Kroll gives us more information, we will act on getting teams in place. We cannot get a military drone overflight at this time either. The presence of large trucks is simply not enough probably cause for these efforts. Bradford and El Jefe being present when narcotics are being stored and loaded on to the trucks would be enough cause for the support you want. Kroll needs to get precise information as to when this is likely to happen, and we will respond at that time. We can’t field such resources on the contingency that it might happen soon. The addition of a viable lead to a terror attack would be cause to launch the resources you need. Havelee, simply put, the Director wants more evidence before he moves against Bradford. The Phoenix SAC assures me that Agent Ernesto Smith will be available in a couple of weeks.”

  “I understand sir.”

  “Good, you and your people are doing a good job. Perhaps with the addition of Smith on your team we can move forward at a quicker pace.”

  The Ransom Carter closed the secure connection on his end. And the tech came back in the room to shut down the equipment. Havelee sat at the table considering her options. It was painfully obvious; the Director was not going to commit expensive resources to anything that wasn’t already signed sealed and awaiting delivery. She put her notes back in her briefcase and left the room. Harris left the building and drove back to Nogales. As she drove, she pondered the chances of Kroll being recognized should they all meet for a planning session.

  Ron Kroll suggested they meet somewhere east off of I-10. They wound up at a restaurant in Lordsburg, New Mexico. The agents secured a round table in a small private dining room.

  “So what you are saying is the Director and his buddy Carter have their heads stuck up their asses. And we are on our own without backup.” Kroll said.

  “That is one way of looking at it,” Havelee said.

  “I spent yesterday with Tobias Rutledge, the cowboy who worked for Lyon Hamilton in the Rocking H Bar. We moved the ranch cattle to another section. I spotted one guard on a four wheeler watching us. I only saw him once. We found one of the ranch ATVs near where we first picked up the herd. It was out of gas.TR said it was the one used by the two men that attacked him. Deputy Sheriff Willie Hillman attempted to return it to the ranch headquarters. I understand Hillman was found caught in barbed wire fence east of where we found the ATV. He was dehydrated and suffering from a snake bite. TR said the ATV was out of gas. He removed a wire from the electrical system so it will not start. So they are down one ATV. TR said there was only two. The four wheeler and the side by side with the bed on it.”

  “That is consistent with what I’ve seen on the place. I noticed the four wheeler in the usual place near the ranch shop when I was there with those trucks. There is a big four by four Ford one ton and the ranch flatbed. The Mexicans are keeping those busy making border runs for grass.”

  “Too bad you can’t get pictures of them unloading that stuff,” Varga
s added.

  “El Jefe’s thugs won’t let anybody get close to the barn when they bring the stuff in. That’s why I was told to leave. They make Bradford’s bodyguards leave as well. I suspect they’re hauling marijuana across the border as we speak.”

  “Are you saying they bring the stuff across in broad daylight?” M&M asked.

  “Yes, they cross the border at Lochiel with a flatbed truck loaded with hay. Except it’s not all hay. You pay enough people to look the other way, and daylight doesn’t matter. I think they are planning to use middle eastern males to drive the delivery trucks as a way getting them further into our country. Figure where the dope is going, and you have the location of the next terrorist attack. There may very well be weapons and explosives in those hay trucks. But we are screwed as long as Washington won’t give us the support we need.”

  “When you were playing cowgirl did you find any place we could set up surveillance from ourselves?” Desmond asked.

  “There is a part of the Double Ranch that Carson Bell leases short term that appears to have the elevation necessary to see the headquarters area of the Rocking H Bar. He said the area I asked about is rough terrain and practically inaccessible. That is why I asked for an HRT sniper team for surveillance. And you know the answer to that.”

  “Yeah tell them the time and day the bad guys will be there with a thirty-day notice and HRT deploys,” Kroll said sarcastically. “Do you think you could get a covert camera out of them I could install when I go back to the ranch?”

  “That I can do,” Havelee said.

  “What do you plan on doing with this guy Smith when you get him?” Kroll asked.

  “Ernesto Smith looks like a Mexican cowboy. I’m going to station him at the Double B. He can drive the big pickup we have and keep an on the Lochiel crossing as well as the traffic at the Rocking H Bar.”

  “That is a good idea. The best one I’ve heard so far.”

  After tossing around the idea of moving to the Double B and ways they could keep what they were doing secure. The agents left the dining room. Havelee paid the bill and thanked the proprietor. She paid no attention to the Mexican sitting at the counter eating a piece of pie. When they all got back in their cars and left. Burrito Cruz finished his pie and paid his check. He ambled out to a worn looking pickup truck and called Buddy Russell.

  “They’re all headed back west.”

  “Gotcha, I’ll pick them up at Wilcox.”

  Andrew Burns studied the videos from Rocking H Bar. The trucks were loaded awaiting drivers. El Jefe’s helicopter had not made the low flying border crossing in forty-eight hours. The Aerostat radar balloon was up. Obviously, the radar balloon’s presence kept the drug lord away. Andy decided the trucks could not sit loaded much longer. He called Cruz and Russell, then sent a message to Reid. Only Burns and Hadfield knew about Reid and his black ops team. And Jolene wasn’t sure they were real. Andy stretched the story about them being there when he planted the cameras. They would deploy in a position that should anything go wrong, Burns and the private eyes would be able to escape. Still, it was a risky move; Jolene was not happy.

  “So I get to sit here and watch the cameras. And hope your radio works when some terrorist with an AK walks out of the bunk house.” She said.

  “Russell and Cruz are deployed to cover me in the event someone comes out and discovers what is going on. That will give me a chance to escape. You have the most important job of all. You are the lookout; you will see them first. The General’s team will be covering all of us.”

  “I don’t like it. We need to call Havelee and tell her what we know. You need to stop before you get hurt. Burns, you aren’t a nineteen-year-old Marine crawling around in the jungle anymore. Please don’t do this.”

  “There was a line in a movie once about recognizing one’s limitations. I know what mine are. This plan is a calculated risk. The last load got out of there without a problem, and our government didn’t stop it. I’m going to make sure these trucks don’t get through. And your job is to let me know when trouble is coming.”

  “Four trucks full of dope should be handled by the cops. Call in an anonymous tip to the DEA. Just don’t go over there on a midnight raid. Burns that idea is crazy.”

  “If the DEA wouldn’t act on a tip from the General. They sure as hell won’t act on an anonymous phone call. The General gave them everything we had on the last trucks.”

  “I still don’t like it.”

  “Your feelings are duly noted.”

  Burns left the motorhome. And set to work preparing his equipment. A couple of hours later Jolene came up to him and hugged him.

  “I’ll be your lookout, Burns. But if you get hurt I’ll never forgive you.”

  “Thanks, I trust you to watch our backs.”

  The trucks were left parked between the headquarters house and barns on the Rocking H Bar. For Burns, it was a straight line ride to the blind side of the vehicles from the forest service road. It was 2:30 in the morning and there was a quarter moon. No clouds, just stars. He was in touch with everyone via a headset to a communications radio clipped to his belt. Tucked securely in a high ride holster was a 45 caliber 1911 pistol, a Burns’ modified special ops design with an integral suppressor. It didn’t make any noise, neither did the rifle in the saddle scabbard. The late Lyle Thigman’s favorite blackjack was in his pocket, and a stout doubled edged spear pointed Burns Made knife in a belt sheath. He wore black clothing and his dark leather chaps.

  Andy Burns could wreak havoc on anyone who discovered him near the trucks. The horse and the dog would raise the alarm. Russell and Cruz riding in a camo colored ATV wearing night vision goggles and following infrared markers Burns had posted previously during his clandestine visits to the Rocking H Bar. Cruz packed his favorite firearms. Russell carried his pistol and a suppressed Burns rifle with a night vision scope. Everybody was hoping none of the bad guys woke and went outside to take a piss. If they did and spotted Burns, they wouldn’t have time to put it back in their pants. Russell and Cruz were not aware of the black ops team covering them.

  Burns cantered Don Cameron past the Rocking H Bar ranch road. He had continued another hundred yards before he reined in the horse. Andy checked with Jolene, and she reported there was no movement around the ranch. Burrito gave the same report. Burns got off Don Cameron and did something that would make a rancher cringe. He cut the fence. Burns made sure the wire was safely out the way before he remounted and walked Don Cameron toward the trucks. The vehicles were between him and the buildings.

  Burns pulled his night vision goggles in place when he got close to the line of parked trucks. Now with green-tinted vision, he examined the trucks parked on the other side of a cross fence. A gate was beside the vehicles. Burns rode over to the gate and leaned down from the saddle and silently opened it. Don Cameron stepped sideways allowing the gate to swing past. Andy cued the horse forward, and it would not move. He heard a low growl from Jazz.

  Andy quickly searched the area ready to react. No one was around the trucks. He looked down and saw a rattlesnake slowly slithering across the ground searching for a meal near the open gate. Andy dismounted quietly and stalked the snake. In a quick move, he bent over and grabbed the reptile behind its head. Burns walked to the closest truck and opened the unlocked passenger door. He deposited the three-foot-long Diamondback on the floor and quietly closed the door. Remounted he rode Don Cameron beside the first truck. He clicked his mike button twice and listened for responding clicks from Jolene and Cruz indicating all clear.

  After hearing the clicks, Burns stood up in the saddle and climbed onto the truck body roof. He went to work with his knife and cut a hole in the plastic roof skylight. He activated the timer on the incendiary device and dropped through the hole. It fell between the marijuana bales. Then Burns crawled to the front of the truck and examined the roof seam for cracks or damage. He found three good places and enlarged the openings with his knife.

  Andy silently dropp
ed off the truck roof onto Don Cameron’s back. The horse didn’t move; Burns walked the horse to the next truck. One down three to go.

  Burns finished the last truck and was still on the roof when a rapid clicking sound came over his earpiece. Somebody was heading his way. He lay flat on the truck and listened for Burrito to tell him what was happening. One male from the bunkhouse was walking toward the trucks. He stopped the light a cigarette and answer the call of nature. Cruz provided a whispered play by play of the man’s moonlight stroll. Andy lay flat on the truck roof. Don Cameron and Jazz were quiet.

  The man ambled down the side of the parked trucks, not looking at anything. He got to the back of truck Burns was on. He crossed behind the truck to the side where the horse and dog remained silent. When he turned down that side, he was facing Don Cameron’s impressive rump.

  Before his mind to could figure out what his eyes were seeing. Two steel shod hooves connected with his chest. Jazz bit him in the crotch and hung on with a violent shake of his head. Burns looked over the side of the truck roof and watched the show. The man never made a sound. Andy called off Jazz with a stage whisper then dropped off the roof onto Don Cameron’s back. Burns removed a can of black spray paint from his saddle bag. He tagged the sides of the trucks and rode off.

  A phone ringing awakened Pauli Dumas; it was a call from one of the Mexican ranch hands. It took him a few minutes to figure out what the man was saying. Porn Dude called Bradford’s room and woke up his boss.

  “Boss, one of the Mexicans from the ranch just called. One of the Arabs is dead. And the dope trucks have been tagged by gang bangers.”

  “What the hell are you talking about Pauli?”

  “We got a dead raghead and the trucks been spray painted with gang signs.”