by Tom Ellis
Vargas’ Penelope phone buzzed. She pulled it from her jacket pocket and read the text message.
Women are gone unknown who moved them suspect 556 street gang. Unknown their source. Terror threat in progress!!! Expect suspects and gear to X border next time the balloon is down.
“It has gotten real critical,” Vargas said handing the phone to Havelee.
She read the message and handed the phone back.
“Estella put on extra plates for all our guests and make sure the other two guest rooms are ready.” Carson Bell said.
“Thank you, Mr. Bell.”
“Just sneak out to the bunkhouse and discuss that child’s needs.”
Havelee blushed again. Vargas managed to send a text and still hang on to Lupe.
GOOD GUYS NOT 556
“Burns, you scared the hell out of me this morning.”
Andy Burns was napping on the couch in the RV when Jolene decided he’d slept long enough. He yawned stretched and sat up looking around for his boots.
“I’m sorry. My radio antenna got broken. I called on the satellite phone and left you a message. I texted you as soon as I had a cell signal.”
“You left me a message?” Jolene grabbed her phone and started punching buttons. They both listened to Burns message.
“Burns what are you doing with a satellite phone? It has a blocked number.”
“That is how I keep in touch with the General and the black ops team.”
“BURNS DAMNIT! I LIVE WITH YOU I SLEEP WITH YOU. WHEN IN THE HELL ARE YOU GOING TO INCLUDE ME IN EVERYTHING YOU DO?”
“Sorry, with everything involved, I forgot about the sat phone. I almost forgot it last night. When you calm down, we will talk.”
Burns got up and left the motorhome. He walked to the barn and went in the tack room. He came out and went to work cleaning the saddle he used. He didn’t pay any attention to the time as he worked. Don Cameron snorted, and Jazz got up and trotted to Jolene who came into the barn. She petted him, then walked over to the corral fence and stroked Don Cameron’s neck.
“Burns we’ve had this conversation before. I know it is hard for you to share. And you certainly try to. This whole situation is hard to comprehend. We are now involved in people smuggling. You clobbered an FBI agent. You haven’t shot anybody yet. At least anyone you told me you shot. I feel like a voyeur watching all these cameras. It’s not like watching the stuff we used in the police department. And you are twisting the tail of one of the meanest human beings in this hemisphere. And on top of all of that. You scared the hell out of me last night when you didn’t show up with the rest of them.
“Now I know at least you tried and left a message I didn’t find. But damn it this is harder than I expected.” She teared up.
Burns stopped cleaning the saddle and took her in his arms. She put her head on his shoulder and cried.
“I know you don’t know how to use this word Burns, but I love you. Please don’t scare me again.”
He squeezed her tighter. And Don Cameron stretched over the fence and nuzzled her neck and shoulder.
Burns reached up and touched the horse's nose with his fingertip and pushed him away.
“She’s mine bonehead, go eat some hay.”
Havelee and Larcena visited TR in the bunk house. The Apache child enjoyed their company. And Pepe was tolerated by the adults. When Larcena dozed off, Havelee waited until she was sound asleep to ask about the cat. Pepe slept soundly in the chair with Havelee.
“What are we going to do with this thing?”
“I like the way you make that our problem.”
“I like we. TR I’ve told you, I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m going to try to get transferred out here somewhere.”
“It can still be we. Me you and Larcena.”
“You are smitten with her aren’t you?”
“And you’re not, sitting there petting her cat.”
“You’re right. How big will this thing get? But I guess the question should be will it stay tame or get wild?”
“I’ve never heard of anyone raising one of those things. Best we can hope for is that it when it gets to eating on its own, it will learn to hunt. And not kill anybody’s livestock for a meal. Releasing it in the wild, probably up on San Antonio Mountain, is what should happen. Hav, they hunt those things around here. People pay the locals to guide mountain lion hunts. I would hate to see it have to live in a pen. But damned if I want to be the one to take it away from her.”
“That investigator Russell thinks the Apache Council will go along with me adopting her. I’m going to make every effort to do so. It’s love at first sight. Just like with you.”
TR smiled. “I’m getting this picture of Special Agent Havelee Harris putting the cat out every night at her Washington DC condo.”
“That would be hysterical. Pepe prowling around at night eating gang members.”
Later Havelee carried Larcena and the cat in her arms back to the ranch house. She correctly figured that Lupe was sleeping soundly in the bed with Vargas. The two agent stakeout of the Rocking H Bar ended the next morning with the Tucson SAC ordering them back to be part a bomb task force. El Jefe’s middle eastern allies would manage to kill eighteen people with a truck bomb just before daylight. Only a third of that number were five fifty-six gang bangers.
The news the following night would show a White House press conference with the President assuring the citizens of Arizona their borders were secure.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The FBI agent’s attention did not waver as they listened to the Tucson PD gang unit boss. The Tucson and Phoenix agents filled the conference room past capacity.
“We feel like the attacks of four nights ago were in response to the recent marijuana truck burnings. Graffiti that survived the fires appeared to be hate messages and warnings directed at El Jefe. We know the five fifty-six gang has been at odds with him since he took over the Sonoran drug and smuggling operations early last year. The quantity of marijuana lost in those truck fires was significant and a serious hit on El Jefe’s bottom line. We understand from reliable sources in Mexico there have been no large purges in El Jefe’s organization. Just his normal killing rate for subordinates.”
A hand shot up in the group. The cop acknowledged the agent.
“Captain, would you elaborate on that last statement?”
“Certainly, El Jefe, like all drug lords does not put a premium on human life. In contrast, a lot of them have family and loyal lieutenants. El Jefe has a very small circle of loyal employees; he is the most brutal of the drug lords. He comes across as friendly and at the same time sit down for dinner while he watches his men crucify someone who has displeased him. The only people he kills quickly are those who have the misfortune of giving him bad news. El Jefe kills the messenger.
“There have been rumors, nothing concrete about a cross-border alliance with a former law enforcement officer. Description of this person ranges from him being everything from an assistant CIA director to a taxi cab inspector. We have no indication this is anything but a rumor.
“The forensic reports on the truck burnings indicate a military incendiary device with a mechanical timer was used to start the fires. These things are seldom if ever seen outside the special operations community. There were no traceable pieces recovered.
“The drivers are all middle eastern and claim not speak English. Through translators, they all said they were given passage to our country in return for driving those trucks to Las Vegas. All of them claimed to have been blindfolded and brought into this country in a vehicle. And they were sent out in the trucks at night and told to drive north.
“It is hard for us to believe the five fifty-six gang has the smarts to interdict and destroy that large of a load. Those guys don’t have the brain power for that sort of action. I believe someone planted a red herring and with this recent bombing El Jefe took the bait. I understand you guys have forensics from the bomb. If there is evidenc
e of an IED, there is reliable information from Sonora that El Jefe has middle eastern associates. I believe the first killings were in response to the truck burnings. I ask if anyone has any information as to what might have pissed El Jefe off enough for a bombing response?”
SAC Lane took the floor and thanked the Tucson Captain. “OK, take an hour to eat and catch up. Harris and Quarles remain here.”
Havelee sat quietly as the others left the room. Quarles, the Assistant Special Agent in Charge or ASAC of the Tucson Field Office did the same. To Havelee the man clearly wanted to be someplace else. He wasn’t the only one.
“OK, people we have a secure link to the Director and his Special Assistant Ransom Carter online in two minutes. Harris, Carter tells me you handled the reassignment of your agents in a professional manner and not going over my head as I expected you to do. To not to blindside you, I am going to ask the Director to order you to reveal the depth of your investigation and the target of that investigation. This terrorist bomb trumps your need to know excuse.”
Havelee nodded. Lane was putting on a show for her ASAC. The communications tech announced ten seconds and left the room. She turned on a secure meeting sign in the hall and locked the door on her way out.
The Director was seated with Carter to his right in a nicer and smaller conference room. He did not waste any time with perfunctory greetings.
“SAC Lane, you have done a good job putting this investigation together. Thank you. At this time, you are on temporary assignment to the Office of Congresswoman Fallon McKay. The Congresswoman specifically asked for you as her liaison on a forthcoming project. I hope you have kept ASAC Quarles in the loop because he is now in the hot seat. Lane, you are excused, see your administrative assistant for your travel arrangements. Check-in with Mrs. Wilson in my office first thing after lunch tomorrow. Mr. Carter or I will have a few minutes to brief you on your new assignment. Have a good flight.”
The look on the Directors face was one of don’t ask questions. Lane mumbled thank you and got up from the table and left the room.
“Quarles, Phoenix SAC, and his ASAC are now connected to this conference. Gentlemen Supervisory Special Agent Harris, who is sitting quietly for the moment beside ASAC Quarles, works directly for me and is tasked with an investigation that reports only to me. Besides myself, Ransom Carter is the only person who knows about this investigation other than Agent Harris’ team. You, gentlemen, are now allowed to know what is going on. Consider this Director’s Level Need to Know. You will not provide anyone else with specifics of this investigation. Understood?”
A series of Yes Sirs came from the FBI managers.
“I listened to the Tucson Gang Unit Captain’s briefing. The rumor about El Jefe having a former US law enforcement official is true. That former official is the single worst hiring mistake the Bureau ever made. W. Ashton Bradford is the target of Agent Harris’ investigation. She is working with a very creditable confidential informant, who will remain anonymous. Agent Harris, brief us on what you have so far.”
Havelee spoke without using notes or a computer for reference.
“Our CI has attended dinner meetings with Bradford and El Jefe on two occasions. These meetings took place in Nogales Sonora Mexico. Bradford and the CI crossed the border illegally and returned the same way. Bradford is operating out of remote ranch near the border. When El Jefe has a major shipment crossing, Bradford leaves the ranch along with his bodyguards and our CI. Our CI hasn’t seen the marijuana because of this. What he has seen amounts to two different convoys of surplus rental company box trucks arriving at the ranch. He has seen the presence of armed guards that patrol the ranch building area and at times the ranch perimeter.
“There is a herd of cattle on the eastern sections of the ranch. Bradford made a deal with the owner of a neighboring ranch for that rancher’s Cowboys to take care of the herd in return for half the profits of the sale of these cattle. When the Cowboys are checking the herd, there is an armed guard on an ATV watching from a distance. I have ridden with these cowboys on several occasions and observed this myself. My team has established a rapport with the elderly rancher of the neighboring ranch. This gentleman grew up in that valley and knew the missing owner of the ranch Bradford occupies. Bradford claims he purchased it with cash, and the rancher is living it up tax-free in the Fiji Islands. We don’t believe this. The CI thinks Bradford hijacked the ranch and killed the rancher. There is a tractor with a front end loader on the property and has dug more than one grave since the Bradford El Jefe alliance.
“According to our CI, there has been some heavily armed middle eastern males take up residence on the ranch. Our CI hears the language spoken and sees the daily use of prayer rugs. There is a staff of Mexicans as well. And these people keep disappearing. It is possible El Jefe’s recent staff purges happened on this side of the border. Our CI states burials are carried out using the ranch tractor.
“During the meetings with El Jefe and Bradford our CI has frequently heard reference to the big shipment. There was also a shipment of females we believe victims of human trafficking. Our man saw the women. They disappeared, and evidence of gang interference, tagging on a barn door, was seen by our CI. Whether this five fifty-six gang could pull this off or not, somebody removed a large number of women from that ranch. Right under the noses of the guards and Bradford. So El Jefe using a bomb to retaliate is probably not too far-fetched. I’ve put out inquiries to INS regarding a large number of females and so for no one knows anything. So this could very well be a gang we are not aware of that is pointing the finger at the five fifty-six crew to draw attention away from them.
“Our last communication with the CI was during the day that the bombing occurred. He specifically said a terror event was being planned and will happen soon. I wish he could be more specific. We sent a tiny surveillance camera in with him. It is unknown if he has been able to deploy it. The CI’s primary contact agent will continue to monitor cell phones for his messages. She will advise me immediately should we hear from him. And in turn, I will brief you, gentlemen.”
“Thank you, Special Agent Harris. Are there any questions?” The Director asked.
“Sir,’ the Phoenix SAC began. ‘Would it not be advantageous to reassign Agent Harris’s team to her and put them on that neighboring ranch for surveillance. I realize we have our hands full with the bombing, but this CI of hers saying a terror event is eminent. I think we should be close to him.”
“So noted, and if we receive communications from him as to timing and possibly the arrival of El Jefe himself we will do so. Right now I want all our boots on the ground in Tucson to sort out that bomb. I’ve gotten four calls from the White House. I will say this. Agent Harris, advise your team to stay in the loop together, and if the CI needs help, they drop what they are doing and head that way.”
“Thank you, Sir, if may say. That ranch is a good two hours from here driving. Perhaps we could get a helicopter on standby?”
“Phoenix has the helicopter. They are authorized to move it to Tucson. Is there anything else?”
“Yes Sir,’ Havelee said. ‘During his last communication, our CI said the terror event would cross when the balloon was down. Do any of you gentlemen have any idea what that may mean?”
“How does he communicate?” The Phoenix SAC asked.
Havelee looked at the man on the TV screen as she answered.
“Sir he communicates via text messages. Occasionally voice. He and my lead agent have a text code system they use to arrange meetings and to communicate. The specific text was terror op X when balloon down.”
“I’ve always heard the phrase as when the balloon goes up,” Ransom said, speaking for the first time.
“I was thinking the same thing.” ASAC Quarles added.
“Agent Harris do you know if X means anything specific in the text code your agent uses?” The Phoenix ASAC asked.
“It does not sir; we believe the X means crossing.”
�
��OK, I want a bomber in jail in the next forty-eight hours. This conference is over.” The Director said. With that the screens when black.
Harris looked at Quarles. He let out a long breath. “Can’t say I’m unhappy to see Lane leave. But I’m thinking I just got screwed.”
“I think our CI is the one getting screwed. I would appreciate your following up on that helicopter as soon as you get the chance. I know you are going to be busy. We’ll all do our part up here. And we’ll commute from where we are staying in Nogales. That way we will be close if anything goes down at night.”
“Good idea, and if you would get me some GPS coordinates for that ranch. I will try for a drone mission over it. Don’t know if I can get one, but I’m going to try.”
Havelee was already typing on her computer.
Quarles consulted his computer for a few minutes. “Harris, I’m giving your team back to you. You and your team will be assigned the area of I-19 all the way south to the US Border. That will put you close to your investigation should things start back up there. I feel like there is a link between what your team is doing and this bombing. Keep as close an eye on that ranch as you can. We have a considerable number of gang contacts Nogales, so have your people work them.
“OK, let’s get everyone back in here. I want you to brief the rest of the group on your investigation, without using the targets name. I don’t feel like that exceeds the Directors need to know requirement. Are you good with that?”
“Yes, I am.”
After giving a more sanitized recap of her investigation, Havelee posed the when the balloon goes down question to the group.
A young Latino agent in the rear of the group raised his hand. Havelee recognized him; she endured his calling her ma’am with good grace.
“Ma’am there is a radar balloon at Fort Huachuca it is part of the Aerostat system. It covers a wide section of the border including Arizona and New Mexico. The balloon is reeled in for maintenance and repairs. If the ranch you speak of is in the sight of that balloon. I think that might be the reference.”