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“We borrowed the truck and Gerald dropped us off at the international bridge. We walked into Ojinaga and took a cab out to the stash. I had a flashlight and signaled Gerald after we got it all across and he came down. You know the rest.”
They were silent for a few minutes, then Hunter said, “What do you think now?”
Jimmy looked at her eyes in the rearview mirror, “I know you won’t say it, but I think you knew we were comin’. If that’s true and we were set up, you have to ask yourself why?”
Hunter nodded, “That’s the big question.”
Jimmy slouched down in the seat. He rubbed his stomach and said, “Man, my stomach’s feeling lousy.”
Hunter held up two Tums tablets and poked them through the diamond-shaped openings in the screen wire, “Take these, maybe they’ll help.”
Jimmy took them and chewed slowly, “Assorted flavors, thanks.”
Hunter nodded, then slowed the car and turned into the Border Patrol Station.
***
The agents talked about it after the processing and DEA picked up the load of marijuana. Hunter said, “What do you think, Raymond?”
“I think some crooks in OJ saw easy marks coming and thought they could have a little fun and get some pocket money.”
Joe said, “Maybe, but for some reason it doesn’t feel right.”
Gary said, “They went through some trouble, wrapping that trash into bales like that.”
J.D. said, “Lot of work for a joke.”
Hunter said, “Yeah, well maybe one day we’ll find out what the joke was about.” She looked at her watch and saw it was 4:30AM. She said, “I’m gonna finish my paperwork and head for the house. See you guys later.” The group dispersed and Hunter had her work finished in five minutes. She was out the door and headed home, trying to decide whether to change clothes and go to Ojinaga to look for Anda, or go to bed first and get some sleep.
She parked at the house and went upstairs to her bedroom to change. When she stripped down it hit her, a wave of tiredness so sudden and heavy that Hunter didn’t even try to fight it. She turned down the bed and crawled under the covers. Right before she closed her eyes Hunter took the roll of Tums off the nightstand and popped two in her mouth. She chewed and swallowed, chasing it down with the glass of water always by her bed, then rolled on her side and pulled her knees up and the covers to her chin. She was asleep in seconds.
***
At midnight, Colonel Felipe Godoy stood with his men at the river. His stomach felt better, but sore, like he did too many sit-ups. Every small move sent a thread of pain through his abdomen. He was glad to be out of the truck, though. Standing and walking was easier than riding in the truck over the potholed, rough dirt road that led to the Rio Bravo. That had almost been too much, with every bump sending a gasp from his lips. He had to keep his stomach muscles tight the entire trip to protect himself.
One of his men said, “We are ready to cross, my Colonel.”
“Good. I will ride in the boat with the merchandise.” Felipe walked to the riverbank and stepped into the small aluminum boat. One man sat in back to paddle, six full sport bags piled in the middle, and Colonel Godoy riding in front. Two men waded across the river, while four others pulled the boat into the water and walked across with it, flanking the sides and crossing with rifles ready. The Rio Bravo was wide at this point, but relatively shallow and slow running. The water never reached above the wading men’s waists.
The two point men hurried up the bank, fanned left and right, watching for a moment before giving the hand signal. The four pulled the boat up the sandy bank and Colonel Godoy stepped from it as they unloaded the sport bags and placed them on the grass. Godoy looked at his watch and smiled. The marijuaneros would have crossed their load south of town at the same time. Bueno, he thought, Things are going well tonight.
Ten minutes later, he checked his watch again and said, “They will be here soon. Watch for the signal.” It came two minutes later, a fast double blink of a small light a quarter mile from the river. Godoy blinked back once, paused and blinked twice more. “Let’s walk to the road,” He said.
They made sure to walk through the heavy brush and stay off the trails to avoid the Border Patrol sensors. In a matter of minutes, they were at the dirt road. The vehicle came with its lights out and stopped by a large boulder near the road. The brake lights didn’t come on when the vehicle stopped. Felipe said, “Take the bags and place them in the car.” The driver got out and walked over, coming past the men to stop by Godoy.
He said, “This stuff as good as you thought?”
“Yes it is,” said Godoy. “It has the purity of Mexican Brown and the color of China White. Two hundred kilos of the best heroin to come into the States in five years.”
“And the payoff is when?”
“We split the million dollar advance tomorrow. I will send your share at that time. The rest of the money is held by our trusted associate and will be released to me when the deliveries are made to Plano and New York. You have that set up, the deliveries?”
“It’s taken care of. The heroin will be on its way tonight.”
“Good. Have you heard anything on the marijuana?”
“It went like clockwork.”
