Four Corners War

by Ted Clifton

“Yeah. Right.”

  They drove in silence and with a great sense of belonging and caring.

  Ray got up and fixed coffee. The early morning with Happy asleep by his feet and sipping coffee in his wonderful cabin, surrounded him with comfort. Then the stupid phone rang.

  “Ray Pacheco.”

  “Agent Sanchez, Ray. Sorry about this early call. Wanted to give you a little update. Got a minute?”

  He wanted to say he didn’t care anymore, but instead said, “Sure.”

  “The Bureau of Indian Affairs convinced Begay to resign. There won’t be any charges brought against Begay. They sent a team onto the reservation to search for Watchman. Of course, they didn’t find him—not even a hint of where he could be. The San Juan County DA filed an arrest warrant for Watchman in regard to Grimes’s death. Of course, it would have no value at all on the reservation. We expect Watchman will die on the reservation and will never be charged. The tax people wrapped up their investigation into Grimes’s scheme. They agreed to waive most of the fines so the business could keep going and get sold. They levied a few fines against the Grimes estate, specifically Joyce Sanders, which have been paid. Those were mainly wrist slaps so the tax guys could say the estate didn’t get off scot free, even if that’s what happened. The state of Colorado agreed to a bizarre arrangement where it will pay for road maintenance on a stretch of highway in New Mexico for five years in exchange for being allowed by New Mexico to keep the military equipment abandoned in Ignacio. If Governor Johnson wasn’t dead, I’d swear this would be the kind of deal he’d have made. Anyway, that avoids any disputes over that old military equipment. In a bit of odd news, the mayor of Farmington has returned to his job, and by all accounts looks like he will be re-elected. Guess that’s about it for the Farmington stuff.”

  “Good to know. That town could use a break. How about Trujillo? Think he’s going to stick?”

  “Looks like it. He’s been working real close with us on cleaning up some lingering issues we had with some drug traffic. Seems capable.” There was a pause. “How ’bout you, Ray? You and Tyee still in business, or did all that Farmington shit break you guys?”

  Ray chuckled. “We got close to breaking, that’s for sure. Right now, I’m not sure what’s going to happen. No question, we’re taking some time off. Tyee’s getting married, and I’m going fishing.”

  “Look, Ray, this is from me and Crawford. If you decide you want back in the game, we’ve got lots of stuff going on where we could use you. Some in New Mexico, but definitely in the region. I think we worked well together. And we would like to have you and Tyee as a resource.”

  “Agent Sanchez, I just really don’t know. But when I decide, you’ll be one of the first people I call.” Ray hung up and wondered. Was he done? Or was this just a break?

  Agent Ben Crawford. Agent Crawford worked for the FBI for what seemed like most of his life. After the Farmington case, he took time off to visit Ray Pacheco in Truth or Consequences. He spent five days in Ray’s cabin, enjoying Sue’s great cooking and fishing every day. He still cared a great deal about the world and how it seemed to come unraveled. Still, at some point he realized he could not fix it. He bought a rundown cabin on the shore of Elephant Butte Lake and resolved he would fish every day. He became a daily regular at the bait shop, where he often talked politics with Chester. It had no meaning at all, and he loved it. Chester said Crawford reminded him of Big Jack.

  Chester Chino. Chester became something of a tourist attraction after he took his Uncle Tyee’s advice and started talking and dressing like a stereotyped Apache Indian. The regulars knew Chester to be a thoughtful, intelligent man who salvaged a failing business and turned it into a success. They thought his latest gimmick to attract more tourist business was hysterical. Chester opened a whole new section in the store offering all sorts of Apache trinkets, some of which were not made in China. He opened a day-trading business in the back of the store, and the rumors were that he soon was worth a small fortune. He stuck with the Apache gimmick because he liked it.

  Beverly Evans. As mayor, Beverly was in her element. Communication in a small town like T or C was driven in great part by gossip, which was Beverly’s forte. She opened a small taco restaurant along Main Street, and soon felt like she’d been born in T or C. She thought about what might have been with Big Jack, but knew he needed more than a life in a small town. She didn’t. It was her life. Her kids started visiting each summer and soon they were almost a family again. Beverly never remarried and devoted herself to the success of her adopted hometown. She became an institution in T or C and was re-elected mayor six times. When she retired, the entire town gathered to give her a standing ovation. She cried.

  Nancy Chino nee Smith. Nancy and Tyee married and more or less lived happily ever after. Of course, as is the way, there were bumps. Nancy got her law degree and became an advocate for the downtrodden. She didn’t make much money, but she developed a reputation in Albuquerque and Santa Fe courts for being tough as nails when it came to defending her down-on-their-luck clients. Nancy’s passion for justice sometimes conflicted with the need for a softer side in her relationship with Tyee. She became increasingly harsh and cynical. That led to some bad days. But their marriage appeared to be solid and durable.

  Big Jack/Jack Parker. Big Jack established his law practice in Albuquerque, at first taking on any and all clients. His manner and outspokenness made him a media darling in a rather tame market. Soon he was being hired by anyone looking for a foul-mouthed, tough-guy lawyer. After some time, he decided he had outgrown Albuquerque and needed richer lowlife clients than were available in New Mexico. He went home to LA. He worried—even with a new name and his new, slimmer, more athletic shape—that some of his old enemies might remember him. But he learned all of them were dead. Nevertheless, it was a tough life being a tough guy. In a reflective moment one night over a bottle of whisky, he realized he would likely be long dead if he hadn’t spent those glorious, unproductive years in New Mexico. He thought about Ray and Tyee, but never called.

  Sue Pacheco nee Lewis. Sue was content. She loved her life. After experiencing the great trauma of death and heartache, she had run away to nowhere, thinking all the good there was in life was over for her. But Ray changed everything, and she was comfortable just being Mrs. Pacheco, living in the small cabin by the lake. She did know Ray needed his space, and to accommodate a few hours of away time, she began volunteering at the local hospital. Using her medical skills and knowledge, immediately brought her a sense of accomplishment and made her feel complete. She still worried about Ray, their age difference, and his risk-taking, but put it all out of her mind, as best she could, and just enjoyed each moment.

  Tyee Chino. Tyee was overjoyed to be married to Nancy. He acknowledged they had some differences but was satisfied they were committed to each other. He returned to the university to finish a master’s degree in computer science. The school had already offered him a teaching positon, and he was thinking about whether he should take the job. He often visited Ray to go fishing. They were living in different worlds, which meant sometimes they didn’t have much to talk about. But that seemed fine. They enjoyed fishing and each other’s company, even with little conversation. Tyee often suspected he would hear from Ray about teaming up again to track down some bad guy or solve some mystery. But, so far, he hadn’t been able to say, “Giddy-up.” He was always ready.

  Ray Pacheco. Ray woke up most mornings feeling a great sense of joy at just being home with Sue. There were moments when he missed the action, the risk, and the camaraderie with Tyee. But he would look at Sue and realize it just wasn’t worth the risk. He had everything he wanted at home. Law enforcement had been his life, and it was the reason he was alive. It was hard to drop that and just be. But he was learning. He fished a lot more and became a budding professional. He hadn’t mentioned it yet to Sue, but he was thinking about joining one of the pro fishing tours. It could not be the same thrill as capturing murderers, bu
t it would be a lot safer. He knew he should call his son, but didn’t. He knew he should tell Sue he loved her more, but didn’t. He was still not a complete human being. But he was trying.

  Happy. Happy couldn’t remember ever being a show dog. He was an adventurous, on-the-prowl dog who frequented the woods and knew everything about all kinds of animals, even snakes. Show dog? Don’t be ridiculous. He was getting older, but he still thought he would be there for a long time to take care of his owner. His owner was great, but a bit reckless. Happy needed to watch over him. It was his dog duty.

  Author’s Note. No one can know the future with any certainty—or at least, I can’t. However, this is probably the last Pacheco & Chino, since it appears Ray has decided to retire and enjoy a life of leisure. But if for some crazy reason Ray ventures off with his friend Tyee on another adventure, I will be there to tell you the story. I guess we will just wait to see what Ray decides.

  Once a month, I send my readers a newsletter with a little of everything in it: southwest US culture, be it art, recipes, or local sights; my thoughts on writing and reading; book recommendations; updates on my current writing project; and from time-to-time a short story.

  To sign up, visit TedClifton.com and either wait for the pop-up window, or scroll to the bottom of the page. Everybody who signs up receives a mystery gift, with my compliments.

  You can also learn more about me and my latest books by visiting TedClifton.com or emailing me at ask@tedclifton.com.

  Ted Clifton has written mystery novels which feature the settings of New Mexico and Oklahoma, places where Ted spent considerable time. One of his books, The Bootlegger’s Legacy, won the IBPA Benjamin Franklin award and the CIPA EVVY award. Today Ted and his wife reside in Denver, Colorado, after many years living in the New Mexico desert.

  The Bootlegger’s Legacy

  (Prequel to the Pacheco & Chino mystery series.)

  When an old-time bootlegger dies and leaves his son Mike a cryptic letter hinting at millions in hidden cash, Mike and his friend Joe embark on a journey that takes them through three states and 50 years of history. What they find goes beyond money and transforms them both.

  This is an action-packed adventure story that partially takes place in the early 1950s. It all starts with a key, embossed with the letters CB, and a cryptic reference to Deep Deuce, a neighborhood once filled with hot jazz and gangs of bootleggers. Out of those threads is woven a tapestry of history, romance, drama, and mystery; connecting two generations and two families in the adventure of a lifetime.

  Winner of the IBPA Benjamin Frankling Digital Awards (2016 Silver Honoree).

  “The Bootlegger’s Legacy takes the reader on a wild ride through Oklahoma’s bootlegging history. It makes for a wonderful escape into a fascinating, dangerous, and strange world filled with characters your mother warned you about. Most readers will only ever interact with these types in make believe, but while the ride lasts it’s a rollicking good time.”

  —Self-Publishing Review, 4 Stars

  “Although the mystery elements in this novel are certainly engaging enough to keep readers turning pages, it’s Clifton’s superb character development that makes this story a transformative journey of self-discovery. The noteworthy narrative also includes vivid backdrops, brisk pacing, and a meticulously researched, historically accurate account of the Prohibition era in Oklahoma and Texas. A tale with an authentic, immersive setting, inhabited by well-developed, endearing characters.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  Available from Amazon.com at:

  https://www.amazon.com/Bootleggers-Legacy-Ted-Clifton-ebook/dp/B014TFC9AK/

  Dog Gone Lies

  (Pacheco & Chino Mysteries Book 1)

  Sheriff Ray Pacheco returns from his introduction in The Bootlegger’s Legacy to start a new chapter as a private investigator, along with his partners: Tyee Chino, often-drunk Apache fishing guide, and Big Jack, bait shop owner and philosopher.

  The trio are pulled into a mystery immediately when an abandoned show dog appears at Ray’s cabin and the dog’s owner is reported missing. Ray and his team pursue leads that bring them into confrontations with the local sheriff, the mayor, and the FBI, while in the meantime two bodies are found—neither of which is the missing woman.

  Available from Amazon.com at:

  https://www.amazon.com/Gone-Lies-Pacheco-Chino-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B019IZZO6M/

  Sky High Stakes

  (Pacheco & Chino Mysteries Book 2)

  Tired of spending his days fishing, Ray Pacheco takes on his second assignment with his partner Tyee Chino when the state Attorney General asks them to find out just what the hell is going on in Ruidoso, New Mexico. With the town’s sheriff in the hospital with a mysterious illness, acting sheriff Martin Marino is running rough-shod over everyone around him.

  What seems like a simple assignment becomes more complicated when Marino is found dead, shot at close range while sitting in his patrol car on Main Street. The suspects include most of the town, from Dick Franklin, manager of Ruidoso Downs racetrack, to bar owner Tito Annoya, to members of the local law enforcement.

  At the same time, Ray has an uneasy feeling that the AG is withholding critical details about what exactly is going on in Ruidoso—and why the state was so slow to respond.

  It all comes to a surprising conclusion with the involvement of a Spanish princess, a drug lord gone mad, and a few other lowlifes . . . and leaves Ray wondering if maybe fishing wasn’t so boring after all.

  Available from Amazon.com at:

  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F2LPVHS/

  Murder So Wrong

  (Muckraker Mystery #1, with Stanley Nelson)

  After his first day as a political reporter in 1960s Oklahoma, Tommy Jacks finds himself investigating the murder of a competing reporter at the state capitol. The mystery becomes a story of intrigue, love and tragedy, involving a would-be mentor, a gorgeous lover, a jailed father, an adopted mom, and shocking violence.

  Available from Amazon.com at:

  www.amazon.com/Murder-Wrong-Muckraker-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B076VV23TN

  Murder So Strange

  (Muckraker Mystery #2, with Stanley Nelson)

  In an exclusive residential neighborhood, a U.S. Senator’s wife has died. Tommy Jacks and his fellow journalists don’t believe the police chief’s story blaming it on natural causes. It has the smell of a crime. So begins a new journey set in the 1960s involving numerous dead bodies, high-tension political intrigue, police corruption, the drug underworld and unsavory hidden pasts. Tommy has a lot to write about in his My View political column.

  Only in his second year as a political columnist, he finds new romance and emotional healing among a chaotic mixture of characters, from his new mother and his recently out-of-jail father to his acerbic journalistic mentor and antagonist and a foul-mouthed lawyer of questionable ethics, all wrapped inside the saga of two competing daily newspapers still at war.

  Lurking in the shadows is the powerful and corrupt police chief, who seems to think it might be best if Mister Jacks, even so young, was dead.

  Murder So Strange continues the 1960s saga of Tommy Jacks: Muckraker.

  Available from Amazon.com at:

  www.amazon.com/Murder-Strange-Muckraker-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B07B6CPYFD

  Murder So Final

  (Muckraker Mystery #3, with Stanley Nelson)

  Tommy Jacks, reporter, encounters new love and old threats while covering one of the most brutal U.S. Senate races in history. With a massive oil fire threatening the city of Tulsa, three candidates face off: a ruthless oil baron, an idealist college professor, and a reverend running under the God Party. When the race suddenly turns deadly, the winner may be the last man standing.

  The final book in the Muckraker trilogy, Murder So Final brings to a close the stories of Louongo, Albright, Robbie Gilmore, Tracy and Ray Jacks, and Tommy himself.

  Available from Amazon.com at:

  www.amazon.com/gp/product/B
07M8Y6SR2/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i7

  Santa Fe Mojo

  (Vincent Malone Mystery #1)

  Washed-up legal investigator Vincent Malone has come to Santa Fe in search of a new life. Instead, he finds himself drawn into a murder investigation when a high-profile LA sports agent turns up dead at the B&B where Vincent has found work.

  Teaming up with an ancient gun-slinging lawyer (whom everyone thought was dead), Vincent investigates the agent’s pro athlete clients, all of whom share a strong motive: the agent had just lost millions of dollars of their money in a botched investment. As the case grows more complicated, Vincent discovers Santa Fe might just be the right place to get his mojo back.

  For fans of classic PI mysteries, where flawed men try their best to do good, and a colorful cast and unexpected twists keep you guessing right until the last page.

  Available from Amazon.com at:

  www.amazon.com/Santa-Mojo-Vincent-Malone-Book-ebook/dp/B07DNLR1QM

  Blue Flower Red Thorns

  (Vincent Malone Mystery #2)

  The high-end contemporary art scene drops into Santa Fe, New Mexico with ugly feuds, temperamental egos, sexual entanglements and murder.

  Vincent Malone, one-time attorney and legal investigator, now down-on-his-luck shuttle driver, is right in the middle of all of the action. His employer, the Blue Door Inn, is hosting a big international artist in Santa Fe for her U.S. debut, and nothing is going smoothly.

  Before long there is one dead body and plenty of suspects. Malone dusts off his investigating skills to solve this classic whodunit.

  Available from Amazon.com at:

  www.amazon.com/Blue-Flower-Thorns-Vincent-Malone-ebook/dp/B07H6FLL45/