“And …?”
De Niro had to laugh.
“You’re too much, you know that … AND …you’re taking me away from my “date” … so, if you don’t mind … do you have anything of relevance to report or did you just call to pull my chain?”
“Alright … I’ll get it from Louis tomorrow. Let’s see, oh yeah,” Ricci exhaled audibly, “both these guys, Zamani and Fard keep a pretty low profile. They spend most of their time bouncing between offices of Zamani’s import-export company in New York, London, Dubai and Tehran. We’ve tapped all of their office phones and monitored all their cell traffic … Johnny-F even cracked into their email servers but all we’ve seen is legitimate business communications. John was able to verify that their using VoIP but unfortunately, even he hasn’t been able to crack the service’s encryption. That’s probably their method of keeping in touch with their friends in Mexico.”
De Niro’s frustration was as apparent as Ricci’s was.
“Over a month of investigating and you and Michelle haven’t been able to turn anything …”
“Hey, Cris, it’s not from a lack of trying. Michelle is still here trying to retrace all of Les’s activities. She’s even having Johnny-F double-check all of his activity inside Big Brother, just in case we may have missed something.”
“Oh hell, I know that Mugs, I’m just … frustrated, is all. I’m sure you both are, too. What about ARCHANGEL, have they come up with anything, with that Noche del espantada business?”
“Charley and that Agent Ahiga feel certain that something big is gonna happen and soon …but nobody’s talking down there. Ahiga told Charley that he’s never seen so little traffic of illegals coming across, so Charley sent Riggy, De May and Pescy into Nogales and some of the other Mexican border towns to see if they could sniff something out. Other than the fact all of the towns are filled to overflowing, they haven’t been able to learn much.”
“Have we alerted Homeland about those towns filling with people?”
“Karla informed them … but they said they knew about it already. Can you believe, instead of being concerned, the top brass is taking credit for it? They even made an announcement to the press, quote, ‘… Due to our increased efforts at the border, preventing those who want to cross illegally from even making the attempt, there has been a dramatic reduction in illegals crossing the border in Arizona.’”
De Niro started pacing.
“So what do we have … a rich Iranian with ties to Muslim extremists, making a big investment into a company that has ties to one of the biggest Mexican drug cartels … the rich Iranian’s assistant bribing or otherwise coercing Les to supply info on the location of our agent sent to investigate that Mexican company … that same agent later turns up dead and buried at one of that cartel’s drug farms … and then weird activity or lack of activity by the same cartel, at the border.”
Mugsy remained quiet while he saw De Niro trying to sort it all out in his head.
“You know the question that keeps popping up to me, Mugs … what does $25 million buy from the Pacifico cartel? I mean, I don’t see any connection to their drug operation. Pacifico doesn’t need an Iranian’s money to smuggle drugs into the U.S. and an Iranian doesn’t need a Mexican cartel to smuggle drugs into Iran. So if it isn’t drugs, it has to be for smuggling people across the border. That’s the only service I could see Pacifico providing if I was going to pay them that kind of money. But, man, we already know that would pay for a small army of terrorists to be brought across and so far there’s no sign of a small army of Middle Eastern-looking people amassing in those border towns.”
“Definitely not, Riggy and the guys said the towns are filled with Mexicans. That’s not to say that there might not be a small contingent of towel-heads, but not an army of them.”
De Niro paced some more.
“Zamani pays Pacifico 25 large and the next thing we see is that the cartel stops bringing illegals across the border … what’s up with that?”
Ricci snickered, “So that’s how you solve our illegal immigration problem … we don’t need walls, just pay off the cartels.”
“Noche del espantada … something about that term … why that term? Fright night …? Maybe a Halloween crossing … or …”
De Niro stopped pacing, smacking his forehead with his palm.
“They’re not stopping. They’re stocking up on illegals to bring across … all in one insane night … Noche del espantada! Mugs, in Spanish that could translate as, ‘fright night’ but it can also mean, ‘Night of the stampede!’”
“Talk about attracting attention,” Ricci added.
“Mugs, I think that’s it! They want the attention, or rather, they want the distraction! Let’s say, we want to smuggle something into the U.S., something very expensive, enough for us to pay those thugs $25 million. Instead of trying to sneak it past all of the apparatus set up to catch people sneaking things in … what if we have the cartel set up a night where they stampede illegals across? Instead of sneaking past our defenses, they overwhelm them … and while our border patrol agents are kept busy scurrying all over Tarnation rounding up all those Mexican illegals—“
“They could move a small contingent with whatever it is that’s so important, right under our noses!” Ricci finished his thought.
“Whatever it is Mugs … it’s bad and it’s big, for that amount of coin … biological, chemical or explosive!”
“Cris, I think you’re onto something. I’m gonna contact Charley and Agent Ahiga now and fill them in.”
“Do that and make sure you tell them not to bite on the bait! If we’re right, chaos is gonna break out down there soon. The Shadow Wolves and ARCHANGEL may be the only thing standing between them and the U.S.”
“Will do … and Cris … say hi to Moriah for me—“
De Niro hit the disconnect button.
“Moriah … I forgot I left her outside!”
De Niro hurried back outside and saw Moriah relaxing on a chair with her back to him. Her blond hair seemed to glow in the moonlight and her perfume mingled with the night air. As he approached her, he saw that the bottle of Barolo they were sharing was empty and so was her glass.
As soon as she noticed he was there, she flashed him a smile that sent a bit of electricity down his spine. Her emerald eyes sparkled with just a hint of glossiness from the wine.
De Niro took a seat next to her.
“Moriah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be away that long.”
“That’s okay. I’ve been relaxing and enjoying the wine.”
“Would you like some more? I have another bottle inside—“
Before he could get the rest of his sentence out, Moriah got up and sat on his lap.
“Cris, we need to talk.”
De Niro shifted himself in his seat to accommodate her.
“Okay … what would you like to talk about?”
“Us …”
“Us …? What about … us …?”
Moriah started to stroke his hair.
“We’re friends now, aren’t we?”
“Of course we are.”
“And friends should always be honest with each other, right?”
“Moriah … that Barolo is a very strong wine—“
Moriah put her index finger to his lips and she was slurring her words just a touch.
“Shhh … I’m asking you a question … friends are supposed to be honest with each other, right?”
“Yes, friends should be honest with each other. That Barolo is honestly very strong—“
Catching him by surprise, Moriah put her lips to his lips and for a moment De Niro’s mind went totally blank. A rush of feelings, sexual and otherwise took over. She’s so beautiful and sexy … and drunk … and not Lisa … LISA!
Using all his strength, physical and otherwise, De Niro got to his feet. As he did, he tried his best but he couldn’t help preventing Moriah from tumbling to the floor. He immediately reached down to help he
r up.
“Moriah, I’m so sorry ...! Are you okay?”
Moriah’s head was spinning. She wasn’t sure if she was more embarrassed or angry … and she wasn’t even sure of what it was she was angry about, as tears welled in her eyes.
“What is it, Cris?! Is there something wrong with me?! I mean, I basically just threw myself at you, like a tramp … and you tossed me to the floor! I’m sorry … I don’t have much experience being a tramp … is that how it works?”
“Moriah, you’re not a tramp and I didn’t mean to toss you like that! I just started feeling sick—“
“SICK …?! I kissed you and you started feeling sick … is my breath that bad?!”
“Moriah cut it out … that’s not what I meant. I … you caught me off guard—“
Moriah stepped closer to De Niro and put her hands to her hips. In her bare feet, she looked so petite to him … and so angry.
“Off guard … can I ask you something, Cris? Why would you have your guard up, in the first place?! I mean is it me … or something about me that makes you put your guard up?”
She started pacing back and forth.
“We spent a week together! I thought we got along great. I love your boys … I love the people here … I love the animals here … I love this place … this ranch—“
Catching him off guard again, she turned and threw her arms around the back of his neck, staring at his mouth.
“… and I’ve fallen in love with you.”
Drawing her lips close to his, Moriah waited for De Niro to close the gap, but he didn’t.
Tears started rolling down her cheeks as she stepped back from him. In that moment, she looked absolutely broken-hearted and absolutely beautiful to De Niro.
“Moriah, please understand. I haven’t come to terms with the loss of my wife yet—“
“It’s been 10 years, Cris … 10 YEARS! I know ‘cause up until the moment I met you, I spent those years trying to come to terms with the loss of my husband!”
De Niro didn’t reply.
“So what now …? How long will it take you to … come to terms ... with Lisa’s death?”
Hearing the term “Lisa’s death” was too much for him.
“I DON'T THINK I EVER WILL … Moriah!! LISA … was my soulmate ... she was everything to me!”
De Niro battled to get hold of his emotions, but it was too late – as a tear escaped from his eye.
“I know we’re no longer married, no longer one person in the eyes of God … those terrorist bastards saw to that!! But … my love for Lisa did more than fill my heart … it maintained it! When she tumbled down in that tower … my heart went with her! I don’t have the … capacity … to love like that again … and I don’t want to love like that again!”
His voice softened.
“My heart will always belong to her.”
De Niro swallowed hard as he saw the impact of his words on her. Moriah was such a friendly, warm soul, it made him feel terribly to cause her such sadness. He wanted so badly to console her in his arms, but he was more concerned with sending her mixed messages. What’s the matter with me?!
Her lip was quivering as she covered her mouth with her hand.
“I think I’m gonna be sick …” she uttered then ran from him into the house.
He didn’t follow her. Instead he stood there feeling like his insides were shaking. In a fury he picked up the bottle of wine intending to throw it and smash it, but as he did, he noticed the label. It was one of his and Lisa’s favorite Barolos. In fact, it was the same one they had on their first date. Memories started rushing into De Niro’s mind … memories of Lisa … memories that made him smile and laugh … and then cry. He dropped the bottle onto the chair where Moriah had been sitting. He could still smell her perfume.
De Niro collapsed onto his knees. Even after 10 years, the power of his love for his wife and the pain from her absence in his life devastated him. Lisa, I’m so lost without you … Father, why am I still here?!”
He heard the sound of a car pulling up in the front … it had to be William with the boys. He tried his best to dry his eyes before they walked in. Moriah must have heard them too because a moment later, she reemerged out back. She didn’t say a word to him as she collected her sandals and walked to the guesthouse.
De Niro didn’t follow her.
Chapter 30
U.S./Mexico Border
10 Miles Northeast of El Bajio, Sonora Mexico
Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation
Pre-Dawn 5:30a.m., Sunday, September 11, 2011
Charley Santappia was having a hard time following Agent Bryan Ahiga’s pickup truck down a pitch-black dirt road. With him Vic Rigoni, Karl De May, and Spiro Pescalitis bounced around in their Jeep.
Pescalitis: “Charley, where the hell are we? I think Cochise is leading us to Acapulco!”
Santappia: “If the GPS is correct, the Sky Tower that reported the large group is just ahead.”
As if on cue, Ahiga’s pickup pulled off the dirt road and stopped under a mobile Border Patrol observation post, otherwise known as a Sky Tower. Ahiga jumped out and pulled his pistol. He motioned to the others to do the same and to keep low. The four members of ARCHANGEL made their way over to him with caution.
Santappia: “Isn’t there supposed to be an agent on duty in that tower, Bryan?”
Ahiga: “Yes sir, there is. Something’s wrong.”
Ahiga held his hand to the side of his mouth and hollered, “Mike, its Bryan Ahiga. Are you okay?!”
Everyone’s nervousness increased from the lack of reply from the booth, atop the 25-foot portable tower.
Ahiga: “The controls to lower the tower are in that cabinet at its base.”
Santappia: “Guys, get your M-4’s and set a perimeter.”
Riggy, De May and Pescalitis crouched back to the Jeep, retrieved their automatic rifles and headsets then returned to Santappia and handed him one of each. Riggy then gave the other two, silent directions with hand gestures and all three men set out into the darkness. Within a minute Santappia heard from all three of them reporting that they were in position surrounding the tower.
Santappia: “Okay Bryan, they’re manning the perimeter.”
Ahiga nodded and set off towards the control cabinet. A moment later, Santappia watched the booth at the top of the tower lower to the ground before approaching it. He put his finger through a bullet hole in one of the tower’s windows as Ahiga joined him. The two men could hear the radio inside the booth set to a DHS frequency. The dispatcher was repeatedly requesting the agent to reply. Ahiga opened the door to the booth to find the border patrol agent lying in a pool of his own blood on the floor, brain matter and blood coated the opposing window. He carefully stepped into the booth and reached over to grab the mic.
“This is Shadow Wolf one at the Sky Tower west of Sasabe. The border patrol agent stationed here is down. I repeat … Agent Mike Bellows, stationed at the Sky Tower west of Sasabe is down.”
“Sasabe Station, roger Shadow Wolf one, emergency personnel have been dispatched to your location, ETA about 30 minutes.”
“Roger Sasabe… will secure the scene but need to begin pursuit immediately.”
“Sasabe Station, roger that … scene will be secured and unmanned until arrival of emergency personnel.”
Ahiga replaced the mic and then said a silent prayer for the family of the fallen agent. Standing behind him, Santappia prayed with him. When he finished, Ahiga turned around and shook his head.
“I didn’t know Mike very well but I know he was married with kids.”
Santappia didn’t reply. His face expressed his sadness and anger.
While Santappia examined the crime scene Ahiga walked back out to the dirt path, knelt down and started examining the ground. After five minutes he stood up and remained silent facing northwest. Santappia joined him.
“What did you find, Bryan?”
“Mike’s last distress call was accurate. Ther
e’s a very large group, Charley, the largest I’ve ever seen in fact, heading northwest. I’m talking hundreds! The time of his call marks their passing here … about 90 minutes ago and there’s something else …”
With Santappia behind him, Ahiga followed the tracks in both directions for several minutes until he found what he was looking for.
“Charley, some of them are on horseback. It’s almost impossible to see the tracks where they’re all moving. The army of footprints obliterates everything, but you can see here … several of the riders stopped. There are droppings from two of the horses and multiple prints of horses pretty much standing still.”
“What do you make of it, Bryan? Is this the Noche del espantada … the fright night?
Ahiga nodded.
“The night of the stampede … it’s odd, very odd.”
“What is?”
“The direction they set off on is northwest. That’ll take them away from Tucson. If they keep to that general direction, they’ll cross onto our reservation in about 10 miles.”
“Maybe their idea is to cross onto reservation land then turn due north—“
“Possibly Charley, but this whole thing just doesn’t add up to a normal illegal border crossing. First, such a large group … they know they’ll attract our attention.”
“They might be thinking that they’ll overwhelm us.”
“And they will … so my question is … why then head northwest? Wouldn’t it be better to make a bull rush towards Tucson? By heading in that direction, they’re just extending their trek. Time and distance work against them and for us … and they know that.”
Santappia removed his cap and scratched his head.
“I see what you mean. What else?”
“I’ve never seen a group like this, some on horseback, some on foot. Horses cost money. I don’t think this many banditos on horseback have cross the border since Poncho Villa … and then there’s what they did to Mike. What did you find, Charley?”
The Watchman of Ephraim (Book Club Edition) Page 21
