Call Down The Hawk

by Richard Folmar

  “Who are you and what do you want?” he asked in Spanish.

  Seth smiled and replied in Spanish, “Do we have the honor of addressing Senator Ernesto Gomez?”

  The man just stared at them with both the shotgun barrels cocked.

  Seth smiled again reassuringly and on a hunch switched to English. He pointed to his business card lying on a bed table, “As my card there says, I am Seth Cane and my associate here is Mr. Hand Comfort. We are from the State Department of the United States and would like to talk with you for a few minutes. Did not Dr.Bonillo inform you of our visit?”

  “North Americans? What do you want with me and who is this Dr. Bonillo?”

  Excuse me, do we look like Huerta’s secret police? Dr. Bonillo works for Venustiano Carranza, Chief of the Constitutionalist revolutionaries. He is not a Federalist. Quite the opposite. I am not mistaken, am I? You are Senator Gomez, are you not?”

  “I am Ernesto Gomez Hernandez, a member of the National Senate and a fugitive from law. I suggest you two keep your arms raised.”

  Seth thought the initial fear and panic in Gomez’s eyes was reduced to watchful suspicion. “Again, I assure you. Senator, we mean you, no harm.”

  “Carranza—yes, I know that man, Carranza. He loathes Huerta.” His eyes narrowed, “Do you come from the American Embassy?”

  Dangerous ground here. “No, although we are staying there temporarily, Mr. Comfort and I come directly from the State Department in Washington.”

  “Just to find me?”

  “In a way. I’ll explain, but first, we would appreciate it, if you would put down that weapon.”

  Gomez, looking uncertain, shrugged and laid the shotgun on the bed. “I have no shells for it anyway,” he said in English. Hand grunted in disgust and they both lowered their arms.

  “Senator Gomez, why are you on the run?” Hand asked.

  “Because of what I know about the murders of the Maderos and Suarez.”

  “Precisely why we need to talk with you,” Seth said.

  “Why should you North Americans be interested in that?”

  “We work for Mr. William Jennings Bryan, the Secretaryof State. We want to know who is responsible for those murders?”

  Senator Gomez’s laugh bordered on the hysterical. It took a few minutes for him to gain control.

  “My pardon” he said wiping his eyes with a handkerchief. “Your question is so embarrassingly stupid. Before we can proceed, I must see some identification from both of you. Anyone can say they are from the American State Department”

  They handed over their passports and he compared the pictures with that of the bearers. Gomez, convinced of their identity, handed them back. “I do not understand this. Your government is actually asking who is responsible for the murders?”

  “What’s so dang strange about that?” Hand asked.

  “Only this, Mr. Comfort, the butcher Huerta and the United States Government are responsible.”

  Seth was shocked by his statement. He glanced at Hand who was uttering a low growl and looked as if he was about to move on Gomez. He put out a restraining hand on the Texan’s arm, saying, “Please explain that remark, Senator Gomez.”

  Gomez, with a grim expression, turned his back on the two men from the United States and did not answer.

  Seth flashed Hand a warning look, and then calmly said, “Senator Gomez, there must be some mistake. Why do you say our government had something to do with that crime?’

  Gomez turned around and stared at Seth. Shaking his head he collapsed on the bed as one near exhaustion. After a moment, he spoke, it seemed, with great effort.

  “If your Ambassador Wilson represents your government, and I believe he does, then your government is responsible for the murders of President Madero and Vice President Suarez.”

  Seth and Hand exchanged looks. Could this be a break intheir investigation? “Are you seriously charging our Ambassador Wilson with direct collusion in those killings?”

  “Of course, I am.”

  “What proof do you have of this?”

  “Proof?”

  “Proof. You have just made a very serious charge against a high American diplomat.”

  “I don’t know what your courts consider proof of foul murder but I personally talked with the man directly in charge of the shootings.”

  Seth shrugged. “It depends on what he told you and whether or not he can be trusted. Even then, it’s hearsay evidence at best. Who is this man? I was told that the assassins had disappeared from the face of the earth.”

  Gomez’s shoulders slumped and he suddenly looked aged. “So far as I know, Rafael Pimienta has disappeared and may be dead. But Major Francisco Cardenas, the man who did the killings, is in Guatemala.”

  “He was the executioner?”

  “He told me that he and Pimienta did all the shooting.”

  “Told you? How did he come to tell you this?”

  “Major Francisco Cardenas is my sister’s husband and—my closest friend for many years.”

  51

  “WHEN DID YOUR BROTHER-IN-LAW TELL you this?”

  Gomez looked at Seth and fumbled in his jacket for a package of cigarettes. He selected one, lighted it and inhaled heavily, not answering until he exhaled a cloud of smoke.

  “The night of the murders”

  “He just came right out and confessed it without any questioning on your part?”

  “Yes, I had no idea of what had occurred. I happened to be at their home talking to my sister. It was getting late and I was preparing to go when Francisco came in, looking flushed and distraught. He ordered my sister to pack him a suitcase because he had to leave Mexico tonight. My sister demanded to know why and he just said, he had to and don’t ask any questions, just pack the suitcase as he had told her to. She left crying, to do as he ordered.”

  I asked, “Francisco, my friend, what is this about? Why do you talk of leaving Mexico tonight?”

  He looked at me with blood shot eyes and went over and took down a bottle of Teguilla and drank from the bottle. He then said he had been ordered to do something awful tonight. I asked him what he had been ordered to do. And, he told me he had just murdered Madero and Suarez.”

  “I was horrified and could not believe it. But he insisted and I became enraged demanding to know how he could do such a thing. He pleaded that he was a soldier and following the orders of El Presidente. I said if so, why was he leaving Mexico? He said that he was sure that the secret police were going to kill him to keep him quiet and he was going to Guatemala for protection. I told him he had brought dishonor and shame upon our family and it was no excuse that he followed orders. Then he said that I should also take precautions.”

  “Why you? “Hand asked.

  “Huerta and his secret service head, Dominguez, know of my relationship with Francisco Cardenas and suspect that he might have told me everything before he fled. It is true, Francisco told me the whole story in detail. I went into hiding that night.”

  “Why would Huerta not trust you? Surely there are others who know the details,” Seth said.

  “Mr. Cane, you do not understand. I am a Maderista and was on the verge of being purged or worse from the Senate. If I can escape, I am going to tell the truth all over Latin America before I join up with Carranza.”

  Hand spoke up, “I may be thick headed, but I can’t see how anything he has told us put the brand on Ambassador Wilson for these killings.”

  Seth looked questioningly at Gomez. “I have to agree with my associate, Senator. How does this back up your charge that Ambassador Wilson and our government are guilty of these murders?”

  “Allow me to tell you exactly what my brother-in-law told me shortly before he fled to Guatemala. On February 12 of this year he was summoned to the offic
e of General Aureliano Blanquet. He was told that when Huerta returned he would ratify the previous plan whereby Madero and Suarez were to be executed on their way to Lecumberri. When ratified, the

  General said, Francisco and Pimienta were to carry out the original order.”

  “Then there was already a plan afoot to do the killing,” Seth said. “Why was Huerta delaying and who had to ratify his order? Are you certain Blanquet used the word ratify?”

  “That is what Francisco told me. Blanquet also said, with some criticism, that Huerta remarked to him that he placed the highest value on the advice of the American Ambassador.”

  “Wait a minute, “Seth interrupted. “Was that remark made in connection with the delay in issuing the order of execution?”

  “That was Francisco’s understanding.”

  “Please go on.”

  “After a wait, Captain Dominguez arrived with a message from Huerta.”

  “We know that jasper,” Hand said, giving Seth a knowing look. “Only he’s a Major now”

  Gomez nodded and continued. “This Dominguez reported that Huerta spent more than an hour with Wilson, behind closed doors of the study in the American Embassy. When he came out he told him to tell General Blanquet that the order regarding Madero and Suarez should now be carried out as planned. My brother-in-law (may God forgive him, I can’t) and Pimienta went to the Palacio and picked up Madero and Suarez, telling them that they were being transferred to more safe quarters at Lecumberri. They put them in separate cars. Madero was with Francisco. When they arrived at the penitentiary, the lights on the wall were turned off as planned. That upset Madero and he refused to get out of the car. Francisco said he yelled for Madero to get out of the car but Don Fernando refused and Francisco pulled him out. Madero was barely out of the car when Francisco shot him twice in the back of the head. Pimienta then shot Pino Suarez three times in the face but did not kill him. Francisco walked over and ordered the soldiers to shoot him again. Afterward,

  Francisco had the soldiers rake the cars with machine gun fire to make it look like an outside attack.”

  When Gomez stopped talking, the room was heavy with the horror of what he just described.

  Hand broke the silence. “You damn sure have some brother-in-law, mister. Why in hell didn’t you just blast the son-of-bitch on the spot?”

  “I didn’t have a gun and besides we were in my sister’s house where their children were present. Fortunately, she didn’t return from his packing until after he had finished telling me. Someday, I will find him and when I do, I promise that I will kill him.”

  “What are your immediate plans, Senator?” Seth asked.

  “To get out of Mexico and head for Guatemala, of course.”

  “Anything we can do to help?”

  “Just remember what I’ve told you and don’t tell anyone you have seen me until I’ve had a chance to get away. I will be leaving here almost immediately. I’m waiting for my ride now. Another thing, I don’t trust your Dr. Bonillo. He may or may not be working for Carranza. For that matter, you should know that while many of Carranza’s supporters are Madaristas, Carranza, himself, was never a real supporter of the President.”

  “Well, luck to you and thank you for talking to us,” Seth said. “We’d better go now.”

  “Watch your back, Gomez,” Hand said as they turned to go. “If we can help, you can call us at the American Embassy.”

  The Senator smiled sardonically. “I don’t think so, Senor Comfort.”

  52

  THE FRONT OF THE CANTINA was still empty, except for the fat bartender who did not look up from his newspaper, and Rosalita, who came over and grabbed Hand’s arm. “Come, big Yankee man, it’s late. I now charge only fifty centavos. Make you very happy.”

  Hand looked embarrassed and removed her hand from his arm. “Listen little girl, why don’t you stop this business? Go home to your mother and father.”

  The girl laughed, “Madrecita es muerto” She then pointed at the fat bartender. “And that is mi padre!”

  Shocked, Hand looked at Seth, who shook his head and they headed out of the cantina. Outside they walked down the dark road in the direction where they hoped their taxi would be waiting.

  “Hey Pard,” Hand said, “Do you believe that part of the Senator’s story where Ambassador Wilson is supposed to have OK’d killing of those poor bastards?”

  “It was a disturbing story, but as far as implicating Henry Lane Wilson it was pretty thin. There is still no direct evidence from anybody who was in that study that he told Huerta to go through with the executions,is there? It was all supposition that Huerta’s remark about the value of Henry

  Lane’s advice meant that the Ambassador did actually advise the murdering of Madero and Suarez.”

  “Naw, reckon not. Just General Blanquet mentioning Huerta was strong on Wilson’s advice doesn’t mean he said kill them. Maybe we’ve been rooting around a dead stump.”

  “Maybe so. Nothing would make me happier than to blast that allegation. I wouldn’t like to believe any American Ambassador would be involved in that kind of thing.”

  Hand suddenly grabbed Seth’s arm as the lights of two large touring cars swept around the corner toward which they were headed. “I don’t like the looks of that,” he said. “Get off the road quick—over there!”

  They ran between two empty buildings, barely avoiding being spotlighted in the headlamps on the cars, which roared by and with squealing brakes stopped in front of El Gallo Rojo.

  They cautiously looked around the edge of the vacant building and saw four uniformed men leap from the first vehicle and rush into the cantina. Two from the other car tore around the back of the building while two more took up station outside the front.

  Seth pulled Hand partially back into the cover between the buildings to prevent the two men out front of the cantina from spotting them.

  “What in hell is going on, Seth?”

  “I’m afraid I know. Stay back,” Seth said. Shots were heard from the direction of the cantina. A minute later two men came out with a third between them. Light from the lantern over the door was just sufficient to pick up the blaze of red hair on the man being half carried and half dragged.

  “Gomez!” Hand whispered.

  The back door of the touring car was held open by one of the men stationed outside and Gomez was roughly thrown in on the floor of the vehicle.

  “Reckon he’s a goner?” Hand asked.

  “Hard to tell from this distance. Looked wounded though.”

  “Poor feller. Didn’t have any shells for his shotgun.”

  Three more shots came from inside the cantina. “Pard you don’t reckon—?”

  “Wait—they are leaving” Seth cautioned.

  The remaining uniformed men came running out and piled in the other touring car. Each car in turn pulled into the lot beside the cantina, backed out and headed up the road with motors roaring past Seth and Hand, who had again stepped back into cover. The big cars wheeled around the corner onto the paved road. Just for an instant their headlamps revealed an ancient Cleveland H parked along the curb as they sped by. The whole episode had taken less than ten minutes.

  “Come on!” Seth said, his voice hoarse. “Let’s find out what happened down there.” They broke into a run back toward the cantina. Coming through the door, Seth stopped short, causing Hand to bump into him.

  Hand peered around him and moaned, “Dear God,” he whispered staring at Rosalita who was lying on her back, the cheap red dress was up to her thighs revealing pathetically thin legs. Her eyes were staring with frozen concentration on the ceiling. The round black hole in the center of her forehead oozed a small amount of blood.

  It was futile but Seth attempted to find a pulse. Her neck was still warm. Hand came over to stand beside him. “Why—w
hy kill this little girl?” He knelt and pulled down the skirt of the red dress. Then, he squatted down on his boot heels, cowboy fashion, his eyes transfixed by her frozen expression.

  Enough of this. No one can help her now. Seth jerked a cloth from a nearby table and spread it over her. “Hand, go see if you can find that bartender, while I check the room where we talked with Gomez.”

  The Texan reluctantly stood up and looked around theroom. He walked slowly over to the bar and looked behind it and called out to Seth who had started down the back hall.

  “Here he is—deader’n a rock.”

  Seth turned around and came over to the bar and stared at the crumpled body of the fat bartender. There appeared to be two bullet holes in the man’s back.

  “Seth?” Hand asked. “Why did they have to shoot her?”

  “I don’t know but possibly to get rid of witnesses. Then again, it might have been out of anger for hiding Gomez.”

  “Who were they?”

  “My guess is they were some of Major Dominguez’s flying squad. They looked like army. I don’t think they were police.”

  “What will they do to Senator Gomez?”

  “If he’s still alive, I wouldn’t give much for his chances after these two killings but come on, we should clear out of here before the regular police arrive.”

  “What about the girl?”

  “Nothing we can do for her.”

  “She was about the age of your Ginny.”

  “I know, let’s go,” Seth said, his voice unnaturally harsh.

  53

  THE FIRST SECRETARY ANSWERED SETH’S knock almost as if he had been expecting it. Artimus Seyquirt, dressed for bed in a white flannel nightshirt, looked both directions down the hallway and motioned Seth quickly inside. The room was a small sitting room dominated by a massive Wooten desk and rattan furniture. A curtained doorway presumably led to the bedroom. With a trace of curiosity, Artimus gestured Seth into a chair and took the rocker for himself.