by Doug Ball
Nobody responded.
Each person in the assault group did their job and the clearing of the building was carried out in a professional manner safely, quickly, and completely. A person was in place on each door for security as all the rest trotted from one area to another. Two men even climbed the ladders up to a hanging second level to check out that area.
Sounds of ‘clear’ and ‘safe’ were heard until all except the door guards were standing near the wall supposedly leading to the tunnel. No tracks led to the wall. No marks of raking or dragging in an attempt to obliterate the tracks were present. Matter of fact, all the tracks in the building went straight through.
One of the troops asked, “Do you notice anything strange about the truck tracks going through this place?”
Desi responded, “No.”
Joe responded, “I noticed there are mighty few footprints in here other than ours.”
The troop said, “These trucks never stopped in this building, they just rolled through. No one got out and no one got in. Strange.”
“Let’s hit the wall,” Desi said, “That would give us cause to do what’s necessary to open this place up.”
Dirt was piled up against the wall six inches or more, looking like it had just been gradually built up over years of disuse. A shovel was found and put to work. The pile against the wall was hard as a rock. It was part of the wall. Two inches down in the dirt two feet out from the wall there was nothing but dirt.
The woman on the team was searching the office to the east of the wall and yelled out, “Hey, I found a switch in here pretty well outta sight behind a girly picture. Girls too skinny to be walking around without her clothes, but the switch is interesting.”
Joe walked in and looked. “It’s for a 220 circuit. Nothing here so far would be 220.”
He walked to the open area and said, “Stand back we’re gonna flip a switch.”
Seeing everybody clear, he said, “Flip the switch, Jean.”
She did.
The wall began moving straight up just like the big doors at the ends were supposed to do, except there was no roll-up for the wall. They all moved closer to the opening, guns at the ready.
The area behind the door was lit up with a couple of dim bulbs showing the dirt ramp which led downward into the tunnel proper. Nothing else moved, except the door.
“Get the robot, Randy.”
“On my way,” Randy responded.
“Keep searching the office and the rest of the building while we set up the Robot.” Joe wanted all the evidence he could find. He hated it when things didn’t go down as expected.
#
Diego was sorry he had passed the last spring and it was too late now to turn back. He had just worked his way down a sixty foot drop that wasn’t much more than a ragged cliff and wasn’t about to return by trying to go up it. The trail was fading out as the moon dropped rapidly behind dark, heavy clouds. He searched for shelter to finish the night in. It was cold up there.
#
The coals of the women’s campfire were barely discernible under the darkening moon, and the campsite was quiet except for the steady breathing of the two residents.
#
The 24/7 news channels picked up the story of the chopper landing outside the ranch west of Oro Blanco off Yellow Jacket Road. The cries of the anchor men and women were heard only by those who liked to be up or had to be up at almost midnight.
The switchboards of the Arizona Legislature began receiving calls at 11:11 PM, demanding that the Governor do something and the House do something and the Senate do something. The only suggestion given as to the something was “shoot everything that comes over the border walkin’, ridin’, or flyin’. Even the birds, they carry disease just like them brats comin’ in on the trains and such.”
#
The robot moved slowly toward the ramp leading down into the tunnel. The operator watched his screen as Desi and Joe watched over his shoulder. Truck tracks were very clear on the screen denoting at least three trips had come through the tunnel, if they were round trips that is. Nothing unusual came across the screen and Randy kept the robot eye looking in all directions. The other eye was for fine work when needed and right then it was looking straight ahead.
Randy stopped the rolling robot, moved the head so he could see an object on the floor better, and declared, “Beer can.”
The robot moved ahead.
“We need to get a man in there to check those tire tracks and see if they are using the same truck back and forth, or different trucks that might just pull through and keep on rolling. If they used US trucks to go south get the dope and return, they would be less vulnerable to detection on this side. If they use one truck and bring different trucks to the warehouse and shift loads, that’s a lot of labor.” Joe was very much the expert here. He had been in this business for over twenty years and was seriously thinking of retiring in another year or so. He was tired and his wife’s health was not the best. Her health was the only reason he wanted to stay, they needed the insurance.
Desi thought about what he was seeing and then what he was hearing from the crew around him. He didn’t like it. It was too easy. If this were Phoenix, he would be on a serious ambush watch. “Joe, I think we need more men on the perimeter. This smells of ambush to me. But, I will go along with your ideas. This is only my second tunnel and the last one blew up in our face while we were five miles out on our way in. Seems no one wanted us looking at it. And, we found a blabber mouth on our side talking way too much.”
“I don’t think there’s much possibility here of an ambush. It would come from the tunnel if one came. The robot will warn us of that. My thinking is that most of us are here in the middle of it all and if one of the sentries or the robot triggers an ambush we can backup that point with force and still keep others in reserve.”
“I’m with ya.” The Director turned to his Captain, “Assign three men to immediately move to any sentry position that begins firing or sounds a warning.”
“Three men. Yes, Sir.” He turned, “You three,” he pointed them out, “move out at any firing or warning from a sentry.”
Three men nodded their acknowledgement.
The robot kept moving.
#
Hawk got the call before midnight that the switchboard was overflowing with calls and called the head of the security detail for the Capitol facilities and personnel. “I think you might want to up your security on the facilities and outside grounds in the morning, say starting at 5 AM. Also, if you can swing it with the Phoenix PD, let’s add a couple more bodies to the Governor’s team 24/7 until we see where this is going. Anger levels toward Mexico are high and we don’t need them rolling out the black carpet protesting and getting out of hand.”
“I agree. We’re on it. Thank’s for your call, Hawk.”
‘I’ll just bet he’s thankful for my call,’ he thought, grinning.
#
The tunnel was found clear at the 500 yard point which was as far as Randy wanted to take it. “This is almost the signal limit advertised on this rig. I’ve had it further, but as the battery goes down, so does the distance. I recommend you send in the sappers while Bernard, the robot,” he looked around with a sheepish grin, “stands guard. He’ll give you a couple hundred yards of warning of any attack in there.”
Joe said, “Sounds good. Sappers, you ready?”
Desi looked around.
Three men moved forward, “Yes, Sir,” the leader said. “How far you want the big charge set?”
Desi said, “Let’s go in 200 yards. That will put the sink hole much further out in the desert south of here. Be careful and stay alert. Radio check again.”
The three of them tried their radios and he listened. “Go.”
Three men trotted down the ramp standing tall. The ceiling so much higher than any other tunnels they had worked. No crawling here.
“Now we wait,” Joe said.
“Got the sappers ready for the
close-in charges?” Desi did not believe in waiting until the last minute on anything.
“Yeah. Your guy and my guy are set to go. Each will do a side and start the timer. At which time we get out of here and call the boys down south to tell them to check on their puff of smoke.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Within minutes the first team was headed back. “Coming home. Timer set at 20, two zero minutes.”
“Awaiting your arrival.”
Joe said, “Let’s get the second crew down there and run the robot back to them.”
“Do it.”
Randy started the robot back with one eye looking ahead and the other watching the back trail. “Bernard cannot go as fast as the troops. He’ll keep an eye on any possible tangos coming through the tunnel.”
“Great.”
The two arrived at their destination and reported, “Two in place to set the cork.”
“Get-r-done.”
The first three sappers trotted by the second group and continued to the warehouse.
Desi said, “Drivers fire up the vehicles. We’re getting out of here shortly.”
Joe shouted, “Anybody find anything interesting? If you did let me know, now.”
The officer in the office said, “There’s a couple of fuel receipts here and not much else. They couldn’t have been using this place for long or as any kind of operational hub. I think this place was just a pass through to the highway that dodged the border guards.”
“Could be,” said Joe. “We’ve had a slight rise in drugs lately.”
Desi answered, “Statewide the number of drug problems has increased very slightly, but nowhere near what we use to have. We were just getting ready to pour some time into correlating the info coming in to see if supply was up or just stupid users were getting braver.”
“Bernard is showing some heat signatures back down the tunnel where it’s too dark to determine the cause. Estimate three to five hot objects. I’d say we got company coming, boss.”
Joe hit the send button on his radio, “Sappers, get done and get out we got company. All of you hold at current first shot position until they are done and then fall back.”
“First shot is set and we’re on our way.”
“The threesome is almost out also.”
“Okay, folks, let’s pack up and get.”
“Fall back. Drivers pull up close.”
Two men ran out of the tunnel and headed for the vehicles. The running steps of the threesome could be heard and just faintly the whine of Bernard going as fast as his little motor would go.
“How’s Bernard doing in comparison to the suspected bad guys?”
“They are bad guys. Bernard is holding his own probably two to three hundred yards ahead.”
“Desi, I suggest we drop a couple of flash bangs in the hole as soon as that robot is up. Just to give us time to mount up and run. No sense having a shootout if we don’t have to. They won’t find the charges fast enough to stop anything.”
“Let’s do it.” Desi pointed at two men he knew to be quick on their feet. “You two wait here until we give the word, then drop a couple of flash bangs down the hole and run for your vehicle.”
Over the radio came, “First surprise in 45 seconds. Second surprise in 13 minutes.”
Joe looked around, “Desi, get to your vehicle and I’ll stay back until the robot is out.”
“I’m gone. Don’t be foolish, Bernard can take care of himself.” Desi ran for his seat in the Lincoln.
Moments later, as the Lincoln cruised around the building, the robot came through the end door and up the ramp into the laundry truck. Over the radio came Joe’s voice, “Last man out close the door.”
Three seconds later two men came running out the east door. Almost immediately a heavy explosion was heard. Within three heart beats all vehicles reported they were set to run.
The Director said to his mike, “Go. Go. Go. Meet at the rendezvous.”
The Lincoln was the last to the highway. The Director had his window down allowing him to hear the first tunnel explosion loud and clear. Looking back he saw the building bulge and then expel a giant cloud of dust. The building sagged in places it wasn’t supposed to.
“Southern friends are watching for the parade and fireworks.” Joe’s voice was excited and fast.
The four vehicles broke the speed limit getting away.
5
The sun came up just like every morning. The dust settled in Miracle Valley. The gals got up and fixed breakfast. Jack was almost at his destination with his father sound asleep in the back seat. Armado Borrago wondered what was going on, one of his tunnels blew up, five soldados were missing, Diego hadn’t called, and his wife was whining about money. Tan and crew were in bed awaiting the alarm clock’s sudden intrusion into their lives, except for Abdul. He was finishing a night of poker with some old friends who talked to him about a new drug source if he was interested. The Mexican police were pulling bodies and trucks out of a very large tunnel two hundred yards south of the border. And, Diego woke up.
Diego’s eyes came open to the startling view of sunrise. The air was clear. The sky was blue and without clouds. The birds were chirping and singing. ‘What could be a better way of waking up?’ he thought and he stood up.
A voice behind him said, “Put your hands on the big rock to your right, feet back, and spread them.”
He yelped, “Cabròn!”
He tried to spin, but a stiff arm caught him and pushed forward on the rock. “Calm down and all will go nicely. Keep fighting and I’ll have to haul you off this mountain, and I won’t like that, so I’ll have to roll you from rock to rock.”
Diego stayed put sprawled against the boulder as whoever was behind him did a thorough frisk. Finding the radio, the man asked, “What is this, señor? You are wearing a wire. How naughty. Now, the man on the other end hears our words. Is this true?”
“I will tell you nothing.”
“Okay, I will cut off your pinky.”
A large knife whipped past Diego’s ear and smacked the pinky of his right hand.
“I will kill you, gringo. I will live long enough to kill you.”
The voice behind him said, “I will cut off your trigger finger then.” The knife fell again, hitting the right trigger finger.
All Diego could see was red. Blood flowed from his hand and onto the rock. The hand was brought behind him and a cuff was slapped around his wrist. “Bring the left hand back slowly or this knife goes in your ribs.”
Diego followed directions.
The left wrist received its half of the handcuffs. The weight on Diego was removed.
“Stand and turn slowly.”
Diego followed directions.
A large, dark skinned man stood before him with a large smile and a bigger knife. At the man’s hip was an old revolver. “I am called Hunter. I hunt border crossers for money.” He reached and ripped Diego’s shirt open, grabbed the microphone stuck to his chest, and said, “Say goodbye to whoever is listening.”
Diego followed directions, his hand throbbing behind his back.
“Adios, whoever you are. Please send more of your mules, I get paid for every one of them I catch. I need the money.” Hunter ripped the microphone and wires loose from Diego’s body causing considerable damage to the hide of the man.
“I am Indio. Tarahumara and Yuma tribes. The state pays well for mules. If you fight me, you will die, and I will get no money. If you cooperate, you will live, and I will get much money. Do not worry about your hand. It will heal and you will be able to kill me. I did not cut them off, I only smashed them with the backside of this wonderful blade my father made for me as a part of my manhood rites. This knife has killed bear and lion, and six men. Do not make it seven.”
Diego stood still making up his mind about this man. “How long have you followed me?”
“I follow from the spring you passed to here. You are a very slow walker, but a very loud sleeper. Move do
wn to the west. Do you see the truck by the trees way off down there?”
Diego looked. “No.”
“That is where we go. Move.”
#
Borrago had listened in frustration and pain to the entire conversation. He kicked the trash can in his office and tossed the digital recorder after it. The coffee cup he was carrying followed. “I will kill this Hunter and all the other Hunters. I will pay $1,000 for every Hunter’s head brought to me.”
“How will you know they are Hunters, Patrón?”
He raised his hand to hit the man and remembered the time his Patrón had hit him right in this same room. He’d killed the man and took his place at the head of this territory under El Trinchante. Soon El Trinchante will have him killed if he does not open the drug road north. “We will know.”
#
Betts and Lana checked the coordinates and strings placed over the ground they would be digging, if finances allowed, for a long time. Lana said, “This could take at least a year to get down into the really productive stratum for this whole area. There must be at least an acre here of a possible habitation site. Over there in that eastern edge there looks to be a large structure remnant just breaking the surface.” Her excitement bubbled through all she said and her every action. She was practically dancing.
“I can hardly wait to begin finding the secrets of this site. Do you think it has anything to do with the pre-Hohokam? I am thinking Chiricahua or older from the few hints we have discovered on the surface. That large carved and engraved rock by the campsite is something I have never seen the like of before. What do you think?” Betts asked.
“This place could be almost anything. It appears to be on the main trade route between north and south. The metaté in the far corner is deep and uncommon. Who would think of a grind stone in the side of a large boulder on a shelf?”
“Made it easy to work. Standing up is easier for the old folks and the young. Easier to scrape out the ground meal into a basket by just brushing it than to have to lift the stone or brush it into a cloth and then to a basket. Who knows yet? We may be able to answer some of the questions before long.”
