A Dubious Terrain (A Colton Banyon Mystery Book 4)

by Gerald J Kubicki

  After their faithful dinner, Sarah had placed a call to the head of Homeland Security. The man she talked to was also a member of the Effort. She had been looking for a way to control Randolph that was not so exhausting for her personally. Lana was perfect for the job. Within a week, Lana was interviewed by Homeland Security and offered the position of assistant and bodyguard for Congressman Sanders. She could not believe her luck. She was told she would move into the Sander estate in New Mexico and accompany the Congressman whenever he traveled. She would also assist him in activities in his home state. She immediately accepted.

  Later during that faithful day she was called to an important meeting with the Director of Homeland Security, he reminded her that her loyalties were with Homeland Security. She was to report directly to him about any activates by the Congressman that would embarrass the government. She had pledged total support and then went off to her dream job. What she didn’t know was she was an important pawn of the plan set forth by the Effort.

  She took her job very seriously. Over the next seven months she had proven to be an above average administrator. Her real strength however, was in keeping Randy, as she called him, content and productive. She also protected him like a mother lion.

  Today she was dressed just like he liked her. Her blond hair was piled high on her head. She wore big round glasses that made her look like a bookworm. She wore a blue blazer that covered a sheer pink blouse. Her gun hung from a shoulder holster under the blazer and patted her firm right breast when she walked. Finally she was dressed in a thigh-length blue pleated skirt. Only the seven inch high heels betrayed the look of a spinster secretary, but it did show off a pair of sleek muscular calves. Her hips swayed back and forth as she sauntered toward the larger office. She was thinking sweet thoughts as she pushed open the office door.

  Her eyes widen with shock as she saw Sarah with a handful of Randy’s hair. She jerked his head backward as Lana watched. He was tied to the leather desk chair with rubber straps and could not move. Sarah held a horse crop in her left hand and slapped him across the chest. Lana winced.

  “What are you doing?” Lana exclaimed?

  “He needs to be taught a lesson,” replied Sarah with bitterness and regret in her voice.

  “No, you might hurt him. Please stop,” Lana whined.

  “Lana, stay out of it. I don’t want you involved,” replied a calm Randy. “She wants me to tell her about our meeting today. Remember the one we went to at two o’clock?” Randy the actor played his part perfectly.

  “So, the girl wonder was there too,” spat out Sarah. “Perhaps I should ask her a few questions instead of you,” she growled.

  Moving as quickly as a cat, Sarah headed for the girl and slapped the papers that Lana carried from her hand. They scattered throughout the office. A confused Lana watched as the papers fluttered all over.

  “Get down on your knees slut,” Sarah ordered as she raised the crop.

  Lana nervously looked at Randy who said, “You had better do as she asks. Don’t worry about me.”

  Lana sank to the ground. Her pleated skirt didn’t quite touch the ground as she knelt. Sarah grabbed and yanked the blazer down so she could not move her arms. She opened the strap on her holster and removed the gun. Next she forced the prisoner to spread her legs. She then stood over Lana and tapped the crop in her palm.

  “Now tell me what I want to know,” she spat out.

  “I don’t know what you want,” Lana replied submissively as she looked at the ground.

  “Tell me about the meeting.” Sarah ordered with a threat in her voice. “Now.”

  “I can’t,” Lana cried out.

  “Don’t make me hurt you,” Sarah threatened. “Or maybe I should hurt Randy.”

  “Oh, please don’t hurt him,” Lana muttered. “I’ll tell you everything. Just don’t hurt me or Randy.”

  “Lana, you can’t tell her anything,” Randy roared as he strained at his bindings. “I forbid you to say anything.”

  Lana looked at him with tears in her eyes but understood. She needed to be tested. “Torture me if you must.”

  “Well torture it is,” Sarah spoke with finality.

  “I can’t tell you anything,” a broken and humiliated Lana sobbed with her head hung low, knowing that Sarah would not listen.

  “Get up bitch,” Sarah screamed. “I’m going to punish you for your insubordination. Get over here and lean over the desk.”

  Lana stood with her arms still captured behind her back. She walked over to the desk and did as Sarah demanded. Sarah immediately used the crop to flip up her skirt revealing her thong panties. She yanked them down below her knees and proceeded to slap Lana on her buttocks with the crop. After ten lashes she stopped.

  She stripped off the blue blazer and pointed towards Randolph who suddenly was pants free.

  “Now sit on your uncle’s lap and tell me everything,” she ordered.

  Chapter Sixteen

  About two hours later the office was a total mess. There were clothes strewn everywhere and many of the items from the desk were lying on the floor. The desk had been the center of the activities for the frenzy.

  The now satisfied combatants had retired to the back patio and were seated around a black wrought iron table. Lana and Sarah both had on short silky yellow robes with nothing on underneath. Randolph was clad in boxer shorts with polka dots on them. Sarah was smoking a cigarette and Randolph puffed on a Cuban cigar. Lana didn’t smoke.

  “Okay,” spoke a cheerful Sarah. “We have had our little fun. Now let’s get down to discussing the meeting.”

  “It went just as we had planned” replied Randolph continuing to be evasive with cigar smoke circulating around his blond head.

  “But what happened,” an exasperated Sarah exclaimed?

  ***

  The meeting was actually the first platform meeting for a new political organization in America. It had been dubbed the “Safe Party” by the founders. The head of the party was Randolph Sanders but, the basis for the party was constructed by and supported by the Effort. While there were a few Effort people present, most of the people involved were local businessman who aligned with the “Safe Party” objectives.

  Randolph Sanders had been elected as a congressman in New Mexico as an independent candidate. Now he was charged with the development of a political party that could be implemented in other states. Randolph Sanders had become a viable candidate to lead a party, but it had not started out that way.

  His election had been a minor miracle. First he was elected as an “at large” candidate. That meant that he did not have a set district but was elected from voters from the whole state. New Mexico was one of the few states where an “at large” candidate could be elected. The position of “at large” was created by a reapportionment by congress due to the change in the census population of New Mexico. Sanders election and the reapportionment were possible because of two reasons. First, prisoners located in the state were suddenly given a vote. The prison vote had turned out to be hugely in favor of the Sanders ticket. Secondly many people who had never voted before suddenly voted. They voted in favor of Sanders. There were many cries of “Gerrymandering” or manipulation of the numbers by many congressmen and voters, but in the end New Mexico got a new advocate and was about to get a new party. It had all been planned by the Effort.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Tell her about the information that you presented,” Randolph said pointing his cigar at Lana.

  “Well,” Lana started, “First I presented the numbers to set the stage. The numbers are crazy good for the platform. There are currently 12 million illegal aliens living in the United States. Most come from Latino countries. That is more than 3.5percent of the total population. There are currently more illegal aliens in the US than any other time in US history. Our borders have been an open faucet for anyone who has wanted to enter the country. Today many of the large drug cartels are involved in the illegal alien business bec
ause they use the known trails to also bring in drugs. The people that bring in the drugs are called mules. Many cross over to the US three or four times a week, stay for a day and head back.

  “That is completely out of control,” Sarah exclaimed as she interrupted her.

  Lana nodded her head and then continued. “The current population of New Mexico, for example, is 44% Hispanic or Latino. Most of the other southwestern states show similar statistics. So it is not easy to identify the illegals or mules as well. Many have relatives in the states that provide safe houses whenever the illegals come to the U.S.”

  “Even the checkpoints are an open faucet,” add Randolph. “There are currently about 1,200 different documents that are acceptable at any border checkpoint that will allow anyone possessing them to enter the U.S. Most are easily forged. You can even buy forged documents in many Mexican towns within steps of the crossing checkpoint. If they get caught, the government just return them to Mexico. There is no jail time, no penalty and Mexico doesn’t even keep records.”

  “I’ve always wondered, what is the difference between Hispanic and Latino?” Sarah knew the difference, but wanted to see if Lana did.

  “Hispanic is Mexican and Spanish. Latino is basically any Spanish speaking country, so it includes everything south of the border,” Lana replied officially. “Many people don’t understand the distinction between the two.”

  “Those statistics alone should put a scare into most people,” remarked Randolph. “Good job Lana.”

  She wasn’t done. “But the cost of illegal aliens is immeasurable,” continued Lana. “Most of the money they earn illegally is sent to their home country to support their families. Their employers pay them off the books and no taxes are collected or sent in to the government. That reduces the tax base. Many have fathered children and the children become a burden on our society. The children are born here and are therefore Americans. They are called ‘anchor babies’ because they allow whole families to stay in America. We are required by law to feed them, give them an education and give them medical support. Many are on welfare from the day that they are born.”

  “But isn’t that how America was settled originally? Weren’t all our ancestors immigrants? I mean what is the difference?” Sarah played devil’s advocate.

  “In the past, they came here legally and attempted to mix into our society,” Lana replied. “The United States has a quote system for immigration so one nationality does not dominate the melting pot. With the numbers that I have already given, you can see that the flood of Latinos is creating a huge problem. Latinos have become the dominate majority of the population in several southwestern states. The quota system is out the window.”

  “The real cost of these illegal aliens is also staggering. Every law abiding citizen in America should be insulted by the money that goes to these programs.” Randy noted with a shake of his head as he blew a smoke ring towards the sky.

  Lana continued, “If the illegal’s go to a hospital with a life threatening issue, the hospitals are required by law to treat them for no charge. That’s free medical. As they reach school age, many can’t even speak English. So, by law, we have to employ teachers that speak Spanish. Since their parents are illegal, they don’t pay any taxes and the rest of us foot the bill for their free education. Many schools have had to discontinue fringe classes and athletic events. And all that doesn’t include the criminals and gangbangers who pour into the country along with the drugs.”

  “Every government agency is required by law to provide all their documents in Spanish and they must also provide people to speak Spanish at their locations. God, sometimes you have to press one on the phone to get someone that speaks English. Where does it end? Even ESPN televises sports on Spanish today,” Randolph shook his head in disgust.

  “That’s impressive and depressing at the same time,” remarked Sarah. “You also mentioned the cost of policing the border, didn’t you?”

  “Of course,” Randolph replied with a wave of his hand. “We included the cost of the Border Patrol and the Coast Guard thanks to our friends at Homeland Security. We didn’t include the cost of TSA as not many Latinos fly into the U.S.”

  He then pointed his long cigar at Sarah and said. “The real concern is long range. These people come from third-world countries. They bring their culture to this country and do not attempt to adapt to ours. They would rather continue their loser cultures here, but want someone else to pay for it. How long before they drag down our culture? Many parts of this country already resemble third -world disasters just like their homeland. No other country in the world allows a second language as an excuse. But we do,” Randy said forcefully.

  “So, what is it that the ‘Safe Party’ is going to do about the problem?” Sarah asked with a smile on her face.

  “Our platform will include the following agendas,” Randolph used his fingers to count off the agreed upon points. First we demand an increase of financial support for the Border Patrol and the Coast Guard. They are divisions of Homeland Security and can create a stronger presence along the border. They are building fences and employing high technology to stop the illegals. These programs need more funding. That is the first line of defense and need additional monies. The Border Patrol also needs better weapons and more of them along with some new technology that can spot these guys before they get to the border. Our best defense is to stop the illegals before they can get to the border.”

  “Maybe should take the war to Mexican soil,” Sarah said as encouragement.

  “Second we demand any illegals caught for a second time coming across the border will be forced to work for local companies that have agreed to the program. The illegals need to work off the cost to send them back. When they have paid off the cost, we will send them back. Until then they will stay in armed barracks paid for by the local companies and included in the cost that must be repaid. It is a work release program.

  “Third, illegals caught smuggling drugs or any other criminal activity on U.S. soil will be given a mandatory six months of hard labor camp in addition to paying back the cost of deportation. Hard labor would include building more defenses and trenches along the border. FDR did that in the nineteen-thirties and a lot of things got fixed.

  “Fourth, we are going to require all students to learn English in school. No duel speaking teachers. They will learn English when they have no choice. No other country in the world allows an immigrant to speak only their own language exclusively.

  Finally, we are promoting sweeps of illegals again. Companies will have no notice and face stiff fines to discourage the employment of illegals. The illegals will be immediately escorted to a detention camp to work off their debt. All their property and possessions will be confiscated to pay for their deportation, or they will work the rest of the debt off in a labor camp.

  If they want to become Americans, we will support that, but then they will be taxed just like the rest of us and will be fined for their illegal activity.”

  “That’s it?” Sarah questioned.

  “Sarah,” Randy said. “If we could get these people to pay any taxes, there wouldn’t be a budget deficit. We wouldn’t have to raise taxes ever. Right now these people are usually paid in cash and much of the money leaves the country. That is the biggest issue in my mind. I want that money back here in America.”

  “But, too many Americans support and hide them,” Sarah said.

  “Well we also will impose stricter fines for businesses that hire illegals. We will also make them pay the back taxes on the illegals wages,” Randolph added.

  “Actually, I find no fault with your plans,” Sarah gushed.

  “Sarah, we will have more agendas to add to our platform in the future, like fines and penalties for harboring illegals, confiscating of family property in the US, but these are the issues that we addressed today,” Randy said with a wave of his hand.

  “Good, spoken like a true patriot. But, what is the status of the programs that we have
already started?” asked Sarah.

  “I can answer that,” replied Lana. “As you know, New Mexico is one of the few states where illegals can get a driver’s license. We haven’t been able to stop that yet, but we now have the ability to search the databases from other countries to determine if any of the applicants have a criminal record. If they do, we can immediately deport them. So far we haven’t been able to go after relatives to pay for the deportation, but it is on the agenda. Of course you know about the new laws in Arizona. Law enforcement officials can now stop people in the streets and ask for identification. We will catch many illegals that way.”

  “Many call it racial profiling,” Sarah nudged. “And the government is not deporting them right now.”

  “We need to change that perception. If they look illegal, they probably are. So what is the problem in asking the question? Dress better if you don’t want to be considered illegal,” Randy responded.

  “Okay, but what about fixing America. Our plan will only work if we have a plan to fix things. What have we decided?” Sarah wanted to make sure that everything was covered.

  Randolph handled the question. “Well some of it will require some small sacrifices, but in the longer run it will work. Most illegal aliens work in one of three fields: growing vegetables, landscaping and industries like food service and cleaning. The truth is that we Americans have benefited from cheap prices for these services all along. But for a few pennies more, we will save a huge amount of money from canceling illegal programs. We can fix that and reduce unemployment at the same time.”

  “How,” questioned Sarah.

  “Let’s take produce. We need to raise the price of produce. Raise it enough so that the unemployed will want to work in the industry. Make it attractive to Americans. We should offer new unions for these workers and benefits just like any other industry. We could then roundup all the illegals in the industry. The consumer will be paying higher produce prices, but even if we doubled the price of lettuce it still would be cheaper than almost any country in the world. Right now the business owners make huge margins and have no incentive to pay real wages. We must make them believe it would be good for Americas. We can fix these problems, and many Americans will once again be employed. They will also recognize that the “Safe Party” is responsible. Many will join our party and we will sweep to victory and into the White House,” Randy pounded his fist in his hand.