by David Nees
“I’ll tell you all about it, but first, where is Carlos?”
Someone pointed back out of the room. “He’s down the hall with his favorite fox. I don’t think he wants to be interrupted.”
“He will want to see me,” Rodrigo said with a smile. “Save a cerveza for me. I’ll be right back.”
He turned and left the room. Going down the hall, he listened at each doorway until he heard the familiar sounds of lovemaking, the grunting and panting.
Pushing open the door he announced himself. “Carlos, it’s me, Rodrigo, back from the dead.”
“What?” Carlos shouted as he rolled off of the woman and grabbed his pistol from the side table.
Rodrigo smiled and put out his hands. “Carlos, it’s me. I’m not here to kill you. I’m here to tell you I’m back. I think you would welcome seeing your lieutenant alive again.”
Rodrigo kept his smile firm while Carlos scowled; his gun never wavered.
“Put your gun down Carlos. You don’t want to kill me. The others know I’m back and are happy. Don Hector will not be pleased if you shoot me.”
Finally Carlos lowered the gun. “How did you get back?” He shoved the girl in bed away from him and swung his legs to the floor. He pulled on his pants. “After a week in the desert, we heard nothing from you or Ramón and figured everyone had died. Hell, if the gringo didn’t kill you we thought the desert did.”
“That is what happened to the others. The desert killed them, but I managed to retrace my steps and get out. I am too tough for the desert.”
“And none of the others got out with you? How did that happen?” Rodrigo could see the suspicion in Carlos’s face. It would be the tactic Carlos would take to try to discredit him.
“As I told you, I am tougher than the desert. I will tell you all about it tomorrow, after the party.”
“I am in charge now. Someone had to take over since you were gone and thought dead. I have been talking with Don Hector. You are not the lieutenant any more. Do you understand that?”
“I understand that I am back and nothing has changed. A week away doesn’t mean I have resigned. I will let Don Hector decide.”
“The men take orders from me now, not you. Understand amigo?”
“Tonight, yes. But we shall see. It is good to see you, Carlos. But you should stay with what you are good at, torturing people until they talk. That is what Don Jorge and Don Hector saw in you. Don’t try to run things. It won’t go well. We will talk again tomorrow.”
“There is nothing to talk about.” Carlos stood up and grabbed his shirt, sticking his pistol in the waistband. “I will see you out now. You must be tired from your journey.”
He escorted Rodrigo down the hall to the front door, not letting him mix with the others in the living room.
“If you know what’s good for you, you won’t try to interfere with me now that I’m in charge.”
Rodrigo just stared back at him. Then he walked off to his car. His back itched as if waiting for a bullet, but none came.
When Rodrigo got back, he went up the hill to find Dan. He entered the garage to find him lying on some of the tarps in a corner with his jacket rolled up as a pillow.
“You don’t look very comfortable,” Rodrigo remarked.
“I’m used to sleeping in odd places. What did you learn at the warehouse?”
“The men we are to smuggle into the U.S. are still at the warehouse. Everything is ready for them to be transported. They are waiting for Don Hector’s signal.”
“Where is Hector?”
“He’s in Mexico City, at Don Jorge’s mansion. He is supposed to return in a couple of days according to the guards.”
“We don’t have much time then.”
“What are you planning to do?”
Dan gave Rodrigo a long, cold look. “Those men will not get to the border. They will not get into the U.S.”
“You are going to stop them? You alone?”
“If I have my way, they will not leave the warehouse alive.”
“And how will you do that? It is impossible. They are under guard twenty-four hours a day.”
“It is not impossible and you are going to help me.”
“I can’t do that. It would be going to war against my cartel. It will get me killed in a terrible way.”
“No one will know you helped me and, remember, I told you I would get you and your family into my country.”
Rodrigo shook his head. “No, no. Es imposible.”
Dan stood and walked up to Rodrigo. He stepped up to his face. Rodrigo looked nervous but didn’t back down.
“No. You must continue on your own. I helped you to get here into town and to hide you. Now you take the pickup and go do what you have to do. I will tell no one, but I will not be a part of this. It is suicide.”
Just then a dark shadow descended into the garage, down the stairs that came from the open, unfinished second floor. There was a great flapping of wings. The bird alighted on the steps and let out a loud squawk.
Rodrigo flinched and turned. It was the raven. It could barely be seen in the night’s gloom.
“Tlayolotl,” said Dan. “He knows where to find you.”
“Qué demonios!” What the hell! Rodrigo swore. “How does he find me?”
“He probably followed us. Raven carries him far and wide when necessary. Raven carried the two of us here and back.”
“Will I never be rid of him?”
“If you help me, he will help you, I will help you. If you don’t, he will take your life. I told you he is not to be bargained with. He is not a normal man.”
“Yes, but—”
“Be glad you didn’t meet him in person. He follows his own rules.”
“And so you do his bidding.”
“He saved my life. Now I owe him this.” Dan paused. “And it will complete my mission.”
“Then he will let you go?”
Dan nodded.
“What about me?”
“As I told you, he will help you.”
Rodrigo sat down on the floor with a sigh. “I am tired. I saw Carlos tonight. He is trying to take over my position here in Chihuahua. If Don Hector does not come back quickly, it will be dangerous for me. I could be in a battle for my life. What is your plan? What do you want from me?”
“You are already in a battle for your life. Now sit down and let me tell what we are going to do.”
Rodrigo sat down with Dan on some boxes.
“How many trucks are there for transporting?”
“Five.”
“Tomorrow I’m going to get ten cell phones and some wire. I want you to get me twelve bricks of C-4 explosives with detonators.”
“Conyo.” Damn, breathed Rodrigo.
“Now you understand what I’m going to do. We don’t have much time, so you have to do this right away…tomorrow.”
“Pobre de mí,” Rodrigo said holding his head in his hands. “I am lost.”
“Go to your room. Get some sleep. Tomorrow we will get everything ready.”
Dan got up and pulled Rodrigo to his feet. We have much to do, go. Rest.” He shoved him towards the door.
Chapter 33
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C arlos went into the living room after making sure Rodrigo had left the house. He took out a bag of cocaine and spread it out on the table. Next he brought out more bottles of tequila and whiskey.
“Let’s enjoy the night. We have much to do tomorrow. Don Hector will be back in a few days and I want him to see we have everything under control.”
“What about Rodrigo?” someone asked.
“What about Rodrigo? He’s back but he has much to explain. What happened to Ramón and the others? How did he alone get back from the trip? What happened to the gringo?” Carlos paused as the noise died down. “I have my suspicions about Rodrigo’s return. It doesn’t smell right to me.”
Mumblings began as the men reached for the liquor and drugs. Carl
os grabbed two men who were close to him, men he could count on in a challenge between himself and Rodrigo, and led them to another back room.
“I’m going to dig into how Rodrigo got back. There is something fishy here and I want Don Hector to know about it. You talk with the men. Make sure they begin to question Rodrigo’s return. He may have abandoned the others. Maybe he killed them to save his own life, who knows? But I’m not giving control back to him.”
The men nodded and returned to the party. Carlos retired to his bedroom to think about this challenge. Not only was his new status in jeopardy, but getting Miranda and her daughter was not looking so promising right now. Maybe he should attend to that first. If he could secure Miranda and her daughter, he could use them as a bargaining chip against Rodrigo.
The next morning, Dan awoke and walked down to Rodrigo’s house. He knocked on the front door. Miranda opened it with a frown on her face.
“You should not be standing outside during the day. If someone sees you, it will be bad for us.” Miranda stood aside. “Come inside.”
“If I knew a back entrance I would use it. I’d like to wash up before I head out.”
“You are leaving us?” There was a hopeful tone in her voice.
“I have to get some things to complete my mission. I’m not leaving today, but I will be soon.”
“Quicker the better,” came the reply.
She led Dan up to the second floor. “There is a bathroom down the hall to your left. You can use a towel from the closet.”
Dan thanked her and went off to clean up as best he could. He was dusty and dirty and he smelled bad. He had been sleeping in his clothes for over a week. They were stained with the grime of sweat and dirt.
When he came out, Rodrigo was in the kitchen eating. Dan sat down and Miranda served him a tamale with eggs and sausage in it. He thanked her and wolfed it down along with some water. Then he sat back with a cup of coffee.
“You can get what I need?” Dan asked.
Rodrigo nodded. “We have a storehouse, but I have to make sure no one is there. Questions will be raised if I do this. And afterwards everyone will connect me to what will happen.”
Dan looked at his cup. “You’re right about that. We can’t let what I’m doing be traced back to you.”
“What are you planning?” Miranda asked.
Dan looked over at Rodrigo who shook his head. “It’s not for you to know.”
“But it will put me and Solana in danger, won’t it?”
“Only if things go wrong.”
Miranda snorted. “Only if things go wrong.”
“That’s the way it’s always been,” Rodrigo said, his voice now getting louder. “Do you think we live in a normal world? It is to help Solana live normally that I do this. I don’t live in a normal world and neither do you. If Solana can grow up to be a doctor or lawyer, it is enough.” He was shouting now.
“I know you want what is best for us, for Solana, but why did you bring this man here? It makes things worse.”
“My name is Steve,” Dan said. He turned to Rodrigo, “Perhaps I should tell her what happened to me and to you in the desert.”
“She won’t believe you. I didn’t at first.”
“Tell me,” Miranda said. She crossed her arms and looked at Dan with a challenging expression on her face.
Dan recounted his trek through the desert after the pickup broke down, how he almost died and how the raven and the coyote led him to the shaman. Dan also told her about his encounters with the raven earlier and how the bird had saved his life. He spoke of Tlayolotl and his powers to see beyond his camp, of his power to fly on the back of the raven to travel great distances, and of the peyote ceremony where Dan found himself on the bird with Tlayolotl traveling to Chihuahua and then back to find Rodrigo. Dan recounted how he was charged to save Rodrigo’s life from certain death and how Rodrigo had to help him in exchange.
“That is a fantastic story. Maybe good for simple peasants and illiterate people, but I don’t believe it,” said Miranda.
“Yet I was led to Tlayolotl and was saved. And I found Rodrigo and saved him. And the raven and coyote led us to the pickup. We never would have found that on our own.”
“There have been stories about a desert shaman for years. My grandmother told me stories.”
“Did she use the name, Tlayolotl?” Dan asked.
Miranda looked at him sharply. “Yes, that was the name she used.” She turned to Rodrigo, “But that isn’t possible. He would be ancient by now. It is impossible to live so long.”
“Maybe, unless one is a shaman,” Dan said.
Now Rodrigo spoke up. “And last night the raven came to the garage.”
“Are you sure? It was not just some bird you woke?”
“It was the raven. It didn’t wake. It flew down the stairs. What bird does that at night? It knows where I am.”
“Tlayolotl is not an ordinary man. He is wild and powerful. He promised to snatch Rodrigo’s life away from him if he doesn’t help. Not only take his life, but cause his soul to wander alone forever.”
Miranda shuddered and crossed herself. “Dios mío. Can such a person really exist?”
“You must know the stories better than me,” Dan said. “There is a long history of shamans throughout the world. And they are well known here in Mexico. I have seen Tlayolotl’s power. I don’t understand it but I don’t doubt it. He would take my life as well if I don’t complete my mission.”
“And what is that?”
“No, no. You can’t know,” Rodrigo said.
“Is there a way out in the end? For us?” Miranda asked.
“I think Tlayolotl will help. But I can offer help as well. If you want, the three of you can come to the U.S. and get new identities. Live there, away from the cartels, from the drug dealing and killing. Solana will have a new life where she can be anything she wants.”
“You can do this?” Miranda asked.
Dan nodded his head. “It may be the best solution for you when I’m done. The three of you just disappear.” He stood up. “I’d better get going. I hope my explanation helps.”
Rodrigo stood as well. “I have to see what I can do about the supplies you need. You take the pickup. I’ll take the Nissan.
Dan spent most of the morning hunting down and purchasing burner phones, wire, connections, and solder. The next step would be to open up five of the phones and rewire them. An incoming call would trigger an electrical current to activate the phone’s vibrator. Dan would direct that current into the detonators that would be imbedded into the C-4 explosives. He was going to have a busy night.
Meanwhile Rodrigo drove to a small warehouse where the gang kept much of their arsenal. He was hoping the party last night at Carlos place would mean no one would be guarding the building. It was locked. Rodrigo had lost his key but he knew how to get in.
As he hoped, there was no one at the front of the building. He drove around back. No one was watching at the rear. Rodrigo climbed a fence. Once inside the small lot, he climbed onto an overturned trash can and was able to jimmy open a window and squeeze through. There were no cameras. He dropped down inside and crouched in a corner. No sound came from the building. After a couple of minutes, Rodrigo determined no one was guarding it and quickly went to find the C-4 and detonators. Speed was critical; he needed to find what he came for and get out before anyone came. The missing explosives would not be noticed for some time and when they were, no one would be able to tie him to their disappearance.
Ten minutes later, Rodrigo was back in his car and driving out of the alley. On the way back to his house, he stopped at the warehouse. One of the guards recognized Rodrigo and let him in the compound.
“Carlos came by an hour ago. He said we’re not to take orders from you. He’s in charge, not you.” The guard was friendly but the information was ominous. “What the hell are we supposed to do?” He asked.
“For now, nothing,” Rodrigo replied. “I will fix th
is with Carlos.”
“You better do it quickly. No one knows who’s boss. Don Hector will not like it.”
Rodrigo nodded and drove off.
Carlos had gotten up that morning, a little worse for the wear. After driving by the warehouse to give the guards instructions, he decided he would go to Rodrigo’s house. If Rodrigo was not there, he would take Miranda and hide her away. He could pick up Solana later, when she came back from school.
Chapter 34
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C arlos pulled up to the blue house on the corner. He sat there for a moment. There would be no subtleties; his intention would be clear. If he was going to kidnap Miranda and her daughter he had to do it quickly and without hesitation. There was no car in the driveway. That was a good sign. Rodrigo must be out. Probably trying to round up support. Carlos would change that equation by taking Miranda.
He would use her and Solana to convince Rodrigo to step down and acknowledge his authority. Then he’d have him killed. There was enough suspicion about how he survived the desert to justify doing away with him. After, he would use threats to Solana to get Miranda’s cooperation and become his woman. He’d use her as he wished and when she was broken, he’d take Solana.
He got out and approached the gate. It was locked. Putting his shoulder to it, he lunged and broke the shackle holding the deadbolt.
Carlos banged on the front door. “Miranda, open the door. I need to talk to you,” he shouted. He could see Miranda in the hallway.
“Go away. Rodrigo is back. You must not come around anymore.”
“It’s too late now. You have to come with me. Open the door.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you. Go away.”
Carlos lunged against the door and broke it open. Miranda screamed and ran up the stairs with Carlos chasing her. She went into a bedroom and grabbed for a gun in the closet. Before she could pull it out and aim it, Carlos was upon her.
