Devils and Dust

by J. D. Rhoades

  It took forever for morning to come. Ruben didn’t know how he was going to get through the day of work, as exhausted and sore as he was, but he got up with the other men. He made sure that both he and Edgar got their morning ration before they were lined up for the walk to work. As they stood there, waiting the command to move, Ruben saw the gates opening and a white van drive through. His heart sped up as he saw what was following. It looked like one of the military armored trucks he’d seen in the streets of Bogota, only larger. This one was painted bright blue. But it was the symbol painted on the door that got Ruben’s attention: A gold five pointed star and the words COUNTY SHERIFF. Maybe the police were here to stop all of this. Maybe the madness was over. But the glimmer of hope sputtered and died as the man who called himself “General” walked out to greet the imposingly large gray-haired man in the brown uniform that climbed down out of the huge truck. The two men shook hands as another pair of men got out of the white van. Both were dark-haired and pale-skinned, dressed in jeans and leather jackets. One of them was carrying a briefcase. The four men conferred briefly and the General took the briefcase. He and the Sheriff went into Building Three while the other two walked toward the women’s building.

  “Come on,” the guard holding his gun on Ruben and the other men spoke up. “Let’s move. We ain’t got all fuckin’ day.”

  Ruben turned his head to watch what was happening as they walked toward the gate. Several women walked out of the barracks, with Kinney and his rifle behind them. The group met the two men from the van, and the women lined up, just as the men had a few moments ago. Ruben spotted some of the women from the group he’d come with; he didn’t recognize the others. One of the men from the van walked up and down in front of the line. He pointed at one of the older women, then another. Kinney said something and the women walked away from the rest of the group, heads down. The rest of the women were marched toward the van. Ruben could hear some of them weeping.

  “Keep moving,” the guard said. Ruben had to turn away to keep walking. The van passed them as they walked to the field, kicking up a cloud of dust that made some of the men cough. Ruben saw Diego’s sister looking out the window as they passed. Her eyes were blank and hopeless. “Where are they going?” Edgar whispered. Ruben just shook his head. He knew where the women were being taken, but couldn’t bring himself to say it to his brother.

  Today, it wasn’t field work they were doing. It was construction. Instead of being marched to the fields, they were taken to a broad flat area. There were lots there—and roads—marked off by stakes, string, and small plastic flags on thin metal rods. There were poured concrete foundations on two of the lots, with piles of freshly cut lumber beside them. A few of the men had done construction before, and they had become the de facto foremen of the project. They’d told Ruben they were building houses. No one knew for whom, but they all knew it wasn’t for them.

  “IMPRESSIVE VEHICLE,” the General said.

  Sheriff Cosgrove grinned. Surprised you didn’t recognize it. That’s an MRAP.” He pronounced it “Em-rap.” He pronounced the next words with evident relish. “Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected vee-hicle. Now that that whole Iraq mess is over, the Army’s givin’ ‘em away to police departments.”

  The General was amused. “Are you expecting that the local blacks are going to be acquiring land mines?”

  “It’s a dangerous world, General,” Cosgrove said. “We need to be prepared.”

  “You don’t have to tell me,” Walker replied. They had entered the office at the back of the building. Walker placed the briefcase he’d been given on his desk.

  “Not going to count it?” Cosgrove said.

  “Should I?”

  “The Croatians haven’t shorted me yet.”

  “No doubt they’re afraid to,” Walker said. “You might run over them with your big Army truck.”

  Cosgrove didn’t answer that. Both men loathed each other, and both men knew it. But their relationship had been mutually profitable enough that they would let insults slide, if they were veiled and subtle enough. Plus, Walker knew that the Sheriff enjoyed the fringe benefit of getting to sample the “product” before it was sold to the Croatians. “So, when can we expect another shipment?” Cosgrove said.

  “Soon,” Walker said. “I’m told very soon.”

  “Good. That last group was a good ‘un.”

  Walker kept his face expressionless. “Because of the young girl.”

  “Yeah,” Cosgrove said. “See if you can get me some more like that.”

  “I don’t control what’s sent north. I only utilize it.”

  “To do the Lord’s work,” Cosgrove sneered.

  “Yes. You think I’m a hypocrite? The Lord gave us dominion over the beasts of the earth, Sheriff.” Of which you are one. “We use them as we see fit.”

  “Whatever,” Cosgrove said. “Just let me know when the next one gets here. I’ll notify the Croatians.” He smiled “After I’ve had a little time to sample the merchandise.”

  “I will. But there’s something else we need to discuss with you.”

  Cosgrove turned back from the door. “What’s that?”

  “I hear you’ve hired a black for your department.”

  Cosgrove sighed. “Don’t start this with me, Walker.”

  “Why would you trust one of them? Knowing what you know.”

  “The guy’s a war hero. They gave him a goddamn parade when he came home.”

  Walker knew that the blasphemy was intended to make him angry. He kept his voice controlled. “This was not a good idea.”

  “Look, General,” the Sheriff put extra contempt into the word, “you may not have to run for office, but I sure as hell do. I need the nigger vote. And when I have to go to the churches and smile and pretend I give a shit about them, it helps to have one of their heroes up on the podium.”

  “Hopeless,” Walker thought. “Too entwined with the cares of the world. He can’t see the greater picture. God would provide a shield for him if he just believed.”

  “Just call me when the next load’s due,” Cosgrove said, “and let me worry about my own business.” He turned and left without another word.

  “I DON’T think we have that much to talk about,” Keller said. “I came to find my friend here. I’ve found him. Now we’ll be going.”

  Mandujano shrugged. “As you wish. I have no desire to detain anyone against their will. But there will be a condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  “That you leave Mexico. That you not come back. And that you stay far away from any of my businesses from now on.”

  “Great,” Keller said. “No problem.” He caught sight of Oscar’s face and his heart sank. “Why do I get the feeling that there’s a problem?”

  Oscar smiled sadly. “I haven’t found my boys yet, Jack.”

  “Ah,” Keller said. “Well, Maybe Mr. Mandujano here can tell us something.”

  “Sadly, no,” Mandujano said. He gestured at the table again. “Please. Sit. I will explain the situation.”

  Keller looked from face to face. Despite his unease, he walked over and took a seat. The rest followed. It was cooler under the shade of the umbrella, but not much.

  Mandujano raised his voice. “Andreas!” he called out. “Have Esmeralda bring us some cold beers.” Keller noticed the fat man standing by the doors. He looked even unhappier as he disappeared back into the house. Mandujano sighed. “My associate does not feel that it is a good idea to take you into my confidence. But Mr. Sanchez tells me you are an honorable man.”

  “I do okay,” Keller said. “But maybe your associate is right.”

  “Maybe,” Mandujano said. “But this is one of those situations where all our alternatives seem bad.”

  “I’m not sure what you mean by ‘our’ alternatives,” Keller said.

  A girl came out of the house. She was carrying a tray with several bottles of Sol beer balanced on it. Keller recognized her as the girl from the ba
r, the one who’d tried to put the tracking device on his vehicle. She was dressed in tight white shorts that contrasted with the rich caramel color of her skin and a black bikini top. She brought the beers to the table and set them down. She didn’t speak, and she wouldn’t look at Keller. As she turned away, Keller saw that her back was mottled and bruised, the contusions striped as if someone had beaten her with a belt. He put the beer down. “Hey,” he said. “Esmeralda.”

  She stopped in mid turn and looked back at him. Her eyes were blazing with hate. “Que?” she said. She made it sound like a curse.

  “Nothing,” Keller said. The girl turned and walked away without looking back. Keller turned to Mandujano. His voice was tight with anger as he said, “Was that supposed to be for my benefit?”

  “Failure has consequences, Mr. Keller,” Mandujano said mildly.

  Keller stood up. “Okay,” he said. “I get it. You’re a vicious prick who beats innocent women to intimidate people. Message delivered.” He turned to Angela and Oscar. “Come on, let’s go.”

  Angela started to stand, but Oscar spoke up. “Please, Jack, hear him out.”

  Keller just stared at him for a moment. “What the hell is going on, Oscar? How are you okay with this?”

  “I’m not,” Oscar said. “But sometimes we must do hard things to protect what we love.”

  That hit home. He remembered Lucas’s words, You did what you did to protect what you love. He slowly sat back down. “Okay,” he said to Mandujano, “I’m listening.”

  Mandujano took a sip of his beer. “I truly do not know what happened to those people. That shipment, like one before it, simply disappeared.”

  “Shipment?” Keller said. “Those were people.”

  Mandujano shrugged. “What would you call it? Load? Group? Shall we sit here and argue word choice? The point is, I would like to find out what happened as much as Mr. Sanchez here.” Keller started to speak again, but Mandujano raised his hand. “I know. I did not have family on board that truck. But I had a valued employee driving, one of whom I was fond. Most importantly to me, someone has attacked my business. Someone has made me look foolish. If that happens, I must respond, or others might be tempted to do the same.”

  “So you want me to find out what happened,” Keller said.

  “I want you to find those people,” Mandujano said. “You are good at finding people, I hear.”

  “Why don’t you get your own people to do it?”

  “I have. But they have turned up nothing so far, beyond what I have told you. And now you are here. A successful hunter of men, or so I hear. Perhaps you can succeed where others have failed.”

  Keller shook his head. “For all we know, they’re all dead.” He looked at Oscar. “Sorry, man, but it’s true.”

  Oscar nodded. “I have considered this. But…” He gestured at Mandujano, urging him to go on.

  “There were two bodies found,” Mandujano said. “My driver and one other. If the rest were killed, then why not leave their bodies in the same place?” He shook his head. “No, those people were taken.”

  Keller looked down at the table and took a sip of his beer. “And you want me to find where they were taken. And by whom.”

  “Yes,” Mandujano said. Keller didn’t answer. He only stared at the label on his beer. “I ask you this,” Mandujano said. “Why would they be taken and not killed? What use would someone have for a truckload of workers?”

  Keller looked up. “You’re talking about slavery.”

  Mandujano nodded. “Some of the group taken were women. Young women. I trust I do not have to paint you a picture.”

  Keller knew he was being manipulated. But what Mandujano was saying made sense. And if Oscar’s sons were being held in captivity, Forced to work, or worse…

  “Okay,” Keller said. “Say, just for the sake of argument, I agree to do this. What happens when I find these people?”

  “You just need to tell me where and when,” Mandujano said. “My people will deal with it from there.”

  “Bullshit,” Keller said. “If I find someone is holding people as slaves, in the U.S., I’m calling the law.”

  “As you wish,” Mandujano said, “as long as you stop whoever is doing it.” He smiled and took another drink. “Permanently. I think you are beginning to comprehend where our interests are the same.”

  Keller looked at Oscar and Angela. “And are you going to beat them if I fail?” he asked Mandujano. “Like you did that girl?”

  “No,” Oscar said, “I am coming with you.”

  “Whoa,” Keller said. “Time-out. That’s not going to happen.”

  Mandujano smiled. “Mr. Sanchez seems a very determined gentleman. He told me the only way to stop him looking for his sons would be to kill him. I do not mean to be threatening; I am merely stating a fact, when I tell you that option is still on the table.”

  “Oscar,” Keller said, “you’re not a bounty hunter. You’re a schoolteacher.”

  “I am also a father, Jack,” Oscar said. “And a man. I will not sit safely while another man risks himself for my sons.”

  Keller looked at him in shock. When he’d met Oscar, the older man had been quiet, almost meek. He was still quiet, but Keller nearly didn’t recognize the calm, determined man who sat across from him. He could tell what Mandujano said was true. You’d have to kill Oscar to get him off this hunt. And he’d be safer with Keller. But Angela…Keller pointed at her. “You let her go back to the States,” he said.

  “Agreed,” said Oscar.

  “Of course,” Mandujano said.

  “No,” Angela spoke up.

  “Angela,” Oscar said gently. “You can’t come with us.”

  “I’m not spending all this time to find you,” she said, “just to lose you again.” For a moment, Keller wondered whom she was talking to.

  “Angela,” Keller said. “There’s only one way for us to do this. That’s to go north with one of these,” he looked at Mandujano and nearly spat the next word, “shipments.” Oscar nodded.

  “And hope someone attacks you,” Angela said. “Great plan.”

  “It’s the only one I can think of,” Keller said. “And it’s not one you can be part of.” He looked at Oscar. “Right?”

  Oscar looked at him thoughtfully for a long moment. Then he looked at Angela. She turned her eyes away. “Yes,” Oscar said.

  “Okay, then.” Keller looked at Oscar. “I don’t suppose there’s any way to talk you out of it, buddy.”

  Oscar shook his head. “Sorry.”

  “Okay,” Keller said. “It’s decided. But one thing,” he said to Mandujano.

  “What is that?”

  “We don’t go with a load. I’m not going to put a lot of innocent people in the line of fire. We mock it up just like a real shipment, but we run empty.”

  Mandujano thought it over, then nodded. “Agreed.”

  “This is insane,” Angela snapped.

  “All the more reason for you not to go,” Oscar said.

  She shook her head. “Fine.” She stood up. “Get yourselves killed.”

  Oscar and Keller stood up as well. “May I have a moment to say good-bye to my wife?” Oscar said.

  “Of course,” Mandujano answered. “We will pick you up at the hotel.”

  “You knew where we were staying,” Keller said.

  “Of course,” Mandujano answered.

  “So why put a tracer on our car?”

  “I knew where you were,” Mandujano said, “but I didn’t know where you were going. When you made it impossible for me to find that out…” He shrugged. “I had to go with another plan.”

  “So you took Angela because I found your tracking device?”

  Mandujano smiled coldly. “I said a minute ago that failure has consequences. When you are opposing me, so does success.”

  “Mr. Mandujano?” Keller heard Angela say. Keller turned to see her standing a few feet away. “Will you do me a favor?” she said, adding, “Sir?�
�

  “What would that be?” Mandujano said.

  “Take your sunglasses off.”

  He looked puzzled. “Que?”

  “Please,” she said, “take them off. I’d like to look you in the eye when I say what I have to say.”

  He hesitated a moment, then removed the glasses. His eyes were pale brown, almost tan, set a little too far apart. Angela leaned down and put one hand on each arm of his chair. Her face was inches from Mandujano’s when she spoke.

  “If anything happens to them,” she said in a low, steady voice, “either of them, I’m holding you responsible.” He didn’t flinch or blink, just looked back at her calmly. “I don’t know how. But believe me, I will devote the rest of my life to killing you, after destroying everything you love.” He didn’t answer, just stared back at her without blinking. She straightened up. “Now call your dog to see us back to our car. This place is beginning to turn my stomach.”

  Mandujano put his glasses back on. “ANDREAS!” he called out. The fat man appeared at the glass door, as if summoned like a genie. “Take them back to the car. Let them go in peace. In fact,” he said, “escort her to the border. See that no harm comes to her.” The man shook his head in evident disgust, but motioned to Angela. She walked to him, head held high, not looking back. When she disappeared into the house, Mandujano chuckled. “Much woman, that one.”