[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
ten miles west of Jacobsville. The little town only had six hundred citizens. It didn t even have a
policeman or a fireman, depending on the county for those services. A clothes manufacturer had tried
to set up shop here and failed miserably. But the deserted building was a blessing to drug dealers. It
provided a safe, defensible, private place for deals to go down.
Comanche Wells was in the center of the ranching industry of JacobsCounty. Several cattle barons
occupied the surrounding area and only came to town because of the feed and mill store. There was a
bar, not as notorious as Shea s Roadhouse out on the Victoria highway, but it made money. There was
also a small company that manufactured computer chips. A Mexican restaurant was the only eatery
and there was a single doctor and one drugstore. If there was an emergency, the ambulance had to take
Comanche Wells citizens to Jacobsville GeneralHospital. They pulled the sidewalks in at dusk.
So now it was dark and the street that ran beside the deserted manufacturing building was bare of cars
and people.
Castillo was pacing. Where are they? he asked furiously.
I wish I knew, Rodrigo said tautly. I was promised that they d be here on schedule.
Castillo turned to him. Yeah? Well, maybe they double-crossed you and leaked the buy to the feds.
Not this guy, Rodrigo defended him. He hates the feds.
He s not alone.
I know what you mean, Rodrigo agreed.
Castillo checked his watch. They re fifteen minutes late!
They re coming a long way, Rodrigo replied calmly. He stuck his hands in his pockets and glanced
at his companion. You need to learn patience.
The last time I was patient, two cops threw me in the back of a squad car and took me to jail, the
other man said icily. He glared at Rodrigo. How sure are you that these guys aren t going to double-
cross us? That he indicated a briefcase sitting on an empty oil drum would set a petty thief up
for life.
Cross these guys and you won t have a life, he returned. The last dealer who weaseled on them was
found in several counties.
The statement was chilling. The younger man fidgeted and stared at his watch again. If they don t
show pretty quick, we should take the stuff and get out of here. You sure they aren t cops?
Positive, Rodrigo assured him. One of them is my cousin. He worked for Lopez, and then for
Dominguez. If he was a cheat, he wouldn t still be in the game, would he?
Not with bosses like those, I guess. But Fuentes is a different sort, he added uncomfortably. He s
quick-tempered and he s left a trail of bodies across the border.
What he pays makes it worth the risk.
Castillo glanced at him and grimaced. Yeah. I guess so. But, still
He broke off as the sound of an approaching car echoed against the walls of the building. Rodrigo
pulled his .45 automatic out of his belt and eased to the nearest window. He looked out covertly, and
then relaxed.
It s them, he said, putting the pistol up.
MARQUEZ WAS DRIVING HIS pickup truck when he picked Glory up at the farmhouse. He was
dressed like a cowboy, in jeans and boots and wide-brimmed hat.
She got in beside him, smiling to herself. You do blend in, don t you? she teased.
You have to when you re tracking people, he assured her. He grinned as he glanced at her. She was
wearing the same gear he had on, except that her long hair was in a bun under a beret. You ll blend
in pretty good yourself.
Thanks, she replied as she fastened her seat belt. You did say nothing flamboyant.
I did, didn t I?
He pulled out onto the farm road that led to the highway. She noticed that he had his portable police
radio along. I thought it might be a good idea, he said when he saw her looking at it on the seat
between them. Just in case any eager beaver thinks he spots illegal traffic and tries to muscle in on
my bust.
You aren t going to arrest them? she exclaimed, frightened for Rodrigo. We aren t even sure that
they re involved with Fuentes. Not yet, at least.
He gave her a pointed look. I m not working for the local law. I have no jurisdiction here.
Oh, she said sheepishly.
But if there s a genuine drug deal going down here, we re calling in Hayes Carson, he added,
referring to JacobsCounty s sheriff. I won t let them walk.
You may have to, she said, trying to reason with him. It s Fuentes we want.
We ve already got Fuentes, as long as you re alive, he reminded her.
We have him for one count of conspiracy to commit murder, she replied. He could walk on that
charge, even with my testimony. He s already walked on one drug dealing charge, but if we can link
him to the drug network in this area, we can get him on an ironclad charge of conspiracy to distribute
controlled substances as well. That s a federal charge and he ll do hard time.
He glared at her. You don t have any jurisdiction here, either, he reminded her. And your life is
already on the line. If we can spook Fuentes by cutting in on his drug deal, he might back off on
trying to cap you.
Nice thought, but he doesn t have a reputation for backing off, she said. Let him send his hired
killer. Cash Grier said he s got a guy watching me.
Marquez looked worried.
Now what s wrong? she asked.
Grier had a low-level thief working for him as a farm laborer for Ramirez, he said, to get reduced
time on his sentence. He talked to the D.A. about it.
And? she prompted.
And the guy skipped town yesterday.
Her heart jumped. There wasn t anybody watching her. She was in more danger than ever.
There s still the undercover fed, he said, trying to reassure her. It s just that nobody knows exactly
who or where he is.
She d done some thinking about that. I wonder if the undercover agent could be a woman, she said
aloud.
He glanced at her. Consuelo, you mean?
She nodded.
Not a chance, he replied curtly.
His tone was worrying. What do you mean, no chance?
He started to speak when the radio blared between them.
It gave two ten-codes in rapid succession. Marquez, who knew all the police in the area by their
frequencies and call signs, picked it up and looked at the glowing screen.
Damn! he muttered.
What is it?
DEA, he murmured.
What s the Drug Enforcement Administration doing down here? she asked, puzzled. Do you think
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]