The Territory A Novel - By Tricia Fields Page 0,84
along the Rio. She pointed them out to Dell, who was already standing up from his chair.
“They’re headed toward Flat Rock,” Josie said.
“Can they get those cars through the river?”
“It’s wide and shallow enough. That’s how they’ve been crossing.”
“Wouldn’t you think they’d realize police and Border Patrol use this tower to watch them?” he asked.
“Imagine how many times they’ve crossed unnoticed. We use this only when we have confirmed suspicions. We don’t have enough manpower to make good use of it.”
They watched the first car make a turn at the river, and there was no doubt about their intent.
“That’s it. Let’s head out before we lose them,” she said.
Dell’s duffel bag was already packed back up, and he slung it over his shoulder and took off down the steps. Josie threw both guns in her bag and followed Dell. About twenty feet from the bottom, her cell phone vibrated. She slowed, fished it out of her shirt pocket, and answered, hanging on to the stair railing with her other hand and feeling for the dark steps below with her foot.
“This is Escobedo. Everything is in place. Bloster’s in the jail preparing the prisoners. We should be on the road within fifteen minutes. He’s seen the money. I’ve got two agents outside ready to make the arrest once he takes possession.”
Josie blew air out. “We have trouble. I’m at the watchtower. I just watched one of four cars cross the access point they’ve been using on the river.” Josie heard a string of profanity and went on. “I’m just getting off the tower. I’ve lost the visual, but I hear them. They’re northbound on River Road, headed toward town.”
“So they’re either illegals, or Medrano’s clan come to break the prisoners free,” Escobedo said. “Call me back when you’re on the road and have a visual.”
“This isn’t a transport of illegals. They don’t work this way. Not out in the open with this many cars together. We need to prepare for the worst.”
“Bloster’s coming out the door now. How far away are you from the jail?”
“Fifteen minutes.”
“Get DPS and Border Patrol on the phone to work with local dispatch. I’ve got to square up with Bloster and get on the road. I don’t want a shoot-out at the jail. I want as many patrol units as you can find to escort this van out of town and stop those cars. Just keep the sheriff’s department out of it.”
Within minutes, Josie had caught up with the four cars and made visual contact. Dell was sitting quietly in the passenger seat beside her, but she knew he was watching for anything that could cause them problems.
She called Escobedo back to confirm she had them in her sights; his phone went to voice mail. They were driving the speed limit, and Josie hung back a safe distance with the headlights on her car still off. The moon and a sky full of stars provided just enough light for her to see the road.
Josie and Dell both rolled their windows up as dust started to fill the car. Josie’s eyes had begun to water and her throat felt caked with dirt.
Dell pointed out the front windshield. “Look how much the wind has picked up just since we were on the tower. I can see the dust swirls on the highway even in the dark.”
Josie said, “I think Escobedo is making a big mistake, Dell. There’s no way you and I can pull over four cars, but if we called in the sheriff’s department right now, we might get lucky. We need these cars stopped before they reach that van. We just don’t have enough manpower.”
“Was that a direct order?” Dell asked. “Can you call the Sheriff’s men in yourself?”
Josie gripped the steering wheel, realizing every second counted against them. “It was an order. I can’t even call the Guard out, because I can’t reach Moss. We better get some help soon or we’ll all end up dead.”
* * *
Bloster locked the last prisoner’s handcuffs to the handrail in front of his seat in the transport van. He was sweating, his heart racing. He was about to accept two hundred thousand dollars and had to make the decision to trust the process the driver had explained, or to leave his home tonight and start a new life in Mexico.
The driver called Bloster to the front of the van, where the man once again presented the briefcase. Bloster nodded, took the case, and walked toward his patrol car