As they finished eating, the sounds of a helicopter landing outside grew louder.
Chapter 5
The large, black and red copter settled on the ground fifty yards from the house. Lincoln, Ashton, Art, and two Hispanic men exited, walking to the house where the others waited.
Ashton carried a briefcase, and Art a laptop. Lincoln went to Maria and put his hands on her shoulders, “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Maria said, “For yours, too.”
Ashton walked past the others and into the house, where he said to Buck, “If you could have someone clear the table, please.”
Buck d
idn’t say anything, but began cleaning the table. Hunter and Raymond helped. The others entered the house as they finished. Ashton put his briefcase on an adjacent chair, opened it and took out several file folders, which he proceeded to open and place the papers inside in an orderly arrangement on the table surface.
“These are the photos you sent, plus additional intelligence reports from our two Mexico counterparts. Despite the invasion of their country by two U.S. Government agents,” He glanced at Raymond and Hunter, “they feel the information is of enough importance that they will not file a formal complaint with their government against your actions.”
Hunter felt her cheeks flush, “Are you forgetting who told us to cross the border?”
The two Mexican officials stood slightly behind Ashton so they didn’t see him give Hunter and Raymond a subtle hand sign to calm down as he silently mouthed it’s okay.
He said, “Our Mexican friends would like a chance to interview you, all three of you, before they act on this information. So, if you would join us, please?” He motioned out the open door toward the helicopter.
Raymond said, “That’ll hold all of us?”
“Ashton said, “It’s the new Bell Relentless, sits sixteen comfortably.”
“It’s mine,” Lincoln said. “First of its kind off the assembly line. Now, if we can go?”
“What about my pickup?”
“We’ll fly you back. Leave the keys with Buck. He will take care of your vehicle.”
Hunter looked at Buck to see if this was okay with him. He said, “It’s fine, Hunter. You three go on with them.” He gave Hunter a little smile, “I might even give that dirty old pickup a wash for you.”
Lincoln sat beside Hunter on the copter, and Hunter had to admit the seats were as comfortable as anything she had in her living room at home. The headroom was generous, too. “Nice toy you have here.”
“If you consider a fifteen-million dollar helicopter a toy…”
“Relax, I’m kidding. It’s very nice, very corporate.”
“Why don’t you close your eyes and rest, Kincaid. The flight won’t take long. We can talk in El Paso.”
Hunter turned to look out the window as they lifted off, flying parallel to the Rio Bravo and going west. After a few minutes, Hunter noticed a good bit of dust in the air on the Mexico side, near some mountains. She leaned forward to see better.
The air around Pasqual Osorio’s hacienda and the mountain behind it showed the pale haze of dust. Small rooster tails showed in the distance, with the dust cloud running all the way back to Osorio’s. Lots of sudden activity around the compound, Hunter thought, lots of vehicles. She watched it until the compound was beyond the window and her ability to view it.
~*~
They landed at Fort Bliss. Maria was taken to the hospital and the others to the Intel room on base. Hunter and Raymond sat on one side of the table as everyone else grabbed a chair on the other. “Like a Salem witch trial,” Raymond whispered, which made Hunter hide her grin.
Ashton again spread the photos across the table surface as the two Mexicans peppered them with questions, pausing at times to look at various photos, then asking again.
Hunter and Raymond answered, but didn’t speculate when their questions roamed from the incident they witnessed. Others had their chance to grill them, too, and Hunter and Raymond held strong to their story, stating only facts. Four hours later, Lincoln ended the meeting. He said, “Agent Kincaid, Agent Flores, thank you. You may be excused now. Ashton will go with you and make arrangements for your travel and lodgings.”
They followed Ashton out of the room as he worked his phone with brief talks and rapid texts. He said, “Is the Marriott all right for tonight?”
Raymond glanced at Hunter, “Sure.”