Jones said, “Yes?”
“I was just attacked by a small drone and it almost gassed me.”
“Where are you?”
“Marfa, at home now. I was out jogging when it happened.”
“We’ll fly down. Meet us at the airport.”
“Before you leave there, I think it was Haruto Hiyoki. Can you check on a Japanese male who may be involved with drones, and if it’s him?”
“Did you see the man?”
“Yep. He was flying the drone, using a small laptop. He looked to be late forties, average height, and wearing glasses.”
She heard movements on Lincoln’s end of the phone, and him talking to others in the background, telling them about the conversation. He said, “We’ll check on it it. I’ll bring a sketch artist with us so you can give the description. How did he leave the area?”
“In a Hummer II, heading west on 90, at least the last I saw.”
I’ll have an APB put out for it.”
Hunter heard Jones hang up to end their conversation, “No formalities with him, evidently,” she said.
She waited for them at the airport, and watched as Lincoln, Ashton, and a slender black woman exited the plane. Ashton said, “We’re using the pilot’s lounge here.” He pointed at the building.
Hunter followed them into the lounge, where the black woman opened her laptop and then introduced herself as Kimberly.
Lincoln said, “The composite drawing will probably only validate what we discovered, but it is a necessary step.”
Kimberly was quick and professional, and with Hunter’s descriptions, she had the image done in fifteen minutes. Hunter said, “That’s him.”
Ashton put a manila folder on the desk in front of her. She opened it to a photograph of the man in the sketch. “Haruto Hiyoki,” Ashton said. “Doctorates from the University of Tokyo in physics and mechanical engineering. He is one of the original members of Aum Shinrikyo. He disappeared from Japan after the sarin gas attack on the subway, and surfaced five years later in Pakistan as one of the top men in drone design. He left Pakistan four years ago and again disappeared, with brief reports of sightings in Argentina and Columbia, and most recently, Mexico.”
“What’s he done since Pakistan?”
“Your image is the first sighting we’ve had since then. It also makes sense with all the reports of drones we’re receiving.”
“So he’s working for the cartels, or at least one of the cartels?”
Ashton said, “A new breakoff group that’s fighting for control of the drug corridors in West Texas and New Mexico.”
Hunter nodded, “So they’re trying to kill off the other cartel leaders.”
“And anyone who tries to stop them. Like my son.” Lincoln said.
“And almost me,” Hunter reminded him.
“Yes, of course.” Ashton said, “He isn’t through.”
Lincoln said, “We’ll put out this information to all law enforcement agencies along the border, including those in Mexico. He will be stopped.”
“I hope you’re right, because he’s got me jumping at shadows after this last try.”
Ashton said, “I’ll personally notify everyone, including Art and his associates.”
“Art’s back to work?”
“He’s working in Juarez and El Paso today.”