***
Asadullah waited until dark to spy on Riffey. He moved quietly, slowly, in case Riffey’s friend had bought more dogs. There were no animals in the yard, so he eased to the house and peered into a window where the curtains were several inches apart.
Riffey slouched at one end of a ratty couch, and another man, dark skinned, with a flat nose resembling a smashed tomato sprawled at the other. They passed a bottle of tequila back and forth, watching television where some R-rated movie revealed a lot of female flesh.
Asadullah watched the room for twenty minutes, making sure no one else was there. When he was satisfied, he walked to the front door, pulled out his pistol and knocked with a light tap-tap-tap. There were sounds of footsteps from inside, and then the flat-nosed man opened the door.
Holland shot him twice in the forehead BamBam, and shoved the collapsing body into the room while he followed it inside. Riffey sat frozen, his face showing surprise and fear. The terrorist pointed the pistol at him, “You have one chance to live. Do you want it?”
Riffey nodded, his eyes big, “Yes.”
“Tomorrow night you will lead me across the border. If we are seen or detected by anyone, or by Border Patrol sensors or cameras, I will kill you. Do you understand?”
“I do. I can get you across, I promise.”
“Drag the body into another room.” Riffey hopped off the couch, stepped around Holland like he was a coiled rattler, and drug his friend’s corpse into a small bedroom.
Riffey returned to the living room, pointed at a pool of blood and said, “You want me to clean that up?”
“No.” Asadullah rummaged in the room and found a long extension cord. He looked at Riffey, “Sit.” Riffey sat on the couch. Using the extension cord, he tied Riffey so that the man was on his side, and his hands were behind his back and tied to his ankles.
Riffey said, “You can untie me. I won’t run.”
I will release you tomorrow night, when we leave. Until then, be still, be quiet.”
Riffey lay there, already needing to pee. It was going to be a long couple of days, and probably his last ones on earth. He squirmed against his bindings and wished he hadn’t run from Agent Kincaid and the Sheriff.
***
Acting Sheriff Danny Montoya was up at dawn, having slept a total of two fitful hours during the night. It was Election Day, and he already needed some Mylanta. He showered, shaved, and put on a fresh uniform consisting of a white, western long-sleeved shirt, jeans and boots. He pinned the badge to his shirt pocket, slung the gun belt around his hips and adjusted it, and then put on his western straw hat. Danny looked at himself in the mirror. He was dressed the way Sheriff Wayne Rockman always had. A real West Texas lawman. Which he wanted to be more than anything in the world. Danny went out the door and drove to the office to start the day and wait for election results.
People began filing in to the Sheriff’s department to tell Danny good luck and that they voted for him. The flow of people was so steady that Danny was unable to get any other work done. By noon he was ready to run away from the attention.
His secretary poked her head in the office after the last well-wisher exited and said, “I’m going to close your door so you can take this call.” He didn’t have time to say no as the door closed. The line on his phone blinked steadily, and he punched it.
“This is Sheriff Montoya.”
“Sheriff, this is Anthony Berringer, the Governor’s assistant, how are you today?”
Danny took a moment for it to soak in, then said, “Fine. I’m doing fine.”
“We’re happy to hear it. Congratulations on your heroism in Presidio, Sheriff.”
“Thank you.”
“What I’m calling for, the Governor and several members of the Texas congress are coming to Presidio tomorrow, along with the Commissioner of Homeland Security, who is flying in from Washington. They want to thank you in person for your actions. The Governor felt it would be most appropriate to do this in Presidio, where you thwarted a terrorist attack on United States soil. The press and others will be there as well. It’ll be covered from coast to coast. I’ve arranged for it to take place at the Presidio Activities Center.”
Danny felt things were moving way too fast today. “This is an election day, and I’m still only the acting Sheriff. I’m not sure this would be proper, and if I don’t win...”
“Sheriff, we will expect you tomorrow at noon. It’s already set. The Governor looks forward to seeing you in person. Any words you’d like for me to convey?”
Danny’s mind whirled, “No, no words.”
Berringer said, “Excellent. Tomorrow, then,” and ended the conversation with a click as he hung up his phone.
Danny took the phone from his ear and looked at it. “It’s going to be a circus,” he said. Five minutes later, his secretary knocked on the door. “Come in,” he said.
She looked excited, “It’s on the news! The Governor and some people out of Washington are coming down here to give you a commendation. We’re so proud of you, Sheriff!”