chapter twenty-six
Adams drove Jack across The Bridge of the Americas and they stopped at the Mexican Customs booth.
“Taking my amigo to show him how to drink tequila,” said Adams.
The customs officer grunted and waved them through.
It was quarter to three when Adams parked the car and the two of them cautiously made their way to an alley.
Jose Rubalcava arrived in the alley a moment later, approaching on foot from the other end. “I see you have brought a friend,” he said.
“He can be trusted,” said Adams.
“I know, otherwise you would not have brought him.” Rubalcava smiled. “And how have you been, John? I have been worried about you, amigo.”
Jack caught the subtle glance Rubalcava gave him when he spoke to Adams. There is something Rubalcava does not want to speak about in front of me. His face looks like there is serious justification for his concern …
“I’m okay,” Adams replied, giving Rubalcava a hard look. “Let me introduce you.”
Introductions were made and Jack explained to Rubalcava why he had come to El Paso and told him he was in Mexico against orders.
“For you as a policeman to come to Mexico is extremely dangerous,” said Rubalcava, “but for you to come here as an undercover agent … I would not classify it as dangerous.”
“You wouldn’t?” asked Jack.
“No. I would classify it as suicidal. It is for good reason your government does not want you here.”
“I know it is dangerous,” sighed Jack, not wanting to dwell on the matter. “Do you have any thoughts or ideas on something I could do to entice Tio into the U.S.? Is there a popular attraction in El Paso I could offer to treat him to?”
“No, from what you say, I suspect Tio is wanted in the U.S., otherwise he would not hesitate to go there,” said Rubalcava.
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” admitted Jack.
“We have photos of two men taken by the apartment security camera in Canada for you to see,” said Adams, handing the photos to Rubalcava. “The picture of the guy sneering at the camera is good, but all we have of the other guy is that he is missing his left earlobe.”
Rubalcava studied the pictures briefly. “I do not recognize the man who is sneering, but the man who is missing an earlobe might be Eduardo Cortez. He is an enforcer for the Guajardo cartel. A very dangerous man who was hired from the military. Several years ago, he got in a fight with his brother over a woman and his brother bit his earlobe off.”
“Nice brother,” said Jack.
Rubalcava shrugged. “Eduardo shot and killed him for it the next day.” He handed the photos back to Adams.
“Our Canadian friend took me to an interesting place yesterday,” said Adams, who then told Rubalcava about the place they had found in the desert.
“The area you were in indicates it is the Guajardo cartel you are dealing with,” said Rubalcava. “The Sinaloa cartel does not operate in that vicinity. They also haven’t been here long enough yet to have that sophisticated of an operation. Maybe in a few years they will, but not now.”
“Sort of what I thought,” replied Adams.
“You said it looked like they were clearing out?” asked Rubalcava.
“Half the trailers looked empty,” said Adams. “I also saw men taking furniture out of one of the other trailers.”
Rubalcava nodded thoughtfully. “Rumours have circulated the Guajardo cartel is creating a new smuggling route. A man, who had been drinking too much, bragged in a cantina about making a lot of money. He said he was put in the back of a truck he could not see out of, and that he, along with many other men, were taken to work building a tunnel. He was murdered an hour later, but the rumour is out.”
“Any idea who murdered him?” asked Jack, wondering if it was the same men who murdered Porter.
“I think it was one of my men,” replied Rubalcava, “but I cannot be sure which one.”
Jack inwardly cringed at the comment and the danger Rubalcava endured, yet the man talked in a friendly tone like old friends talking about sports. Except this game was deadly.
“Jack, perhaps I could discover the tunnel if you could identify some of the mules being used?” continued Rubalcava.
“I’ll do my best,” replied Jack.
“What do you think the chances are of following Slater’s truck once it is taken from the motel?” asked Adams. “Do you think they will use the tunnel, or rely on the hiding spot in the truck and cross the border normally?”
“I think they will cross the border normally,” said Rubalcava. “They have much less to fear from our customs than they did when they entered the U.S. from Canada.”
“I bet you’re right,” agreed Adams.
“I also have some business addresses in Juarez that Earl Porter and Clive Slater have invested with,” said Jack, flipping through his notebook. “We asked our liaison officer in Mexico City to make inquiries and he passed it on to the federales. They said the addresses were legitimate companies. The one for Porter apparently makes tourist trinkets and the one for Slater is a fruit company.” He showed Rubalcava his notebook. “Do you want to write them down?”
“I don’t need to,” Rubalcava replied. “I know it. The two streets are separated by the same building, which is owned by the Guajardo cartel. They do run a fruit company from the building, but I suspect for Porter and Slater it was only an excuse for them to explain their trips to Customs.”
Adams’s eyes picked up someone who peered at them from around a corner at the end of the alley. “Don’t look now,” he said. “It’s probably nothing, but someone stuck their head out from around the corner at the end of the alley. Keep talking while I walk in the opposite direction and go around the block and come back on him.”
Jack looked at Rubalcava. His eyes never even flickered and he maintained his friendly composure while taking to Jack. One very cool guy …
“So … Canada, there is lots of snow there, yes?” Rubalcava asked, as Adams walked away.
“Not at the moment,” replied Jack. “It’s a big country. Some places get very cold in the winter, but only the most northern places have snow this time of year.”
“I have never been there. Last year my family and I were given a holiday to go to Israel. It was nice there.”
“I see,” said Jack. Given a holiday? Guess that explains who helped the Israelis with the PLO’s drugs- for-weapons initiative … “I think I know why you were treated so nicely by the Israelis,” he added.
“Oh?”
“A small matter of five mansions in the desert?”
Rubalcava smiled and said, “I wondered how long it would take the Americans to figure it out. I wondered if John had told you.”
“You hadn’t told him?”
“It wasn’t his business, but I am pleased they were smart enough to figure it out.”
“Aren’t you worried about the other cartels finding out?”
“They were happy to get rid of the competition. They think I did them a favour.”
“Sounds like it worked out.”
“Except the two remaining cartels will become even more powerful,” brooded Rubalcava.
“Yes, but at the same time, with your limited resources, it gives you one less organization to focus on.”
“True.”
“Still, you really do put yourself at risk,” said Jack. “Why do you do it?”
Rubalcava sighed and said, “This is not the Mexico it is supposed to be. Here in Juarez … with the Guajardo cartel and the Sinaloa cartel, the greed and lust for power will mean the violence will only get worse.”
“I’ve heard they are killing each other. Maybe not such a bad thing.”
“It is not only each other,” said Rubalcava. “Many innocent people are being murdered. The cartels have no reason to fear anyone. Many honest policemen, judges, and prosecutors have been murdered. And it’s not just people connected to the judiciary. Our citizens are also being murdered. They often kidnap our women right off the street. Sometimes the drug couriers take them to a stash house and use them for several days to entertain themselves while they are waiting for deliveries. Some of the bodies that have been found were terribly mutilated.”
“How can you stand living in Juarez?” asked Jack, watching as Adams turned the far corner in the alley before turning back to face Rubalcava.
“Because it is my country,” replied Rubalcava, sounding indignant. “I am determined to stop men like Guajardo, or the jackals who work for him, like the Carrillo Fuentes brothers, from doing what they are doing. If they are not stopped, this plague will reach far beyond Juarez. You know yourself it has already touched Canada.”
“You have to be the bravest man I’ve ever met,” said Jack.
Rubalcava smiled and said, “I am not that brave. I am just afraid to break a promise to my wife. I promised her I would do my best to make Mexico a better place for our two sons. Someday I hope to see it.”
“Meeting us here … this might not be good,” said Jack, with a slight movement of his head to indicate the alley behind him.
“Ah,” said Rubalcava, as his eyes flickered to the end of the alley behind Jack. “John worries too much. I am sure it is nothing.”
“But as a police commander being away from your office, does it not raise any questions?” asked Jack. “They might wonder where you are going.”
“At this time of day it is okay. Every day I leave my office before three o’clock to pick my two sons up from school … but you have reminded me of something.” Rubalcava retrieved his business card and gave it to Jack and said, “John has a way of contacting me through his wife, but if she is not available, call me yourself if it is urgent. Please memorize the numbers. Do not get caught with this card tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry,” replied Jack. “Tomorrow I will be travelling under a false surname and anything I have, like my real wallet or notebook, I will leave in John’s office for safekeeping.”
“That is good. So if you are in dire trouble, call me and say you were robbed by a policeman and got my number from your consulate. I will say you were probably robbed by someone pretending to be a policeman and hang up. Then I will come to this spot.”
“Thank you,” said Jack.
“I will also go through this alley every day at this time while you are working here, so you can meet me if you have something. I will also do it on my way to work, between eight-thirty and nine. If it is more urgent, then call me.”
“Again, thank you. It is very much appreciated.”
Rubalcava eyed Jack curiously for a moment and asked, “So tell me, Jack, why do you risk coming here? This is not your country.”
Jack retrieved a picture of Lily Rae from his wallet and showed it to Rubalcava. “I promised her mother I would do everything I could to find her. You know how it is with promises. They are something that should not be made if you do not intend to keep them.”
Rubalcava smiled. “That I understand, amigo … that I understand.” He glanced down the alley and added, “If John does not know the identities of the men Tio sends to meet you tomorrow, perhaps he can take their pictures. Maybe I will know them.”
“Thank you. I am hoping I will learn much more when I meet Tio. I may act a bit like a tourist and bring my own camera. He might be willing to have his picture taken with me.”
“He may feel safe enough to do that in Mexico,” noted Rubalcava.
“Until I meet him, I do not know how long it will take to get what I want. It may take a few meetings with him to find out what happened to the girl.”
Rubalcava stared at Jack a moment. “Out of curiosity, do you have children, too?”
“Yes, a baby boy and another baby on the way.”
“Ah,” replied Rubalcava as he reached out and grasped Jack’s hand with both of his and shook it. “We have something in common, you and me … besides our work. It makes us even more like brothers.”
Jack reflected on how much more dangerous Rubalcava’s situation was. I have been in some dangerous situations, but they pale in comparison. He is walking a very high tightrope without a net. How long can he stay before a gust of wind comes …
Adams returned and said, “It was nothing. Only a street vendor.”
Rubalcava smiled at Jack as if to say I told you so.
“Is this other thing still on for tonight?” asked Adams, speaking to Rubalcava.
“Yes, I have heard several policemen will be receiving extra pay tonight, but I do not know how large of a shipment it will be.”
“Same place they used before?”
“Yes,” replied Rubalcava.
“Good. Last time I found their tracks the next day where they crossed.”
Adams looked at Jack and said, “The Sinaloa cartel is running a shipment of marijuana across the border tonight, a mile from the bridge I first showed you yesterday morning.”
“Will you be there?” Rubalcava asked Adams.
“Only to watch and see who picks it up on my side of the border. Don’t worry, I won’t jeopardize you by doing anything.”
“I know you won’t, amigo.”