“What little information we have points somewhere in the mountains.”
“Huh.”
“We believe someone with significant expertise is manufacturing these things.”
“How many have they made?”
“At least fifty.”
Hunter leaned back in her chair on that one. “Oh man.”
Ashton said, “We have heard the name Pasqual Osorio twice in intercepted chatter, but that’s the only tangible we have at the moment. We would like for you to see if you can gather more information from your acquaintances, and take some photos of Osorio and anyone else with him.”
“I’ll have to go into Mexico and sneak onto his ranch for that. He doesn’t come to this side.”
Lincoln said, “I know it’s dangerous, and I wouldn’t ask you if other things hadn’t come to light. What I tell you now is legitimately Top Secret.”
Shit, she thought as goose bumps prickled her forearms. “No sense in holding back now.”
“NSA picked up information from Argentina, Peru, and Columbia that shows their terrorist cells talking to each other about the Texas border. We don’t know specifics, but whatever it is won’t be good.”
“What do I do about work?”
“Ashton will take care of that. Your Chief’s been informed of this and will make your absence a non-issue.”
“Do I report to anybody?”
“I’ll have one person contact you. He will be the conduit to Ashton and me. Don’t tell anyone else about this.”
She took a deep breath, crossed her fingers where he couldn’t see, and exhaled. “Okay.”
“You’ll hear from the contact in a day or two. We will meet with you again in a few days.” He hesitated a moment, “There’s one other thing. Cory was down here on assignment with a partner, a female. She’s missing.”
“Was she in Mexico with him?”
“Yes. And we haven’t heard from her since before they crossed into Ojinaga. If she’s still alive, maybe you can locate her.”
“What does she look like, and what’s her name?”
Lincoln handed Hunter a photograph. “They were engaged, as well as partners. Her name is Maria Garza.” The photo showed a young, fit, striking woman in her twenties standing in a gym, smiling at the camera. She wore shorts that exposed a dancer’s legs, and she wore a loose-fitting, maroon tee shirt with Texas A&M in white letters across the ches
t.
“I’ll keep an eye out for her.”
Ashton walked with Hunter to the car. He handed her his card, “Call me anytime, day or night, about anything. You will have a partner to work with, but I’ll need to know everything possible in real time.”
“Who exactly are you?”
Ashton smiled, and it was a nice smile. “I’m the details guy, the one who makes things mesh, and the one who can give you help when no one else can.”
“Like Kato to the Green Hornet.”
He nodded, “Not bad. I’m not Bruce Lee, but you’ll find me useful. Keep me informed.”
Hunter left Cibolo Creek and thought about how to proceed. She drove the ranch road to where it intersected with U.S. 67. On a whim, she turned right on the highway and drove to Presidio. In town, Hunter turned toward the River Road. She slowed as she passed the school where several teenagers were flying small drones. Two of the boys wore the oversized goggles that allowed them to visually immerse themselves into the drones.
Pulling over, she watched as they put the quadcopters through their maneuvers. The two boys with the goggles were good, and one of them was very good. He made his black drone move through the air like some oversized hornet, flying circles around and under and over the others. They finished ten minutes later, and Hunter drove across the empty parking lot to the teenage owner of the black drone. He stopped by a twenty-year old Chevrolet pickup as Hunter exited her vehicle. She said, “Mind if I ask you some questions about this?” She indicated the quadcopter drone he carried.