“I know. I need your help, please. Dario was pushed into a mine shaft.”
Raymond put his hand on Adan’s shoulder as Hunter said, “Where?”
“In Mexico. I can show you.” He pulled at her arm, then realized what he was doing. He took off his hand as Raymond said, “We can talk to the Mexican authorities, see if they will help you.” Adan nodded and they all walked to the Ford Explorer and drove down the river towards Presidio and the International Bridge. The drive seemed to take forever to Adan, but in reality, Hunter drove it in record time. Raymond called on the radio to Sector, who then contacted the Mexican Aduanas, Mexican Customs at the bridge and told them that two agents wanted to meet and talk over some information, and to transfer a juvenile Mexican male into their custody. Sector radioed Mexico’s okay, and Hunter drove through Presidio to the bridge.
Traffic was light and she drove onto the bridge and across to the Mexican Port of Entry, where two Customs officers waited, hands on hips. Raymond exited and walked to the men while Hunter turned in her seat and pushed some folded money to Adan as he sat behind her. “Get yourself something to eat, Adan.”
“Thank you.”
“My name is Hunter, and you can call me that if you want.”
Adan felt a warmness in him, “Thank you, Hunter.”
They got out of the Explorer and walked to join Raymond as he said, “The boy is trapped in an abandoned mine, and Adan here can show you where.”
One of the men said to Adan, “It will be some time before we can look for this boy, this…Dario you talk about. We have to go through channels.”
Hunter said, “What if he’s hurt? You’re not going to check on him?”
“It is an impossibility to do at this moment.”
“Can’t you call the other agencies, or the military to help?”
“They are all occupied, all of them. There’s big trouble south of here with the Cartel, lots of fighting and shooting right now. The officials rushed in the direction of the conflict.”
Hunter thinned her lips in frustration. She turned to Adan and said, “Do you know where the Waru Hotel is?”
Adan said, “Yes.”
“Go there and wait for me. I will come, but I have to change clothes and get another vehicle before then, so it may be a bit.”
“I will wait.”
“You can sit and order food and something to drink outside, and that way I can see you when I drive up there. Might save us some time.”
Adan’s emotions lifted; this beautiful woman was going to help him. “I will not move until you come.”
She patted him on the shoulder and took him to the Mexican authorities. Raymond looked at her when she returned to the SUV. He turned their vehicle around to cross the bridge back to the United States. He said, “Okay, what did you do?” She shrugged.
Raymond said, “You’re working. You can’t go into Mexico in uniform, and in a government vehicle, and dragging me with you.”
“I’m not.”
“Okay, what are you gonna do, then?”
“I’m calling in for emergency annual leave for the rest of the shift, and get you to drop me off at the Presidio Station. I’ll borrow Jonathan’s pickup.”
“Then what?”
“I’ll go to either the western wear store or to Beall’s, get a change of clothes and go across.”
“Get some rope and a couple other things you need, too. Go prepared.”
“I will.”
“One of us has to stay on this side in case of trouble. I guess that’s me.”
“There won’t be any trouble.”