All three men ate and drank, while John Factor stood by the vehicle, where he remained silent and aloof.
When they finished, the three men received small glasses of brandy from the servers. Flavio said, “I’ve got fentanyl coming in, be here tomorrow. You ready to move it?”
Ellis said, “There’s some heat down here at the moment. Every law enforcement agency in the area is around Terlingua and Lajitas.”
Flavio’s face darkened. “Why?”
RL knew Ellis was a smooth talker, and he stayed silent. Ellis said, “There’s a pesky Border Patrol Agent down this area, a woman no less. Her name’s Hunter Kincaid, and she’s the cause of the trouble.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“She messed up our last shipment because she’s got a hard on for me and RL here. Like we’re her special project in life.”
“Why is that?”
“Some kid friend of hers died. She’s mad at the world and we’re the nearest target.”
Flavio was silent for a few moments, “If she’s out of the way, can you move things for me?”
Ellis nodded and said, “Guaranteed.”
Flavio waved over the black man. “John, I have a job for you.”
John moved gracefully and stood beside Flavio. “These men have some trouble with a female Border Patrol Agent. She’s disrupting business. Can you do something about that?”
John said, “Tell me about her.”
Ellis filled him in on Hunter, her physical description, other things about her, like where she lived and worked, including that she was said to be a good shot with a pistol.
John listened, not saying anything, then asked Flavio, “You want her dead, or in the hospital?”
“Either way will get her out of the picture.”
John nodded and returned to his original place.
RL said, “He doesn’t talk much.”
Flavio said, “He’s Indian, Seminole.”
“Like the Seminole Scouts in the wil
d west days?” RL asked.
“Yes. He is a dual citizen, descended from the original scouts at Fort Clark in Brackettville, somewhere near this Del Rio town. He lives in Muzquiz most of the time.”
“He any good with that silenced pistol he carries?”
Flavio said, “He’s better than good. I once saw him put a peso on the back of his hand, hold it chest-high, then drop his hand and draw to fire before the peso hit the ground.”
“He drew from the shoulder holster?”
“Oh yes.”
Ellis smiled, “Excellent.”
“He is the best.”
RL pictured Hunter Kincaid, and thought of things he’d heard about her; he better be.