Lincoln said, “Would you like something to drink?”
Both of them shook their heads. Ashton opened his laptop and typed for a few seconds. “This is our latest information. There’s a clandestine factory somewhere in the area, making drones of various sizes.”
Art said, “Any idea where?”
Lincoln said, “No solid evidence, but after we read your report, we knew Osorio has contact with it, or it’s on his ranch. He has to be obtaining his drones from the factory, or from someone connected to it.”
Hunter said, “Now that we’ve pinpointed where his ranch headquarters is located, can the military’s satellites get some photos?”
Ashton said, “It’s not that easy for us to take images in our neighboring country. They consider it spying. It needs higher level authority than we’ve been able to enlist. Mexico is very touchy about their sovereignty.”
Hunter said, “I can go back across and snoop around in the mountains.”
Maybe,” Lincoln said. “For now you can go home. I’ll call you soon.”
“Okay.”
The meeting ended and Hunter drove with Buck to his ranch so she could get her gear. Buck said, “You can spend the night if you want, go home in the morning. I know you’re bushed.”
“Thanks.” She thought a moment and added, “Do you think we should be quitting on this? I saw all those things flying around like hornets, so it’s no little thing we’re talking about. They’re a danger to us, to the U.S.”
“I agree with you, but Lincoln has the reins on this. Give him a chance.”
“And if he doesn’t do anything?”
Buck smiled, “Come back to the ranch and we just might do a little recon mission of our own.”
Hunter nodded. Buck got a bottle and two old-fashioned glasses from the cabinet and poured each of them two fingers of Jack Daniels. They carried the drinks outside and sat on the porch, watching the sunset.
The next morning she woke refreshed. Sleeping through the night was a rare thing for her, so she felt surprised and happy about it. When she dressed and walked into the kitchen, Buck put two plates on the table, both with a short stack of pancakes and two strips of bacon. The syrup was on the table between the plates.
“I was craving pancakes this morning,” Buck said.
Hunter pulled out a chair and sat at the table, “That’ll work for me, and thanks for your hospitality.” She grinned at him, “I may have to steal your bed, though.”
“A feather mattress is hard to beat.” Buck took the other chair and they were silent as they ate. Buck rose once to refill their coffee mugs, but other than that, their attention was on the food.
Hunter helped Buck with the dishes before leaving, and then hit the road. She looked for David and the others flying their drones when she went through Presidio and passed the high school, but didn’t see them. Traffic on highway 67 between Presidio and Marfa was almost nonexistent and Hunter made excellent time, pulling into her driveway in less than an hour after leaving Presidio.
The home phone rang as she entered through the kitchen door at the rear of the home. She didn’t recognize the number and almost didn’t answer because of all the unsolicited sales calls she’d been getting, but after the fourth ring she picked up. “Hello.”
Art said, “Hey, Hunter.”
“How are you doing? How’s the ankle?”
“Ahh, I’m out of commission for a while. I’ve got so many screws and pins in there that I set off airport security alarms before I even get to the airport. It’ll take a few months to get back to work. Seems that all the walking on that mountain after I hurt it, well it didn’t do me any good. But why I called, and on this phone, is to give you some information. I’m not sure you’ll get it from Jones.”
“I thought they were on our side?”
“In a way they are, but only if it benefits them.”
“Okay, so what’s this about?”
“The woman.”
“The one that’s missing?”
“Yes, the one with Cory before he was killed.”