West of Laredo by Tom Armbruster (epub e reader txt) 📕

but diplomatic immunity kept you out of the courtroom. Then somebody got to Pico and killed him in prison. You took more Zetas out of the game in one night than the Tecos or the DEA ever did in Nuevo Laredo. Once we got spun up in the anti-terror task force, the ops center got involved and Mexico City was informed. From there, a whole bunch of those bad cops from that night got arrested, and they turned on some of their bosses. And the king pins started to fall. Nice job really."

"Why didn't the Embassy ever tell me?"

"Because you were the subject of this investigation. You're not exactly persona non grata in Nuevo Laredo, but you used up a couple of your nine lives."


Samuelson studies her face and continues, "The problem is in State you only get one life. And the question is whether you've used it up because of your fling with Usman. What do you think?" Samuelson looks at her. His face is open, like he really wants to know what to do with her. Like his mind is not made up.

"Well, to you, I'm a problem. A liability. Especially if I go to Havana." Lee smiles. "So I wonder if they could use a Consular officer in Kabul? I'm pretty sure I could stay out of trouble there."

Samuelson looks at Ballistrade. Ballistrade smiles.

So far, Sameulson is the only one not smiling. He looks at the file. Closes it, and tosses it on his desk. He says, "Tashakur." And smiles. "That's 'thank you' in Dari. He stands up. So does Ballistrade and Penny.

Samuelson continues. "You're a good officer Penny. A little too good to let go, though God knows if you screw up it will come back to bite me. I've never been a CYA officer. I don't do things to cover my ass. I try to do what's right. I think I can sell the Director General on the Kabul assignment. Pity. Cuba is a beautiful place. But you could get there eventually. Depends on where Usman ends up. But you won't be going there next. "

"Well, sir," Lee says, "I'd have to get tenured in Afghanistan first."

"No you wouldn't," Samuelson says, "The list came out today. Lee Kaija Penny of Minnesota appears just about in the middle of the list of officers tenured by the Board, if I read this cable correctly. You are from Bemidji, Minnesota aren't you?"
"You betcha!" Lee says. "Sir."

"Welcome to the Foreign Service."

“One more thing,” Lee asked.

“Yea.”

“Why did you start this interview with the incident with the girl, Syndi, and not with Usman?”

“Good question. Another question for you. What is your mission as American Citizen Services Officer?”

“Easy, my mission is to everything possible to protect and promote the welfare of American citizens in trouble.”

“Right, and my only question as DS Investigator, I’ve learned over the years, is this: Will the officer in front of me do what’s right for the mission, or what’s right for him or herself. You answered that question in the car with Syndi. You put the mission first. Congratulations.”


*53*


Lee’s last assignment in Nuevo Laredo is another attempt at recovering an American. Once again the FBI has come through with information. This time on an American killed at a ranch 20 miles outside of town. Lee takes Sinclair, her bottle of water and a lot of sunscreen. Amazingly, the Mexican authorities have agreed to allow a sniffer dog to come over from the US. That was the work of Consul General Saltillo. Saltillo works closely with Border Patrol and has great contacts on the US side from his Consulate in Laredo. He pressed the Americans for the dog, then the Mexicans to allow it. If Penny’s workload is high with Americans killed and kidnapped, Saltillo’s workload is 25 times higher, with almost daily deaths in the desert by Mexican migrants.

The ranch is non-descript, but inside the abandoned main house is a false floor in the bathroom. They can see it leads down to a storeroom, but it appears to be empty. The team is waiting for the dog to get settled when they hear the first command from the trainer.

“Where is it boy, go find it. You want your toy?”

The dog springs to life and sets off. Within fifteen minutes it has picked up a scent and “alerts” by simply sitting down. Some paw the ground, some bark, but this dog sits when it smells death. Lee and the team surround the spot, right under the opening to a corral. The undertakers start in with shovels. Within two inches they have a watch. Then they start talking.

“What are they saying the Border Guards asks.”

“They say the ground is too hard here. It can’t be the place. No way.”

Mexican officials also start to wave off the diggers, saying they know best.” Lee and the Border Guard protest but the diggers won’t re-engage. Lee knows it could be very dangerous for them to find something, they were probably under orders not to. As much as she knows there is a body buried just a few feet below her, she acquiesces, knowing the Mexican will dig no further.

The dog has done its job and gets its toy. The Mexican police pile into the pickups, shotguns at the ready, but the cartel, whether Zeta or Teco, Lee doesn’t know, wins this one. One more American would go unaccounted for in the Mexican desert. One more for her to think about.


*54*


The plane to Kabul would go from Laredo to Dallas to Washington to Dubai to Kabul. Lee is about to enter the tiny Laredo airport. For luck, she stops by the statue of the Mexican caballero and the Texas cowboy sharing a pot of coffee over a campfire. She feels a presence on her left and turns.

"You didn't think I'd let you leave without saying goodbye."

"Sinclair!"

He puts his arm around her.

"DS cut orders for me in Washington, they called Farrington and I just really had time to pack a suitcase. I was going to call you from the terminal. My household stuff all goes to storage on Monday. I'm going to miss you!" Lee drops her suitcase.

"Yea. Remember I told you that one day the Foreign Service would break your heart?"

"Yes."

"Well, it's breaking mine right now. You take care of yourself Lee Penny."

"I'm going to miss you playing bad cop."

"Hey, what happens to J.O.?"

"Well, that's my heartbreak. He's going to Minnesota. My folks are coming to get him next week. Farrington is looking after him right now."

"Tough."

"Yea. But Kabul is just a year. Then I'll be home. I guess I've got to go."

"Yea, you've got to go. Cubans, drugs and thugs, it's time you went to Kabul and relaxed."

"Oh. They told me all about the beaches and palm trees..."

"That's the Foreign Service for you. Bait and switch."

"What about you Sinclair? Are you sticking with it?"

"My contract is up next month. I'll talk to Farrington, but softball season is coming up. The guys in the Laredo sector of Border Patrol said I could be third base coach. I can't play much anymore, but it would keep me out of trouble. Plus," Sinclair pauses, "I've been seeing Clara Ramirez alot. I'm sort of working as a private detective for her. Trying to get the bridge photos, answer some questions. She's glad she got Fa back home, she thanks you and Farrington for that."

"She's doing ok?"
"She's a strong woman."

Lee kisses him on the cheek.

"Que le vaya bien." She says.

"Vaya con Dios, Lee. Vaya con Dios."

On approach into Dulles Lee sees the Washington monument. Not far away an office softball team is running off the field to come to bat. Lee watches the third base coach clap.

On the ground she finds her flight to Dubai.

A young man with a military issue bag is in front of her. He seems to be about 25.

"Where you off to?" Lee asks.

"Me. Well, Dubai, than I've got an onward assignment in the region."

"Where exactly." Lee brings her hands down, showing her diplomatic passport."

"Ma'am, I'm going to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, I'm a Marine Guard. And you?"


**


*55*


It was funny, after I saw through the Lee Penny I had occasion to go to the White House. One of our guys was killed doing escort duty for the Deputy Assistant Secretary in Afghanistan and our guy caught a bullet and bled to death. Well, I accompanied the family to see the President. We got to talking before the family arrived and I told the President about the Nuevo Laredo Operation. He says, “So what do you think about the narco wars on the border? You think I ought to do more?”

I said, “Yes sir. I’ve seen a lot