This is the third story in a series; strongly suggest you read the first two before this, because it continues without reintroduction of characters or circumstances. No sex among or in front of persons under 18 years of age.
End of part 2:
I swung the rifle to the climber.
He didn't like the open space, or maybe he didn't like the odds, because he hesitated with his right hand on top of the rock he was behind. I guess he decided to try, because his arm snaked over the top, his hand grasped the edge, and he lunged for the ledge he had to cross. The bullet caught him in the chest before he made it, and he tumbled backward onto the rocks.
"Any moving heat signatures?" I asked.
"No, Rob," Kaitlyn assured me. "Some are gone, and some are fading, but none are moving."
"Okay, give me the controls and let me bring it back and get it stowed away." She handed me the controls and asked what they should do now.
"Great job, everyone; I think the danger has been mitigated for the time being, but let's remain careful anyway; crouch down and go back in the house. Get your stuff together while I put the drone away. I'll grab my go bag, we'll get in the Jeep, and go meet Saguaro at Study Butte. We have a long drive ahead of us before we get to the Mountain Lair."
Saguaro was waiting in an armored Suburban. He said he'd run interference as needed, but the main group had turned at Marathon and would approach from the south, so with the smaller group routed, he felt we had free sailing through Alpine to Fort Davis and beyond. I asked if he had informed the others, and he told me that Chap's sources had verified the intel, so they were ready and waiting.
The kids were far too excited to sleep for the first forty miles, and they had myriad questions I couldn't or wouldn't answer with speculation. They finally played out, so Kaitlyn and I had forty miles to talk before we got to Alpine. With the kids sleeping, it was Kaitlyn's turn to ask myriad questions for which I had no answer.
"Truth is, Kaitlyn, all I know is a contract was let on you and our kids, and then I was added. We don't know who we are fighting or who is behind it, but the Escamilla Cartel let the contract. Have any idea why?"
"No, but I heard Chap say 'Reynaldo', and when the business started crumbling I heard Robert warn his lawyer that it would be very bad if they lost Reynaldo's money, and both of them sounded frightened."
"The feds say he was in a money laundering scheme with those guys. If he stole or lost their money, they will want it back, or his life in forfeit. They sometimes kill the family of the one who stole from them too, but I don't see why I would have been added. I didn't know anything about the money laundering or any accounts he might have with them.
"I turned his sorry ass in for embezzling on a grand skill, and for trying to force me to make deals with people and governments the US has on its list of terrorists or sponsors of terrorism.
"Anyway, hopefully we will learn more when we get there, but I don't think this is Reynaldo killing Robert's family, because he hasn't killed Robert yet."
My phone buzzed; Chap said, "That was quick; I assume your family is well, and the others are not?"
I assured him we were and they were not; he asked, "You did activate everything when you left, right?"
I assured him I had. "So, according to Coyote, you have a dozen propane bottles and twice that many IEDs along the road and around the base of the hill. We'll put our drone in the air after we get word the second bunch is on your road. Do you want us to send you the feed, or take care of it here?"
"Are you in a safe place, Carlos?"
"We're where we agreed, we have sniper cover on both sides, and we all have our dirt bikes, so we're good. You giving us the go?"
"I am, but only if you're absolutely safe. I can build a new house, but you clowns are hard to replicate."
"Okay,
Vato
, but one more thing; Guillermo has the BP on alert, helicopters and all. When your Disco show ends, we're gone and the legally constituted authorities will take over. Meanwhile, put
sus hijos y la guera bonita
into the bunker and keep them there. Hell, you too,
Pendejo
! Let the pros take care of this!"
"You know me; of course I will!"
"Mentiras! Hasta luego, amigo; tienes cuidado."
"Y tambien, amigos. Hasta la vista!"
***