The Territory (Josie Gray Mysteries #1)(49)

After they caught up on old acquaintances, Jimmy grew serious. “What are you guys doing down here to fire up the Mexicans so bad? Word is, the Bishop wants your head on a shiny platter, Chief Gray.”

Josie gave Otto a grim look. She had expected that information, but hearing it spoken from another law enforcement agent was sobering.

“You do not want to make light of this. That man is scary mean, and when he levels a threat, it’s usually carried out.”

“Actually, the Bishop’s why I called you. I have a hunch Medrano has targeted Artemis for easy access. Marfa Sector patrols what, five hundred miles of riverfront on the Rio?”

“You got it,” Jimmy said.

“Your focus has never been this area. It’s remote. No big cities to get lost in. Correct?”

Jimmy nodded.

“I was on the watchtower last night, looking for action, and saw four cars drive right down to the river, Mexican side.” She pointed behind her to the crossing and the tire tracks in the dirt. “They launched a boat, moved the cargo, and returned the boat all within thirty minutes.”

He shook his head. “We could have ten times the number of agents we have now, and they’d still find a way. What were they transporting?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I called you. We need help. I’ve got three officers, including myself. Sheriff’s department is no better. We’ve got Gutiérrez in the county jail, on top of the La Bestia member that I fatally shot. I’m very concerned either Medrano or La Bestia are going to rip us up one night soon.”

“You know who the American link is?” Jimmy asked.

“We had a local gun fanatic murdered a few nights ago. Several hundred guns were stolen from his house as well. Red Goff?”

Jimmy nodded acknowledgment. “I know him.”

“I think Red was running guns with the Mexicans. Probably Medrano. I don’t know if drugs were involved. I haven’t made that connection. This is strictly between us, but I suspect a local sheriff’s deputy may have stolen Red’s guns and sold them to Medrano.”

Jimmy scowled. “You got yourself a regular mess.”

Josie kicked at the gravel. “It’s a lot of conjecture and not much to back it up. If you can make an arrest down here, it sure would help move things along. I just don’t have the manpower to make it happen.”

Jimmy nodded and rubbed at the stubble on his chin. “I heard your calls for help the other night when the Trauma Center got shot up. I was working a mess myself. We stopped a van with fifteen illegals, one of the ladies in childbirth, trying to hold the baby back until they reached their destination.” He shook his head at the memory. “I did everything I could to get you help that night.”

Josie nodded. She didn’t doubt it.

“Sanchez and I are working the watchtower tonight,” Dixon said.

“Officer Marta Cruz will be working with you. I’ll take the tower tomorrow night.”

“I’ll get the captain to commit to a week if I can. Then at least if you have trouble at the jail, we’ll be close at hand. If things get bad, you call me personally.”

*

On the way back to the department, Otto suggested they stop by Red’s place.

“There are a lot of people that don’t know those guns were stolen. I don’t like that young Winning girl out there all by herself. She’s a sitting duck, and she doesn’t seem concerned a bit about her safety.”

Josie nodded, did a U-turn on River Road, and turned her car toward Scratchgravel Road. She pulled onto Winning’s road and drove up the gravel lane to her trailer and stopped. “I’ll check in with her.”

Pegasus Winning answered the door dressed in shorts and an oversized man’s T-shirt from a Harley shop. “You just missed them,” she said, looking surprised to see Josie.

“Missed who?” Josie asked.

“There were three carloads of men nosing around Red’s place this afternoon. I saw a couple guys get out and check his door. They snooped around the garage, in front of his house.”

“Why didn’t you call me?” Josie asked.

She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her hip. It was the same body language she had used with Josie ever since she first showed up at the police department. “I didn’t know it was a requirement.”

“I’m not sure you realize the type of men you’ve got nosing around your place out here,” Josie said.

Winning picked at a piece of tape on her doorframe. “They shot my neighbor in the head, broke into my trailer, and laid his dead body on my couch. I get it.”

*

Josie and Otto took a complete description of the cars; then they drove down the lane to Red’s house. After a quick sweep, they found nothing out of place. “Maybe word’s out the guns are gone,” Otto said.

While Otto drove them back to the department, Josie caught up with cell phone messages and made routine follow-up calls. As they reached Artemis, she discovered Sheriff Martínez was at the courthouse, guarding a witness in court for the next week. She asked to meet him on the park bench outside for a few minutes.

Otto pulled in front of the police department, and as she reached for her door handle Otto said, “Hang on.” He cleared his throat and turned in his seat to face her. “You know I don’t like to give you advice.”