Borderline Betrayal

As I walked into my bedroom to prepare for the trip, Mary Jane warned me, "Be careful Carlos, we have such a big future ahead of us with the kids on the way. If you don't return from these trips safely we won't be able to live the life we've been planning for years. I love you."

"Mary Jane, don't worry about me, I will make it home safe. Diego and I leave around eight o'clock this evening for Tucson, Arizona. We are worried about border control looking through the car, but we think we should be okay with the new truck."

"Be safe, Carlos," said Mary Jane.

"I promise we will, Mary Jane. We have a lot to look forward to and I promise the money will make this job worth it."

I walked out of the bedroom and grabbed the keys to our new car that Carlos brought back from his last trip to Arizona. While I don't agree with the way he got it, it is a car that will fuel our business until we both have the money to stop doing risky business.

I left my house and started the car. The Toyota's engine made a screeching sound as it started, but the engine ran smoothly after it ran for a few minutes. I put the car into reverse and backed out of my driveway headed to Diego's house.

As I pulled into Diego's house, he was outside waiting.

"Carlos, it's time to get going. We're behind schedule and the cartel is waiting for us. They are expecting the delivery early tomorrow morning shortly after midnight in Tucson. We better get going."

"My apologies, Diego. The wife is getting worried and I am afraid we won't be able to continue this business for too much longer."

Diego got into the car and we drove north on the Mexico Federal Highway 15 towards the Carbo Municipality, where we would meet our partners to pick up the substances to bring the substances to Tucson.

After what felt like hours, we finally got off the highway and onto the side road. During the final stretch to the Carbo Municipality, I checked my rearview mirrors to see blue and red lights right behind us. I quickly pulled off to the side of the road.

"Diego," I stuttered, "This is not good. You stole this vehicle from your run two weeks ago and it has an Arizona plate on it. Do you have any cash we can give to the police so we can act like American tourists?"

"Carlos, don't worry about it," said Diego as he reached into his wallet and handed me 3 $20 US dollar bills.

I rolled my window down as the officer approached my car, and before he could say anything I flashed the $20 bill at him. He locked eyes with the money, locked eyes with me, and then I handed him the money. He took the money and stared at me for a second.

"So, where are you Phoenix folks headed?" the officer asked.

"We are headed to see our parents in Carbo," I said.

The officer stared for another few seconds.

"Get to your destination safe, and keep your speed down," he said as he slowly walked back to his car.

"Well that was a close one man," I told Diego.

"A little bit of cash is all they need," Diego reassured me.

I pulled back onto the road and continued driving.

After what felt like an eternity, we pulled into the parking lot that we were directed to by Pablo, or that was what he called himself, at least. We pulled into the parking lot and saw another car sitting on the other side of the lot.

I picked up my phone and called Pablo, nervous that we had been set up by our long-time business partners.

"Pablo," I paused, "Is that you in the old red car?"