Julio laughed, shaking his head as the Santori’s men just stood against the wall not looking their way.
“What are you laughing at?”
“You,” he smiled at his brother. “Even if they found the evidence they wouldn’t know it was us. They couldn’t know unless Nic gets to the authorities before we kill him.”
“You don’t get it, do you? He’s already gotten to someone. Not the authorities but someone much worse. I can feel it in my bones. And when they come for me, I will point them in your direction, brother. I will not die alone.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“What’s up, Rachel?” asked Chief.
“Nic told the others back home that he placed the ashes in cardboard ice-cream barrels.”
“Cardboard? Didn’t he understand that it wouldn’t last very long?” asked Christian.
“I think he did. As crazy as it sounds, he was thinking of the earth,” she smirked. “The cardboard is made from recycled materials and could be used in a landfill safely. It’s why he selected it. Felix told him to use metal barrels, like those used for oil but he was trying to be earth conscious.”
“Well, I suppose that’s one good point. He kills dozens and makes sure they don’t harm the earth where they’re buried,” frowned Christian.
“It’s definitely different but it’s helped me to identify the strange substances we were seeing. He’s also given us the locations of the other burial sites and I think they’ll match what East and Bone brought back from the house,” she said opening her phone with the photos of the maps.
“If we send teams to these sights, we should be able to find the evidence of the bodies. If we do that, we can get the feds involved and hopefully the Mexican authorities and go after Santori once and for all.”
“Hey! Hey, you guys!” yelled Ernie. “Come quick. There’s something on the television you need to see.”
They jogged with Ernie toward the house and walked inside to find others gathered around the television.
“It’s just tragic John. An entire community leveled by a fire believed to have been set off by a gas leak. No one can explain how the gas tanker was parked nearby but apparently the lines were being filled with fuel to a local station and somehow the explosion went through the lines, hit the gas main and traveled to each home that uses gas in this small town.
“We’re currently being told that fourteen homes have been affected, completely leveled and more than a dozen are dead. The one thing I’m hearing whispered throughout the community is that it seems suspicious when developers were just here attempting to force these same people to sell their farms.”
“Ted are local authorities bringing in federal officials for this one?”
“They are John. If this wasn’t an accident, we’ll certainly know soon enough. But in the meantime, the situation here is tragic and people will need help.”
“They killed those people, didn’t they?” asked Tara.
“I’m not sure,” said Chief. “I would suspect so since it’s one of the areas we know was on their list. It’s going to be something we look into as well.”
“Can we help them? Is there something we can do?” asked Pat.
“I think we keep doing exactly what we’re doing and we make sure these other communities are protected. They know that you’re off limits and I don’t think they’ll bother you again. We’re not going anywhere until we find everything we’re looking for and we make sure that these people are behind bars,” said Chief.
“Or dead,” frowned Christian. Pat and Ernie stared at him and then gave a little nod. “We think it would be a good idea if you remained armed when you’re out of the house. Just in case.”
“Yes, sir,” nodded Ernie. Tara stared at her husband, tears welling in her eyes. “It’s for all our protection, honey.”
“I know. I guess, it’s just that, well this all seems like a bad movie. We’re farmers for goodness sake! We’re not traffickers or drug dealers. We sell corn and wheat, tomatoes and cucumbers. This shouldn’t be happening to us.”
“You’re right, it shouldn’t,” said Rachel. “But unfortunately the rest of the world doesn’t operate the same way that you do. With integrity and honesty. We’ll get to the answers here, you just have to be a bit patient with us.”
Tara nodded, hugging her husband as he kissed the top of her head.
“I’m going to make some pies today,” she said smiling at the room. “Baking always calms me down. Blueberry and peach. That’s what will be for dessert.”
“Sounds perfect to me,” said Christian. The men walked outside with Rachel, quiet at first, just staring at the landscape.
“When will the others arrive?” asked Chief.
