16.
Coincidentally, the hotel in Monterrey had been the same place where Bella and Sam had met Gonzales for the first time, just after their arrival in Mexico. The place, she thought, was not that safe to set up a hit, because it was clearly located within the security perimeter of the international airport. Such was clearly visible, by the presence of private guards and police, being posted at the entrance of facilities and aviation related buildings and enclosures. Although Pedro seemed to have planned to drive her in the back of the van, she had insisted to sit in the cabin, so she could scout the environment of the hotel herself. Rey had backed her in that decision. Actually, Rey had accepted all of Bella’s conditions.
Now, she and Rosita were waiting. Bella fitted her baseball cap. It was grey, with, in conspicuous red, white lined characters, the word ‘Arkansas’ on the front. An idea from Rey, to have it fit with her false identity, and since “no one you know will recognize you with it!” like he had said. And he had added : “And it suits you well!”. What is Rey keeping her for? As if she would be speaking with a redneck drawl, or go barefoot or go listen to country music!? Or doing other nasty things, an Arkansas woman is supposed to do!? Yikes! “Remember”, Rey had continued, “you are a fan of the Razorbacks!”. Seems to be an American Football team from Arkansas. She had little knowledge about it, since Reingold was first of all a devoted baseball fan!
Reconsidering, Bella did not like the job. During her time in the resort in Tampico, she had learned to know Gonzales as a friendly and helpful gentleman. It made her extra nervous. Their plan was, that Bella would approach Gonzales, once he would show up in front of the hotel, hit from as close as possible and run to cover. Rosita would stay hidden, and cover her back and her retreat. Pedro and Alvarez and the getaway driver man would stay with the van, just behind a bend in the street, ready to drive off, as soon as Bella and Rosita had withdrawn. Pedro would monitor the events from a distance.
Approaching Gonzales would be the most risky part. She hoped to do it unnoticed as long as possible, not standing out among other passersby (of which, she hoped, there would not be too much, to avoid collateral damage). She would try to aim her fire towards a tract of bushes and palm trees, hence avoiding to hit innocents.
In order to conceal herself, she had turned herself as unrecognizable as possible. She had cropped her hair, instead of letting it hang, as usual. The ‘Arkansas’ baseball cap had a large shadow giving visor over her face, and she wore dark sunglasses. She had exchanged her traditional dress or skirt by a jeans trousers, and wore a male-style Hawaii shirt with a large flower motif, to conceal her feminine shapes. She had tanned her face with a make-up cream and even ‘darkened’ the skin between her nose and her mouth, to suggest a moustache. On one hand, woman would be perceived less as a threat, on the other hand, she had to avoid that Gonzales would recognize her from too far. All to confuse Gonzales as long as possible about her looks.
The best place to start, would have been straight in front of the hotel, or waiting in the lobby. But Rosita had disapproved both options. Security is tight around these hotels, located in ‘cartel-neutral’ territory, because they want to avoid harm to their guests. And staying too obviously in front of the hotel entrance would have alarmed hotel security too, thinking they would be street walkers.
“With my masculine style disguise, we would attract a strange clientele!” Bella had replied.
So, their ambush was a public bench, hidden behind a palm tree, staying away from the open in front of the hotel entrance. They pretended to be doing girl chatting, meanwhile keeping an eye on the spot. The last information they got was, that Gonzales had left the hotel in the morning, and had taken a taxi. So, Bella and Rosita had a special eye on incoming taxis.
“How long do we have to wait here, Bella?”
“Gonzales is expected to show up again! I hope he will! Or rather, if he would not come… I would not regret it! Why don’t I just walk away, and try to make it to the US! Rey is right! This passport is professionally forged! I would dare trying to lure border security with it! And then go to live in a quiet place, where nobody knows me, as Barbara Moore! In Minnesota or so!”
“Without me?”
“No Rosita! We’ll find a way to get you over the border, before some stupid person’s idea to build some stupid border wall would be carried out. But remember, Minnesota is a lot colder than Mexico!”
“Does it snow in Minnesota?”
“You bet it does, in winter!”
“I have never seen snow in my life! They say it is magic! Millions of white fluffy flakes coming down, and covering everything under a virgin white blanket!”
“It has its charms, but it causes enough trouble either to daily life!!”
“Like what?”
“I hear, you never shoveled four feet of snow in front of your house!”
“Oh, Bella, I would do that for you, if you bring me to the US!”
“Naked!?”
“Naked..!? Ain’t that cold!?”
“You get warm of it! Wouldn’t you do that for me!?”
“Yikes! Oh, Bella, I am already taking over your vocabulary! Oh! Look, Bella! That’s him!” Rosita said, as a man descended from a just arrived taxi.
“Right! But they are two! Who is that other… ? Damn!”
Another man stepped out from the taxi. It was …Sam Reingold!
“Take cover, Rosita! Gonzales could have doubts about recognizing me, but Reingold definitely not! He will look straight through my Arkansas disguise!”
“What now!?”
“I cannot approach them as planned!”
“Try from here!”
“Too risky! If I miss, they are both alerted, and if I would hit Reingold – not that I would not regret it, after the situation he has brought me into – I would not upset one, but two cartels! Rey would not be pleased at all!”
Then, another taxi arrived, a minibus. A family of tourists descended and unloaded their luggage, blocking Bella’s line of fire. Meanwhile, Bella could see, Gonzales and Reingold were shaking hands. The latter reentered the taxi, which drove away. Gonzales meanwhile entered the hotel, together with the family of tourists. Bella tried to follow him inside the building, but when she was inside, Gonzales had already disappeared.
“That did not go like planned!” Bella said, when she had rejoined Rosita.
“What now, Bella!?”
“We stay here for a while, maybe he comes back out!”
“Shall I warn Pedro that we are going to stay longer?”
“Better to inform him indeed! But come back quickly! And be careful not to draw too much attention!”
Standing on a stake out. Bella had done it many times in the Washington DC force. Boring, tiring, stress and pressure! Being careful not to be seen, and to avoid missing the crucial moment you could have been standing on stake-out for hours. She recalled, Sam Reingold always found a way to charge her with such kind of jobs. Bloody Sam Reingold!
From her experience, she had avoided to drink much in the morning, since nothing could spoil a stake-out worse than a full bladder. But the waiting under the hot Mexican weather had made her terribly thirsty! There was a small shop in front of the hotel, and she had seen people coming out with bottled water. Would she risk to send Rosita in for a buying bottle, when she would be back? And a donut (old police habits…)? Where was she, Rosita, she was supposed to return immediately!?
Gonzales! Lost in thought, she had almost missed him! He was apparently looking for a taxi. Damn! She had to do it alone, without cover by Rosita. But she had no choice! It was a golden opportunity, this time! Gonzales, all alone on the plaza in front of the hotel! Bella checked her weapon in her handbag. It only needed to be cocked. Carefully, she approached Gonzales!
(to be continued)