Page 35 of Bad Rio

“That’s actually perfect,” Rio answered. “We can use the crowds and distraction to cross the border and get into the U.S.”

When the pilot shrugged, they climbed aboard, and before Becca could orient herself, they were rolling and bumping along the lane and taking off.

They flew through the night sky, leaving the Chihuahua foothills and its mountain range behind. If Becca hadn’t been so apprehensive, she would have breathed a sigh of relief.

But they weren’t out of Mexico yet, and not yet out of danger. Rio’s questions about her father’s business made her concentrate. She didn’t like the direction of her thoughts, but she must be honest. Uncle Tim had been around a lot lately, far more often than he had ever been before. And it always seemed that his visits were timed at two or three in the afternoon. Exactly when she normally inspected the day’s shipping. Did these new visits have any significance?

Uncle Tim always seemed interested in having her attention during those visits, but he never had anything important to say. Why? Were the visits coincidental, or was something happening in shipping?

She wracked her brain to remember if anything else had been different lately and could think of nothing.

What was going on?

Chapter Fifteen

The two-hour flightgave Becca more time to fret. She couldn’t imagine that if indeed something nefarious was underway at her father’s warehouse, that Uncle Tim was involved. Nor could she suspect her brothers. Their family was too close. She’d just know.

During the trip, they did no talking. Halfway through the flight, she took out her cache of food and water and they ate quickly. The last two granola bars she gave to Rio to put in his waterproof pouch.

On another dirt landing strip, if one could call it that, the pilot put down in only a swath of moonlight. At the end, he taxied to a stop. Rio pushed a generous handful of American dollars into his hands, and they disembarked. The pilot pointed to an old sedan parked in the field and flipped Rio a key. In moments, he was back in the air.

The first thing Becca noticed was the balmy air. No longer freezing, Becca sighed in relief. She really hated the cold.

Rio took out his cell phone and muttered a few phrases. Closing the connection, he and Becca climbed into the sedan and he started driving. Over a short hill she could see city lights. “Are we near Nuevo Laredo?” she asked.

“Yeah. But we won’t go into town. Tonight we’ll stay with some people I know. In the morning, we’re in for a long swim.”

“A what?”

“You’re a good swimmer, no worries.”

She was, but how could he know that? On her high school swim team, she’d excelled.

“We’re gonna swim the Rio Grande. Cross the river into United States territory, into Nuevo Laredo’s sister city, Laredo, Texas.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Like illegals entering the States?” she asked. “Like criminals?”

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