Mexico, Tamaulipas State, Southeast of ProvidenciaO
n the drive south along Mexican Route 40, the trio that crossed on foot filled Joaquin and Carlotta in on their close call crossing the river. “You got lucky,” Joaquin said as Manny Chavez directed him east off the main road onto an unmarked desert track. “It was probably the local DEA guys on a bust. They move on tips they get from the Border Patrol that’s turned some mule. They do a lot of shootin’ when things get sticky but they don’t do much killin’, and most often they ain’t aimin’ to anyway.”
“You should have seen the load of dope that guy was carrying,” Manny said. “I’m no expert, but that stuff had to be worth a couple of million on the street.”
“No wonder the guy decided to try and shoot his way out of it,” Mike said from the
