La Araña

It was a blistering day in Del Rio, Texas. Nunez and Smith had just come back from another run.
"They are getting more creative" Nunez said to Smith as they exited their aging Border Patrol SUV.

"A tunnel directly into someone's house. A freaking tunnel into a living room! How in the hell are we supposed to find those? I guess we were lucky this time."

"Yea, if it weren't for that kid Escobar I don't think we would have found it. How many do you think they got across this time?" Smith asked.

"Escobar said that it was finished months ago, so there's no telling. Hundreds probably." Nunez opened the door as he and Smith entered the Border Patrol Regional Headquarters.

Del Rio had become the focal point in the new battle against illegal immigration. Since the President had signed the "No Illegals Bill" in December of 2006, there was a big push to shut down all entry points into the States. Nunez and Smith had been teamed up only for a year, but they both had many years of immigration work under their belts. They had also been developing a deep love for one another. And yes, it was against policy.

"Heard you had a good one today?" the voice came from behind the big desk. It was seemingly in need of oxygen, but the pair knew who it was. That fat jerk Chief. He sat, as he did day after day, behind that huge desk of his as if he were perched, ready to pounce on anyone at any time. Laying in wait for his next meal be it fried burritos from Manuel's next door or the ass of his subordinates who screwed up again.

"Yes sir!" Smith replied with obvious spark in her voice.

"Twelve today. Escobar really came through. Can we do something more for him?" asked the ever so caring Smith.

"What, and perpetuate that spic? Hell no! He can go back to Mexico if he doesn't keep delivering!" Chief bellowed out as his enormous belly jiggled with delight.

"You're so crude." Smith lashed out as she slinked back to her desk.

Smith had such a good heart, always seemed to try to take care of the poor illegals. After all they were just trying to make their lives better. It was her job to enforce the law, but she wanted to make sure that they stayed safe. It was important to her. After all, crossing the border is extremely dangerous. More so than the Mexican government would let on. There were wild animals, raging heat and also crazed border vigil-anti's that would just assume shoot them as turn them in.

"Nunez, you writing this up? I wrote up the last one." Smith asked as she stared across the two desk that were arranged back to back.

"Sure, whatever. It pisses me off though. I can't understand this La Araña (The Spider). We pick up something here and there, but never anything concrete." Nunez said with distain as he began pecking at his typewriter.

"We'll get him, Nunez. We'll get him" Smith said with confidence.

The next day Nunez and Smith were patrolling the fence line FM 3245, a favorite amongst crossers. It was low and offered come conventional cover from the Patrol such as trees and shrubs. It was another hot day, topping out at 103. Smith was cranky.
"Where are you headed Nunez?" Smith questioned.

"Over towards that bunch of trees. I found several last year over there. It's got a nice little pocket that we can't see from the road."

"It's not in our plan for today Nunez. Chief is going to blow a vein if we don't make our patrol on time." The frustration on Smith's voice was heavy.

"Chief has no clue what he's doing. Him being so strict on these patrol times is stupid. Like you can control exactly how long it should take you and then get pissed because you’re an hour late. I should tell Chief where to... wait! I think I saw something in the trees." Nunez and Smith both grabbed binoculars as Nunez pulled the vehicle to an abrupt halt.

"You don't see anything. I think your brain is fried in this heat, " said Smith with a sneer on her mouth.

"No, I'm freaking serious. In the spot I was telling you about. I saw something red move over there." Nunez began to inch the vehicle forward still gazing through the lenses.

"And there it is again!" Nunez chirped as he stopped the SUV and put it in park. He turned the motor off and opened the door. Smith reluctantly exited the vehicle and moved to the rear to grab her shotgun. Nunez snapped the holster loose on his right thigh and began making his way through the ocean of buffalo grass and mesquite trees that were not more than knee high.
He was a good thirty yards in front of Smith when he saw a figure wearing a red shirt stand up and make a running break for the tree line.

"¡Parada! ¡Inmigración! ¡Forzarán la parada o me para tirar! (Stop! Immigration! Stop or I will be forced to shoot!)" Nunez shouted as he stepped up his pace to a full-fledged jog. This was extremely difficult given that he was in rough terrain and in those heavy polyester pants.

"Smith! Try to cut him off on the left!" Nunez shouted back at Smith who was now also at a fast pace. She cut to her left and could see where the runner was headed. It was a small rocky drop from ground level to the river bed, which was pure rock.

As the two Border Patrol Officers closed in on their prey, the force of gravity and clumsiness took over. The runner tripped at the top of the drop and landed face first on the unforgiving riverbed.

Smith called the dispatch when she arrived to the bloody and unconscious runner. "Dispatch, this is 281. We have an illegal on FM 3245 down. Repeat, FM 3245. Illegal has fallen and injured head and neck. Dispatch an ambulance to FM 3245 on the North side of highway 211."

"Copy that 281." the voice replied over Smith and Nunez's radios. It echoed in the riverbed and the river seemed to carry it to another destination.

"He's coming to!" said Nunez. "¿Cuál es su nombre?(What is your name?)"

The runner moaned with pain as he struggled to get up from the river bed.

"El señor querido, esté por favor con mí. Ahora cúreme.(Dear Lord, please be with me. Heal me now.)" he mumbled as his breathing quickened. He opened his eyes looking straight at Smith and Nunez.

"La Araña! La Araña!" He yelped.

"Sssshhhh" Smith tried to comfort him, "Tenemos venir de la ayuda. Apenas relaje y tomaremos el cuidado de usted. (We have help coming. Just relax and we will take care of you.)"

His voice began to soften, "La Araña. La Araña."

The Mexican illegal let go of his last breath.

As Nunez grabbed a beer he had a puzzled look on his face.

"What's wrong dear?" asked Smith.

"I'm just wondering why that runner today was shouting 'La Araña! La Araña!'. Do you think the Spider was close?" Nunez asked.

Smith never answered as she sat on the couch next to her lover. They had grown so close over the past year. At first he was unsure about having her as a partner. He was a hot head who never followed the rules. She was a passionate protector of the border, but always staying within the bounds her government had setup. Plus his last partner had died in a raid last year and he wasn't sure he was over that either. Juan was a great friend of his. They had partnered together the previous 3 years and had developed a stellar record. But he couldn't resist Smith. She was sexy. She was more woman than he was used to. He wasn't sure how that had happened, her getting into the Border Patrol business. She was from a wealthy family in San Antonio and could have done so many things in Law Enforcement. But he was glad that fate had brought them together now.

The warm Texas sun splashed across Smith's face as she woke the next morning. She rose from her slumber and ever so gracefully made her way to the bathroom. She was completely nude and Nunez was no longer sleeping. He noticed her perfect body catch the rays of sun from the window dancing down her back and across her perfect rear. As she crossed the threshold of the bathroom she stopped, turned and invited Nunez in without saying a word. She knew he wasn't sleeping.

Later that afternoon the pair was at the office when the call came in. An informant named Hector had called the voice mail box and left a message. He was frantic. He kept saying "¡Éste es grande! ¡La araña instaló éste! (This is a big one! The Spider set this one up!)"

Hector was a favorite informant of Nunez. He had used him on several occasions and Hector had always delivered the goods. Nunez felt the icy tingle come like a waterfall down his spine. He knew that something big was going to happen today. Maybe they could get the Spider after all.

"Smith! Hector called in! This one sounds like it might be big."

"Whatever Nunez. We are so backed up on paper work. You can go waste your time with Hector if you want, but I'm staying here and getting caught up on paper work."

"Smith!" Chief burst out from behind his desk, " you go with your partner. You know we never go out alone anymore."

Smith just dropped her head in disgust. She knew it was no use. Once the Chief had made up his mind you couldn't change it. He was a stubborn one. He was the type that once her had something in his head no one else was an authority anymore.

"Fine, " Smith mumbled.

The two sat out side of the old warn down house. It was in need of some serious repairs.

Nunez just sat in the SUV. Thinking. He had become so close to Smith. He had already talked to the Del Rio Chief of Police about a job there. He was promised a position. That way he could ask Smith to marry him. "Tonight," he thought as he glanced over at his soon to be. He reflected over the past year of his life. It was so wonderful with her. He hated the fact that they had to hide their relationship. Partners just don't marry. That's against everything in law enforcement. He knew it. But if they worked for different organizations then everyone would be happy for them. Except maybe for Chief. He can't be happy for anyone.

"I don't see any movement Nunez."

"Lets move in. I'll take the back door, you take the front." Nunez ordered.

Nunez drew his 44 as he stepped up on the stoop of the dilapidated home. Adrenaline was surging through his every vessel. It always did in these types of situations. He didn't know exactly what to expect. Most of the time the runners weren't armed, but there had been a time or two when the people who help the runners were. It was, after all, their livelihood. Like the Spider. That SOB had plagued Nunez for so long now. He whished he could find him. The thought that the Spider might be in this very house right now thrilled Nunez.

"Ésta es la frontera patrulla. ¡Abra por favor la puerta y salga con sus manos sobre su cabeza! (This is the Border Patrol. Please open the door and come out with your hands above your head!)" Nunez shouted as he approached the back porch.

He could see the door was slightly ajar. From the door opening he could see a tiny little face. Couldn't be more than five years old. Then the door slammed shut. He knew he was in trouble.

As he rushed the door he cleared it with the heavy boot of his left foot. He was wearing the latest Kevlar, but there was always that possibility that a shooter would aim for his exposed skull.

"¡Todos abajo en la tierra! ¡Déjeme ver sus manos! (Everybody down on the ground! Let me see your hands!)" He shouted as he made his way through the small kitchen to the living room. As he entered the door way he saw that someone was forcing their way out the front door.

"Smith!"

The runner shot twice. Nunez couldn't see Smith be he knew that's whom they were shooting at.

He ran through the front door to see Smith lying face up. A bullet had caught her throat.

"Smith!" He yelled as he collapsed beside her. She was already dead. Nunez welled up inside. A lady appeared in the door frame. "¡Usted idiotas estúpidos! ¡Ésa era la araña! ¡Usted ahora la ha arruinado para toda su familia! ¡Usted asno estúpido! (You stupid idiots! That was The Spider! You've ruined it for all of your family now! You stupid ass!)" she screamed at the two young men now making their way down the street.

Nunez fought to clear his head. He turned to the lady and asked, "¿Qué usted está diciendo? ¿Qué usted significa, la araña? (What are you saying? What do you mean, the Spider?)"

"Ella tomó pitty en nosotros. Ella setting-up estas casas seguras por los dos años pasados. Le llamaron la araña porque ella podría tejer una tela en nuestra propia casa, Del Río. Ella ha ayudado a millares de mejicano a hacerla a Tejas. (She took pity on us. She has been setting up these safe houses for the last two years. She was called the Spider because she could weave a web in her own house, Del Rio. She has helped thousands of Mexicans make it to Texas.)"

Could this be true? Nunez was crushed. He realized he had been a piece of her puzzle. She had been under him the whole time. That's why he could never catch the Spider. Keep your friends close... your enemies closer.