The Lamia

4-11

Dema's map showed the town of Saric to be less than ten miles from where they were. But ten miles in the badlands translated to nearly twenty miles of slow progress in the Jeep, so it was still more than an hour before they arrived.

Dema understood why this town would be the staging point. It looked sleepy and innocent, standing in the middle of nowhere as it did. But from here a real road led south toward Guaymas, which she knew to be near the northern end of Mexico's cannabis and opium producing region. And Nogales would not be the only northern terminus. There was the other twin border town of Sasabe about equally distant, but a bit farther west. Nogales would be preferred as long as it was safe, because it was on a major trade highway, but Sasabe would make a good fallback.

While Dema was having these thoughts Juan had talked to a few locals, and quickly learned enough to find the house of the man who had given Pedro his package. Dema parked the Jeep nearby and said to Juan, "I want to pay this man a little visit. Can you stay here and make sure no one else goes in until I'm done?"

Juan nodded, and Dema walked to the house, the packet of drugs under her arm. She knelt down and picked up something from the dirt beside the door before she went inside. Presently she came back out and joined Juan in the Jeep. She was no longer carrying the drug package. "I think it is time for me to visit the local police in my official capacity. They may find it worthwhile to talk to the man who lives in this house."

"Very well. Our friend Pedro has made good time in the daylight, and is headed this way himself. He may need police protection if he goes in there."

Dema smiled. "I would not want Pedro to miss the opportunity to explain himself to this man. But compared to him, Pedro is an innocent. It would complicate his life unduly to have the police come while he is here. Perhaps we can arrange for them to come a little later."