Chapter 19: Tony’s Sacrifice

Sun rays flooded the room. It was a harmonious sunlight that bathed her soul with hope, as Francesca opened her eyes to a new day. Senor Mendez stood statue-like in the doorway, awaiting the moment she woke.

"Good morning sweet niece. I have thought long and hard about your plans and have decided it is too dangerous for you to travel alone. I’m coming with you to America!”

Francesca rose and sat upright and thought his decision impetuous.

“But what about your family?”

"What family. My elderly father? My niece will care for him!”

“What about your job?” she continued.

“Driving taxi? I should have retired years ago! Ensenada will do just fine with one less cab driver. If I come with you, together we'll find the truth to Alek’s disappearance, God willing!"

"I'm grateful for everything you have done for me, Senor Mendez. But I must say no."

"Francesca, please call me Tony, I'm family now. It would bring closure for me, to see where my brother lived and worked,” he implored.

"You have been like a father to me, but I have to do this on my own," she replied.

"I won't have it. I don't want to lose you now that I’ve found you. I’ve packed my car with your things, and we can leave as soon you break-fast. If we leave soon, we can be at the border in a couple of hours."

Taking Abuela’s advice, she stroked her medallion for guidance. She could almost hear Abuela speak to her from a distance. She would say. This is a good man, go with him.

"I'll agree under one condition."

"Condition? What do you need?”

"No radio music”

"You don't like my music?"

" Mariachi? I don’t like it very much"

Tony laughed and raised his arms, palms facing her in reluctant agreement.

"Dios Mio, you are so much like your father!”

Tony and Francesca made good time traveling the scenic route along the coast until Tony's little car ran over debris on the highway. There was a thumping Ba-Rump, Ba-Rump sounding from the rear of the car. Pulling over to the side of the road Tony slowed down and exited the car.

" Mierda!” the tire is flat. Just my luck."

"Do you have a spare Uncle?"

"Si, Child, unlatch the hood and bring me the spare, while I’ll look to see how bad the tire is.”

She unlatched the belt tying down the spare and lifted it out of the trunk. As she brought the spare to her uncle, she noticed a police vehicle stopped two car-lengths behind them. Road dust rose from the highway shoulder and clouded the scene. When the dust cleared, Francesca saw two officers. The shorter of the two stood next to the cruiser while the senior officer approached her uncle.

"What is the problem Senor?"

"Nothing I can't fix officer. Just a flat tire!” replied Tony.

"Quien es la hermosa joven?” the policeman queried.

"She's my niece, she is no problem!"

“Are you sure about that Abuelo? She looks Americano!”

“Si Senor, Ella es Americano. I’m taking her home!”

The officer peered at Francesca and stroked his mustache with thumb and forefinger, then addressed Tony.

"You’re only going to America, if I say you are. We’re going to search your vehicle for contraband. Are you carrying narcotics, Abuelo?"

"No Senor, there’s no drugs here, please let us be. I can help with a donation if that's what you want!"

"Are you bribing me Senor? Did you hear that Jorge? Abuelo is offering me a bribe if we don't search his car."

"Go ahead and search my car. You will not find anything!” spurted Tony.

Francesca stood to the side of the road and observed the activity of her uncle and the two policemen. Her uncle was still kneeling next to the car. He had just finished tightening lug nuts of the spare and the tire iron in his hands reflected the sunlight, momentarily blinding her. The shorter of the two policemen, lit a cigarette and nervously scanned the highway.

The lead officer went to the front of car, where the hood was still upright. He bent over and removed Francesca's baggage and a small first aid kit. He then removed a small packet from his vest, and it fell to the ground. He picked it up but didn't put it back in his vest. He noticed Francesca was watching his every move. He playfully, put his finger to his lips and mimicked a mocking schuss. He rustled some loose items and then righted himself from the hood, gleefully declaring.

"Look what I found here." In his hand was a plastic bag with fresh green and gold buds of Marijuana.

"That’s not mine! Where did you find that?” blurted Tony.

"Right here!” pointing to the open hood. “Next to the battery Senor. You could have done a better job hiding it!”

"Uncle, I saw him take that from his vest and put it in the boot!"

Tony got up from his knees and faced the lead officer.

“Senor, por favor, we do not want any trouble. I have five hundred pesos in my glove box if you just let us go, all of it is yours.”

“I don't know if I can do that Senor. Quineintos pesos es chicken shit. I got a better idea. I fuck your niece, take your dinero and maybe we let you go. Comprende?”

"You would have to kill me first, senor!”

"Did you hear that Jorge, Senor Bigotes says I have to kill him to fuck the girl. Place the little puta into the cruiser and handcuff her to the cage while I deal with this asshole."

In an instant, Tony swung the tire iron with all his strength, connecting the steel bar with the lead officer’s skull. Blood spurt from the man’s nose and he fell to the ground. Officer Jorge stunned by Tony's assault on his partner, drew his service weapon from his holster and fired. The bullet passed clean through Tony’s shoulder blade. Tony, realizing he had been shot turned and lunged towards officer Jorge, knocking him to the ground. He wrestled with the officer, grabbing at his gun. In the melee, officer Jorge fired another round, striking an artery in Tony's leg. Tony continued to try to, wrestle the gun from officer Jorge. The gun fell from his hands and landed in the small rut near Francesca.

"Shoot him Francesca! Shoot him!!”

Francesca picked up the pistol and examined it.

"Pull the trigger!” Tony screamed.

She nervously aimed the gun at Officer Jorge's head and pulled the trigger. The first shot ripped the officer’s ear from his head and officer Jorge cursed Francesca.

"Te matara puta!"

"Shoot again!” Tony yelled.

Steading her stance, Francesca parted her feet solidly to the ground, aimed and calmly fired. Blood splattered her torso. She stood in horror and then bent to save her uncle.

"Tio, I must get you to a hospital, you are bleeding badly!"

"No. Is the other one dead? check him!"

Francesca hustled over to the prone body of the lead officer and checked for a pulse. A pulse was barely noticeable, the man was still warm and gasping for air.

"Is he dead?”

“No!"

"Help me up. Give me his gun!"

" His gun?" she asked.

"Por favor child, just do it!"

Blood oozing from his wounds, Tony hobbled over to the officer and fired one round. The bullet entered the man’s throat and small rivulets of blood spouted from the man’s throat in diminishing spurts. Tony collapsed next to the police cruiser and in between short breathes, he blurted out instructions.

"You must go! Don't worry about me. I'll tell the police we were ambushed by bandits during the shootout.”

"No Tio, I’ll take you to a hospital.”

“GO NOW!” gasped Tony.

Francesca removed her bloodied flannel shirt and ripped it in half and wrapped it around Tony's leg.

“This should stop the bleeding until help arrives!” she insisted.

“Go now! God be with you!” Tony pleaded.

Still reeling in shock, she kissed his forehead, entered the Beetle, fumbled with the gearshift and slowly entered the highway. Within seconds she heard a single gunshot and stopped the car. Looking back at the scene she saw officer Jorge standing over Tony with a gun in his hand. Her uncle was slumped next to the police cruiser with officer Jorge standing over his lifeless body. The policeman turned and shot another round in her direction. The bullet ricocheted on the pavement and veered off in the distance. Officer Jorge fell to his knees and then fell face forward.

Francesca, reengaged the clutch, pushed the accelerator to the floor and left the scene wiping tears from her eyes and blood from her hands.