Separation

Chapter One

The protest was scheduled for 1 p.m. It was January so the hot desert weather of June and July was not beating down on the people who traveled miles to voice their objections to the construction of a wall along the Mexican border. The present administration in D.C. made this project the star of their campaign and many protestors promised the building of such a structure would go down in history as the biggest mistake of any administration in history.

Manny Ortiz worked hard to gather his supporters to show up at this isolated location in the desert of New Mexico. The closest town was Deming on the I-10. The only way to reach the protest location was the road south and along the one lane dirt trail that stretched near the metal fence, built years before.

I see them coming, said Dave, a close friend of Manny. I can see the dust from here and it looks like three or four vehicles in the same group.

Dave Peterson, Manny Ortiz and four of their followers watched as the Jeep caravan approached. They were situated in the middle of four large saguaro cacti located near a dry wash that flooded during the monsoon rain every summer. The dry winters with mild temperatures were the reason thousands of Snow Birds made their way to Arizona, New Mexico, and the other states bordering the country of Mexico. This was the perfect time to conduct a protest without suffering from sunstroke, severe burns and any other condition the 120-degree summer weather could deliver.

As the trucks and cars approached, Dave pulled out his binoculars and viewed the occupants riding in the back of the trucks. Those aren't our people, he said.

What do you mean those aren't our people. No one else knows we're holding a protest today, said Manny.

I posted it on the facebook site, said Dave. Maybe a member told someone not in our group. I can see rifles in the hands of several of them. Hell, this could be trouble.

Any more of our group coming or are we on our own? asked Manny.

We have our cameraman and I think more are coming from Las Cruces. I thought this group was them, but I'm mistaken. I have no fucking idea who this is.

Just be cool, said Manny. This looks like that vigilante group that patrols the border on their own. Look at the flags on their Jeeps. Tea Party, Confederate Battle flag, and everyone is wearing those fucking red hats with Make America Great Again. We don't want any dead bodies so don't let them bait you.

The caravan of four jeeps pulled up in a cloud of dust and eight men, armed with side arms and rifles jumped out and approached the protesting group. The cameraman with Manny's group captured everything on tape as a man got out of the first jeep stood and stared at the protestors and their signs. He must have been chewing tobacco because he shot a wade of brown spit to his left demonstrating his vile protest. He waited until his backup crew stood next to him before he said anything. It was like the reenactment of the OK Corral, only one hundred and thirty-six years later.

What are you doing here? he asked.

Dave was the vocal member of the group and stood his ground as he shot back his answer.

This is Federal land. We have as much right to be here as you do. Do you want me to read our signs for you? It looks like a few of your group is having trouble reading them.

Dave was not afraid of this self-appointed border patrol group made up of members of the local border militia. He was a veteran and he also carried a small sidearm in his pocket and could shoot a flea off a dog if he had to.

We're here to protect America from people like you, the leader said. Those signs and these protests against the wall are un-American.

Manny had to get his two bits in and made his comment before Dave could answer. When's the last time you read a history book. Protest is what America is based on. We don't want a fucking wall and we have every right to say so.

You have a Mexican accent, said the leader of the border patrol. Are you legal?

Manny sized up the man standing in front of him. If the meeting turned into a brawl he wanted to be sure he landed a few punches on this racist's face before any arrests were made.

My people have been here for five hundred years. I was about to ask you the same question, said Manny.

A mile away a shot was fired from the long-range sniper's rifle located on the ridge directly north of the men's location. The gunman wore a camouflage outfit and a black ski mask pulled over their head. It took a second for the bullet to find its mark.

The leader of the Tea Party Border Patrol took the bullet right in the middle of their chest and was knocked back three feet from where he stood. Men from both groups had no idea what had happened. They heard no sound from the rifle fired a mile away. Not until blood appeared as it pumped out of the dying man's chest did they even know he was shot.

Guns were drawn and pointed at the four protestors as they stood in shock. Dave reached into his pocket and put his hand on his gun. He held it there and waited. He was not going to die in the middle of the desert without taking two or three of these racist red necks with him.

Manny raised his hands and yelled. Stop this crap and help your friend. He's been shot but not by anyone from our side.

One of the men in the first jeep jumped out and ran to the fallen leader. He had a white rag in his hand and he put pressure on the wound where the blood was spurting out from the body. He then put his fingers on the neck of the man and held it there for a minute. Finally, he pulled his finger from the man's neck and removed the cloth over the wound.

He's dead, was all he said.

By now the rest of the men in the patrol group had taken cover behind their jeeps. Dave and Manny also backed up against their van in order to get out of harm's way.

We don't carry guns, said Manny. Whoever shot him must have done so from a long ways away. If your group wants to find the killer I suspect you better spread out and start looking for him because we had nothing to do with this shooting.

The other men in the border patrol group looked at each other for a few seconds and finally came out of the shock of seeing their leader die.

Jones, you and Hank go that way, said the man who tried to save the life of their leader. He pointed north. Pete and Mark, you go east and cover that area and I'll go west with Brian and search. Shoot first and ask questions later. George is dead and we're going to get the bastard who shot him.

What about us? asked Manny. We can help.

The man giving orders looked at the four protestors and shook his head. If you never came here in the first place then none of this would have happened. Get out of here and don't come back, he yelled.

Jose was the man taking the video of the whole incident and he still had his camera running. He aimed the camera at the men scattering in three different directions. After they were gone, he packed up the tripod and loaded his gear into the van. By then Dave and Manny were in the van and the fourth protest member climbed into the back. They knew it was time to go. This was an armed militia and one of their leaders was now dead from a sniper's bullet. If they came back and didn't catch the shooter, there was no telling what these armed supremacists would do to them. They might want someone's blood and Manny and his crew were the only ones available at that moment to make such a donation.

We're going to report this to the police in Las Cruces, said Dave. We have it all on film and the real police have to know what happened.

What about the body? asked Manny.

Let them take care of that. They've loaded him into one of the jeeps and the driver is heading back towards Las Cruces. Let's follow and see if they go to the police.

Why would they not go to the police? asked Dave.

Because these assholes are illegal, said Manny. The police know about them but don't like their patrolling the border. What just happened is exactly why the Federal Border Patrol doesn't want them around.

I bet they don't go to the police at all, said Dave. Just keep them in sight and see where they go. I'll call the rest of the group. Oh wait, I can see them up the road.

Manny pulled over and got out of the van. He could see two cars coming down the road from Deming and he flagged them to stop.

Manny, sorry we're late. What happened?

Someone shot one of the self-proclaimed border patrol groups right in front of us and killed him. We think it was another sniper like that incident in Arizona last month.

The driver of the first car responded. The protest is called off?

Fuck yes. I don't think this is someone from our side because the Arizona shooting hit one of our people. He lived but he may lose his arm. We're going to the police right now and show them the video of the incident. We think they're not going to report this because they know the border patrol doesn't want them doing this vigilante crap. They'll probably bury their friend and call it a hunting accident.

No shit, said the driver of the first car. This is fucking bazaar. Someone is shooting people from both sides of the border wall debate.

It looks that way, said Manny. We're out of here and I suggest you don't go near those red necks because they're armed to the teeth and might want payback for their dead friend.

No worries. We'll turn around and follow you back to Las Cruces.

Manny and his fellow protestors continued down the road towards the I-10 and took a right towards Las Cruces. They'd report the shooting and show the police the video of the incident. Manny and Dave didn't want a wall built but they also didn't want a bloodbath between the two groups. The protestors knew the police did not support this group that patrolled the border on their own. Violence could erupt and this day was a perfect example.

Chapter Two

Captain Mark Owens sat behind his desk watching the video of the incident at the border brought in by Manny and Dave. He didn't like protestors but he despised the Tea Party vigilantes that attempted to do their own version of the border patrol. They were a pain in the ass and were also armed.

You say this happened today? asked Captain Owens. Where's the body now?

The group leader who was shot was taken away in a jeep. We tried to follow them but they got on the I-10 and took off towards Arizona. We thought they'd come here to report the shooting but I guess not.

Manny figured the group didn't want their presence known to the local police. Not reporting a murder was a crime and now the renegade border group had broken the law. The protestors were not going to take that chance and end up on the bad side of the local police.

I'll need a copy of this so I can identify the victim and some of the other men in this group. If they don't show up in the next day or so I'll get an arrest warrant. We take refusing to report a crime seriously around here.

Are you sure they're from New Mexico? asked Dave. I remember seeing some Arizona license plates on their jeeps so maybe they took the body back to Arizona.

That might be true but the crime happened in New Mexico. You don't remember any names being thrown around by that group do you? asked Captain Owens.

Manny thought for a while and recalled a few first names thrown out by the second leader as he directed his men to search the countryside for the shooter. Peter, Mark, and Brian were three names I remember and the victim was George. They never used last names.

That's a start. Do you think the shooter got away? asked Captain Owens.

We didn't hang around to find out. These men were armed and angry. Protestors against the wall are not high on their guest list so we decided to play it safe, said Dave.

All we can do is have you fill out an incident report, leave a copy of the video, and anything else that comes to mind. Make sure we have your names and contact information so we can stay in touch.

The Captain was not a fan of the wall but he didn't care for protestors either. They made his job that much harder and now he had to pass this information on to the Federal Border Patrol.

Manny and Dave remained in the station for another thirty minutes filling out the information requested by the Captain. They walked across the street when they were finished to join the other two protestors in their group who were having an early dinner in a local restaurant.

The Captain could see them walk across the street. After they were inside Ma's Burgers, he placed a call to the local headquarters of the Federal Border Patrol Agency. A meeting was scheduled to hand over everything he received from the protestor group. It was a Federal case and he really didn't want to tie up any of his men investigating a border shooting.

As far as he was concerned, any money spent on securing the Mexican border would be best spent with more manpower. Some outdated idea that a concrete structure could stop the flow of illegal immigrants was insane. The Great Wall of China looks good but did it work. He was sure there were many ways to get around this ten to twenty billion dollar idea that promised to stop people from entering the U.S. It was the Federal Government's problem. His job was to keep the citizens of Las Cruses safe. He didn't care for the drugs coming across the border or the cartels that controlled the many small towns along the border. They were dangerous and many people were killed on both sides of the border trying to stand up to these violent groups.

This is Captain Owens. Could you send over one of your men to pick up evidence in a border shooting? I have a video of the man getting shot and a written account of the murder.

This is Sergeant Cooper. I'll notify my boss and get someone over there right away. When did this happen?

I'd say about two hours ago. The men who brought in the evidence just left. They were staging a protest of the wall and one of those vigilante groups showed up. You know, the ones who like to take the law into their own hands. They say they're saving America but in my mind, they are a big part of the problem.

You're right, Captain. We run across them all the time. Did one of the vigilante groups shoot a protestor?

No. Someone shot the leader of the vigilante group. Not a protestor but someone probably using a sniper rifle. No one heard the shot, but the leader took the bullet in the chest and died right away. I don't know if the bullet went through him or is still in the body. The protestors left after the vigilante group started to look for the shooter. They didn't want more trouble with them. Also, the vigilante group took the body. They were last seen driving towards Arizona on the I-10. If they cross the state line then they're committing a crime and I don't want to get involved. This is a Federal border problem. I'll help in any way I can but I don't think this is going away. We've had several shootings of both protestors and border patrol groups but this is the first murder. The other two were wounded and survived.

I'm sending an officer right now. If that group did head towards Arizona then they're probably across the state line by now. Maybe we can identify the faces in the video and make an arrest for leaving the crime scene. This idea that a fucking wall will solve the problem has really jammed us. We need more people and vehicles, not a concrete border.

The Captain hung up. He then made copies of the video so he could have one as well as the written statement. He might not get involved but he didn't want some madman shooting protestors and vigilantes and getting away with it.

Five minutes later the officer from the Federal Border Patrol arrived to pick up the evidence. As soon as he left, Captain Owens received a phone call from the police chief in Albuquerque. They both were longtime friends and helped each other out whenever they could.

Captain Louis, how are you? said Captain Owens. It's been a while.

Too long, answered Louis. Not much happening in Albuquerque other than drug busts and the Federal police grabbing Mexicans off the street. How are things in Las Cruces?

Captain Owens spent the next twenty minutes telling Capitan Louis about the shooting that took place at the border hours before. I gave the information and video I received from the protestors to the Border Patrol. I can stay out of that mess because it happened where they work.

Do you trust the Feds will try and solve this? asked Louis. I thought they resented these groups trying to do their job for them.

The Feds don't like them but this time someone was killed. We don't have the funds to buy a face recognition program so all we have is the video. The protestors gave us the first names of the vigilantes that they heard used in their discussions.

Why don't you send me a copy of the video and the names of the men in that group who came to you. I have someone who could help. If anything comes up then I'll let you know and maybe us lowly state police can earn some kudos points in the eyes of the Feds.

Sure. I can send it to your e-mail. I'm not sure if the vigilante group is from our state. They headed west with their dead companion. If we can't identify them then they could be gone for good.

I'll do what I can, said Louis. My contact is good at what he does so we may get lucky.

Thanks for your help. Good talking to you, Louis, said Captain Owens. We'll talk later.

Chapter Three

Manny and Dave were now driving on the I-10 heading back to Tucson where they both lived. They first met each other in 2016 during several rallies for the Democratic Party in Tucson. They knew it was an uphill battle for the blue party to win back Arizona. Both men considered the state as an extension of the Deep South that shared the same beliefs regarding people of color.

Both men came from different backgrounds. Dave was a Vietnam Vet and started protesting the war as soon as his time was served. He knew the politicians were playing a losing game with the lives of young men and women. He'd been on the front lines, marched through Vietcong infested jungles, and somehow survived the pain and suffering of that war.

When he got home, he saw the newsreels of how the government was making the war a body count contest. Dave thought the idea that America could kill more of the Vietcong than they could of us, was insane.

Since Dave went into the army at age eighteen he was only twenty-one when he got out. He did not support any of the conflicts after Vietnam fell in 1975. He was sure the news that the Government put out to the public to justify their actions, was false. 'Weapons of Mass Destruction' in the Iraq war was a perfect example. Because of that lie the military paid dearly in lives and limbs. Now he was in his mid-sixties. He still carried on the good fight representing the military vets who did not support fake wars and the waste of human life for those profiting from war.

Manny Ortiz was born in Mexico and came to the states at the age of twelve. He found his calling in Hollywood where he worked his way up through the ranks of the people who found walk-on actors to fill in the crowd scenes. Titanic was his first big breakthrough and he became a sought-after organizer after the success of that movie hit the screens of America.

Manny only worked when someone contracted him, so he had time to pursue his other goal in life, organizing protestors for different causes. He gained legal immigration status when he turned twenty-one as a refugee from a troubled part of the world. His home in Mexico was near Acapulco. The drug cartels were killing people who got in their way. Manny and his family had been threatened in the past so he sought political asylum and it was granted. He could no longer return to his hometown for fear of his life.

At age fifty-nine he had organized and walked the protest lines of every issue ranging from immigration, women's rights, protesting the Iraq War, and farm worker issues. He kept his private life separate from his work in Hollywood but it became such a full-time job that he never married nor had children to carry on his name and gene pool. He had a girlfriend in Tucson and her place was his home when he was not working for the movie industry.

The present administration had stirred up his protest activism once again with its promise to build a wall and have Mexico pay for it. Manny knew many people from Mexico who sought political asylum just like he did because of the drug cartels that ran the country. People's lives were at risk if they spoke out against them. There was no immigration policy at present in the United States and even workers, who came across the border to work the fields, were no longer able to come across legally and return to Mexico after the crops were harvested. Many state side farmers had to let the crops rot or go to seed because the labor force they used for many years was gone. No white or black men and women were willing to take their place. The jobs were backbreaking and the conditions for these workers were not anything most laborers could endure.

Did you read in the Arizona Sun that the convicted sheriff is going to run for Senate? said Dave. I thought a convicted person could not serve in the U.S. government.

Must have something to do with the pardon he received. I guess that cleans his slate. Racial profiling with this administration must not be a crime anymore, said Manny.

How much longer do we have to put up with this asshole and his lack of leadership? asked Dave. "All I know is we better turn out the vote in November and really clean the swamp. Blocking him in both houses might get us to 2020 in