Payroll by William James Johnson Chapter 35

"Tiger" Kelly was a strong believer in the importance of creating a good first impression. It was this basic philosophy which drove him to devote so much time to shining boots and polishing buttons, demanding the same attention to detail from his subordinates. It was no wonder, the lackadaisical officers of the Tijuana jail stopped working when Broom and Furthers walked in, wearing their best khaki tunics, and sparkling brass buttons, navy blue breeches with gold stripes down each side, and mirror finished boots. Kelly originally proposed they wear the world famous scarlet tunics, but Furthers convinced him the red might arouse the latent bullfighting instincts of the hot blooded Mexicans.
Captain Juarez looked up from the file he was studying when the sounds in the outer office suddenly stopped. Passing his hand through his shiny black hair and a cursory pass at his moustache to be sure there were no remnants from his lunch, he stood up and tucked in his shirt.
"Welcome...Welcome my Canadian friends. I'm Captain Juarez, Chief of Tijuana Police."
"How do you do Captain...This is my partner, Constable Furthers, and I am Sergeant
Broom of the..."
"Royal Canadian Mounted Police," said Juarez. "I've always liked that name. I think it's the word 'Royal' which does it for me. Can I get you something to drink?...Coffee?...or is it tea you British like?"
"We're Canadians Captain...not British. And thank you. Nothing for me."
"And you Senorita...or should I say Constable? You would like something?"
"I'd love a coffee Captain...black."
"Ah! A woman after my own heart. I like my coffee strong and my women weak." Juarez roared at his attempt to be humorous, then sent one of his officers to get the coffee.
"So you think you may have our payroll robbers?" asked Broom.
"Now why would you put it like that? Is he always this way?" he asked, looking at Furthers. "Do you think I'd have notified your headquarters if I weren't sure?"
He opened the folder on his desk and began reading.
"Corporal Stanislaus Zylkowski, pay accounts clerk, Canadian Forces, and his accomplice Rona Menard, estranged wife of trucker Russel Menard, wanted for...need I go on?"
"I'd like to talk to them," said Broom.
"They're not here Sergeant."
"I don't understand. Your report said you had them."
"That's not correct. I told headquarters they were here. I didn't say we had them."
Broom was getting annoyed with this run around.
"You can bring them in if you want to?"
"Of course. I can bring anyone in if I want to. But with these two people, I'm not sure I want to."
"Is there something wrong Captain?" asked Furthers.
"I wouldn't put it quite that way Senorita. Let me say the situation is not exactly as it was when the robbers came to my country."
"So what's happened?" asked Broom.
"First of all Sergeant, these are not bad people...not like those drug smugglers, and those men who hide my people in trucks and leave them to die in the desert. Senor Silky and Senorita Rona are very nice people. I'm not sure it's right to let you take them back to Canada to spend time in prison. In the short time they've been here, they have done a lot of good."
"That's not what the newspaper said. I'm surprised you haven't locked them up for attempted murder."
"First of all my friends, they did not shoot Sanchez. A young child did it. That shooting has led to several other consequences, which includes the capture of the key man in the chicken trade."
"Chicken trade?"
"The smuggling of little children for the white slave market in the states...for pedophiles and pornographers...and rich Yankee farmers looking for slaves to work in their vineyards, and orchards up north. Thanks to Senor Silky, we've captured all the men involved in that filthy business of kidnapping and selling our unfortunate street kids. That's what I mean when I say they've done a lot of good."
"But he's wanted back in my country for stealing over half a million dollars. You can't just turn your back on something like that."
"Half a million dollars...Canadian dollars at that?"
"Half a million dollars is a lot of money in whatever currency we're talking." said Broom.
"That's his only crime?"
"It was armed robbery."
"Of course it was. How do you expect to have a robbery without a gun," said Juarez.
"Is all this debate leading to something?" asked Furthers."
"You are saying, the robbery is his only crime?" asked Juarez again.
"There's a whole list of charges...resisting arrest, stealing a police vehicle, other charges in the states. Oh! And I almost forgot...desertion from the Canadian Forces."
"Let's be realistic Sergeant. Those other charges you mention aren't very important are they?"
"What do you mean not important? He could be sent to jail for any one of them."
Juarez could sense his delaying tactics were beginning to have their affect on the Mounties.
"As I see it my friends, the most important thing in this case is the money. Silky and Rona are not a danger to society. In fact, as I've already told you, these two courageous young people alone have destroyed one of the worst gangs in Tijuana. Imagine for a moment how you would feel if you learned that someone had ended the smuggling of little children into the states to be abused by wealthy perverts. Don't you think they would deserve some consideration?"
"What is it you want to propose Captain?" asked Furthers.
"Do you watch much Yankee TV Senorita?"
"Some...why do you ask?"
"I'd like to do like they do on TV...I think they call it, 'plea bargain'."
"No way! We came to take them back, and we've got a court order to do just that," said Broom.
"Then I'm sorry my friends...I can't help you."
"You sure as hell will. I'll take this to the Police Commissioner. You have no right to obstruct justice like this."
"What Police Commissioner? There is no such thing. Only a police chief, and you're looking at him."
"Come on Becky. There's a Canadian Consul here. We'll report it to him."
"Cool it Rick...Let's hear what he's got to say."
"It's no use. Kelly won't bargain."
"Who's Kelly?" asked Juarez.
"Inspector Kelly. Our boss back in Canada. Rigid as a poker. No one can get him to make a deal. He prides himself on always saving his own ass before anything else."
"Even if it meant you would get back every cent that was stolen?"
"Six hundred and twenty thousand dollars?" asked Broom.
"That's right...over half a million bucks...Canadian."
"How are you going to get the money?"
"Let's say I have ways."
"And what will you get out of it?"
"You drop all the other charges, and let them stay in my country."
"How do we know they want to stay?"
"You get your boss...what's his name...?"
"Inspector Kelly."
"Right. You get your Inspector to agree, and I'll take you to see your robbers."
Broom looked at Furthers. They had become such good partners they could almost tell what each other was thinking by just looking at their expression.
"Can we have a chance to talk in private?"
"Of course...Take all the time you need."
Broom closed the door behind him, and sat on the corner of his desk.
"What the hell do you think about that?"
"Not exactly what we expected that's for sure."
"But he's right you know. It's the money they want. Who the hell cares whether or not he deserts the army. His three year tour was almost finished. And as far as the stolen car was concerned, we got that back."
"So what do you want from me?" asked Becky
"You're honest opinion...Do you think we should present this scheme to Kelly?" "What have we got to lose. If he says no, we bring them back. If he says yes, it's simple. We get a bank draft for the full amount and everybody's happy."
"Did you know that bastard Kelly threatened to send me on an Arctic posting if we screwed up. I just hope to hell this idea doesn't end up with me learning Eskimo dancing."
"But Juarez is right. Who cares about two fugitives staying in Mexico, as long as we bring back the loot."
"Then you're saying I should call Kelly."
"I'm not sure I'd call him."
"Then what the hell are you saying?"
"You know Kelly. He might agree on the telephone, then some muckymuck in Ottawa raises a stink, and Kelly hangs us out to dry. If you're going to tell him, do it in writing. Send a telex. At least then you've got some proof."
"You're right you know that."
"Of course I'm right. That's why you like having me as a partner."
"Kelly is a real shit heal when it comes to supporting his men."
"That's why you've got to do it this way. And I think he'll go for it. He's running out of time, and getting the money back would be a feather in his cap."
"Can you imagine how many guys in the past thirty years have been shafted by that sonofabitch."
"Forget Kelly. Let's tell Juarez what we're going to do."
Broom opened the office door. Juarez was talking with some of his men, standing by the bulletin board.
"I'd like to talk to you Captain."
"I'll be right there Senor."
Closing the door behind him, Juarez looked at his two visitors.
"So what have you decided?"
"We'll give it a try."
"The plea bargaining?"
"We'll do it by telex."
"Telephone would be much quicker Sergeant."
"I know, but we must follow procedures. Have you a telex facility?"
"Of course...We are a small force Senor, but we have all the modern equipment. When you have your message ready, I'll have my clerk send it for you."

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