Chapter 1, Part 9

Driving a classic pickup - tuned to work perfectly well but not sparkling or fancy - Sam pulled up to the gate of King's Ranch. His name and face had gotten him access to the actual homestead and he pulled up to the house rather pleased to see the family was more down to earth than their name would lead others to believe.

He stepped out of the truck, worn boots and jeans but a nicer shirt - he was meeting folks after all - and saw the lady of the house speaking with a ranger. "I hope I'm not interfering folks, but I just came by to say hello. I bought the place adjacent yours and plan to setup a small vineyard - nothing overly commercial, just something to keep me out of trouble..."

~ ~ ~

Ranger Embry's phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.

Might want to check the little prince's phone and see who he's been texting with...

And then David joined the group too.

~ ~ ~

Miguel Sinaloa had received a few cryptic texts over the last few days, on his personal number. No one had his personal number. The first text had led him to sending a crew to an address just on his side of the border and in the trunk of the car there was a man Miguel had been looking for for years. The man had been shot several times but had been redressed in a new shirt - I saw heaven and it was King's Ranch - it had read. Some sort of gift shop novelty.

A few days later, a gift basket was left in an empty storage locker for Miguel. Again, it's location sent to him via cryptic text. Filled with luxury goods with the stamp of King's Ranch on them, there was a "special" item. The tongue and fingers of a snitch who'd recently been the cause of one of his shipments getting apprehended at the border. He'd rushed the DNA and fingerprint check with a few government contacts and knew it was the snitch for sure.

And this morning... another message. More cryptic but then Miguel was great at riddles. It was just the iconic cap of the King's Ranch in a room, placed behind a door set in the middle of the floor.

Miguel had been looking for a way to get in to the US. Found like he'd found his doorway.