Chapter Nine (copyright 2000, USA. Stephen C. Clark)  
 

Chapter   9
January 2, 2012
Greenfield, California
 

   "This is Sofia Robles, KCBA Fox News,  reporting to you live from the corner of El Camino Real and Walnut Avenue in Greenfield, California.  The vicious kidnaping of Rodolfo Robles has brought to a sudden and surprising halt the short and controversial functioning of the ATM's of the Bank of Fortunatas in most of California.  Rodolfo was California's ‘First Child.'  That is, the functioning of the machines was keyed to Rodolfo's first using them, before the other machines all around California would become activated each day.  Since Rodolfo is not here to activate the Bank of Fortunatus's Greenfield ATM, this machine and the other 999 that are keyed to it, now sit idle."  Sofia completed the broadcast and as the cameraman cut the feed, she stared vacantly into space and worried about Rodolfo.
 

    Noe woke Rodolfo just before dawn.  He had parked his truck at the top of a narrow wash and they had slept the night there.  Noe got out and covered the truck with brush.  He motioned for Rodolfo to get out of the pick-up.  He handed him a pack to carry and barked out some orders,  "We gotta get moving kid.  It ain't far, so I don't want to hear no whining."  Noe stopped talking and started walking.
    The Pinnacles National Monument is a collection of huge rock formations that jut majestically out of the rolling hills about 10 moles west of Soledad.  It is well traveled during the rest of the year, but was virtually empty during the Christmas season.  Rodolfo was calm, but not Noe.  He was as tough as they came, but he hated doing anything bad to kids.  He could beat a man senseless in a bar, then go back and calmly finish his beer.  But just the thought of doing something bad to a child turned his stomach. The whole thing was perplexing to Noe.  He could not let Rodolfo go, because he didn't want to go to jail.  But his only other alternatives were do the unthinkable or hide out here.
 

    Aaron woke in the Arroyo Seco cabin with a blinding hangover.  He didn't remember getting there.  He managed to stumble to the door to see if he had driven himself.  His truck was there, but the door was open and the inside light on.  He wondered if his battery was still working, so he got in and engine turned over begrudgingly.  He left it running to charge up the battery, and went inside to gather his thoughts.
    So what if Sofia is with this other guy, he needed to let her know what he knew.  He popped a beer and downed it.  He rolled a joint and smoked it.  He then took the fifty yard walk to the river and jumped in.  The water was ice cold, and the shock almost caused him to faint, but the beer, the joint, and the swim had killed the hangover.   He was ready to face the world.  He ran back to the cabin, had a hot shower, put on fresh clothes, and headed to see Sofia.
 

    Sofia, Vic and Etienne convened at Belinda's house to have breakfast and strategize.  Belinda had gone completely silent since the kidnaping.  She sat on the sofa and appeared lost in thought.  They had talked her into lying down the night before, but Belinda had not slept.  She had gotten up early and joined her mother in a prayer vigil.  They lit candles to the Virgin of Guadalupe and San Miguel.  They had been praying non-stop since before dawn.
    "We covered every way out of town I could. But either whoever kidnaped him hasn't left town, or they slipped past us."  Vic knew he was stating the obvious, but he had to start somewhere.  "We know that Preston Witt was probably in on the bombing, but we don't know if he had anything to do with the kidnaping.  I went out there today and talked to him.  He denied everything, of course.  Noe was no where to be found.  Witt said Noe went to Mexicali because there wasn't nothing here for him to do."
    As they were all sitting nearby, Belinda fell over in a dead faint.  They rushed to her and tried to revive her.  Sofia was crying and Vic and Etienne looked on helplessly.  She was out for about five minutes, and when she came to, her demeanor had completely changed.  Her nervous silence had turned into a resolute calm.  Her smile had returned and she began to beam.  At first they thought she had gone over the edge, but her demeanor seemed deeply rooted and spread to the others as she began to speak.  "The Blessed Virgen took me to see Rodolfo.  He's all right and he'll be back soon.  He's camping somewhere.  I saw him drinking out of a stream.  He had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.  Someone is caring for him and he'll be back soon."  And then Belinda went over and quietly lay on the sofa and fell asleep, leaving the others to ponder her words.
    Vic was so nervous and frustrated that he had to go do something, "Hey guys I'm gonna run down to the station and check on a few things.  I'll be back in about an hour and we can go check some places out.  Better than sitting around and doing nothing."
    Sofia vaguely hearing, got up to show Vic out.  "Let us know the minute you hear anything.  I'm just as worried about Bel now as I am Rodolfo.  I mean, it would take someone pretty desperate to harm a child over... over.... money.  And well I just don't know if Bel could bear to lose Rodolfo."
    "I don't think any of us could.  I'll be back soon," Vic assured Sofia.  "Adios Etienne."  Castenada took Duvall's nod and general malaise as a symptom of the blow he had received on the head.  But he couldn't help wonder what was going through that Indian Brain.
 

    The state of California was in a turmoil.  Just as everyone was getting used to the free money every day, it stopped.  The opposition to the machines took this opportunity to launch their counter attacks.   The air waves were full of moralizing over the debilitating affect of getting something for nothing.  The "League for Personal Responsibility" took the stand that even if  "The Little Mexican Boy" could be found, he should be taken into custody so that the machines would be permanently shut down.  One bombastic talk radio host even suggested the boy should be vivisected to make sure he wasn't an extraterrestrial.  The nation's virtue czar said the machines were destroying the moral fiber of the nation.
 

    Preston had sat around the house until mid-morning.  Even a visit from that nosy chief of police had not thrown him.  The police were the least of his troubles at this point.  He had accomplished what he knew he needed to do.  He had shut down the machines.  Now on to phase two.  He had to get the other farmers to agree to a wage roll back.
    Preston drove to the Estrellita Cafe to get the ball rolling.  He saw Tanzini's truck outside as he was parking.  He wanted to walk in and hit Tanzini on the head with a crow bar, but he knew that wouldn't go over too well so he decided to take the subtle approach.
    Preston walked up to the farmer's table and motioned the waitress to bring him a coffee.  He didn't wait long, "You fellas feelin a little funny today.   I mean paying out all that good money, and now them damn ATM's are gone."
    "Gone today, but what about tomorrow?"  Asked Tanzini's buddy Vince Cotta.  "What if they come back?"
    "To tell you all the truth, I doubt that those machines will ever open again," said Preston in his best down home, one-of-the-boys speech.  "I was kinda hopin you might be getting a little of your courage back.  Enough courage to stand up to that bunch of wet-backs that stole your man-hood."
    "Nobody's manhood has been stolen Preston.  We're all just trying to make a living," answered Tanzini.
    "If that's what you call turning your back on friends and neighbors.  Some of us know a thing or two about making a living, and we have never betrayed our neighbors."  Preston pushed it as far as he thought he should.  He'd give them a while to mull things over and then visit the other farmers one at a time on their own ranches.
 

    Aaron drove by the cash machine, and saw that Sofia wasn't there.  He headed straight for Belinda's place.  He parked in front and went to knock on the door.
    "Sofia, I was listening on the radio to the interview, and I heard what happened.  I just want you to know if there's anything I can do to help, I'm here for you.  If this was my father's doing I'll turn him in.  I'm just sorry.  And you Mr. Duvall, let your buddy Castenada know that I'll give him any information I can.  We just gotta find Rodolfo."  Aaron lowered his head and waited for a response.
    "I appreciate the offer Aaron.  But I think Vic has it handled,"answered Sofia. devoid of emotion.
    "If you know something Witt, now is the time to let it out," interjected Etienne abruptly.
    "It was my dad and Noe who took the wagon from Belinda's house the other night."  Aaron said it without lifting his head.
    "How the hell did you know that?" yelled Sofia, who had come to life.  "You bastard.  You knew that and didn't tell us.  Get the hell out of here, Aaron."
    "We'll be in touch Witt."  Etienne put his arm around Sofia and closed the door in Aaron's face.  Aaron shuffled his feet a minute and then wandered off aimlessly.
 

    Noe led Rodolfo on a long cross country trek.  He was headed to a cave that was off the developed trails.  Noe had a growing respect for Rodolfo.  The kid had not complained the whole time.  Not so much as a whimper since those first moments of fear.  This was a tough kid thought Noe.
    Noe had been a tough kid.  He had had no choice.  He was on his own in the streets of Tijuana at the age of eight.  He crossed the border when he was nine, and had been working in the U.S. ever since.  No one had ever given him anything, that is after he was eight.  He did remember his father though.  He'd been kind when he was sober, which wasn't often enough for Noe to have a notion of what genuine human affection was like.
 

    Castenada couldn't stand to see Belinda this way, but there was little to be done.  Other than check places at random, he had no ideas.  He left his office and drove to the Arroyo Seco Bridge and got out to talk to the Sheriff's deputy that was screening all cars that crossed.
    "Nothing here Vic.  They're long gone by now.  Whoever got the kid must've got on the freeway before we could get set up."  Deputy Roland said.   They both turned to see Aaron Witt approaching.
    Aaron was going down the hill toward the bridge when he saw the two cop cars parked up on top on the far side.  He went down, crossed the bridge, turned left and took the road up out of the canyon.  He  recognized the chief first.  What the hell, he thought.  I can't help Sofia with that Duvall guy, maybe I can help through the chief.  He pulled up beside them.  "Hey Vic.  You got a minute?"
    "Sure Witt.  Whadya want."  Castenada was not in the mood for chat.
    "In private."  Aaron said, and pulled ahead and parked on the other side of the bridge.  He got out and waited for Castenada.
    "What you got Witt?"  Vic was curt.
    "It was my father and Noe who took the wagon the other day.  I saw them throw it in the back of Noe's truck." Aaron stood passively waiting for the reply.
    "And now you're gonna try to tell me you didn't have anything to do with it?"  Castenada eyed Aaron closely.
    "Hey Chief, you can spend your time trying to bust my chops, or you can use what I'm telling you.  I saw Noe and my father take the damn wagon.  They were both acting strange after that.  But who ain't acting strange now.  I don't know for sure if they were the ones who tried to blow-up that machine, but I'm pretty sure they were.   I don't know if they kidnaped Rodolfo, but I think they're involved.  I haven't seen Noe since yesterday and Ernie's been gone two or three days.  These guys never go anywhere.  Now Chief, you gonna screw around here with me, or you gonna let me help you find Rodolfo?" asked Aaron.
    Castenada paused and looked hard at Aaron again, "Okay Witt.  I believe you.  You got any idea where Noe might hide?" Vic figured there was no down side, so he would go along with Aaron.  He didn't have anything else to try.
    "I been staying up at the cabin is Seco, and I haven't seen any sign of either one of them.  We got the other cabin up at the ranch on the Carmel Valley Road.  Nobody goes up there much this time of year.  The cattle got plenty of grass and water so we just let em alone.  We could check up there.  I got the keys," offered Aaron.
    Vic didn't hesitate.  "Let's go."
 

    Ernie heard the motor coming up the hill and panicked.  He ran for the brush to hide.  He was peering out of the bushes as Vic and Aaron pulled up next to Ernie's truck.
    "That's Ernie's truck," said Aaron.
    Vic parked and they got out.  They walked up to the cabin and looked in.  There was a fire in the fireplace and the stereo was on.  "If he hightailed it, we'd have a hell of a time finding him here."  Vic walked around the yard looking at the ground.  "Just one set of footprints here, and one set of tire tracks coming in, and they look like they've been here a couple of days.  I don't know if it's Ernie or not, but Rodolfo's not with him."
    "Think we oughta stay around a while to see if he comes back?" asked Aaron.
    "Hell, he ain't coming back while we're here.  We'll let the Sheriffs know to watch for him coming out the Carmel Road.  He can't go any where.  Let's get back to town.  I need to check in and I got no radio up here," said Vic.
 

    Sofia went to Belinda's after broadcasting for a couple of hours.  She had no idea what to expect.  She hoped there would be some change in Belinda's condition and she wasn't disappointed.  Belinda was rolling on the floor with Mango.  The rich aroma of baking cookies filled the air.
   "Hi Sis.  Watch the baby while I get a batch of cookies out of the oven,"  Belinda said cheerfully.
   "Sure Bel," responded Sofia.  "What's all the cookies for Bel, you feeding an army?"
   "Back to work today Sis.  Been laying around long enough," answered Belinda.
    Sofia eyed her sister.  She couldn't believe that Belinda was totally calm about Rodolfo, but she didn't want to say anything that would push her sister any further.  "Are you sure you want to go back out there today Belinda?" asked Sofia, treading lightly.
    "I don't expect anyone to understand, but Rodolfo is all right.  He'll be home soon.  I'm not telling people to stop looking for him, because someone will find him.  I don't know who, I just know it's not me, so I gotta keep busy Sofia, or I might really go crazy."  Belinda stopped talking and walked over and handed Sofia a cookie.  She then went back to playing with Mango.