Part 14
(Tampico, again) The policeman, who examined the passports in Tampico, knew the tourists by sight but kept a straight face when he said, "Welcome back to Tampico, Señor y Señora Burton."
Bill greeted him, "Thank you, Señor Torrez. Antonio Torrez, is that right? Is Inspector Ruiz near? We would like to talk to him."
Ruiz was sipping coffee and scowling to himself at the lunch counter. Betty touched his shoulder, "Inspector Ruiz, it is us. Thank you for protecting us." Her candid grin always melted Mexican men’s hearts.
"I am at your service, Missus Burton." Ruiz suggested a new job for the couple, a rash of purse snatching in the new part of the city. "The victims, again, are visitors. We have arrested two offenders but certainly have a large ring of thieves to deal with. The crimes go on."
Cil returned from the telephone with little new to report, ". . . and the criminal’s boat remains at anchor. Captain Rodriguez tried to scout it, but it retreated to open waters. He did, however, verify the registration — it is the right ship."
Ruiz nodded, "I think we should wait for its move to Tamaulipas."
"While we wait, would the police object if we try to catch purse snatchers?"
The next day at an uptown site, Bill was helping Betty prepare to go undercover, "We have to disguise you to look affluent. Wear the damn sunglasses."
"Bah !" she put them on. "The fancy purse is enough. Should we pluck big-peso notes up to show out the top?"
"The obsidian staff is enough." He watched the woman tie a leather thong to the Olmec artifact and to her wide western belt, "That’s right, a square knot. That won’t save your purse though."
"The strap will be around my neck. How do I look?" She tried to snap the brocaded western vest, but it wouldn’t close over her 38C cup. The man kidded her about that and she protested, "I keep telling you, I wear a 36B."
"Sure, and I only weigh 180 pounds. How come a thirty-six-inch tape won’t quite reach around you?"
Maybe Betty was kidding herself. She looked down to judge her bosom, knowing that the B-cup forced a bulge and more lift than she usually wanted. She made an excuse, "This holds me firm for action."
They located an unoccupied second-floor room where Bill could wait, out of sight, as backup. Betty paced the sidewalk below, as though she were waiting for someone, and tried to look rich. The huge priest’s staff dangled precariously out the top of her shoulder bag. Traffic was moderate at midday with nearby shops and the open-air market doing brisk business.
Bill couldn’t resist admiring her from his top view. He hissed at her, when he thought no one could hear, "Thirty-eight-D, at least."
gr. . .rr She didn’t answer.
"Your chest sticks out further than your face." he taunted.
"Hush ! We’re working here."
"You bulge out the side like a Jersey cow come fresh. I bet you can’t see your shoes."
She had to crane her neck to see her toes and was immediately angered at being suckered into looking. She turned to yell a retort just as a youngster grabbed her handbag and yanked it from her grasp. "Glurg !" the strap tightened around her throat.
Bill realized the fault in their plan. He didn’t want to hurt anyone, and there were too many people around to safely shoot. He presented himself prominently at the window and threatened loudly in Spanish, "Halt or I shoot !"
The robber saw the big pistol, 12 feet above, and froze. Betty snapped a handcuff on his wrist and to her own. She scolded him, "You should be ashamed. Up the stairs, young man."
"First time you have been caught?" Bill guessed from the 15 year old’s remorse. The young fellow was on the verge of tears, but a macho hombre would never cry.
"Take it easy, Bill . . . I mean, Bob. Can’t you see how sorry he is?" The kid blubbered and she drew him to herself.
Bill was jealous and blurted out, "Betty, I mean Sue, he ain’t that young. Okay, okay, you’re a 36B but get his face out of there." The youngster was calmed a little. "No worry, kid, maybe we can be lenient."
Betty released herself from the cuff. She fastened Carlos’ wrists together in front and patted his hand. "Well, back to the street." she primped and straightened her clothes.
Twenty minutes later, she disappeared into the stairwell to take a break. "My knees hurt. Throw me a tamale."
Bill handed one to her and invited the kid to help himself. He had been talking to the youth and decided introductions were in order, "Carlos, I present my wife Betty . . . Sue. Sue, Carlos."
"May we call you Charlie?" she smiled.
"I am sorry, Señora. Will you send me to jail?"
"I don’t think so. Bill . . . Bob, can’t we take the cuffs off?"
"Nope. He’s a good kid but has to stay until we are finished here."
The woman was accosted again. The thief cut the shoulder strap, and she grappled him while trying to keep his knife at a distance. Carlos, without hesitation, jumped from the window and into the fray. Landing on the thief’s back, he used the handcuffs as a garrote. Pedestrians scattered as Betty and Carlos kicked and grappled.
A second assailant materialized from the background. Instead of helping his buddy, he went for the attractive staff, lashed independently to Betty’s sturdy belt. She was jerked from her feet, "Ungh !" and hit the sidewalk. scrape abrade "You S.O.B. !" she yelled.
Nothing to do but join in. Bill spread his wings and leapt upon man number two, delivering a resounding kick to the head and using him as a landing cushion. "Batman, fighter of evil, renders his foe . . . Oo. . .oof !" The first man, still trying to shake the monkey from his back, tripped over and fell on the Gringo.
Betty reeled in the staff and clubbed the fellow with it. A bone went POP, "Cat woman pulls Batman’s fat out of the fire. Dear Bill, I mean Bob, are you all right?"
Yeah. Where’s my cuffs . . . let’s get these guys restrained till Ruiz can get here. Poor baby, your arm is bleeding."
"Just a flesh wound, don’t hurt." It would smart badly in a little bit, but until then, she played the tough gal. "Let’s all get out of sight so no one will identify us."
The man Bill had kicked came to his senses and found himself handcuffed to a radiator pipe. His beady, criminal eyes (not unlike Bill Wheat's) bore into those of his captors with hate. His partner was unconscious; not bleeding so badly but he was deathly pale.
Bill removed Carlos’ handcuffs and instructed him, "Call this number to get police here — 726 Cordóva, upstairs. And we need an ambulance — that guy is in shock."
The kid took some pesos and ran down the stairs. "How do you know he’ll call or come back?" Betty queried.
"It’s okay. Maybe he’ll go straight, since he knows Sue Burton is active in the city." Bill tested his back for alignment and left to look for the boy or a cop.
In time, an ambulance and police arrived. The Americans received first aid and were considering if they should resume their street patrol. Carlos volunteered, "I know where the headquarters is." This was the sort of break that Ruiz had waited for. Carlos revealed the location of the ringleaders and also two shops that served as outlets for stolen property.
The inspector wanted to help the youngster, "I have some ideas for your employment, Carlos."
Perhaps this was the opportunity that Carlos needed, "Thank you, sir. Goodbye, Betty Sue and Billy Bob."