Part 17
"Yeah, that was a bummer." The couple had not traded the Jeep after all because, when they tried to register it in New Mexico, it was confiscated for having been stolen in Texas.
"Bad luck comes in bunches . . . so does good luck, as when we came through Juárez on the way home."
. . .
(Juárez) A Mexican guard asked the returning tourists to pull over to an inspection bench at the Juárez border crossing. Bill parked. "I don’t understand this. They can see everything in the car, and we even have full passports."
Betty fished in the glove box for the foreign-service papers, "You forgot our gun collection. This will save us an inspection — won’t take long."
They were surrounded and confronted by armed guards. "Mister and Missus Franklin, you are under arrest for crimes committed in the state of Veracruz, Mexico and in Honduras." A man probed Betty’s purse and grinned triumphantly as he displayed her revolver to his buddies, "It is Señora Bety and Gringo Bily for certain."
Bill offered a most effective excuse as they were escorted to a jail cell, "There has been some mistake." SLAM Their accommodations were clean and each had a bunk.
At the next morning’s informal hearing, time-out was allowed to confirm that the Americans had been cleared of charges and their impersonators were behind bars. In the afternoon, a ranking officer told them this but brought up the Honduras matter.
"What Honduras matter?"
"The United States has brought federal charges of illegal entry into Honduras, threatening U.S. officials there, theft of $6,000, perjury, defraud, assault, insult, injury, attempt to purchase a gun, and leaving the country illegally under assumed names."
Bill spoke for them both, "The charges are untrue. All are invented except leaving the country. See here, why hasn’t Mexico filed charges, nor Honduras?"
"Mexico did, Sir, although those were removed." He asked a clerk to find out why Honduras had no complaints as a country. "A representative of the U.S. ambassador to Honduras will be arriving soon to testify against you. For such a diplomat, we will expedite the trial when he arrives." SLAM
The U.S. rep from Honduras was none other than the rum-soaked, tropical reprobate that Bill had once threatened with a chair leg. But when Mr. Wyckoff presented himself, he was impeccable and sober.
Mr. Wyckoff asked to speak to the Franklins in private. He glowed with vindictive glee, "You will be so sorry, buddy. You will go away for a very long time. You too, bitch. The entire United States government is behind me on this one. Gringo Billy, indeed." SLAM
Bill talked to a guard, "We have some money that was confiscated. Is there some way to show Señor Wyckoff there are no hard feelings? Just deliver two liters of Ron Rico to him in his hotel room. So it won’t be a bribe, make it compliments of Ciudad Juárez."
Betty piped up, "Make it a whole case. You are a nice man, have something for your trouble if it’s okay. No hard feelings, right?"
Betty regretted, "I’d like to call Jorge but they won’t let us."
Bill liked to joke in the face of hopeless situations, "You don’t suppose we’ll get the same jail cell? We can write our memoirs. Ain’t much to tell so we can fill in with fiction."
The first face they saw, upon entering the courtroom, was a ray of sunshine. Cecília Miranda briskly approached them, smiling, "Señora, we love the piñatas osos." The women embraced, "I came this trip because Jorge can not drive rental cars. Your smile is good to see, Mister Bil."
Cil led them to two Mexican gentlemen. She was extremely humble and respectful as she introduced the governor of Veracruz, the highest-ranking officer in that state. The other man was an aide to the president of Mexico. "These gentlemen might be character witnesses and graciously present themselves to impress the court."
Betty grinned hugely and presented her hand to one and then the other. Bill bowed, best he knew how, and thanked the men for being present. Cil led the dignitaries away to meet the Juárez court, which included the mayor because he had heard of the important personages.
Bill recognized a woman who had come with Wyckoff as his assistant. There is no rule, in Mexican court, against chatting between antagonists. He apologized in Spanish for not recalling her name but remembered her help. He couldn’t resist asking, "I hope you remember that I signed a receipt."
"Yes, I brought it with me. I have the original voucher and also a communiqué from Mexico City, authorizing that payment."
That stunned Bill, "I understood you were here to bury us, not save us."
"Hm. . .mm, just in case Mister Wyckoff needs to back away."
Betty was across the room, charming the judge out of his robe. As the magistrate called for silence and for proceedings to begin, Mr. Wyckoff staggered into the room. His appearance was not as tidy as it had been the day before. An attendant escorted Wyckoff to his place and helped him sit without falling.
A policeman advised the judge that the American was heavily sedated with alcohol.
The judiciary dismissed each of the charges after a question or two or a brief discussion. The Honduran aide testified that Mr. Franklin had been very polite, "He apologized to me when he called Mister Wyckoff a drunkard in my presence. He also remembered to properly sign the receipt when I forgot."
"Mister Wyckoff, this entire affair . . . Please, sir, stand when the court speaks to you."
Wyckoff struggled to his feet and forgot his Spanish, "Your honor, take my word, the Franklins are dangerous criminals and I have to visit the bathroom." A dark wet patch spread across the front of his wrinkled pants and ran down his legs.
The judge directed an order, "Remove this man. Detain him until the United States government answers for him. The charges against the American couple were falsely made. I regret the inconvenience to the court’s esteemed visitors." He banged his gavel to signal a change in subject, "Before we part, the city of Juárez will host a fiesta, tonight and tomorrow, and pray that our distinguished guests, both Mexican and International, can attend."
Betty was excited, "I want to call the Rahns and get them down here for our homecoming."
Bill planned, "Send a limo for them, rent a villa, never mind what it costs." He donned the large hat, put an arm around his lady, and they went to a telephone.