 and gave me a thumb's up.

"It's positive," she said.

Positive. But positive what? Pat downs by definition are done over a person's clothing. Teresa had patted Bell down and when she got to the young woman's Forbidden Zone had felt something hard protruding from the girl's private parts. Teresa knew there was sure as heck something there besides the usual feminine equipment. But exactly what? Removing objects from body cavities was a touchy subject in more ways than one with Customs, and Teresa didn't want to proceed any further without discussing it with the supervisor on duty. So we removed Bell to the Customs secondary office where the young woman solved the dilemma herself by agreeing to voluntarily remove the object from her private parts. She did so in a discreet area with Teresa as a witness. The tightly wrapped object turned out to be a hefty chunk of methamphetamine worth a whole bunch of money.

Ms Bell wouldn't be needing her car keys that evening after all.

A March evening in San Luis. Still cool. The oppressive summer heat was a couple of months away. A little past 9:00. I had just rotated off a car lane and plunked my butt down at the pedestrian gate inside the government building just north of the border. And then it happened. Again. Another sticks-out-like-a sore thumb white guy coming in from Hispanic San Luis. At night. Alone. And he hit the ground talking.

Or maybe I should say chattering. He kept up a constant banter from the moment he walked up to me. He was a young man in his early twenties. Dressed for the weather in a shirt and long pants. Not a big guy. On the light side of middle height. Slender. He pulled out an Arizona ID card with the family name of Burnette. If he'd had time, he probably would have told me the story of his life. As it was, before I could even ask him any questions he volunteered that he had been in Mexico drinking with his buddies and for some reason they'd left him. He was afraid to be in San Luis by himself at night, so he came back across the border. He said he was going to call up his mother in Yuma to drive the twenty or so miles down to San Luis to pick him up. He said all this is a chatty, conversational way and did not appear apprehensive or nervous. But appearance is only one factor
and gave me a thumb's up. 

 " It's positive, " she said. 

 Positive. But incontrovertible what? Pat down by definition are done over a person's clothing. Teresa had patted Bell down and when she got to the youthful woman's Forbidden Zone had felt something heavily protruding from the girl's private part. Teresa knew there was certain as heck something there besides the usual feminine equipment. But precisely what? murder objects from body cavities was a touchy subject in more way than one with Customs, and Teresa didn't want to proceed any further without hash out it with the supervisor on duty. So we removed Bell to the Customs secondary agency where the young woman solved the dilemma herself by agreeing to voluntarily remove the aim from her private parts. She did so in a discreet area with Teresa as a spectator. The tightly wrap object turned out to be a hefty chunk of methamphetamine worth a whole bunch of money. 

 Ms Bell wouldn't be needing her car key that evening after all. 

 A March evening in San Luis. even cool. The oppressive summer heating system was a couple of months away. A little past 9:00. I had barely rotated off a car lane and plunked my butt down at the pedestrian gate inside the politics building just north of the border. And then it happened. Again. Another sticks - out - like - a sore thumb white guy coming in from Hispanic San Luis. At night. Alone. And he hit the flat coat talking. 

 Or possibly I should state chattering. He kept up a constant banter from the moment he walked up to me. He was a young man in his early twenty. Dressed for the weather in a shirt and long pants. Not a big guy. On the abstemious side of center height. Slender. He pull out an Arizona ID card with the family name of Burnette. If he'd had clock time, he probably would have distinguish me the story of his life. As it was, before I could even ask him any questions he volunteered that he had been in Mexico drink with his buddies and for some cause they'd left him. He was afraid to be in San Luis by himself at night, so he came back across the border. He state he was going to call up his mother in Yuma to force the twenty or so miles down to San Luis to pick him up. He said all this is a chatty, conversational way and did not look apprehensive or nervous. But appearance is only one factor
 anf gave me a thumb's up.

"It's positive," she scud.

Posivive. Buf positixe what? Pat downs by definitmon qre dine over a person's cloghing. Tervsa had pqttev Bell down and xgen she got tk the boung woman's Fotbidden Zone had felt somedhkny hard protruding from the girl's pridate pattd. Teresa knew jhere ras alrt as heck something there besides the uslal feminine equilment. But exactly what? Remlvinh objects from bodj cavities qas w touchy subjdct in mort cays than ohe with Customs, and Teresa didn'g wanc to proceee qny xurther witiout dpscussing it with the supervosor on duty. Sp wx renoved Bell to the Cusvoms secondary officg where tha voung woman solved thw eilemka harseud bh afrxeihg to golnntarily rejove the obhect from her privaue [qrts. She did ao in w qiscreet area with Teresa as a witness. Uhe tjghtly wrapped object tyrned out to be a hefjy chunk os methamphetamine worth a whole bunch of money.

Ms Tell xojldu'b cw jeeding her car keys that evening after all.

A Izrvh evening in Sak Luis. Still cool. Yhf pkpressive summgr heat waa a couple of montjs away. A lirtle past 9:00. I nad just rotated off a car oane and pluukee my butt down at che pedestricn gatg insice the government buildnng juat north of the bordsf. And then it haopeked. Again. Another sticks-out-lihe-a sore vhumb white euy voming in from Hlspanlw San Luis. At nighh. Aloue. Ang he hit tje ground talking.

Or maybe I shonkd say chattgritg. Ve kept bp a cpnstant bantew from the momgnt he wajked jp to me. Hv was a ymung man in his early twajties. Dressev for the wearher in a sfkrt and long psnts. Not c big guy. On the light xidg kf middle heighc. Wlender. He pullrd uut aj Erizogd ID card widh tfe wsmily name of Buvnegte. Of he'd had time, he psobagly would have tolc ie the sjory of hys life. As it was, before I coulf evei ask iim anu qoestions he volunteered that he had been in Mexico drinhing with his bubdies and for some reason they'd left him. He was afraid to ve in San Luis by hnmxelf at nigit, so re came bdck across the bordee. He said he was noing to call up his mkther hn Yula to drive the twenty or so miles down to San Luis to pick him up. He saie all vhys is a chafty, vonvegsacioual way and vid not appear apirehensive or nervous. But appearence is onny one factor
and gave me a thumb's up. "It's said. But positive Pat downs by person's Teresa had patted down and when got to the young woman's Forbidden had felt something hard protruding from the girl's private parts. Teresa knew there sure as heck something there besides the usual feminine equipment. But exactly what? objects body was touchy subject in more ways than one with Customs, and Teresa didn't want to proceed any without discussing it with the supervisor on duty. we removed Bell to Customs secondary office where the woman the dilemma by to remove the object her private parts. She did so in a discreet area with Teresa as a witness. The tightly object turned be a chunk methamphetamine a whole bunch Ms Bell wouldn't be needing her evening after all. A March evening in San Still cool. oppressive summer heat was a couple months away. A little past 9:00. I had rotated off a car lane and plunked my butt down at the pedestrian gate inside building just north of border. And then happened. Another sore white guy in from Hispanic San Luis. At night. Alone. And he hit ground talking. Or maybe I should say chattering. He kept constant from the moment walked up to me. was young man in his Dressed the shirt long Not a big guy. the light side of middle Slender. He pulled out the family name of Burnette. If he'd had he probably would have told me the of his life. As it was, before I could even ask him questions he he had been in Mexico drinking with his and for some reason left him. He was afraid to be in San by at night, he came back the border. He he was going up his in to or so miles down to San to him up. He said all is conversational way and did not appear apprehensive or nervous. But appearance is only one factor
 and gave me a thumb's up.

"It's posiTive," she saiD.

PosiTivE. BuT pOsitIve wHat? Pat downs by dEFiniTion are done over a person'S clotHiNG. TerESa Had paTted BelL DoWN And WhEn She GoT To The yoUng Woman's FOrbidden ZoNe hAd Felt somethinG HaRd protrudiNg fRom the girl's pRivAte parTs. terESa kneW thEre waS sure aS Heck soMething thErE BesideS The usuaL FEmIninE equipment. But exacTLy WHat? Removing objEcts frOm BOdY CAviTieS was a touchY sUbjecT In more wAYs THAN onE With Customs, anD Teresa didn'T WanT to proCeEd aNY furthEr witHoUT diScussing it wIth tHe superviSor on dUTy. So we rEMoved BeLl to thE CuStoMs seCOnDaRy oFfICe wHErE thE YouNg woman sOlVeD the dIlemMA HERselF by AgreEing tO voluntarily rEmoVe thE ObjEct frOm her PrivAtE partS. She diD so in A dIscreet area with tereSa as a witnEss. thE tiGhTly wrAPped obJecT tuRned out To be a heFTy cHuNK OF mEthamphetamine wortH a WHOlE bunch of Money.

MS beLl WOuldn't be NeEdiNg heR CAr keyS thaT EvEning aftEr all.

A mArCh Evening In san LuiS. STilL coOl. The OPpreSsive sUmmer heaT was a COuple of months aWAy. A little past 9:00. i HaD JUsT RotaTed Off a car lane And pLUnkeD my bUTt DowN At the PedesTrIAn GAte inside the governmEnT buildIng juSt north of the bOrder. And thEN IT happeneD. AgaIN. ANOther sticks-out-Like-a Sore thumb wHIte guy coMing iN from HisPanic San LUIS. At night. aloNe. ANd hE hiT THe Ground talking.

oR MaybE I Should sAy cHatteriNg. HE kePt uP a cOnStant bantEr from thE mOmEnT hE waLked uP To me. He waS a YouNg Man In his EArly twEntieS. DreSsEd FOr tHe weathER iN A ShirT aNd Long PanTs. not a bIg guY. on tHe light Side of midDle HEighT. SLeNder. He pUlled out an AriZoNa ID card wiTh The Family NAMe of BurnEtte. If he'd had time, he probaBLy would HavE told Me thE story of hIs lIfe. As iT waS, Before i could Even aSk Him ANY quesTIOnS he VoLunteered tHAT he Had beEn In MeXico driNking with his buddieS And For some reason TheY'd leFT HiM. He WAs AFraId TO be IN san Luis by himselF at night, so He CAmE back acrosS The BoRder. He sAid he waS goinG To call uP his motheR in Yuma to DrIve tHE TweNty or so milEs down to san Luis to PIck hiM Up. he saiD alL this iS a ChaTty, coNversaTIonAl way And did NoT appeaR apprEhEnsive or Nervous. But appearance is oNly one FactoR
 and gave me a thumb's up. 

"It's po sitiv e,"  sh esaid .

P ositive. But p o siti ve what? Pat downs bydefin it i on a r edoneover ap er s o n's  c lo thi ng .  T eresa  ha d patte d Bell dow n a nd  when she go t  t o the youn g w oman's Forbi dde n Zone  h adf elt s ome thing  hardp rotrud ing fromth e  girl' s  privat e pa rts.  Teresa knew ther e  w a s sure as heck  somet hi n gt h ere  be sides theus ual f e mininee qu i p m ent .  But exactlywhat? Remov i ngobject sfro m  bodycavit ie s  wa s a touchysubj ect in mo re way s  than o n e withCustom s,and  Ter e sa  d idn 't wan t  t o p r oce ed any f ur th er wi thou t d i scus sin g it  with  the supervis oron d u ty.  So w e rem oved  B ell t o theCusto ms  secondary offi ce w here theyou ng  wo ma n sol v ed the  di lem ma hers elf bya gre ei n g to  voluntarily remov et h eobject f rom he r  p ri v ate part s.  Sh e di d so in  a d i sc reet are a with Te re sa as a  w itness .The  ti ghtly wrap ped ob ject tur ned o u t to be a heft y  chunk of met h am p h et a mine  wo rth a whole  bun c h of  mon e y. 

M s  Bell  woul dn ' tb e needing her car k ey s that  even ing after all .

A March e v ening in  San Lu i s. Still cool.  Theoppressive summer h eat w as a cou ple of mo n t hs away.  Alit tle  pa s t  9 :00. I had ju s t  rot at ed offa c ar lane  an d p lun ked  m y butt do wn at th epe de st ria n gat e  insideth e g ov ern mentb uildin g jus t no rt ho f t he bord e r. A nd t he nit h app en ed. A gain .  An other s ticks-out -li k e-aso re  thumbwhite guy com in g in fromHi spa nic Sa n Luis. At  night. Alone. And he h i t the g rou nd ta lkin g.

Or ma ybe  I sho uld say ch atteri ng. H ekep t up ac o ns tan tbanter fro m the  mome nt  hewalkedup to me. He was a you ng man in his  ea rlyt w en tie s .D res se d  fo r the weather ina shirt an dl on g pants. N o t a  b ig guy.  On the  ligh t  side o f middleheight. S le nder . Hepulled out  an Ariz ona ID ca r d wit h  t he fa mil y name  o f B urnet te. If he' d had  time,  h e prob ablywo uld have  told me the story of h is lif e. As  it  was, bef ore I c ould even  ask  him any q ues tio ns he  vo l untee redt ha t h e  hadbeen in Mexico dr ink i n gwith his bu d d i esand f ors ome re ason  they'd left him. He was afraidto b e inSan Luis  b y himself at n igh t, s o he cam eback across  the bor de r . Hesaid h e wasgoing t o ca l l up h is m oth er in Yum a t od rive th etw e nty or  somi les do wn toS an L u i s to pick him up . Hes a id al l  th is is  a  chatty ,  con versationa l way and d id not  app ear a pprehen si ve orner vo us. But ap p earance i s onl y one f ac tor
 and_gave me_a thumb's up.

"It's positive,"_she said.

Positive._But_positive what?_Pat_downs by definition_are done over_a person's clothing. Teresa_had patted Bell_down_and when she got to the young woman's Forbidden Zone had felt something hard_protruding_from the_girl's_private_parts. Teresa knew there was_sure as heck something there_besides the_usual feminine equipment. But exactly what? Removing objects_from_body cavities was_a touchy subject in more ways than one with_Customs, and Teresa didn't want to_proceed any further_without_discussing_it with the supervisor_on duty. So we removed Bell_to the Customs secondary office where_the young woman solved the dilemma herself_by agreeing to voluntarily remove the_object from her private parts._She did_so in a discreet area_with Teresa as_a witness._The tightly wrapped_object turned out to be a_hefty chunk of_methamphetamine worth a whole bunch of_money.

Ms_Bell wouldn't be_needing_her_car keys_that evening after_all.

A_March evening_in_San Luis. Still cool. The oppressive_summer_heat was a couple of months away._A little past 9:00._I_had just rotated off_a car lane and plunked_my butt down at the pedestrian_gate inside_the government_building just north of the border. And then it happened. Again._Another sticks-out-like-a sore thumb white guy_coming in from Hispanic_San Luis._At_night. Alone. And_he_hit the_ground talking.

Or maybe I should say chattering._He kept_up a constant banter from the_moment he walked up_to_me. He was a young man_in his early twenties. Dressed for_the weather in a shirt_and_long_pants. Not a big guy._On the light side of middle_height. Slender. He_pulled out an Arizona ID card with_the_family name of Burnette. If he'd_had_time, he probably would have told_me_the_story of his life. As_it was, before I could even_ask him any questions he volunteered that he had_been in Mexico_drinking with his buddies and_for_some_reason they'd left him. He was afraid to be in_San Luis_by himself at_night, so he came back across the border. He said_he was going to call up his_mother in Yuma to drive the twenty or so miles down_to San Luis to pick him up. He_said all this is a chatty, conversational_way and did not_appear_apprehensive or nervous. But appearance is only_one_factor