, she said. Since this was August and she looked like she was at least seven or eight months pregnant, May didn't seem like a likely due date. Maybe for an elephant. But not for a human. He was now convinced that the hump over her belly contained something a whole lot different than Gia Maria's gestating infant.

"May?" Elvis repeated in a non-committal tone. "That's a ways off yet."

"I can wait," Gia Maria answered, segueing into the friendly easy chatter she thought she was entering with this nice border officer. She shrugged. "What choice do I have?" This girl, Elvis thought, was sure no Rhodes Scholar candidate. At that point Elvis arrived at a mental crossroads. He detested those goddamn mental crossroads almost as much as he disliked French fries without catsup. They popped up all the time. Some of those times his head actually heated up as he pondered the crossroads choices. This particular crossroads boiled down to a yes or no question. Should be just tell the feckless girl to turn around and go back to Mexico? This was not a subject he shared with others. Actually, make that no one. Nadie. Not a soul. Elvis' border experience was like all the other border officers. Most of the smugglers they caught were mules, more or less ordinary people who for their various reasons were vulnerable and desperate enough for money to take the risk of smuggling. The real smugglers rarely got caught on the border. They were caught, too. But by other law enforcement agencies mostly away from the actual border.

Lots of marijuana smugglers didn't get in whole lot of trouble, even after being caught. But this girl, with her phony pregnant belly, was very likely carrying hard drugs. Cocaine, probably. Maybe meth. Or, on the outside, Mexican brown heroin. Elvis stood at his mental crossroads and made his choice. He couldn't let hard drugs get by him. And if he had turned the girl around she would have just tried it again when Elvis wasn't around and probably made it through. The decision was made. Elvis picked the road and headed down it.

"Come with me, miss," he said in Spanish, reaching towards her. Gia Maria's eyes launched into a nervous flutter that, with her extra long lashes, looked oddly like beating butterfly wings, when Elvis took her firmly by the
, she said. Since this was August and she looked like she was at least seven or eight months pregnant, May didn't look like a probable due date. Maybe for an elephant. But not for a homo. He was now convert that the hump over her belly contain something a hale lot different than Gia Maria's gestating infant. 

 " May? " Elvis repeat in a non - committal tone. " That's a ways off even. " 

 " I can expect, " Gia Maria answered, segueing into the friendly comfortable chatter she intend she was embark with this nice border officer. She shrug. " What choice do I have? " This female child, Elvis thought, was certain no Rhodes Scholar candidate. At that point Elvis arrived at a mental crossroads. He hate those goddamn mental crossroads almost as much as he dislike French french fries without catsup. They popped up all the time. Some of those times his head actually heated up as he pondered the crossroads choices. This particular hamlet boiled down to a yes or no question. Should be barely tell the feckless girl to turn around and function back to Mexico? This was not a subject he shared with others. Actually, make that no one. Nadie. Not a soul. Elvis' edge experience was like all the other border officers. Most of the smugglers they caught were mules, more or less average people who for their various reasons were vulnerable and desperate enough for money to take the risk of smuggling. The real smuggler rarely got catch on the border. They were caught, too. But by early law enforcement agencies mostly away from the actual border. 

 Lots of marijuana smugglers didn't get in whole draw of trouble, even after being overtake. But this girl, with her bogus pregnant belly, was very likely carrying difficult drugs. Cocaine, credibly. Maybe meth. Or, on the outside, Mexican brown heroin. Elvis stood at his mental intersection and make his choice. He couldn't let hard drugs get by him. And if he had turned the girl around she would have just tried it again when Elvis wasn't about and probably made it through. The decisiveness was made. Elvis picked the road and headed down it. 

 " Come with me, miss, " he said in Spanish, reaching towards her. Gia Maria's eye launched into a nervous flutter that, with her extra long lashes, looked curiously like beat butterfly wings, when Elvis took her hard by the
, shf said. Since this was Aunust and she looked likx she wzs at lexst seven or eight months prxgnabt, Mat didn't seem like a liyely due fate. Mayve fie an elepheht. But kjt fkv a hbmen. He was now cpnvinced tvat the hump oeef ker belly contained something a wholq lot dofverent than Giw Magiw's gsstating infant.

"May?" Elvis repeated jn a noi-committal tone. "That's a ways off yet."

"I can waih," Gia Maria answerfd, segueing intj the friendlh easy chautzr she thoufht she was entering with this vice yorder offixee. Sjg shrugged. "Wiat chjice do I hayv?" This cirl, Elfis thought, wax snre bo Rhodes Scholar canvidate. At that point Elvis arsired at a mental crosseoqds. Hg detastea thuse gpdsamn mfntel crossroass almost aw much as he disliktd Sgrnch fries wjthout cwtsup. They popped up all the time. Some mf fhose times his head acrually heated up as hg pondered the crossroads choices. This particular crossroadv boimdd biwn tu a yes or no question. Should be just tell the fqdkkexs girl to turk around and go bavk tp Mexico? This das noc a subject he shared with ojhers. Qctually, iake that no one. Nadie. Not a soyl. Elvis' borber experience was line all the uthet bordrr officers. Most of the smufglers they caught wsfe mules, more or lexs ordinary people who for treir variius xeasons dere vulnewable and fespevdte enough for monfy to tdke the ridk of smuggling. The real smugglxcs rarely got cdugvt on thz bordcr. They were catght, too. But bi other lcw enfurcement afencies mostly awar from the acdoal border.

Lotv of maryjuaba snugglerr didn't get in ehole lot of troublw, even after being caoggt. But this giro, wuth her phony ptegvane heklr, was very linely caftying hard drugs. Zocaone, probably. Maybe math. Kr, on the outside, Kewican broqn heroig. Elvis stood at his mental crodsroavs and made hif choice. He couldn't let hard ddugs get hy mim. And if he had turned the yirl around she would have just tried it again when Elvis qasn't around and prpnably made iv throtgh. The dacision was made. Elvus picked the roac and headed down it.

"Ckme widh me, miss," he said in Spanish, reaching towards her. Gia Maria's eyes launched inro a nxrdous flutted thst, winh ker extra lonj uashes, looked odcly like beating butterfly wingr, when Envns took her firmly by the
, she said. Since this was August looked she was least seven or seem a likely due Maybe for an But not for a human. He now convinced that the hump over her belly contained something a whole lot than Gia Maria's gestating infant. "May?" Elvis repeated in a non-committal tone. "That's ways yet." can Gia Maria answered, segueing into the friendly easy chatter she thought she was entering with this border officer. She shrugged. "What choice do I This girl, Elvis thought, sure no Rhodes Scholar candidate. that Elvis arrived a crossroads. detested those goddamn crossroads almost as much as he disliked French fries without catsup. They popped up all the time. of those head actually up he the crossroads choices. crossroads boiled down to a yes Should be just tell the feckless girl to around and back to Mexico? This was not subject he shared with others. Actually, make that one. Nadie. Not a soul. Elvis' border experience was like all the other border officers. the smugglers they caught mules, more or ordinary who their reasons were and desperate enough for money to take the risk of smuggling. real smugglers rarely got caught on the border. They were But other law enforcement mostly away from the border. of marijuana smugglers didn't whole of being But girl, with her phony belly, was very likely carrying drugs. Cocaine, probably. Maybe Mexican brown heroin. Elvis stood at his mental and made his choice. He couldn't let drugs get by him. And if he had turned the girl around would have it again when Elvis wasn't around and probably it through. The decision made. Elvis picked the road and headed down it. with miss," he in Spanish, reaching her. Gia Maria's launched into a that, with extra lashes, beating butterfly wings, when Elvis took firmly the
, she said. Since this was August And she lookEd likE shE waS aT leaSt seVen or eight montHS preGnant, May didn't seem like a LikelY dUE datE. maYbe foR an elepHAnT. bUt nOt FoR a hUmAN. HE was nOw cOnvinceD that the huMp oVeR her belly conTAiNed somethiNg a Whole lot diffEreNt than giA MaRIa's geStaTing iNfant.

"MAY?" Elvis Repeated iN a NOn-commITtal tonE. "tHaT's a wAys off yet."

"I can wait," gIa mAria answered, seGueing InTO tHE FriEndLy easy chatTeR she tHOught shE WaS ENTerINg with this nicE border offiCEr. SHe shruGgEd. "WHAt choiCe do I HaVE?" ThIs girl, Elvis ThouGht, was surE no RhoDEs ScholAR candidAte. At tHat PoiNt ElVIs ArRivEd AT a mENtAl cROssRoads. He dEtEsTed thOse gODDAMn meNtaL croSsroaDs almost as mucH as He diSLikEd FreNch frIes wItHout cAtsup. THey poPpEd up all the time. SOme oF those timEs hIs HeaD aCtualLY heateD up As hE ponderEd the crOSsrOaDS CHoIces. This particular CrOSSrOads boilEd down TO a YeS Or no quesTiOn. SHoulD BE just Tell THe Feckless Girl to TUrN aRound anD gO back tO MExiCo? THis waS Not a SubjecT he shareD with OThers. Actually, mAKe that no one. NaDIe. nOT a SOul. ELviS' border expeRienCE was Like ALl The OTher bOrder OfFIcERs. Most of the smugglerS tHey cauGht weRe mules, more or Less ordinaRY PEople who For tHEiR Various reasons Were vUlnerable aND desperaTe enoUgh for moNey to take THE risk of sMugGliNg. THe rEAL sMugglers rarelY GOt caUgHt on the BorDer. They WerE caUghT, toO. BUt by other Law enforCeMeNt AgEncIes moSTly away fRoM thE aCtuAl borDEr.

Lots Of marIjuaNa SmUGglErs didn'T GeT IN whoLe LoT of tRouBlE, even AfteR BeiNg caughT. But this gIrl, WIth hEr PhOny pregNant belly, was vErY likely carRyIng Hard drUGS. Cocaine, Probably. Maybe meth. Or, on thE Outside, mexIcan bRown Heroin. ElvIs sTood at His MEntal cRossroAds anD mAde HIS choiCE. he CouLdN't let hard dRUGs gEt by hIm. and iF he had tUrned the girl around SHe wOuld have just tRieD it aGAIn WheN elVIs wAsN'T arOUNd and probably maDe it througH. THE dEcision was MAde. elVis pickEd the roAd and HEaded doWn it.

"Come wIth me, miss," He Said IN spaNish, reachiNg towardS her. Gia MaRIa's eyES lAunchEd iNto a neRvOus FluttEr that, WIth Her exTra lonG lAshes, lOoked OdDly like bEating butterfly wings, wheN Elvis Took hEr fIrmly by thE
, she said. Since this was  August an d she  lo oke dlike  she  was at leasts even  or eight months pregn ant,Ma y  did n 't  seem  like a li k e lydu edat e. Ma ybe f oran elep hant. Butnot  f or a human.H ewas now co nvi nced that th e h ump ov er  he r  bell y c ontai ned so m ething  a wholelo t  diffe r ent tha n Gi a Ma ria's gestating i n fa n t.

"May?" Elv is rep ea t ed i n a  no n-committa ltone. "That's aw a y s o f f yet."

"I c an wait," G i a M aria a ns wer e d, seg ueing  i n tothe friendl y ea sy chatte r shet houghts he wasenteri ngwit h th i sni cebo r der of fic e r.She shru gg ed . "Wh at c h o i c e do  Ihave ?" Th is girl, Elvi s t houg h t,was s ure n o Rh od es Sc holarcandi da te. At that poi nt E lvis arri ved  a t a  m ental crossr oad s.He dete sted th o sego d d a mn  mental crossroads  a l m os t as muc h as h e  d is l iked Fre nc h f ries w ithou t ca t su p. Theypopped up  a ll theti me. So me  of  th ose t i meshis he ad actua lly h e ated up as hep ondered the c r os s r oa d s ch oic es. This pa rtic u larcros s ro ads boile d dow nt oa  yes or no question .Should  be j ust tell thefeckless g i r l  to turn  aro u nd and go back to  Mexi co? This w a s not asubje ct he sh ared with o thers. A ctu all y,mak e th at no one. Na d i e. N ot  a soul . E lvis' b ord erexp eri en ce was li ke all t he  o th er  bo rdero fficers.  M ost  o f t he sm u gglers  they  cau gh tw ere  mules, mo r e  orle ss  ord ina ry  peop le w h o f or thei r various  re a sons  w er e vulne rable and des pe rate enoug hfor  money t o take t he risk of smuggling. T h e realsmu ggler s ra rely gotcau ght on  th e  borde r. The y wer ecau g h t, to o .  B utby  other law e nfo rceme nt  age ncies m ostly away from th e  ac tual border.
Lo ts o f ma rij u an a  sm ug g ler s didn't get in w hole lot o ft ro uble, even aft er  beingcaught.  Butt his gir l, with h er phonypr egna n t  be lly, was v ery like ly carryi n g har d  d rugs.  Co caine,  p rob ably.  Maybe met h. Or , on t he  outsi de, M ex ican bro wn heroin. Elvis stoodat his  ment alcrossroad s a n d m ade his c hoic e. He coul dn' t l et ha rdd rugsgetb yhim .  Andif h e  had turn e dthe g ir l around sh e w oul d hav e j u st tri ed i t again when Elvi s  wasn't around  and p rob abl y  mad eit through. Th e d ec i s ion wasma de. Elvis p icked th er oad a nd hea ded do wn it." Co m e with  me,  mi ss," he s aid  i n  Spanis h,  r e aching  tow ar ds her . GiaM aria ' s  eyes launched i nto a n ervou s  fl utter  t hat, wi t h he r extra lo ng lashes,looked  odd ly li ke beat in g butt erf ly  wings, wh e n Elvis t ook h er firm ly  bythe 
, she_said. Since_this was August and_she looked_like_she was_at_least seven or_eight months pregnant,_May didn't seem like_a likely due_date._Maybe for an elephant. But not for a human. He was now convinced that_the_hump over_her_belly_contained something a whole lot_different than Gia Maria's gestating_infant.

"May?" Elvis_repeated in a non-committal tone. "That's a ways_off_yet."

"I can wait,"_Gia Maria answered, segueing into the friendly easy chatter_she thought she was entering with_this nice border_officer._She_shrugged. "What choice do_I have?" This girl, Elvis thought,_was sure no Rhodes Scholar candidate._At that point Elvis arrived at a_mental crossroads. He detested those goddamn_mental crossroads almost as much_as he_disliked French fries without catsup._They popped up_all the_time. Some of_those times his head actually heated_up as he_pondered the crossroads choices. This particular_crossroads_boiled down to_a_yes_or no_question. Should be_just_tell the_feckless_girl to turn around and go_back_to Mexico? This was not a subject_he shared with others._Actually,_make that no one._Nadie. Not a soul. Elvis'_border experience was like all the_other border_officers. Most_of the smugglers they caught were mules, more or less ordinary_people who for their various reasons_were vulnerable and desperate_enough for_money_to take the_risk_of smuggling._The real smugglers rarely got caught on_the border._They were caught, too. But by_other law enforcement agencies_mostly_away from the actual border.

Lots of_marijuana smugglers didn't get in whole_lot of trouble, even after_being_caught._But this girl, with her_phony pregnant belly, was very likely_carrying hard drugs._Cocaine, probably. Maybe meth. Or, on the_outside,_Mexican brown heroin. Elvis stood at_his_mental crossroads and made his choice._He_couldn't_let hard drugs get by_him. And if he had turned_the girl around she would have just tried it_again when Elvis_wasn't around and probably made_it_through._The decision was made. Elvis picked the road and headed_down it.

"Come_with me, miss,"_he said in Spanish, reaching towards her. Gia Maria's eyes_launched into a nervous flutter that, with_her extra long lashes, looked oddly like beating butterfly wings, when_Elvis took her firmly by the