“Got it.”
“Understood.”
“We’ll make it happen.”
“From there, it will be a pretty standard rescue, except that we hope to enter using the key Sister María so bravely provided rather than breaching charges. Hopefully, that will buy us some time.”
Andris took it from there. He clicked the computer’s trackpad, and a satellite image of the warehouse appeared on the screen. “Once inside, Cruz and Jones will head straight to the basement to free the hostages, while McManus, Segal, Isaksen, and I clear the building. Tower and Corbray will keep an eye on the street in case these bastards have backup. We are not taking prisoners. Am I understood?”
It was shoot to kill.
Dylan didn’t have a problem with that. These bastards worked for a drug cartel and a corrupt government official who killed anyone who got in his way and who had chosen to abduct US citizens. There was a price to pay for that kind of shit.
“Once the hostages are free and the building is clear, we’ll take the stairs up to the roof for exfil. A Sikorsky S-76B will drop out of the sky to ferry us to a US navy vessel sitting offshore in international waters. Tower and Corbray will meet us on the roof with the gear from the apartment.”
With the broader plan outlined, they broke it down into small details.
Dylan, Jones, and Segal would sell off the rest of their black market wares this afternoon, including the beer and thecocuy, which they hoped to get into the hands of the bad guys.
Segal would stay at the apartment and maintain surveillance while Dylan and Jones drove to the drop zone to pick up Team Two. He would make sure to leave the window facing the warehouse open in preparation for Tower and Corbray so there would be no sound or movement to draw the guards’ attention as they got into position.
Before firing shots, the men would break down all of the surveillance equipment and laptop and get it ready for Tower and Corbray to carry to the warehouse roof.
“Easy-peasy, huh, boys?” Shields smiled.
But Tower was dead serious. “I do not have to emphasize how critical it is that every step of the operation is carried out to perfection. You are the best of the best—elite warfighters with the skills to work privately. Your lives, the hostages’ lives, and the future of US-Venezuelan relations depend on us getting this right.”
When he put it that way…
“We’ll see you all tonight,” Tower said.
“Godspeed.”
The screen went blank.
Dylan stood, stretched. “You heard the man. Let’s make it happen.”
They had a lot to get done between now and oh-two-hundred hours.
* * *
“No,puta, you stay up here tonight.” Pitón was in a mean mood and drunk again, this time oncocuyhe’d bought from the spec ops guys. “Gordito, you go be with the hostages.”
Gabriela stood rooted to the spot, a bad feeling in her chest.
“I’m not leaving her with you, you drunkmaricón. The boss will feed your balls to his dogs if you touch her.”
“Shut up!” Pitón was apparently too drunk to care what hisjefewould do. He drew his pistol and pointed it unsteadily at Gordito. “Get down there with the hostages,mamagüevo, or you’ll take a swim with Topo.”
Gordito drew his firearm, too, but walked backward toward the stairs, his face dark with fury. “If anything happens to her, I’ll kill—”
“She’ll be fine.” Pitón grinned. “Do you think I would hurt a nun?”
“I’m sorry,Hermana.” Gordito disappeared down the stairs, leaving her with Pitón and a handful of his men.
Just great.
As she’d done before, she retreated into the role of a nun, feigning serenity. She looked for something to do, a way to occupy herself, but it was after midnight, supper long over, the dishes already washed and dried.