After a Brief Respite, Again With the Distractions
Previous chapter: Complications Abound. Isabel meets with Elizabeth, then Isabel and Seacay discuss plans for taking the opposition out.
Isabel takes in my report. It’s clear they’ve been discussing strategy while I’ve been gone. The break from her was, as expected, good and bad.
Isabel pulls out some rolled up papers and places them on the table. They’re detailed structural blueprints for the building the rogues are occupying.
She points at the plans, looking at me, “You and I will go in here.”
Hmm, something I missed on my scouting. Just the thing for a covert entry.
She continues, “Jeff and Eric will provide a diversion.”
She details her plan. Excellent choices.
Looking at me again, pointing at the schematics, “Can you get in and put the packages here and here?”
I think for a moment, then nod. I’m familiar enough now with their activities.
We discuss the pros and cons of her plan, as well as alternatives, what-ifs, etc. It’s interesting to watch them interact together. They don’t use the hand signals very often. Certainly not when they think I can see them. It’s clearly something they don’t want to give up. I don’t blame them. In this business allies can become enemies and revert so many times. No sense in giving out your playbook willy nilly.
We settle on a plan and decide when to begin.
Later that evening, Isabel and I have infiltrated the rogue’s building and worked ourselves into a large ventilation duct. It’s just off the ground and we’re crammed in side-by-side. The opening is hidden from easy view by the shadow cast by a table pushed against the wall. We have some time to wait. Normally I use this time to evaluate alternatives and what-if scenarios, but every time either of us move I lose focus. I decide to try some crude humor to break the spell.
“So,” I whisper, “Bearded or Brazilian?”
In the dim light, I can just make it out as she arches an eyebrow in a question.
“Clam,” I clarify.
She pauses for just an instant, then responds with, “Didn’t you find out when you searched me?”
“I only patted you down for weapons.”
“Well, I guess it’s a mystery you’ll have to solve some other time.”
It worked. I’m able to ignore her body as it moves against mine and can get back to planning. Lose focus in this business and you wind up dead!
Our timing is off; we were expecting company sooner. I’m used to watchful waiting, I wonder if she’ll get bored like so many of my male peers. It’s because of those experiences I’ve worked alone this last decade. Depending on people who are undependable is a recipe for disaster. She does an excellent job of being still and appears to be alert. I think I hear the group entering now and cock my head to get better directionality. I can hear some talking and movement. I start to do some muscle tensioning exercises to get ready. She does the same.
The only door opens. Three guys walk in. One is obviously in charge. The others are clearly muscle, even without the sight of their weapons. I checked very carefully and feel confident that Isabel’s count of twelve is correct. The warehouse is large, but divided. They’re spread out. All we have to do is wait until the show starts. Which should be very soon, since we expected them earlier. Just minutes later we hear a radio key up.
“The tall one is moving around the front of the building. He seems to be on some sort of recon, but he’s a little obvious.”
The guy in charge looks at one of the heavies and tells him to look into it.
“Be cautious, she’s as smart as she is beautiful.”
The other heavy follows the first out the door. He stands next to it, leaving it slightly ajar. The guy in charge sits and looks at some papers on a desk. He studies them quietly. Right on time the radio keys up again:
“The other one at the back of the building. He seems to be trying to get past the alarms.”
He takes his radio and says, “The one in front is probably a diversion, spread out and keep your eyes open.”
He puts the radio down, then turns around to the floor safe. He uses a key, his thumb-print, voice recognition as well as a combination to open it. I understand now why Isabel was so insistent we wait for this. I doubt I could’ve broken into a safe like that without setting off the destruct mechanism. This is my cue. I carefully aim the needle gun at his neck. When he settles back in the chair, I pull the trigger. That way he doesn’t make any noise when he slumps. Part one is successful.
Opening the screen on the vent, we shimmy out. At the door, I have an excellent shot at the heavy’s neck. Pausing a moment to listen for movement in the hallway, I shoot him, then grab him as he falls. I ease him back into the room and close the door.
She’s gathering up all the documents in the safe and quickly scanning them. I look at her and she nods. I key up a radio, using a frequency we’re pretty sure they’re monitoring, and say in Brazilian Portuguese, “Now.” A second later I press the button that sets off the distracting outside explosions. That’s the signal for Eric and Jeff to vanish. The combination of them leaving, the explosions, and the fact that the guy in charge doesn’t respond to the radio should get the other ten guys stirred up like a nest of bees.
I go to the hallway, picking a location where I can see but am not easily seen. The next explosive charge cuts the electricity. Without a backup generator, the place is pitch dark. Except for the emergency lights. I shoot out the nearby exit signs with my silenced pistol, then switch back to my needle gun. I put on my thermal goggles and gas mask. Now I wait. With ten to go, I hope to get at least a few more before they get organized. Several come to check on the boss. I let them get down the hallway, then needle them from back to front. Five down, seven to go. Eric and Jeff start their part back up again: they fire in some sleepy gas and smoke canisters. The smoke is transparent to infrared, allowing me to see anything warm. I head out to go hunting.
The needle gun has a very short range and can’t be relied on to get through much in the way of fabric. I need to be close and have a clear shot at bare skin, ideally on the neck, which leads to an almost instantaneous response. I listen to the radio. There are few commands. They’ve been trained for this sort of thing, making them a little bit predictable. Putting that to use, I get two more. Five left. I scout around and find that three didn’t get their masks on in time. I needle them just to be sure.
If my count is accurate, there are two more somewhere. Jeff and Eric crash vehicles into opposite sides of the building. That should draw their attention if the remaining two got their masks on in time. There’s movement that looks human. I creep up to him. He doesn’t detect me and I get him. One left. I carefully scan the area. I see a heat signature that appears to be prone. I can’t tell if he’s out from the gas. I sidle up close and then toss a small flash bang to one side. I close my eyes, look away and cover my ears for the bang. The guy was indeed awake. I needle him. Now we should be clear.
I get on their radio, asking for a sitrep (situation report). I’m not getting any response. I call out to Jeff and Eric to do a sweep through the building to be absolutely sure. I head back to the office to check on Isabel. Earlier, I gave her the antidote, as she wanted to see if she could get anything out of the leader. She has him strapped to the chair with some wire ties, next to a small flashlight. He’s been roughly searched and his clothes are torn. They seem to be familiar with one another. She slaps him a few times, but that seems to be in frustration. I’m getting the impression she isn’t getting the information she wanted.
I ask her, “What now? I’m pretty sure we’ve contained the situation, but it’s going to be a problem to deal with all these bodies.”
“I’ve already made arrangements with the CIA to render these guys, all I need is to make the call.”
“If that’s the case then I think I’ll split. I don’t care to work with them.”
“OK, we can meet later.”
Next chapter: What is the Opposite of Kidnaping?