by J. M. LeDuc
Manuel’s eyes opened wide and his face lit up as he spoke. “I would build a home up on the mountain and send Serena to a private school so she could grow up with a future.”
“That doesn’t take millions,” Sin said. “What else would you do?”
“I would go to the villages where the parents sell their own children to the slave dealers and I would give them the money they need.”
“It sounds like you have thought a lot about this.”
“Si.”
Sin moved away from the door and sat back down. “I will make a deal with you, Manuel. If I find the money, we will split it.”
Manuel looked confused. “You are not the type to take anything from anyone. Why do you want the money?”
“For some needy people back home, but first we need some people who can get my unit into the building. Do you know four such people? I will offer them three thousand dollars apiece for their trouble.”
Manuel smiled. “That should not be a problem.”
“One more thing,” Sin said, “you are to stay here with Serena. I don’t want you anywhere near Puerto Cabezas. Is that understood?”
“Si, Angel, now why don’t you introduce me to your friends.”
“How did you know I had people outside?”
“The ‘woods’ have been quiet tonight. They are only quiet when there are predators around.”
Sin laughed as she opened the front door. “I have a lot to learn from you, Manuel—a lot to learn.”
Sin brought everyone up to speed and then addressed Manuel. “Where is the package that was sent here?”
“Ah,” Manuel said, “the package is why Serena was so, how you say, skittish. She helped me bury it in the backyard. She thought it might be a body.”
“Damn,” Garcia said, “how and what exactly was delivered?”
“I don’t know what was delivered,” he shrugged, “Two men burst into my house two nights ago at gunpoint. They dropped off a box and said The Angel would be coming for it. They told me if I opened it, or tried anything foolish, they would come back for Serena.”
“No one knew if you were part of a new ring,” Sin said. “They scared you as a precaution.”
“Si,” Manuel replied.
“Show us where you buried the package.”
Three of the men went with Manuel. They returned ten minutes later, sweaty and carrying a large wooden box.
Sin moved the table out of the way so the men could place it on the floor. “No wonder Serena thought it might be a body.”
Opening it, there was a smaller box for each of them with their name on it. Their personal weapons were inside the smaller boxes. Under those was a steel box with a skull and crossbones engraved on the top and two longer, heavier boxes next to it.
“What is in that one?” Manuel pointed to the skull and crossbones.
Sin lifted the small box and placed it on the table. Using a key that was tied around her neck, she opened the box so all could see its contents.
A whistle could be heard from one of her men. “That’s a shitload of C4, what the hell we blowin’ up?”
Sin never broke eye contact from the box. “Us.”
“Everyone check and double check your weapons. Garcia and Wilson, grab the last two boxes. Those are your sniper rifles, make sure they’re calibrated correctly. I want you to be able to shoot the wings off a fly.”
Sin opened the box with her name on it and pulled out her 45s as well as her razor and Balisong. There was also a laptop with a satellite connection in her box. Turning it on, she saw eighteen messages marked urgent. Every one of them was from Charlie.
Manuel saw her expression harden as she read the messages. “What is wrong, Angel?”
She ignored his question and typed in a code Charlie had given her. As soon as she had a connection, Charlie’s face appeared on the screen.
“We just opened the box,” she said. “What’s with all the urgent messages?”
“I’m glad you made it there without incident,” Charlie answered. “I was getting worried—very worried.”
“You’re not making sense. Start from the beginning.”
“First things first, what’s the story with Manuel?”
Sin glanced at her friend with a sense of pride. “There is no slave ring. Word was put on the streets that a new one was being run out of the hotel to keep people away. Manuel and others think Veloz hid money―a lot of money―in the hotel. The message was used as a form of traffic control.”
“I’m glad your instinct was correct, Sinclair,” Charlie answered.
“You know I can handle myself, so what else do you have?”
“I met with Frank after I met with you and Troy. I told him that you and your team were planning on leaving the country. I explained to him that you were able to ascertain that Westcott was the mole, but you had no hard proof. Frank said he would help in any way he could and would meet with Westcott to try and stop his vendetta.
“When Frank told me he was going to meet with Westcott, I asked him to plant a wire in the room. He agreed.”
“I’m not thrilled you involved Frank, but I trust your judgment. There is still something you haven’t said, you wouldn’t send this many messages just for that.”
“Frank put a tracer on Westcott. After their meeting, we were able to follow and watch him and four others in a rather intense conversation.”
Tapping could be heard and then four pictures popped up on the monitor.
Sin studied the pictures and turned the screen, so everyone could get a good look at them.
“Son of a Bitch!”
Everyone turned to Fletcher.
“You know them?” Sin asked.
“Yeah, they’re known as Satan’s Assassins.” He turned the laptop back toward Sin. “I hope your government hasn’t employed these bastards.”
“I wasn’t able to find any of them in the system,” Charlie said.
“That makes sense,” Fletcher said. “They are contract workers and they strictly work as eliminators—they pride themselves on the fact that they leave no trace or trail—they kill all contacts. All they care about is money. Nothing is off the board for these four.”
“It was ascertained that Westcott hired the assas―the men―and they are headed your way,” Charlie said. “If they are everything Fletcher has said they are, you need to alter the previous plan. You will need to stay in the black the entire time.”
Sin sat back in deep thought. “Charlie, can you get word through to Westcott that we are in Puerto Cabezas. I don’t want these animals anywhere near Manuel and Serena.”
“I’ll put up fake intel, showing you and your unit going straight from the airport to Puerto Cabezas,” Charlie said. “I’ll also have some ‘friends’ watch Manuel and Serena until this mission is over.”
“The same friends who delivered our hardware?”
“Yeah,” Charlie replied. “I asked them to stay local for a few days in case they were needed.”
Sin’s posture relaxed slightly as she heard Charlie’s words. “Thanks. If these assassins are even close to what Fletch just described, I want them headed straight to Puerto Cabezas, we will handle the rest.”
“Consider it done,” Charlie said.
“Thank you.”
“Sinclair, I have one other thing to discuss with you—privately.”
Sin took the laptop and sat on the front step outside. “I’m alone,” she said.
“I was able to figure out who Marilyn is.”
Sin stomped her boot off the wooden step and her heart began to pound against her chest wall. “Who? How?”
“Westcott screwed up,” Charlie said. “After Frank left the meeting, Westcott called someone on his private phone, telling them—her—that you left the country. He spoke of what he had planned and then he mentioned the Annual White House New Year’s Eve Party.”
“She’ll be there?” Excitement filled Sin’s voice.
“She will.”
Sin disconnected her signal after hearing the identity of the mysterious Marilyn. She was so pissed, she stayed outside for a while trying to regain her composure.
Thirty minutes later, Sin stubbed out another cigarette and rejoined her unit inside.
With Satan’s Assassins now headed to Puerto Cabezas, she needed a new plan, and she needed to come up with it by sunup.
55
Sin and her unit arrived outside of Puerto Cabezas at five p.m. There, she reviewed the plan one more time. She pulled a rough drawing from her pocket and laid it on the ground.
“This is the back door I entered when I hit Veloz.” She pointed to the columns in the room. “It’s the mechanical room and these are the support columns. Charlie confirmed my intel. We set the explosives and then lead Westcott’s men into the same room.” No one spoke as she folded up the paper and placed it back in her pocket. “When we approach the condominium, we need to show ourselves at the last second before entering. We need the assassins to follow us in.
“Garcia and Wilson, you will cover us from a distance. Hobson and Marcus, you will be their spotters.” She addressed the snipers, “If you think the assassins have the drop on us, take them out.” She pointed a finger at both of them. “The primary mission stays the same. I want the bastards to follow us into the building. You are to only terminate your targets, in dire circumstances. Affirmative?”
“Affirmative,” Wilson responded.
Garcia nodded, “Loud and clear, boss lady.”
Sin then split the unit in two. She would command Alpha team and Fletcher would command Bravo team. The teams were to stay on the outskirts of the city until it was time to be seen.
“Bravo, do you read?”
“Ten-four, Alpha. We have eyes on the prize from a half mile away.”
“Alpha team is within walking distance from target.” Sin replied. “I will confirm when the locals have spotted Westcott’s men.”
“Ten-four.”
Sin and Fletcher had the civilians memorize the faces of the Assassins before sending them into the town. As soon as they had a visual on them, they were to report back to the team leaders. With confirmation came payment. It would be the easiest money these men would ever make.
Sin sent her sniper team, Garcia and Hobson, dressed like locals to the rooftop of another condemned building opposite the condominium. Fletcher’s sniper team, Wilson and Marcus, were on a ridge on the outskirts of town—high enough up to have a clear view at the front of the Condominio Elegante.
It didn’t take long for the locals to find all of the men. Satan’s Assassins were spread out around the downtown area. Dressed like tourists, they blended right in.
“Bravo, this is Alpha,” Sin radioed. “I’m taking Johnson and Evans to make sure the building is vacant. I don’t want innocents hurt. If our ‘friends’ even breathe funny, I want to know.”
“Ten-four.”
“No one moves until I say so. Affirmative?”
“Affirmative.”
Sin and two of her unit made their way around the edge of town to the public pier and eyed her men. “The Assassins are keeping watch of the condominium, the only way in without taking a chance on being seen is by water.”
Sin led the others to the edge of the water and then under the public pier. “We have a hundred yard swim from here to the pier behind the condominium. We stay together and we stay below the surface.”
They each pulled a mask and snorkel from their gear bags, placed the bite piece in their mouths and descended below the surface.
Fifteen minutes later, they kicked to the surface behind the barnacled cement post of the hotel pier. After getting an okay from each person, she led them toward the tiki hut.
“From here, we enter the busted door in the back and make our way to the top floor.”
“If our objective is the foundation, why go to the top?” Evans asked.
Sin grinned. “Manuel thinks Veloz may have hid the money in the walls of his condo. We’re going to go check.”
She led them through the abandoned building―always on the alert for the gold hunters Manuel spoke of―retracing her steps from the last time she was there and into the apartment where she confronted and killed Veloz. As soon as they entered, they were struck by the smell of blood and decay. She knew from Charlie’s intel that Veloz’s body had been removed, but it was evident no one had bothered to clean up the mess.
Sin opened the door to the bedroom and the metallic odor of dried blood made her eyes water. Stepping into the room, she wanted to gag. She pulled her shirt up over her nose and mouth and pulled her seven inch dive knife from its sheath and waved them forward.
She tapped the walls with the butt end of the knife and continued until she heard a different sound―more of a thud than the usual hollow sound. Sin placed the sharp tip of the blade against the wall and drove the blade through the plasterboard using the butt end of her palm. She made a small hole with the knife, and the three of them began ripping drywall with their hands, enlarging the hole.
Sin shined her mag-light into the opening and found two large duffle bags. Her men dragged the bags from the wall, unzipped them, and found what Manuel had predicted.
Euros—millions in Euros.
Sin zipped the bags and checked her watch. “Time to move,” she said. “Evans, head to the first floor and place the C4 like we planned. Johnson and I will search the rest of the walls and follow.”
Evans gave her a thumbs up, grabbed the backpack containing the explosives and wires, and left to make his way down to the designated area.
Sin and Johnson checked the rest of the apartment but found nothing. There may be more, Sin looked at the two duffle bags, but this will have to do.
“Let’s move out,” Sin said grabbing one of the bags, “We’re running out of time.”
Johnson grabbed the other and followed Sin back down.
They found Evans in the mechanical room, duct-taping the last of the C4 to a support column. Sin walked around the room checking each placement and lead wire. Secure in where the explosives were placed, she eyed Evans for a confirmation.
“All set,” Evans said. “Every lead is programmed. The intervals have been set per your instructions.”
Sin balled up her fingers into fists. “Let’s move. I’ll radio Bravo that we’re on our way.”
At the pier, they geared up with mask and snorkel and hit the water for the swim back. With the added weight of the money, it was harder to stay on the top of the water, but the current was in their favor, so it made for a quick trip.
Forty minutes later, Sin’s unit was all together except for the sniper teams.
“It’s time to show our hand.”
“Affirmative,” Fletcher said. “Wilson says the assassins are getting antsy. If I was a betting man, I wouldn’t like our odds.”
“I’ve seen you in a casino,” Sin said, “I’m not too worried.”
Fletcher snickered. “You have a point.”
“Do your locals understand the play?” Sin asked.
“Yeah,” Fletcher poured on the Aussie accent. “They are to wait for all of us to enter the building, gather up any errant locals, and run like hell. They were told to keep running until they are as far from the port as possible.”
“Bravo sniper, do you read?”
“Loud and clear,” Wilson answered.
“I’m counting on you to hit your mark. Dial in and stay on target.”
“Affirmative.”
“Alpha sniper, do you read?”
“We’re all ears, Sin.”
“I need you and Hobson to follow Westcott’s men. If they splinter off, I need a constant update on who goes where. We’ll take care of the rest from the ground.”
“My eyes are on them as we speak,” Hobson responded.
“Good.” Sin looked at her team with admiration. “Let’s finish what we started, so we can s
tart a new life.”
56
Sin and her unit regrouped behind the cantina, across the street from the condominium.
“Garcia and Hobson tell me that Westcott’s men are in close proximity to the building. We need to approach from the sides and make a straight forward approach through the front doors.”
“Isn’t that a bit suicidal?” Fletcher remarked.
“You said they don’t leave witnesses, I’m banking on that fact. If they want to keep their identities hidden, they will wait for us to get inside the building before trying to take us out.”
“Makes sense, but if you’re wrong―”
“If I’m wrong, I’m counting on Garcia to take them out. If not, I will buy you a drink in the afterlife.”
Fletcher scrunched his face in a pissed off expression. “If heaven has a cash bar, that would really suck.”
Sin cracked a slight grin. “Yes, it would.”
Sin heard static in her ear piece, letting her know her spotter was about to break in. “One of Westcott’s bitches is reaching for his belt,” she heard.
Her fingers started to tingle at the words. The adrenaline rush was beginning.
“He pulled his phone from his pocket and he is talking.”
Westcott, Sin thought.
“From his exaggerated mouth and hand movements, I’d say he is pissed,” the spotter said. “He just slammed the phone down and is barking orders to his men.”
Westcott’s mad we’re still alive, Sin thought.
Sin forced herself to remain calm and stay in the game. “Alpha, we approach from the north. Fletcher, you lead bravo’s approach from the south. Let’s move out.”
“The assassins are checking their weapons and are splitting up,” her radio chirped. “Two are following your footsteps, two are following bravo.”
She and her unit entered the front door of the building and ran for the mechanical room.
“Their leader has sent two of them around the side toward the back of the building, the other two pulled their weapons and are storming the front entrance,” Hobson radioed.
