Parker studied the map a moment before speaking. "You pinpoint where Miss Starr and Agent Tanner are being kept?"
Ortiz used the cigar and pointed at a hand-drawn map pinned next to the bigger map. "Based on the body-heat scan, we're pretty sure they're here in the boatyard supervisor's office. The scan showed two hot spots side by side.
Other hot spots are here just outside the office door. We're sure it's their guards."
Parker raised an eyebrow. "You're going to run both missions from here?"
Ortiz motioned to a seated man behind a radio. "Bill is going to run the boatyard mission from here. I'm going to be with the Bravo unit at the estate. I want to make sure we get Terres alive."
Parker raised an eyebrow. "You guys in the DEA sure run things different than we do. The AIC always stays with the majority of his men. How many in your Bravo unit .. . twenty or so? You've got at least thirty here, not counting what's coming in on the birds."
Ortiz stuck the cigar back in his mouth. "I run it my way, Parker. We need Terres alive."
"Yeah, and I want Starr and Tanner alive, Ortiz. Seems to me your priorities are screwed up. The hostages come first."
"We'll get them, Parker, don't worry. You can go in with the assault team if you want. I'm sure my people can find you a gas mask and a vest."
Parker gestured toward the door. "Come outside a minute and let me show you something. Detective Faraday walked around your staging area earlier and found something you need to see."
"I don't have time; I've got a mission to--"
Faraday stepped behind Ortiz, stuck his snub-nose .38 barrel in his back, and whispered, "Look natural for your boys and just walk to the fuckin' door. You're gonna make time. Move it."
Once outside in the darkness, Faraday cuffed Ortiz's right wrist, swung it back, and cuffed his left. Parker knocked the cigar from Ortiz's mouth with one hand and with the other slapped a piece of tape over his mouth. He then grabbed his arms and shoved him toward a parked car beside the trailer.
Faraday opened the rear door, pushed Ortiz inside, and followed him in. Parker got in behind the wheel and started the engine. He backed away from the trailer and weaved his way through the DEA vehicles until a chain-link fence came into view in the headlights. Stopping the vehicle, Parker turned and held up a small black box with a digital display.
"You know what this is? It's the device somebody was going to use to blow the thirty pounds of C-4 we found in the side panels of that rusted abandoned van over there beside the fence. It's really a neat device . . . it had wires attached to it that led to a blasting cap stuck inside a block of the C-4. Sam, you wouldn't know anything about this device, would you?"
Faraday reached over and pulled the tape from Ortiz's mouth. "Yeah, Sam, you wouldn't know about that thing, would you?"
Ortiz growled, "I don't know what you're talking about.
What the hell is going on? What is this?"
"Funny, I thought you'd say that," Faraday said as his head bobbed. "Well, I got news, Sammy boy. We know you know. We did some checking on you. You know that young guy, the Colombian you said the cops found in the Dumpster close to the restaurant? Guess what? The body ain't in the city morgue. We talked to the morgue guys, though.
They say a guy was brought in from a Dumpster, all right, but he was in his forties . . . and he didn't have any Lancero tattoo like you said he did. You figured since you were runnin' the show nobody would check you out, didn't you?
Wrong. So, Sammy boy, looks like we got you. Now me and Agent Parker here been askin' ourselves how we should handle this. We thought maybe we should do the right thing and turn you over . . . but then there's that assassination of the senator to think about. His family we gotta think about, too, and the others your friend knocked off to protect himself. It was the family that made it easy for us. Guess what?
We decided not to turn you over. We got somethin' better in mind. Show him, Howard."
Parker turned the car around and drove in the opposite direction across the parking lot.
Ortiz blurted, "You two are certifiable. I don't know what in the hell you're talking about. I didn't have anythin--"
Faraday slapped the back of Ortiz's head. "Shut up and enjoy the scenery. We'll let you know when you can talk.
Oh, look, Sammy boy. Look at that old boat up on stilts just beyond that chain-link fence up ahead. By the way, you're sick, came down with somethin' real sudden . . . at least that's what Agent Parker is going to tell your boys. Your second in command is going to take over. In about twenty minutes your second in command is going to be called by your boss and told to put the operation on hold and fall back to another staging area. Guess where you're going to be?
Yep, you guessed it. You're going to be right here in your car, lying in the backseat, and the car is going to be parked next to the chain-link fence. . . . Yeah, beside that old boat."
"You can't do this to me!"
Faraday slapped the man's head again. "I didn't tell you it was time for you to talk."
Parker pulled in beside the fence, turned off the engine, and turned in his seat. "I'm sure if we told your people you'd sold them out they'd do a lot worse to you. Detective Faraday and I are giving you and your agency a way out of embarrassment. Gosh, we didn't know there was another bomb, did we, Ed?"
"Heavens, no, Howard, we didn't know. We were worried, though, when we found the one in the abandoned van, and pulled everybody back just in case. . . . Oh damn, we didn't check Sam's car, did we? Oops, we thought somebody took him to the hospital. Too bad about that. That bomb inside that old boat was made really good, too. Had bags of nails lining the inside hull, then the C-4 was laid in blocks over the bags, kind of like a giant claymore mine.
Guess ol' Sam never felt a thing. I hear all they found of him wouldn't even half fill a sandwich Baggie. Real shame."
"You're wasting your time; you're not scaring me," Ortiz said. "I don't know what you're talking about. I just know you both are in big trouble."
Parker said, "You hear that, Ed? He says we're in trouble."
Faraday patted Ortiz's shoulder. "Attitude, that's your problem, Sammy boy. I saw it right off when I first met you.
You got a real attitude problem . . . holier-than-thou type, ya look down your nose at everybody. And you know what else? You're dumb. You thought you could get away with it.
Dumb, really dumb."
Parker got out of the car and opened the back door.
Faraday shook his head. "So we're in trouble, huh? I guess that means you're really in some deep shit, then, Sammy boy. Not talking anymore, huh? I understand. I'd be thinkin' about all those nails, too. Okay, time for me to go . . . oh, I almost forgot."
Faraday suddenly grabbed Ortiz by the back of the head and slammed his head forward into the back of the front seat headrest. Pulling the stunned man back, he slammed his head forward again, then pushed the dazed man to the car floor. Parker slipped a plastic tie around Ortiz's ankles as Faraday took off the handcuffs and replaced them with another plastic tie that, once tightened, could only be removed by cutting it with a knife or scissors. Faraday wrapped another tie around the front-seat floor mount and passed it through the tie around Ortiz's wrists. Finished tightening the plastic band, Faraday patted Ortiz's face. "Sick boy, you're all set for the big boom."
Parker taped Ortiz's mouth, then set the small black device on his chest. "Take a look at the digital readout. It's counting down the time for you so you know when to shut your eyes before the boat bomb goes off."
Parker then hissed, "This is for Gus, and everybody else you sold out. Burn in hell." He shut the car door and joined Faraday. The two men exchanged nods and began walking toward the distant trailer.
Parker slowed his steps after ten paces. "You think he knows we disarmed it?"
Faraday shook his head as he kept walking. "Uh-uh .. . he pissed his pants while I was tying him to the mount. I figure he'll be Jell-O in another few minutes."
"You
goin' to tell me how you found out he was dirty?"
Parker asked.
"I told ya."
"No way you just had a hunch and checked the morgue for that body . . . it was something else. Come on, who told you he was dirty?"
"I told ya, Howie. It was a hunch."
"Well, how about using your hunching ability and telling me where to find Starr and Tanner."
"I told ya Agent Sutton was working it--but hers ain't a hunch . . . she calls it intuition. She'll call if her intuition checks out."
Parker halted and took hold of Faraday's arm. "You two are hiding somethin' from me. What is it?"
"Ah, now, Howie, we wouldn't do that. You'd better get goin' and get his DEA bunch stood down before they really screw things up by shootin' up the wrong people. I'm gonna borrow your car and see if I can help Sutton with her intuition."
Parker released his grip. "If I find out you two were holding out on me, I'll . . . I'll kick your ass, Detective."
Faraday held out his hand. "Give me your keys, and pray her intuition is right."
U. S Department of Agriculture, Miami office In the driveway behind the building, Ashley handed Eli his ID wallet. "I forgot to give you this when I saw you last. It's a reminder, Tanner, of who you are and who you represent."
Eli took the thin wallet. "I told you there was no other way to do this, Sutton. Stacy was my responsibility . . . it's my duty to get her out of there."
She held his gaze for a moment before motioning to the lighted loading dock behind her. "I've got it all set up. The inspector thinks we're working a drug case. Once the Tropic Zone people sign the paperwork, pay their fees, and load the plant, I'll do my act. You and that bunch behind you stay out of sight until I have the inspector ask the driver and his helper into the back room for my questioning. If they're wearing some kind of special company clothing, I'll bring their clothes out to you along with the plant's papers."
Ted stepped up behind Eli. "Thanks for helping us, Agent Su--"
"Shut up and step back," Ashley snapped. "Your deal is with Tanner, not me. I don't want to see your face or hear your voice. Get the others away from the light, too." She gave Eli a one-eyed glare. "I just hope you know what you're doing. Ed called just a while ago and said it was Ortiz, just like you thought. Parker is taking care of him and has the DEA operation on hold. Ed is on his way here. I'm going inside again and talk to the inspector before the delivery people get here. I'll signal you when you can come in." Ashley softened her stare. "Damn you, Eli Tanner-- make sure you don't get yourself killed." Turning, she strode toward the loading dock steps.
"She always that bitchy?" Ted asked as he stepped up beside Eli.
"She's not a morning person. Come on, we'd better get the vehicles out of sight and get ready."
Five minutes later, after moving the vehicles, the team sat leaning up against the outside back wall of the Department of Agriculture building.
Virgil leaned forward, looking at Eli in the darkness.
"You a vet, aren't ya? I saw that scar a' yours on your chest--ya get that in Grenada or Panama?"
"Vietnam," Eli said. "I was with the 101st Airborne in seventy-two."
"I knew it," Virgil said with a smile. "I knew you'd been in the machine. I'm ex-Army, too, SF."
Ramon slapped at Virgil's shoulder. "Why don't ya jus' give him your Social Security number while you're at it.
He's a fed, man."
Virgil slapped Ramon's shoulder in retaliation. "He's a vet first--he's a brother."
"You two sophisticated guys cool it," Ted snapped. "Keep focused on the op. Let's go over it again. Virgil, tell us your part one more time. Picture the sketch Bonita made for us and talk us through it so I know you've got it down."
Virgil closed his eyes, trying to remember the drawing.
"We go down the drive and come to the first gate. There's a speaker box there and a security camera. I say we're there for the delivery of the plant. The gate slides back and we drive about forty feet to the next gate. Two guards will come out of a small side gate. They'll be carrying poles with mirrors attached and will check under the truck for bombs and shit like that. They'll check me and Ramon out and will want to see what's in the back of the truck. I get out and walk back to the rear of the truck and unlock the back door.
Soon as I open it, Ted and Glenn take the two guards out. As they're doin' that, Ramon goes in the side gate and goes into the gatehouse; the panel is on the left. He hits the green button to open the gate, then walks into the security room and takes out the guy monitoring the compound's security cameras. Ramon gets back in the truck with me and we drive through the gate into the compound.
"The main house is on our left; guards' quarters are on the right. The chopper pad is just beyond it. We watch for the three pairs of roving guards Bonita says are always walking the grounds. We drive around to the far side of the main house, the west wing. The greenhouse sits alongside the wing. I back up to the greenhouse, stop, and Ramon and me get out. Mendez should be there and probably all four of his bodyguards. I give the paperwork to Mendez while Ramon is opening the back. He opens it and Ted, Glenn, and Agent Tanner are standin' there holdin' Macs with a drop on everybody. I grab Mendez. Ramon grabs me a Mac from the back of the truck, and he grabs the sniper rifle. He gives me the Mac and then he goes straight to the rear gate that leads to the dock. His job is to hold the gate for us. If the news lady isn't with Mendez, the rest of us move everybody inside the greenhouse and get Mendez to tell us where she is. The agent goes and gets her. Once he has her, we take her and Mendez out through the back gate and radio Bonita. She brings in the cruiser and picks us up and we take off."
Ted nodded. "Good, you've got it. Glenn, tell us what happens if we get in a firefight."
Glenn looked up at the stars. "If it turns to shit, we toss smoke grenades to hide us while we make for the rear gate.
Ted and I will stay to cover the rest of you. Once you're through the rear gate, we'll take up position just outside the gate and cover while everybody runs down to the dock, where Bonita will come in with the cruiser. Virg shoots up the cigarettes at the docks to make sure none of them can be used to follow us. Ramon uses the sniper rifle to cover Ted and me while we head for the docks."
Eli leaned forward. "Remember, if it turns bad before I find Stacy, I'm staying. I'll take my chances on Agent Sutton getting the cops to the compound."
"You won't have much of a chance," Ted said.
"And Stacy won't have any chance at all," Eli responded.
Ted shrugged. "Your funeral. Okay, I think everybody's got it. Remember, we plan on something going wrong, so Glenn and I will be wearing packs full of claymores and grenades. While we have everybody in the greenhouse, Glenn sets up the mines just in case. And remember, too, once we have the drop on them, everybody puts on their radio headsets. Bonita will have hers on in the cruiser, and I'll tell her when to head in for the docks."
Ramon leaned forward. "Any chance there's guards on the docks?"
"Bonita said they monitor the docks with a security camera, remember? With Mendez bein' at the estate, nobody should be in the cigarettes, either. But just in case, if Bo says she sees people, she'll tell us on the radio. Ramon, you'll take them out with the sniper rifle."
Ramon nodded. "Piece of cake, man."
Glenn motioned at the approaching headlights of a white panel truck. "Show time."
Chapter 22.
6:30 A. M., Mendez estate, Key Biscayne.
Holding a cup of coffee in one hand, Raul knocked lightly on the bedroom door with his other hand. He knocked again, opened the door, and entered the huge room.
Mendez sat in a wing-back chair putting on his socks.
"Good morning, Raul. I trust you slept well?"
Raul set the coffee cup on the table beside his boss. "It's early for me, Colonel. The delivery company called a few minutes ago and said they will be here at seven as promised.
I also checked in' on Miss Starr
. I'm afraid her lip wound opened again during the night and is quite swollen. She is very distraught."
Mendez stood and slipped his feet into tasseled loafers.
"She is a disappointment to me. I would have thought a woman in her profession would have been more accommodating. No matter, I'll not let her spoil my morning. Have Arturo stay with her in her room. Once the delivery is made, tell Arturo to take her fishing. . . . He'll also need to collect the FBI agent from beneath the Princess. Drop both their bodies into the Atlantic for the stone crabs. Come, I have time for breakfast before my new child arrives."
Raul smiled as he walked alongside his boss toward the door. "The DEA is in position to assault the Colombians. It won't be long, and they will no longer be a problem for us."
Duty Bound (1995) Page 34
