Chapter Nine
THE FORTRESS JET taxied down the runway, gathered speed, and lifted into the air with members of Echo, Artemis, and Jake Davenport aboard. Once they were airborne, the operatives gathered around the table at the front of the jet and began the tedious process of planning a rescue mission.
An hour into the flight, Seth’s phone signaled an incoming message. He checked the screen. “Maddox wants a conference call.”
Grant’s gut knotted. Something had happened in the hour since their jet had lifted into the air, something bad.
“I’ve got it.” Riley tapped several keys on her laptop. A minute later, Maddox’s face appeared on the wall screen where a satellite photo of Los Lobos’s compound had been.
“What happened?” Seth asked.
“Two things. First, Gerald White, Sean’s father, is going through back channels, offering money for the release and safe return of his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.”
Elias scowled. “Is he crazy? If Los Lobos get their hands on the money, crime in that area of Nicaragua will escalate and the Whites will die.”
“The State Department has been telling Gerald as much, but he won’t listen. He believes everyone has a price, and he’s determined to find Los Lobos’s tipping point.”
“Although they’ll gladly take the cash, they’re not after money. They want Pablo Aguado released.”
“Not happening. The president is holding firm. That’s why he asked your teams to go in after the family.”
Seth dragged a hand down his face. “How much time do we have?”
“Twenty-four hours at the most.”
A collective groan went up from the operatives. “By the time we land, it will be closer to eighteen hours,” Seth said.
“You've got it.”
“Does Los Lobos know Mr. White is coming?”
Maddox shook his head.
Grant breathed easier. That was something in their favor. “He’s planning to just show up at the gate of their compound?”
“According to what the State Department says, that’s the plan.”
“He’ll be lucky not to eat a bullet for that stunt. You said there were two things that happened. What’s the second?”
“The Hartman cops have a search warrant for your home and Rayne’s. By the time you step foot on US soil again, they will have completed the search and driven to Ardmore to do the same at Selena and Dante’s house.”
He got what his boss didn’t say. By the time Grant returned stateside, the Hartman detectives might be waiting for him and Rayne with arrest warrants. “Understood, sir.”
“If they move ahead with their plan like I expect, I’ll have Vince Hargrove ready to accompany you to the police station. You will not say a word to the police without Vince present. Am I clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Rayne, the same instructions hold true for you as well. You don’t talk to the police without Vince being in the room.”
“Understood, sir.”
Grant glanced at her, noticing her pallor.
Rayne was understandably afraid of what would happen when they returned home.
Jail was no place for former cops. Inside the lockup, they would be targets for the other inmates.
He covered her hand with his and squeezed.
“One problem at a time, babe,” he murmured.
“We’ll find out who killed Selena and Dante and nail his hide to the wall. ”
“Anything else we should know, sir?” Seth asked.
“I’m chasing a lead. I’ll let you know if it pans out. Maddox out.” The screen went blank.
“Back to work,” Iona said. “We have five hours to hammer out a plan.”
“Let’s hope it’s enough time to cobble together a plan but not enough for Gerald White to appear at the compound gates,” Jake Davenport said. “That man has more money than sense.”
Seth glanced at Riley. “Put the schematics back on the screen.”
For the next five hours, the operatives debated options for infiltrating the compound without being detected, finally settling on one that seemed to be the best choice. By the time the jet landed, they’d selected four more viable options in case they had to adjust on the fly.
Grant rolled his eyes. Like they wouldn’t have to adjust. Things never went according to plan.
He prayed they had enough options without having to create a sixth plan on the run.
But of course, they would. You couldn’t plan for every contingency.
That’s where instinct and experience rose to the surface and saved the day.
The pilot’s voice came over the intercom. “We’ll be landing soon, Seth.”
“Copy that.” He stood and gathered his empty dishes from the food they’d consumed during the planning session. The rest of the operatives did the same, then returned to their seats to strap in for the landing.
As soon as the wheels touched down and the jet slowed to a stop, Grant stood and held out his hand to Rayne, helping her stand. He reached into the overhead compartments above their seats and retrieved their Go bags.
Together, they made their way up the aisle to the exit at the front of the jet.
Although the moon was out, the air felt humid.
Grant grimaced. Not going to be a fun outing.
Not only would they be up against lopsided odds, they also had to contend with an atmosphere like a sauna.
Anyone who wasn’t used to it would have a difficult time navigating the soupy atmosphere.
He escorted Rayne down the stairs and joined the others on the tarmac. Glancing around, Grant noted the lack of lights around the private landing strip, the better to conceal unusual activity around the jet.
His gaze settled on the left side of the airstrip where three SUVs were parked with three men standing together, waiting.
Seth and Andre approached the men. Both appeared relaxed when they were anything but. Two minutes later, the strangers handed key fobs to the operatives, then loped off to a van waiting nearby. Once they left the airstrip, Seth and Andre returned to the teams.
“Split up and let’s move out. Olivera is happy to help Maddox, but we don’t want to draw attention to his cooperation. He’s worried about his family.”
“I don’t blame him.” Riley picked up her Go bag and slid it onto her shoulder. “Los Lobos has a big footprint in this area.”
“Jake, you’re with me and Teagan. The rest of you divide up between the remaining SUVs. The boss wanted to make sure we had enough vehicles to transport us and the Whites in case something happened to one of them.”
“Smart,” Andre murmured. He glanced at Grant. “You and Rayne ride with me and Riley.”
He gave a curt nod.
“Guess that leaves us to bring up the rear,” Elias said to Iona.
“Works for me. Let’s get out of here.”
Two minutes later, the caravan of black SUVs left the private airstrip without lights. They turned right onto a back road and made their way further into the countryside, heading for Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, a large tropical rainforest, a place Los Lobos used as a base for their operations.
An hour later, the operatives arrived at their chosen entry point to the rainforest. They backed into the treeline, parked, and then unloaded their bags.
“Gear up,” Seth ordered. “When you’re ready, we’ll contact Zane and have him link with us.”
“Thank God,” Teagan murmured. “For a job this dicey, I don’t trust anyone other than Zane to handle the tech logistics.”
“He’s the best,” Elias agreed.
After the operatives had donned their bullet-resistant vests, then added flash bangs, extra weapons and magazines, and more knives and grenades and supplies for Grant to create explosives if the operatives needed them, they slipped the Fortress comm devices into their ears and tapped them to turn them on.
Seth grabbed his phone, turned it to satellite mode, and called Zane. “Hey, we’re ready.”
Seconds later, Zane’s voice sounded through the comm devices in their ears. “Copy that. According to Maddox, there’s been no change in the situation with the principals.”
“Copy.” Seth signaled the rest of the operatives. “Let’s go.”
They set off at a slow pace, then increased their speed after their initial stiffness wore off.
While they ran, Grant stayed close to Rayne.
His lips curved. She was good at challenging him to run a little faster.
He would never be as efficient a runner as Rayne, unfortunately.
She ran like the wind, probably because she enjoyed the sense of freedom.
He slogged through runs like they were a chore to be checked off a to-do list because for him, they were endured.
He’d rather pump iron any day of the week or swim laps.
An hour into the run, Seth signaled the teams to stop and take a brief break.
While Grant and the others needed a break, the mission clock continued to tick in his head.
They were running out of time thanks to the machinations of Gerald White.
If Fortress didn’t get to the White family before Gerald made his pitch to the leaders of Los Lobos, not only would the White family die but Gerald likely wouldn’t make it out of Nicaragua alive either.
Seth glanced at Andre and used hand signals to send him on a scouting mission. After a glance at Riley, the operative slid his Go bag over his shoulders and soon disappeared in the thick foliage of the rainforest. Five minutes later, Seth signaled to move out.
The operatives resumed their jog through the rainforest, on high alert as they ran closer to Los Lobos’s compound. Fifteen minutes later, the group halted again when Andre emerged from the forest.
“Sit rep,” Iona said.
“Perimeter guards are posted half a mile from the compound. They’re spread out too far to be effective, but the men are heavily armed.
From the half-mile perimeter, guard posts are staggered closer to the compound itself.
” Andre grabbed a nearby stick and drew the rough outline of the compound and marked the spots where he’d seen guards posted.
Seth touched his earpiece. “Zane, did you copy that?”
“Got it. Pulling up a satellite image now. I’ll send it to your phones in two minutes.”
“Copy.” He focused on Andre. “Were you able to see the compound?”
“Yes, sir.” Again, he crouched and went to work with the stick.
“Guards are posted in these places.” Andre marked ten places along the compound’s outer perimeter.
“The only exceptions are the four guards on this building and this one.” He pointed to two structures on opposite sides of the encampment.
“That’s where the cartel is holding the Whites.” Teagan frowned as she studied the rough sketch in the dirt. “Depending on what we see in the satellite photo, I still think the best high ground to cover both buildings is here.”
Jake’s brows knitted. “Once you take a couple of shots, you’ll have to move. Otherwise, the cartel members will get a bead on your location.”
She smiled. “I have a list of potential places to set up.”
He grimaced. “Of course. Sorry. I’m just concerned about the children. The parents will follow directions. The kids might be too afraid to listen and obey a stranger with all the surrounding chaos.”
“You brought meds to knock them out if necessary,” Seth said.
“Yeah, but I don’t want to use the drugs if I can help it. I’m afraid it will traumatize them further.”
“We’ll help as much as we can, but ultimately, the call is yours. Our job is to make sure the Whites get out of here safely. You’ll have to choose how best to get them ready to move out in a hurry.” He glanced at Rayne. “We’re depending on your skill with kids to convince them to cooperate.”
“I’ll do my best, sir.”
“No pressure,” Grant muttered.
The operatives chuckled.
Grant’s phone vibrated, indicating an incoming message. He and the rest of his team glanced at their screens to see that Zane had sent two photos. One was a satellite photo of the compound. The second photo was the same with the addition of infrared images.
The group studied the photos for a beat. “The kids are here.” Andre pointed to the building on the other side of the compound from the Fortress entry point.
“Agreed,” Seth said. “Jake, that’s the target for you and Rayne.”
Grant tensed. They needed someone to watch their backs, but the teams were short one member. With Jake and Rayne focused on the kids, that left seven operatives to handle the cartel members and rescue Sean and Tara White.
He grimaced. Although they had faced worse odds in the past, the stakes were high. Grant and his teammates couldn’t afford to fail.
Seth turned to Grant. “You and Riley come into the compound from the north. Iona, you and Elias come in from the west. Andre and I will come in from the east. Teagan, wait for my signal before you open fire. Monitor the structure with the children once the gunfire begins. Grant, do you have some surprises ready for the cartel?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Excellent. According to the satellite image, the first perimeter is half a mile from here. Check your gear one more time.” After they did as he ordered, Seth said, “Split up and move out. Watch your backs. If you need help, sing out.”
Grant captured Rayne’s chin with his palm and turned her face up to his. “Be careful,” he murmured.
“You do the same.” She pressed a light kiss to his mouth.
Although reluctant to let her out of his sight, he released her and turned to his partner, Riley. “Ready?”
The computer expert nodded.
“Let’s go. We have parting gifts to leave for the cartel.” He had several explosive devices ready in his Go bag. If everything went according to Plan A, he would detonate the devices as a distraction when they fled the compound with the Whites.
Grant knew from long experience in the military and law enforcement, nothing ever went according to plan. That’s why he and his teammates had created four other plans to ensure their mission was a success.
So why did he feel as though he and the other Fortress operatives were walking into a trap?