Page 47 of Casey's Hero

“What’s it to be, Hank? Go through the patio door or sneak around to the side door?” Jacob asked.

“With six guns pointed at Hawk, we might want to get half of us inside before they notice us,” Hank said. “Jacob, you and Maddog take some men around the side. Check out the front as well, before you commit to going in. Give me a headcount of bogeys, and let me know when you’re ready to breach.”

“Roger.” Jacob grabbed Rex, Teller, Levi and Boomer and headed around the side of the building. They met up with Maddog and spread out. Teller and Levi stayed at the side door. Rex, Maddog and Jacob continued around to the front of the building, again, Jacob on point.

As he neared the front of the structure, he slowed and eased his head around the corner.

Two men stood guard at the front entrance made up of a massive, arched double door. The concrete and stucco wall had a wrought iron gate that was closed for the night.

The guards at the front of the house walked out to the gate and spoke in Spanish to two more guards on the other side. One of them offered a guard on the outside a pack of cigarettes. The man took them, shook out two and handed back the pack.

A match illuminated the guard’s face as he lit his cigarette. He said something, laughed and returned to his post on one side of the gate. The other guard stayed to talk with the inside men for another moment before he lit his cigarette and went back to his post.

Jacob slipped around the corner and spoke to the men with him and into his headset. “Two guards on the front door. Two more on the exterior gate. Maddog and Rex, get over the wall and take the exterior guards. Boomer and I have the doormen.”

“Careful not to alert the others,” Hank warned. “We don’t want to give the guys inside any reason to start shooting.”

“Roger,” Jacob said.

Maddog and Rex were already at the side fence. Rex cupped his hands, Maddog stepped into his palms and pulled himselfonto the top. Before Jacob or Boomer could assist, Maddog reached down and pulled Rex up beside him. The two men disappeared over the top, landing softly on the other side.

Jacob peered around the corner again.

The men at the door leaned their backs against the wall, their weapons hanging loosely by a strap around their necks. The man nearest to Jacob yawned. His head dipped until his chin touched his chest.

“Closing in on door guards,” Jacob whispered into his mic.

“Closing in on gate guards,” Maddog said.

Boomer touched Jacob’s shoulder. “I’ve got your six.”

With one of his team behind him, Jacob hugged the front of the building, treading as lightly as his water shoes could go. He slipped up on the guard closest to him. When he was near enough, he grabbed one of the man’s arms, twisted it up behind his back and clamped a hand over his mouth.

At the same moment, Boomer launched himself past Jacob and slammed into the guy on the other side of the door. He hit him so hard he toppled over, landing flat on his back, the air knocked from his lungs. Boomer flipped him over and shoved his face into the dirt. “Move, and I’ll break your neck,” he said, hoping the man spoke enough English to understand his intent.

Jacob pulled out the small roll of duct tape he’d stuffed inside his wetsuit and slapped it over the guard’s mouth. With the zip ties he carried in a pocket on the side of his calf, he secured the man’s hands behind his back. He moved to assist Boomer as he bound his captive and covered his mouth with duct tape. Once their captives were immobilized, they dragged them back around the corner, out of sight of anyone exiting or entering the compound.

Sounds of a scuffle came from the other side of the fence.

“Maddog, report,” Jacob said.

“Two bogeys secured,” Maddog said.

A moment later, Maddog and Rex opened the wrought iron gate and joined Boomer and Jacob inside the compound’s wall.

“Check the other side of the structure,” Jacob said.

Maddog jogged to the other end of the front and disappeared around the corner. A moment later, he reappeared. “Clear. No other doors.”

Jacob squared his shoulders. “It’s show time.” In his mic, he reported to Hank, “Going in.”

“Will await your report or cue if you need help,” Hank said. “Let us know if you need a diversion.”

“Roger.” Jacob placed his hand on the door and eased it open.

The front entrance opened onto a marble-floored foyer with a two-story, cathedral ceiling and a sweeping staircase leading up to the second floor. Through a long hallway to the left, Jacob could see to the end where it led into the living area where the drama was taking place. No one stood between the foyer and the living room.

A female was shouting in Spanish.

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