Page 48 of Operation: Silent Angel
“I want more time to float in that Jungle Pool tomorrow before the plane picks us up,” Yvette said, standing and stretching.
“That does sound nice,” Mother agreed. “I say we come up with a rotation, so we all get one more swim while we keep him guarded.”
Mac pointed at Ruiz, in the center of the bed. “My only problem is he’s taking up too much space.”
Garcia went up to the bed. “Mother, give me a hand. We’ll move him to the couch.”
Ruiz slept through Garcia grasping him beneath the armpits. Mother grabbed him by his bound ankles, and the two men hefted him over to the couch.
“I forgot to mention we drugged him,” Yvette said. “I thought it was better to knock him out for a few hours than to have Madison kill him. He wouldn’t stop talking. I called Doc, and he walked me through how much of what to give him. He should be out for six more hours.”
Mac rolled onto the bed, claiming the pillow he’d been using. “Good thinking, Red.”
Garcia settled into the dinette chair. “I’ll take first watch.”
Yvette pulled back the covers and slid all the way over to Mac, taking her spot in the middle of the king-sized bed.
“Wake me up when you need to sleep,” Mother told Garcia before dropping himself onto the far side of the bed. He pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’ll let Lambchop know Ruiz is out for the evening so he can crash now too.” He tapped out a quick text message.
Garcia killed most of the lights in the room. He opened a chat box to the Digital Team to check in with them. He needed to know how much of what Ruiz gave them was verified. Hesuspected a percentage of it would be unverifiable or be proven to be complete bullshit.
***
Yvette slept more soundly for the six hours she was out than she had in days. She woke up to the incredible smell of coffee. She sat up, her eyes getting adjusted to the bright light that flooded into the room through the half-open curtain over the sliding glass door.
Mac and Mother sat at the dinette table sipping coffee. Ruiz was also awake, sitting on the couch, also drinking from a paper, to-go coffee cup. Mac handed her a large cup. She took a sip to test the temperature. It was cool enough to drink. She took a large swig.
“Where’s Razor?” she asked.
“Down in Lambchop and Laura Lee’s room sleeping. Those two are already out at breakfast and then will spend a few hours at the pool unless we need them,” Mac answered. “We decided until our ride out of here later today, unless he’s lied and we have to talk again,” he nodded to Ruiz, “we’d take shifts enjoying the pools.”
“Are the women still next door?” Yvette asked.
“Yes, they both stuck around,” Mother answered. “I checked on them this morning when I went to get coffee. We orderedthem room service. They’ll leave with us later today. Big Bear’s working on asylum for them.”
Yvette propped a pillow behind her back and got comfortable. Maybe it was still the adrenaline, but she felt restless, like something was not resolved. It was like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. She wouldn’t voice her feelings to the others.
“You want to grab breakfast and then float in the Jungle Pool for a few hours?” Mac asked her.
Her gaze darted to Ruiz.
“We’ve got him,” Mother said. “Coop and Xena are going to come take a shift when they’re done at breakfast before their pool time. We’ve kind of worked out a schedule so we all get some time at the pool.”
“When she gets here, I highly suggest you keep your mouth closed,” Yvette warned Ruiz.
“She’s the one you should drug, not me,” Ruiz said. “That chica loca is dangerous.”
“And you best not forget it,” Yvette said, smiling into her coffee cup. “Yes, breakfast and some pool time sounds good.”
Shortly after, Cooper and Madison arrived to help keep an eye on Ruiz. Mac and Yvette stopped at the coffee shop on the way to the breakfast buffet and each got another large coffee to takein with them. Roth and Briana were already seated, eating their breakfast. Yvette and Mac asked to be seated beside them.
“Good morning. Did you get any sleep last night?” Briana asked as they set their coffee cups onto the table.
“Yes, a solid six hours,” Yvette said. “We’re going to grab breakfast and be right back. Watch our cups.”
“You got it,” Roth said. He’d filled his plate full and was half-way through it.
Yvette filled her plate with a fresh-made veggie omelet, potatoes and a massive amount of fresh fruit. She returned to the table ahead of Mac. “What about you two? Did you sleep well?”
