Page 16 of Operation: Silent Angel
A short time later, Yvette and Mac reported to Shepherd’s office. Cooper and Madison were already there. Briana and Garcia entered behind them, Garcia closing the door when he saw all were present at the conference table. On the wall monitor was a split screen. One side displayed Lambchop and Mother. Yvette recognized the background, indicating they were on the agency Lear. On the other side of the split screen, Laura Lee Saxton and Sebastian Roth were displayed. Roth was clearly driving a caralong a highway. Saxton leaned over the center armrest to keep them both in the camera shot from her phone.
“Sorry to have interrupted your current assignments,” Shepherd said. “This is a high-priority, time-sensitive mission.”
“For those of you who do not know him, this is Interpol Agent Seth Makris, Mac,” Cooper said. “He’s asked for our agency’s help in apprehending a wanted human trafficker with multiple Red Notices from Interpol member countries. Mac located him, checked into a resort north of Cancun. That’s where we’re heading tomorrow.”
“This is an intelligence-gathering mission on the front end, concluding with an extraordinary rendition, most likely to our Silo. You’ll check into the resort as three couples, with Garcia and Yvette staffing our onsite Ops Center. Mother, you’ll be Mac’s partner and personal security for the Op,” Shepherd said. “We’re banking on our target engaging in illegal activities while at the resort and hope to identify his contacts before we grab him up.”
“This mission does carry with it significant danger as our target is connected to multiple cartels, so don’t let the luxury resort and bikinis fool you,” Cooper added.
Madison snorted out a laugh. “He’s already picked my bikini out. Sunburn is also a real danger with this mission too.”
A few others chuckled, including Yvette and Mac.
“Mac, fill them in on our target,” Shepherd prompted.
When he was through sharing his information about Eduardo Ruiz, he ended his narrative by saying, “He’s always armed and won’t hesitate to shoot in any environment. Civilian casualties are not a concern for him, but I do believe the even bigger danger will be from cartel security if I’m correct that he’s conducting business with cartel leaders while at the resort. They should be easy to identify; that’s the good news.”
“If you identify cartel security, you give them a wide berth and try to conduct surveillance without being spotted as doing so,” Shepherd said.
“That’s why we’re running three couples so that no one person or couple will be constantly seen watching Ruiz,” Cooper added. “And couples at a resort are less conspicuous than single men or men in pairs.”
They went over the rest of the plan, including how they’d get Ruiz out of Mexico, exfil on the private DEA plane out of the clandestine airfield northwest of Cancun. Shepherd already had the transportation into and out of Mexico arranged.
“Okay, pack light as you’ll be smuggling weapons and equipment into the resort inside your luggage,” Shepherd said. “And be prepared to show passports at check-in at the resort. That’s standard at any of the resorts for them to identify their guests. He turned his attention to Yvette and Mac. Angel relayed that she has you two booked on an early flight out of O’Hare tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, we’ll get things ready for the team,” Yvette said.
“And re-establish surveillance of Ruiz. When I left yesterday, he was working on his tan by the Preferred Club infinity pool.”
“Who says crime doesn’t pay?” Lambchop said, his and Mother’s images still on the monitor as well as Saxton and Roth’s. “Shep, do you need us to return to HQ when we land?”
“Negative. Go home and see your family. That goes for all of you. Intel will be pushed through to your emails on our target and the resort. Study it and report to HQ by zero four hundred tomorrow.”
“Roger that,” Lambchop acknowledged. They were due to land around sixteen hundred. That would give him a good five hours at home with Michaela and baby Stephanie before he’d go to bed. A smile came to his face at the thought of spending time with his baby and his wife before holding her in bed that night.
Others also acknowledged Shepherd’s order, and the room began to empty as the monitor went black.
“Roth and Saxton should be back at HQ by fifteen hundred,” Madison told Briana. “You can take off then as well. Go home and get your bikini packed for the trip.” She paused and chuckled. “Will that give you enough time to hand off your current Domestic Violence Case?”
“Yes, I already have a meeting with Becca, Eddie, and Tommy scheduled,” Briana answered. “So, I need to leave room in my bag for weapons, ammo, and equipment?”
“Yes,” Madison said. “It’s a nice resort, so you’ll need some sundresses in addition to bathing suits, but leave space for some equipment and weapons. And make sure you pack black pants and a shirt in case we need to move around while it’s dark out undetected.”
“I’m going to have to hit a store on my way home to pack,” Yvette told Mac. “I don’t own a bathing suit, unless I won’t need one.”
“Good try, Red,” he said. “Yes, you’ll need one.”
They left the building and drove across the ring road to the mall, where Yvette power-shopped at one of the large department stores, securing a bathing suit, cover-up, and several sundresses. From there, they went back to her house. It didn’t take long for her to pack, and they found themselves with several hours to kill before they were due at Garcia’s for dinner. They had no problem filling the time, or rather, enjoying each other in her bedroom.
***
An odd feeling settled over Mac as Yvette put the car in park in the driveway of the townhouse that she indicated belonged to Garcia. Mac couldn’t fathom how the man he knew as Razor had become a married man with a kid and a mortgage. It boggled his mind.
He followed Yvette to the door. Music was heard from inside through the door, which was left ajar, the Stones by the sound of it. Now, this was indicative of the man Mac knew. Yvette rapped her knuckles against the aluminum trim of the screen door.
“Oh, hey,” Garcia said, swinging the solid front door open.
Mac saw the miniature version of Garcia in his arms, right down to the band t-shirt on the little boy. Damn if it wasn’t a sobering sight.
