Page 29 of Operation: Silent Angel
“I have the team on standby,” Cooper said. “They’re ten minutes away.”
“I don’t like the sound of this conversation,” Mother transmitted. “I’ve heard this type of chatter before, and it usually indicates human product.”
“Why do you say that, Mother?” Mac asked.
“They’re discussing the conditions in which the product is being stored with the heat today and the ramifications of the funds already paid if any of the product expires,” Mother said.
“We need to find that warehouse ASAP, especially if funds have already been paid,” Briana said. She stood waist deep in the water in front of her and Roth’s chairs, where Roth still lay, reclined on his lounger in the shade of an umbrella. “When this guy leaves here, he could be going straight there to pick up his product.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Mother said. “And it sounds like it’s multiple items, not singular or two or three. The pronoun they, has just been used.”
“Mac, can you go with your asset and report back?” Cooper asked.
“Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing. Let me know when Hector leaves the pool.”
“Affirmative. It will be at least the time it takes for him to drink the mojito the waitstaff just brought him,” Cooper advised.
Briana kept her back to Ruiz and Hector and waded around the pool. She didn’t dare turn towards them as she didn’t trust her facial expression to remain neutral. Roth got into the water and swam towards her. He took her into his arms and whispered in her ear, “Relax, we’ll get to them in time.” Then he kissed her. To anyone watching, they looked like a young couple in love, enjoying their vacation.
Cooper notified Mac when Hector and his muscle left the pool area. Mac was already seated beside his local asset in his car in the parking lot, ready to tail Hector to wherever he went.
The team stayed on Ruiz, waiting for updates from Mac.
An hour after Hector left, another man approached Ruiz. He was older. Per Mother, his voice sounded American. And he carried himself like an Operator. “Yvette, get us any picture of Dyer you can get your hands on. I don’t care if it’s his high school graduation picture. We need something to compare with this guy.”
“Sending what I have through to your phones now,” Yvette said. “It’s from a very old unit photo. This guy’s a ghost. Shepherd hasn’t even been able to get a single photo of him besides this one. Someone scrubbed everything on him.”
“Sounds like CIA,” Cooper said.
“Then the Digital Team needs to track down and get a hold of someone who actually served with this guy who might be able to identify him from a current pic,” Garcia’s gravelly voice came through comms. “I’m messaging Hound dog to do that now.”
“Thought you were sleeping, Razor,” Yvette transmitted.
“I’ve been awake since Mac left the property. Any updates from him yet?”
“Negative,” Yvette reported. She wondered how he knew Mac had left.
“It’s been over an hour,” Garcia reminded her.
Yvette was well aware of what time Mac had left. She’d expected to hear something from him by now.
“This photo of Dyer is useless,” Cooper said. “It’s too grainy to make out important features. Can’t the Digital Team clean it up?”
“That is the enhanced version,” Yvette said.
“His new visitor is talking money with him,” Mother reported. “And it’s not a friendly conversation. It sounds like Ruiz owes this guy a lot and his patience to collect it is running low.”
“Dead men can’t flip to save their skin,” Lambchop said. “I’d hate to think we’re going to have to protect this guy.”
“Yeah, that’s not a palatable situation I’d like to be in,” Briana agreed.
“Mother, have they discussed exactly what the money is for?” Yvette asked.
“Negative, Control.”
“I’ve called the team that gave us the lift to standby in the parking lot to follow this guy if Mac isn’t back by then,” Cooper transmitted.
Briana’s gaze shifted to Cooper as he spoke. He didn’t move his lips. Anyone watching would never suspect he was talking, let alone transmitting. He actually appeared to be asleep in his lounge chair. Both he and Madison did.
