Coleman grabbed four of them and handed them to Michael. Next, he grabbed two handles and lifted the top section out of the container, revealing a cache of weapons also set in foam cutouts. Coleman snatched three MP-5 submachine guns and a sniper’s rifle from the container along with silencers and ammunition clips. After closing the airtight trunk, he and Michael handed it back over the side to Stroble and Hackett. They took the trunk back down to the bottom and covered it with rocks. When Stroble and Hackett were back on board, Coleman raised the anchor and headed back across the Bay on a southwesterly course. Stroble and Hackett checked all of the weapons to make sure they were clean and well oiled and then packed them into waterproof backpacks. When they were finished, Hackett took the helm so Michael and Coleman could get ready.
Everyone was fitted with a waterproof radio and headset that was worn under their wet suits. About a half a mile from Curtis Point, Coleman took back the helm and slowed the boat to about ten knots. He pulled to within about a quarter of a mile from shore and
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turned south, counting the houses as he went. When they passed the sixth house in from the point, Coleman told Stroble and Hackett to put on their night-vision goggles and scan the ridgeline of the cliff and the docks for people.
The entire shoreline consisted of an elevated cliff that ranged from fifty to eighty feet in height. Arthur’s estate sat in the middle of a small swale. The cliff on either side of his estate was about ten feet higher than it was in front of his. Stroble and Hackett announced that no one was in sight. Coleman continued for another four hundred feet and pulled to within thirty feet of shore, cutting the engines and dropping anchor. Before leaving the bridge, he turned off all of the running lights. It was a good night for reconnaissance.
What little moon there was, was sitting low in the night sky and partially obscured by clouds.
Coleman gathered everyone close together for a radio check and quick briefing. He spoke in a low whisper. The acoustics of the water caused sound to travel much farther than people realized. “All right, I’m Zeus, Michael is Apollo, Dan you’re Hermes, and
Kevin you’re Cyclops.” Hackett smiled at the code name, which referred to the sight on his sniper’s rifle. “Everyone check your watches. I’m reading nineteen zero eight on my mark.” Coleman waited for his watch to strike 7:08 P.M. and said, “Mark.” Everyone synchronized their watches. “Arthur’s estate is loaded with motion sensors, laser trip wires, and tremor plates. There is no way we are going to sneak in there without being noticed. What I want to do tonight is get a better look at the two neighbors’ yards and get a general feel for the layout.
Kevin, I want you and Dan to scout out the neighbors to the north. As far as I can tell, their security systems are for their houses only, not the grounds. Make sure you check out the dock and the stairs leading up to the house before you use them. When you reach the top of the cliff, check out the fence that runs between Arthur’s yard and the neighbor’s.
Kevin, as soon as possible I want you to find a spot in one of the big oak trees that run along the property line. If anything goes wrong, I want you to be in a position to give us cover if we need to bug out.”
“What are my rules of engagement?” asked Hackett. “I want to get out of here tonight without anyone knowing we were here.”
“What if he steps out for one of his cigars, and I have him dead in my sights?”
Coleman pondered the question. “I’m tempted, but the answer is no. I don’t want to rush into anything. We are here to gather information and get out.” Michael, Hackett, and
Stroble nodded. “If something goes wrong and one of his guards opens fire, take him out.
Otherwise let’s keep our fingers off the triggers One more thing, the wind is out of the east. Keep that in mind if they start patrolling with the dogs.” Everyone nodded. “All right, be careful.” Stroble and Hackett sat down on the diving platform and put on their fins and diving masks.
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They stuck their snorkels in their mouths and slid into the water, quietly swimming away. Before Michael and Coleman got in, Coleman asked, “Do Recon Marines know how to swim?”
“No.” Michael smiled. “I thought you were going to tow me in.”
“Good one. Let’s go.” The two slid into the water and headed for shore.
They sliced through the water using only a leg kick, the large black fins making the task easy. The only thing showing were the thin black snorkels and the top of their masks.
When they reached the dock of the neighbor to the south of Arthur, they swam ashore and took their backpacks and diving masks off. Coleman whispered into the tiny microphone hanging in front of his mouth, “This is Zeus, we’re ashore, over.”
“This is Cyclops, we’re almost there, over.” Michael and Coleman knelt on the small strip of sand between the water’s edge and the cliff.
Craning his neck backward, Michael looked up at the dark wall of rock.
It looked to be about the height of a three-story building. Coleman tapped him on the shoulder. “Get your gear ready. I’m going to take a look at this dock and see if it has any security devices.” Coleman pulled the night-vision goggles down and waded out into the water.
Without touching the dock, he looked underneath it to check for wires or cables.
When he got out to the end, he swam under the huge yellow-and-white tarp where a thirty-six-foot Chris-Craft was docked.
After checking the entire dock, he swam back to shore and grabbed his backpack.
Michael had already put a magazine into Coleman’s MP-5 and attached the silencer. He handed the weapon to Coleman, and the former SEAL checked to make sure a round was in the chamber and the safety on.
Coleman looked at Michael with a grin. “Do you remember how to do this?”
“It’s coming back to me.”
“Good. Let’s go.” Michael followed as Coleman led the way up the stairs.
