“Bravo, this is Alpha,” Sin radioed. “I’m taking Johnson and Evans to make sure the building is vacant. I don’t want innocents hurt. If our ‘friends’ even breathe funny, I want to know.”
“Ten-four.”
“No one moves until I say so. Affirmative?”
“Affirmative.”
Sin and two of her unit made their way around the edge of town to the public pier and eyed her men. “The Assassins are keeping watch of the condominium, the only way in without taking a chance on being seen is by water.”
Sin led the others to the edge of the water and then under the public pier. “We have a hundred yard swim from here to the pier behind the condominium. We stay together and we stay below the surface.”
They each pulled a mask and snorkel from their gear bags, placed the bite piece in their mouths and descended below the surface.
Fifteen minutes later, they kicked to the surface behind the barnacled cement post of the hotel pier. After getting an okay from each person, she led them toward the tiki hut.
“From here, we enter the busted door in the back and make our way to the top floor.”
“If our objective is the foundation, why go to the top?” Evans asked.
Sin grinned. “Manuel thinks Veloz may have hid the money in the walls of his condo. We’re going to go check.”
She led them through the abandoned building―always on the alert for the gold hunters Manuel spoke of―retracing her steps from the last time she was there and into the apartment where she confronted and killed Veloz. As soon as they entered, they were struck by the smell of blood and decay. She knew from Charlie’s intel that Veloz’s body had been removed, but it was evident no one had bothered to clean up the mess.
Sin opened the door to the bedroom and the metallic odor of dried blood made her eyes water. Stepping into the room, she wanted to gag. She pulled her shirt up over her nose and mouth and pulled her seven inch dive knife from its sheath and waved them forward.
She tapped the walls with the butt end of the knife and continued until she heard a different sound―more of a thud than the usual hollow sound. Sin placed the sharp tip of the blade against the wall and drove the blade through the plasterboard using the butt end of her palm. She made a small hole with the knife, and the three of them began ripping drywall with their hands, enlarging the hole.
Sin shined her mag-light into the opening and found two large duffle bags. Her men dragged the bags from the wall, unzipped them, and found what Manuel had predicted.
Euros—millions in Euros.
Sin zipped the bags and checked her watch. “Time to move,” she said. “Evans, head to the first floor and place the C4 like we planned. Johnson and I will search the rest of the walls and follow.”
Evans gave her a thumbs up, grabbed the backpack containing the explosives and wires, and left to make his way down to the designated area.
Sin and Johnson checked the rest of the apartment but found nothing. There may be more, Sin looked at the two duffle bags, but this will have to do.
“Let’s move out,” Sin said grabbing one of the bags, “We’re running out of time.”
Johnson grabbed the other and followed Sin back down.
They found Evans in the mechanical room, duct-taping the last of the C4 to a support column. Sin walked around the room checking each placement and lead wire. Secure in where the explosives were placed, she eyed Evans for a confirmation.
“All set,” Evans said. “Every lead is programmed. The intervals have been set per your instructions.”
Sin balled up her fingers into fists. “Let’s move. I’ll radio Bravo that we’re on our way.”
At the pier, they geared up with mask and snorkel and hit the water for the swim back. With the added weight of the money, it was harder to stay on the top of the water, but the current was in their favor, so it made for a quick trip.
Forty minutes later, Sin’s unit was all together except for the sniper teams.
“It’s time to show our hand.”
“Affirmative,” Fletcher said. “Wilson says the assassins are getting antsy. If I was a betting man, I wouldn’t like our odds.”
“I’ve seen you in a casino,” Sin said, “I’m not too worried.”
Fletcher snickered. “You have a point.”
“Do your locals understand the play?” Sin asked.
“Yeah,” Fletcher poured on the Aussie accent. “They are to wait for all of us to enter the building, gather up any errant locals, and run like hell. They were told to keep running until they are as far from the port as possible.”
“Bravo sniper, do you read?”
“Loud and clear,” Wilson answered.
“I’m counting on you to hit your mark. Dial in and stay on target.”
“Affirmative.”
“Alpha sniper, do you read?”
“We’re all ears, Sin.”
“I need you and Hobson to follow Westcott’s men. If they splinter off, I need a constant update on who goes where. We’ll take care of the rest from the ground.”
“My eyes are on them as we speak,” Hobson responded.
“Good.” Sin looked at her team with admiration. “Let’s finish what we started, so we can start a new life.”
56
Sin and her unit regrouped behind the cantina, across the street from the condominium.
“Garcia and Hobson tell me that Westcott’s men are in close proximity to the building. We need to approach from the sides and make a straight forward approach through the front doors.”
“Isn’t that a bit suicidal?” Fletcher remarked.
“You said they don’t leave witnesses, I’m banking on that fact. If they want to keep their identities hidden, they will wait for us to get inside the building before trying to take us out.”
“Makes sense, but if you’re wrong―”
“If I’m wrong, I’m counting on Garcia to take them out. If not, I will buy you a drink in the afterlife.”
Fletcher scrunched his face in a pissed off expression. “If
