The Cartel Affair Page 3
“Thank you for that. Is your family safe?” “No ma'am. They’re currently missing.”
“I’m sorry. Please go find your family!!” “Thank you. I will.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Penya, my name is Sergeant Bones. I’m sorry to inform you that your son has been killed in defense of his country.”
“No, no, no, no, no!! This can't be happening. I'm not supposed to bury my son. He’s supposed to bury me. How did this happen?”
“I was on deployment and we got word someone may try to get to my family. Your son was part of a four-man security team sent to guard my home and family. All four members were killed. I want to tell you how sorry I am for your loss. Your son was a fine man and Marine. I personally wanted to inform you and your family to show you the respect that his sacrifice demands.”
“Thank you. How is your family?”
“They’re missing.”
“Oh my god!!! I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you. If you don't mind, I’ll go and try to find my family.”
“Good luck Sergeant. I hope they’re all right.”
EIGHT
Camp Pendleton, California
“ALRIGHT GENTLEMEN, I’VE done what I needed to do. There has still been no contact from anyone or demands given. There’s only one reason for that to happen. They know I will not allow that to happen and they know I’ll come after them to get my family back. They’re counting on that to try to take me out. Gentlemen, I’ll by the grace of God, give them that opportunity!!! I have given you time to think about this and talk to your families. I need to know if you’re with me on this. What say you one and all?”
“We have talked to our families and we have talked as a team. We took an oath to become Marines. We don’t take that oath lightly. We’re all Uncle Sam's Misguided Children. We fight together, we die together. Semper Fidelis. So, say us all!!!”
“Semper Fidelis Marines!! Let's go wreak havoc and mayhem upon those against us!! Let's go unleash Marine Recon force upon the world!! Roll call. Spider.”
“All in.”
“Boomer.”
“All in.”
“Muskrat.”
“All in.”
“Falcon.”
“All in.”
“Squeaker.”
“All in.”
“Guardian.”
“All in.”
“Beaver.”
“All in.”
“Trojan.”
“All in.”
“Brutus.”
“All in.”
“Merlin.”
“All in.”
“Genius.”
“All in.”
“Tinker.”
“Gone, but never forgotten.”
“Digger.”
“Gone, but never forgotten.”
“Gadget.”
“Gone, but never forgotten.”
“Dragonslayer.” “All in.”
“Our objective, Marines, is a winery and vineyard in Napa Valley. Its 1,000 acres. Here are the aerial maps of the property. They chose this property, thinking we wouldn’t notice traffic in and out of a public place, that being the rub here. We have innocents to look out for and to protect. Genius, you scout and provide intel. Falcon, you've got aerial intel. Guardian, Trojan and Merlin, you protect the innocents. Spider, Boomer and Muskrat, once we know which building, you have breach detail. Squeaker, monitor all locals and military. Beaver and Brutus, you have target detail. I’ll be on overwatch. Wheels up in 20, gentlemen.”
NINE
Napa Valley, California
“OK GENTLEMEN. THE target is Oakville Winery. One thousand acres. Six hundred and thirty acres of vineyards and over 300 acres of preserve and family estate. It’s been here since 1903. Let's try not to destroy it unless we have to. Belongs to the Pelissa family. We’re coming in on the other side of the ridge from them. We’ll split up on the ground and meet up at the top side of the property 500 yards out. That’ll be the staging area. We’ll gather intel and move out from there. We move at dark. Keep your head up and your asses down. Get ready to drop. First team, steps up. Green light. Five, four, three, two, one. Line clear. Second team, step up. Green light. Five, four, three, two, one. Clear. All right, going dark now. Another day in paradise. Thirty-degree uphill grade, 90 pounds of gear in late August in California. Hikers to the left of me.”
“Form up on me. Squeaker, get coms up. Genius and Falcon, get me intel. Make it legit. Genius, keep your head up and ass down. I got your back. Check public buildings first, then start with secondary structures. Save the house for last. Squeaker, I need any and all layouts for the buildings so we don’t go in blind. Guardian, Trojan, Merlin and Boomer, corner watch. Squeaker, what’s the traffic?”
“Green across the board, Skipper.”
Travis recalls how each member of his team got their call signs.
Genius, aka Cpl. Leon Hatfield, can get into or around any security systems. He can get into anywhere or anything.
Falcon, aka Cpl. Lee Davis, is in charge of all aerial intel from satellites to calling in airstrikes and all things aerial in between.
Guardian, aka Cpl. Lewis Turner, is responsible for securing all locals and innocents involved in all operations.
Trojan, aka Cpl. William Smith, is responsible for any and all diversions needed to complete operations. He is very creative.
Merlin, aka Cpl. Terry Wilson, is our wizard in residence. He makes magic happen when we need it to happen. He can take a Volkswagen and make it appear to be a battleship.
Spider, aka Cpl. Thomas Massey, is our expert at climbing and rappelling. He can climb a glass wall and never leave a fingerprint.
Boomer, aka Cpl. Richard Jones, is the explosives expert. He can blow a hole the size of a dime or big enough to float a carrier through. Muskrat, aka Cpl. David Thomas, is our resident water expert. He’s a real-life aqua man.
Beaver, aka Cpl. Robert Stanfield, is our blockade man. He provides blocking anywhere it’s needed.
Brutus, aka Cpl. Wilson Plumer, is the muscle in the group. He never goes down and can move anything from people to walls.
Squeaker, aka Cpl. Peter Hernandez, is in charge of communications. He can find anybody or anything that has a frequency.
Tinker - killed in action. He could take two screws and duct tape and build an atom bomb.
Digger - killed in action. He took care of all things subterranean and anything needing uncovering.
Gadget - killed in action. He took care of making anything needed to complete the mission.
I’m called Dragonslayer, aka Sgt. Travis Bones. I do sniper and overwatch detail. I take care of the guys and remove any threat to the mission. The team calls me Skipper and I run the team and operations.
“Squeaker, I need intel yesterday.”
“Roger, Skipper. There are two men on the front door to the winery. There are five more around the equipment shed 15 feet to the left. Three vehicles not belonging to the winery are parked under the trees behind the equipment shed.”
“Falcon, confirm.”
“Roger, Skipper, confirmed.”
“The two at the front door have earpieces and look to be armed. The five around the equipment shed have earpieces too. They’re visibly armed. They’re playing the shell game. Less is more. They have them in the winery. They want us to come to the shed. We assume they know I’m not alone.”
“Genius, breach the fence and get me exact locations for all outside bodies. The five at the shed are hired to draw us to the equipment shed. The two at the door are the original team that did the grab. There will be one more of the original team somewhere. Most likely inside with the hostages. Guardian, Trojan, Merlin, protect the house and stop anyone coming in to the winery. Spider, Boomer, Muskrat, get ready to take out the two at the front door and wait for my command to breach. Beaver and Brutus, get ready to snatch and grab on my command. Squeaker, find their frequency and jam it on my command.”
“Everyone g
o to com two now. Guardian, status.”
“The five at the shed are as follows: one on each corner, one watching vehicles.”
“Squeaker, you got that frequency yet?”
“Roger, Skipper.”
“Jam it now. Guardian, take out the target at vehicles. Check vehicles for keys. Spider, status.”
“In position, Skipper.”
“Roger that. Hold for my command. Falcon, have support on standby.”
“Roger, Skipper.”
“Spider, Boomer, Muskrat, drop back and coordinate the strike with Genius at the shed. You have the green light to execute when ready.”
“Roger that.”
“Beaver, Brutus, standby for Spider, Boomer and Muskrat to execute.”
“Roger that Skipper, holding.”
“Support on standby, Skipper.”
“Roger that. Genius, status.”
“Targets down. Keyes secured. Three bugouts to position, Skipper.”
“Roger that. Spider, status.”
“In position, Skipper.”
“Squeaker, how are we looking?”
“Green lights across the board, Skipper.”
“Roger that. Everyone go to com three now. Genius, secure bodies in vehicles.”
“Roger that.”
“Boomer, hang back on the breach in case we find a surprise. Spider, green light to execute with a soft breach.”
“Roger the soft breach, Skipper.”
“Outside targets are down. Breaching the door now.”
As the team enters the doorway, the target shouts:
“Stop!! Look down gentlemen. That mat is a pressure switch. It’s wired to the explosives behind you on the wall. In addition, notice a thumb plunger in my hand. That’s wired to the mat also. If you shoot me, you die. Notice I also have your family tied to that tank. The guns are pointed to them. I have another thumb plunger in my other hand. It’s wired to the guns. Shoot me - they die. Here is what’s going to happen. You’re going to call your man in, and he will come unarmed. I’ll kill him in front of his family, and then you can all go. Call him now.”
“Skipper, we have a problem.”
“What is that?”
“We’re on a pressure mat wired to a thumb plunger the target’s holding. Shoot him and we die. Good news is, Sarah and Jamie are here and alive. Bad news is, he has guns trained on them wired to another thumb plunger he’s holding. Shoot him and they die. He wants you to come down unarmed. He said he’s going to kill you in front of your family and then let us and them go.”
“Bullshit. He’ll kill me, then them, then you. Tell him I’m on my way. Unarmed. Boomer get eyes on the situation and get me a viable firing solution. I need it yesterday.”
“Roger, Skipper.”
“He’s coming down unarmed.”
“Falcon, get support hovering close by. That son of a bitch does not leave here alive!!”
“Roger that.”
“Boomer, I need that solution now.”
“I can get to the wires going to the mat, but the ones going to the guns I can’t. Can't tell which plunger goes to which one.”
“Ok, here's the plan. Genius, you come in the back door when I enter the front. Boomer, on my command you get the wires to the mat. The target will not let me get close because he knows I’ll try to grab his hands. He can’t shoot me because both his hands are busy. He either has someone else there or he has a plan I don't know about. I think he’ll try to shoot Sarah and Jamie in front of me and then shoot me. He’ll probably try to blow us all up after he shoots them. Genius, on my command take him out and I’ll rush him and try to get to the plunger before he releases it. Shoot him at the base of the skull and shatter the spinal cord. That may keep him from releasing the plunger. It's very risky but I don't have any other options. Spider, you guys don't move off the mat until Boomer checks everything. Spider and Merlin, on my command, shoot the guns. Brutus and Beaver, take out anyone that might pop up. Everyone wait for my command. The command will be, ‘Where is Senator Baker?’ Execute on Baker. Tell him I’m coming in.”
“Roger that Skipper.”
“He’s coming in.”
“So, we finally get to meet face to face Sergeant. I expected you to be bigger.”
“So, you’re the low life son of a bitch that sold his country out for a few coins. Too bad you won't live long enough to spend it.”
“On the contrary Sergeant. I’ll spend mine and their shares. I’m assuming since I can’t raise my men that you’ve dispatched them all?”
“Just like I’m going to do to you, you rat faced bastard.”
“I really don't think you’re in any position to make such an assumption.”
“Where is Senator Baker?” Shots are heard.
“Sarah, are you and Jamie ok?”
“Yes, I think so!!”
“Gentlemen, clean it up and get ready to go.” Sergeant Bones cuts his wife and son loose.
“I love you Sarah. I’m so sorry this happened.”
“What in the Hell was this all about?”
“My last mission. We found a mole in the government and I couldn't get to you before they did. Come here and hug Daddy, Jamie. I love you so very much!! Do you know that?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Don't you ever forget that, ok?”
“Ok, Daddy. I love you too.”
“Falcon, cut support loose. Squeaker, break it down. Everyone meet at the equipment shed. We’re going to base. Let's get you and Jamie to safety. We aren’t finished yet. Squeaker, inform the Director and the General we are headed in and to have an ID team ready.”
“Roger that, Skipper.”
“Let's move out, everyone.”
TEN
Camp Pendleton, California
TRAVIS BONE’S WORLD seemed right at the moment. His family’s safe, and his team is in one piece. God is good today. If he only knew what the next few days held in store for him, maybe he wouldn’t be so complacent. Once at the base, Sarah and Jamie are debriefed and put in a car to go stay with friends in San Diego. Travis stays behind to find out who the men were that took them. He wants to find out how far up the chain this goes and what they can prove and not prove. He wants to trace the men and money to the source.
Sarah and Jamie say their goodbyes to Travis and head down the coastal highway to San Diego. If Travis sends them to see friends in San Diego at the base, nobody will be looking for them there and his friends will keep them safe until he can get there. Little does Travis know this will be the last time he sees his family alive.
“General Stevens Sir, have we found out the names of these guys yet?”
“Yes Sergeant, we have. The bodies belong to the three teams that received payment. All except one. He’s not among the bodies. We are one body short of having three teams.”
“Do we know who he is and where he is right now?”
“We know who he is, but we can't find him anywhere that he should be. His name is Don Williamson. He is ex-S.E.A.L. and a nasty piece of work. He was dishonorably discharged after he went rouge on his team, killing two and injuring three. He was part of S.E.A.L. Team Three. I believe you trained some with those boys, didn't you Travis?”
“Yes Sir, I did. Good bunch of soldier’s, Sir. I always thought there was a little something off with Williamson. Something just didn't set right about him.”
“He did this and disappeared before we could get him. We’ve been looking for him ever since. We never did come up with a reason until we heard he was running a three-man team on the black market. Nothing seems to be sacred to this man. He would kill his own mother if the price was right. I guess in his case, money talks.”
“Squeaker, Boomer, Brutus, I need you to hit the road and find Sarah and Jamie. Make sure they’re safe and bring them back here where we can watch them and keep them safe. Falcon, get a bird in the air and find them and keep overwatch until the boys get to them.”
“Roger that, Skipper.”<
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“You don't think he would go after them now, do you?”
“That's exactly what I think. He knew we would come in hard and fast to get them. Dammit!!! He’s the safeguard. I should have caught that when we first saw how many men were on scene. This is my fault!!!”
“Stand at ease Sergeant. You can’t think of everything all the time, soldier.”
“Begging your pardon Sir, that’s exactly what you trained me to do and what you expect each and every time we go out, Sir. That’s why we are 300 and zero, Sir. All 300 missions we have run, we won because of just that. The one time it matters most, and I screw the pooch!!!! Dammit!!!! Excuse me Sir, but I need to take a minute to get back in the game.”
Travis Bones walks out of the room. He finds the chapel and does something he hasn’t done in a very long time. He falls to his knees and asks God to please keep his family safe until they can be brought securely back. Travis has not talked to God in a very long time. He thinks that with what he does for a living, God wouldn’t listen or understand how he could break the commandments and still be saved.
“God, I know I have not been a good Christian. I know I have failed you in every way possible, but please God, I’m asking you to help keep my family safe until I can get them here and protect them. I promise to become a good Christian and raise my family in the church if you will only do this one thing for me. I know I’m not worthy of asking for this, but I AM asking for this. Please God, save my family. They should not have to suffer for my sins. I already have to live with what I’ve done. Don’t punish them for my sins.” Travis slowly rises and walks back toward destiny.
“What the Hell do we know about the money and where it came from?”
“We know the money came from the cartel, but I doubt we’ll ever be able to prove it. We know that the only person that could have given your name up is Senator Baker, but what we don't know is how he got the info. We’re still working to find out how.”
“Director Turner, who besides yourself had access to the information?”
“No one that I know would have access. The file was kept in my private safe in my office. Oh my God, my secretary has the combination. He must have gotten to her. I don't know how or when, but you can damn well bet that I’m about to find out. Excuse me while I make a call and get the ball rolling.”