Abducted Page 8

  If the little ones would stop crying for their mothers, maybe she could fall asleep. Then she heard a massive explosion.

  “No, no” she cried. “I want my mommy!”

  46

  FROM THE COPILOT seat in the Sikorsky, Zach tracked the movements of the crew.

  “Here’s our best spot for infiltration. We hit this side and this corner. Tell Team Two to approach from the NW side and scale the most remote corner. There’s no one watching that part of the ship. As far as I can see all heat signatures are forward.”

  “Ok, good work Zach. Going in weapons ready. Anything that moves is dead. This is a rescue mission. Assume everyone you see is the enemy.”

  “Team Two, you got that? We have two each of the Spec Ops on board with us courtesy of Sam, but let’s leave them in the helos in case we need help coming back.”

  “Ready?”

  “Team Two ready, Luci out.”

  The girls knew this would be the tricky part. They were invisible in this weather, and Raven had already jammed all their signals. Still, they’d been tossed about like a rubber ducky.

  Using unique technology that hadn’t yet been approved for warfare, they scaled the ship in less than two minutes. They came in hot, weapons ready; knives, guns and a few other toys the ladies chose to use. But the team met no resistance.

  “We’re onboard,” Luci whispered into her communication gear. The winds made it impossible to hear them even if someone came through the hatch on their left. They cast their eyes towards the Captain’s Bridge assuming that on a night like this all hands would be inside or resting down below.

  “Luci to Helo 1.”

  “Check.”

  “Heat signatures. Any changes?”

  “No. Both S-97 teams on board. Proceed below decks.”

  Lorena was closest to the door, so she led the group below deck. One surprised crewman never got a chance to say his prayers. Luci’s knife flew over Lorena’s shoulder and stopped him in his tracks. Two more rounded a corner and Lorena opened fire with her AK-47.

  Voices and screams could be heard down the corridor to their left. They raced quickly into the bowels of the ship, Tasha keeping watch behind for more crew members.

  “Two, come in.”

  “Here, all accounted for. We’ve found the hostages. Blowing the door in two seconds.”

  “All secure here. Missing three of the crew, you killed them?”

  “Yes.”

  Lorena yelled in Spanish that they were here; all was okay but most important to stay away from the door. She waited until she got confirmation that the women and girls were back from the door.

  She used a small amount of C-4 to avoid human endangerment. The door was breached.

  Cries of happiness and words of gratitude could be heard throughout the room.

  Lorena smiled tears in her eyes, all the while calling for Alice.

  A young girl came up to her and said in a tiny voice: “Alice’s not here. A Chinese lady took her away.”

  ‘Oh my God, NO!!!”

  Luci fell to her knees cursing God and crying Alice’s name.

  47

  “CAPTAIN I’M SURE you know that this is your last voyage.”

  The Captain shook his head. He’d been forced into this work when the cartels took over so many of the shipping routes. The profits for trafficking drugs were enormous so they could afford to pay the shipping companies way more than they could make from any legitimate cargo. And when the cartels came to you, you had no choice. Agree, or you were out of business. And now there was so much money in human trafficking. But law enforcement didn’t care about coercion or excuses. You were guilty if caught, and your life was over.

  He was ready for whatever the system gave him.

  He would never find out. All of a sudden, an explosion rocked the bridge.

  They left one crew member outside the bridge alive to take them to Allegra.

  They found her drugged, barely able to walk, still in her gold disco dress. On her left wrist, she wore a band that read disco La Santa. When she found out her father had sent them, she smiled. Then she passed out completely.

  At that moment Raven’s phone started to vibrate.

  48

  Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean

  “ETA WOO?”

  “Midnight, European time Mme. We have changed course and are flying into Le Bourget. We have our customs inspector available to us. Of course, I had to promise a premium because of our late arrival.

  I advised him that we are traveling with your niece who lost her passport and is feeling very ill. That will allow us to bring her through sleeping. He will have an ambulance waiting on the tarmac. I have thought of everything Mme.” Woo bowed slightly. He was thrilled to be back in the service of Mme Anjou. He still had his own plans to put into place.

  “Yes, that sounds perfect. I haven’t decided what to do about the girl.”

  “I see. I have more good news Mme Anjou. The Markets in China have calmed down somewhat. But things will never be the same. From my estimations, Raven has lost one point five billion US dollars on the investments we manipulated. Even someone as wealthy as he has to feel that hurt.” Adrienne chortled as she sipped on her Champagne.

  “I know his man has our information on the OPM hack. What do you really think our chances are of getting that information back from Luke Raven?”

  “If it were only about money, we would have no chance whatsoever. But my sources tell me he has started a sexual relationship with the girl’s mother, Luci. Their friendship goes back to her Mossad days. But at the time he met the agent, he was still in mourning over the loss of his wife and child. If we use the woman’s daughter to bargain, we will get whatever we want.”

  “I remember that well, Woo. The destruction of his family unit on a diving trip was one of my finest moments.”

  “Well Mme, let us hope that we will have many more.”

  49

  The Green Star in the Pacific Ocean

  “SPEAK TO ME, SAMUEL. What did you find out?”

  “I just got word from Communications that Alice’s tracking device is over the Atlantic Ocean,” Sam answered.

  “A young victim who was with Alice has given me the description of a woman, who could be an Asian woman responsible for the death of my wife and child. I thought she was dead, but it appears she has risen from the dead. She picked up Alice before the children were loaded onto the Green Star” Raven added.

  The President of Mexico continued. “I checked all means of transportation around Manzanillo, and it turns out that a private G650 landed in bad weather and took off again within forty-five minutes. No one knows who was onboard when they left. It was a no-fly zone due to the torrential storms, but apparently, a Mme Anjou took off anyway. Even though I’m the President of Mexico, we are not authorized to shoot down French planes without a good reason.”

  “Understood. Do you have a flight plan registered for that plane?”

  “Yes. Earlier in the day, it was filed for Marseille. Then ten minutes ago updated for Paris. I cannot imagine they could waltz through Parisian controls with a child, probably drugged, and no passport.”

  “No. By the way, you’re welcome Sam!”

  “Ah, my friend, I am eternally grateful. How is Allegra?”

  “Your daughter will be fine. We will take her by Sikorsky to Guadalajara. We need to take on fuel first in Puerto Vallarta, but she will be home before daybreak. Tell the judge and Gabriel to meet her at the private terminal in Guadalajara.”

  “Thank you, Luke. I am in your debt forever.”

  “Don’t get all mushy on me, President Ramirez. We’ve got a drug war to finish. Now, one more thing.”

  “You name it Luke.”

  “I will work up a plan. We’re going after Alice. Give me some contacts in Paris and keep in touch. No sleep for you until we get Alice back.”

  “No problem. Tell your woman, Señorita Luci, that we will get her daughter back.” />
  “Watch what you say there amigo, Luci belongs to Luci!”

  They joked back and forth even though Luke knew this nightmare was far from over.

  50

  A desert in the Middle East

  “WHAT? WHAT DO you mean we’ve lost our cargo?”

  “We’ve been tracking the ship. It was stopped, boarded and turned around by the Mexican Navy. We had one video feed running that the cartel knew nothing about and managed to catch the shootout on the bridge. Faces were covered, but I’m certain I heard female voices!”

  “You must be mistaken, Ali. Show me this immediately.”

  Ali handed his tablet to Tariq. “See, this person here. Listen to the voice.”

  Tariq was fascinated. Who was this creature?

  “Wait. Look at the two with her. They are definitely women. What’s going on? This cannot be the Mexican Government. It’s definitely not their Marines.”

  They tried to get more Intel, but at that precise moment, all went black.

  “We used the satellite under our control to zero in on the Green Star. The storm is still nasty, but we could make out the shape of a Mexican Navy boat offloading our cargo. Then the Green Star was turned back towards the Mexican Port of Manzanillo with some damage on board.”

  Tariq threw his tablet across the room. The crack was like a rifle shot. Tariq’s anger was legendary. Ali stood silent, hoping he could remain invisible. Later he would go to his stash of tablets and set up a new network for Tariq.

  “We lost the cargo! The revenue! The money we already paid out by wire transfer when they boarded the ship. And we lost the girl. Ten million US dollars I paid for that girl! Something is going on here Ali. Find out immediately. And get that fuck Alejandro on the cell now!”

  “Tariq, that’s the part I didn’t finish.”

  “What now?”

  Tariq’s ice-cold demeanor made Ali want to run and hide.

  “Our man at the Port of Manzanillo said there was a major interdiction by Mexican Spec-Ops against the cartel. Outside of town, going North on Hwy 200. There’s a huge crater. Everything was destroyed. There’s a trail of debris down the side of a cliff, but that’s it. It will take them at least two days to fill the hole and repave the road. No one’s talking but my guy had his scanner on when the explosion hit. It was them. El Guapo and his guards plus the shipment of heroin. Gone.”

  “Gone.” Tariq was horrified. “What could cause something like this?”

  “Drones.”

  “But they don’t have that technology in Mexico.”

  “It looks like this whole scenario attracted the US somehow. The girl is the daughter of a Federal judge.”

  “And one other thing. Our man overheard reference to a Raven, like some kind of code name or something.”

  Tariq visibly paled.

  “Raven. I can absorb the loss of the ten million and the cargo. But to have Raven aware of our operation is not a good thing. He and his team destroyed Sying’s operation in Shanghai.”

  Tariq was silent, thinking.

  “This changes everything.”

  51

  Over the Atlantic Ocean

  “MME ANJOU, I have Tariq trying to connect. Do you wish to speak with him?”

  “Of course, Woo put him through.”

  “Mme Anjou. We have a problem.”

  “What do you mean Tariq? I personally witnessed your shipment offloaded and your new cargo loaded on the Green Star.”

  “Where are you?” Tariq demanded.

  “Don’t speak to me that way Tariq! Remember who you are speaking with!”

  “And I suggest I will speak to you in any way I wish! Your operation has been compromised.”

  Mme Anjou’s hand shook as she lifted her glass of champagne.

  “What do you mean?”

  “How secure is your line?”

  “Impenetrable.”

  “First my drugs have been destroyed. Guapo and his men are dead.”

  “Well, that’s terrible, but Mexico is a dangerous country for the cartels. They fight amongst themselves for drug territory constantly.”

  “How about the Green Star? It has been exposed, the ship boarded, and the cargo off-loaded to the Mexican Navy. And now the ship has been returned to shore.”

  “Oh, my. That’s not good.” Mme Anjou snapped her fingers, and Woo brought out her spreadsheet on her profit/loss of this operation. Tariq didn’t know about her precious cargo sleeping securely in the aft cabin.

  “You have cost me a lot of money with your lack of security and preparation. I will expect you to return me all my losses.”

  Mme Anjou laughed out loud.

  “Really? And why is that? We lose in business every day. Especially a risky business like this. You know that Tariq.”

  Tariq started a harangue in a language Mme Anjou thankfully did not understand. As far as she was concerned her profitable relationship with El Guapo meant that she could easily absorb one loss like this. Tariq, however, was a newcomer in this particular business arrangement. She would miss Alex, her trafficking connection, but she would find someone else to get into bed with. It would hardly make a mark on her bottom line.

  “And furthermore, I think there is a bigger problem than you realize.”

  “Why is that?”

  “We had a video feed on board.”

  That’s very interesting.

  “It seems that the ship was boarded clandestinely by three female operatives!”

  Sying gripped the phone. “What did you say?”

  “Women Warriors. Do you have any ideas who they might be? Are you holding back any information from me?”

  “Let me think about that.” Sying made an immediate decision.

  “Look I have something special for you. I have a young child with me on my plane. I brought her over for a Russian friend of mine. But I know she would be perfect for you. Shall I send her photo? She might make your losses less painful. Of course, she would be complimentary.”

  Tariq was pleased with the gesture. And although he could afford the losses an exciting addition to his “family” was always welcome.

  “Yes, that would be most amenable of you Madame. When and where might I take delivery of this person?” Tariq’s sexual proclivities were legendary.

  “I imagine you have people in Paris. Yes?”

  “Of course. And the means to transport from that city.”

  “I arrive in Paris Le Bourget in three hours. I would like this exchange to be done immediately. I have my connections that will allow the entrance of my cargo but if we can make this transfer before my arrival at the private terminal without going through the usual channel that would be perfect.”

  “But of course. I will arrange it immediately. And Mme Sying.”

  Annoyed at the use of her old name over any kind of communications, she replied stiffly.

  “Yes.”

  “Do not disappoint me.”

  With that Tariq closed his cell phone with a thoughtful smirk on his face.

  52

  Paris, Le Bourget Private Airport

  IT WAS A cloudy, moody Parisian night. The moon had appeared behind the Eiffel tower creating a perfect photo op for lovers, but by the time the Raven Group landed at the airport, the moon had disappeared behind black clouds.

  The coordination with Interpol and the French Anti-Terrorist Force, SDAT, was the most challenging part of the mission. The intervention of President Samuel Ramirez Ortega smoothed the way. Raven’s personal relationship with President Emmanuel Macron didn’t hurt also.

  There was a fair amount of air traffic considering the hour. But money and connections had their privileges. One was the ability to fly in and out of airports at any time of the day or night. The other was the use of a military jet that Sam had waiting in Guadalajara. The Raven Group had arrived fifteen minutes before Mme Anjou.

  The plan consisted of allowing the G650 to land and offload. When Sying came into the terminal with her pre
cious cargo, the team would be ready to act.

  Luci paced the private plane arrivals area fully armed, ready for the kill. Sying may think she had put one over on the group, but she was done now. They missed her once. Tonight, she would not leave a ten-mile radius of the airport without a bullet or a knife in her.

  Raven knew there was no talking to Luci. She was in the zone he remembered so well from their Mossad training days. It was her laser focus that made her Mossad’s top assassin. She’d given that life up for Alice. And now she would use her lethal skills to bring Alice home.

  They listened to Air Traffic Control as Sying’s jet landed and taxied to a private arrival area. They were doing some repair work around the terminal, so the group and their luggage would be brought into the customs area by vans. In the meantime, Luke’s Mexican military jet was being refueled and prepared to return to North America.

  Luke had Luci, Lorena, Tasha, and Zach with him in the terminal. RB and George each manned a vehicle outside in the no-load zone. They had visual contact with Sying’s plane. “Two minutes they should be in your sight, boss.”

  “Lots of chatter on the Air Traffic Control.”

  “Normal at this airport.”

  At that moment a van pulled up to entrance A-1. Luci could see two adults; a pilot and several pieces of Louis Vuitton luggage being pulled from the truck. She waited for more. There didn’t appear to be more.

  “Luke!!!! She’s not here. Alice is not here!!!”

  The team swarmed down on Mme Anjou. She bore no resemblance physically to Sying, but when she started to screech, Luci recognized her voice.

  “Where is my daughter?” Luci screamed.

  “I have no idea who you are or what you’re talking about.”

  Raven looked crazed. “This can’t be happening.” He looked around in a panic. Then he spotted the pilot. “Lorena, look after Luci. Zach, come. The pilot.”