Vengeance For Gabriel, page 23
Dela Cruz was supplying the most ruthless people in the world with laser guided weapons, dirty bombs, and money to create political and civil unrest. He was blurring the lines of idealism, fueling acts of violence. He had been instrumental in creating chaos within the Philippines for years, but now was moving on to a bigger fight.
After seeing Kali off, Dela Cruz made his way below deck again. Once inside his communications center, Juan Dela Cruz sat back in his chair and thought about how proud his brother Gabriel would have been of him.; if only he were standing by his side at this very moment. But that was the point today, Gabriel was gone, and the FBI was about to pay for that in a big way. Yes, the people that were associated with the FBI were going to pay too, and it would be in a lasting pain, not a simple death, he wanted them to suffer without the money they had worked so hard for.
Money after all, was what drove the western world, not religion or beliefs, and the infidels were to have their day of reckoning today! Dela Cruz knew the money could never bring his brother back, but it would certainly allow him to disappear while the chaos he ignited ensued.
He once again put on the music from his favorite opera. He raised his right hand and kissed his ring engraved with an angel. He looked at the photo of his twin brother Gabriel that he had taken from the FBI’s files when he initially hacked into their computer systems over twenty years ago. It was the same photo Roger and Michelle had recently seen. He rubbed his hands together and cracked his knuckles as he went through a mental checklist of what he needed to do next.
Dela Cruz cranked up the volume a bit more and focused on his keyboard, then began typing like mad. When the opera’s crescendo approached, he would stop typing and sing aloud then return to his keyboard. He was typing in tempo with the music, enjoying his concert. He also paused occasionally to conduct his orchestra, waving his arms about as he always did when executing his plans.
The bank of computer screens in front of him had come to life when Dela Cruz started typing. Numbers were streaming in columns next to text that read Transfer Complete on every line. Thousands of lines of transactions scrolled along. The largest numbers on the screens represented the multiple banks in Malta he was transferring the funds to. These numbers climbed steadily as the rows of accounts being wiped out continued to scroll by. His bank balances began to bulge only slightly less than his eyes. The music was blaring now.
Meanwhile, as John and the team came closer to the yacht, he slowed down and shut off four motors so he could make their approach as silently as possible. Because Dela Cruz’s yacht was at anchor, John was hoping no one was watching the radar, or his presence would have been detected by now. He also knew Dela Cruz had no reason to believe any uninvited guests would be paying him a visit.
Suddenly the unmistakable sound of a helicopter passing overhead could be heard by the team closing in on the yacht. The sound was moving south, which had to mean Dela Cruz and Kali had concluded their business and Kali was heading back to shore. This was a good thing as the team would have less resistance to address now that Kali and his two bodyguards were no longer a consideration in their boarding plans.
Roger knew the fog would still be helpful in dampening the engine noise but would provide less cover as it thinned out. As John continued their approach, he cut down to a single motor, further reducing his speed. Slow and steady he drew closer to the yacht until they reached a range of about five hundred yards.
As John pressed on, Dela Cruz’s yacht intermittently came into view through the patches of fog that passed between them. John cut down to an idle speed and after two more minutes he came to a stop, now only sitting adrift about two hundred and fifty yards out from the yacht. They used this opportunity to put on the Kevlar vests and do a final weapons check.
Marco took a position in the bow of the boat where he could steady himself. He used a pair of binoculars, sweeping across the decks, assessing the situation. He spotted two armed sentries with automatic weapons hanging from their shoulders on the uppermost decks of the yacht. He also noticed the transom of the vessel bore the name Gabriel in large gold letters. Marco satirically confirmed what they already knew in a whisper. “We are in the right place.”
Marco picked up his high-powered rifle and used a life vest to rest it steadily on the gunwale of the boat, then used his scope to confirm what he had seen with the binoculars. He scanned the decks for additional targets, however, the real question on his mind was how many more armed men might come from below? It was obvious that there was nowhere to hide out here if things went bad.
John stood ready at the helm knowing his best protection would be found by running back, deep into the fog bank. However, that was not an option if they were going to take Dela Cruz down today. Roger and Michelle also took defensive positions along the gunwales of the boat, preparing to fire or return fire if necessary.
Marco could see one of the sentries in the cross hairs of his sniper rifle. He was checking his range while making mental adjustments. There was no wind, just heavy humidity from the fog. He was timing the slight undulating movement of the ocean. Marco took a deep breath and exhaled, then fired.
Marco’s first shot found its target and pierced the bodyguards head without making much of a sound that could be heard on the yacht. Marco put another round in the chamber, settled and fired. The second bodyguard fell to the deck, it was like shooting targets at the arcade for Marco. Roger and Michelle were very impressed by Marco’s skill. Marco reloaded. The team sat silent for a few seconds, rocking in the water, then John brought the boat closer.
There was no commotion or response from the yacht until they were about fifty yards away, then a man appeared from below with an automatic weapon, apparently to investigate something he heard. Marco fired; he was three for three now as another body hit the deck.
Unfortunately, the third man had already gripped the trigger of his weapon and went down spraying bullets about the stern of the Gabriel. The sliding glass doors to the salon shattered, a few rounds punctured the hot tub while others made holes everywhere in the fiberglass of the yacht, thereby alerting others aboard, who came to defend the Gabriel.
Chapter 45
The Firefight
A firefight ensued between Roger’s team and the remaining crew aboard the yacht. The team took heavy fire as John maneuvered the boat to provide a slightly better angle of attack. Roger returned fire first, clenching his teeth and emptying an entire thirty round magazine as he swept back and forth across the transom of the yacht taking out two more crew members. Marco picked off another shooter and Michelle opened fire while Roger swapped out his magazine. Michelle took out a shooter that appeared on the upper most deck.
They were now only taking fire from two shooters that remained. These two men took cover behind a heavy table they had flipped over which proved to be no match for Marco’s next shot that easily tore through the two-inch-thick red mahogany. Another of Dela Cruz’s men went down. This left only one shooter to contend with. The last man standing on the yacht tried to climb a staircase to the upper deck. Roger landed a shot right between his shoulder blades and the firefight was over as the man fell from the ladder.
All this was taking place while Dela Cruz worked in his soundproof room, totally immersed in his opera. He was however, monitoring the firefight taking place topside on his state-of-the-art surveillance system. Dela Cruz could see his hired hands falling one by one. He went about his work transferring funds that would render all those who worked with and for the FBI financially broken. They were paying the price he had levied upon them to fund his future and settle the debt he believed the FBI owed his brother.
Juan Dela Cruz just continued typing in rhythm with the opera, seemingly unphased by the activity taking place around him. He did not know today was the day the FBI would find him, but he knew they eventually would. He took comfort in the fact that he had planned for this moment too. He did not intend to put up a fight if his hired guns failed in their assignment, he still had cards to play in his game. It was after all, still his game being played on his terms. And most importantly, he was not ready to meet his brother Gabriel in heaven just yet.
John made a quick survey of the borrowed boat; she was entirely seaworthy. A considerable number of rounds had pierced the hull, without anyone getting hit. It was what John called a good day at work. Marco, however, would have some explaining to do for the damage to the boat, which was inconsequential right now. Everything was calm again, so on Marco’s signal, John moved the boat closer until Marco was able to tie up on the port side at the stern of the yacht. Marco, John, and Michelle leapt off their boat onto the yacht and checked each assailant to see if anyone was still alive, while looking for Dela Cruz. There were no pulses and there was no Dela Cruz to be found on the outer decks. Meanwhile Roger grabbed the smaller green duffle bag he had brought, then boarded the yacht too.
The team moved to the interior of the yacht searching for Dela Cruz. The cabins and bridge on the uppermost deck were all vacant. They checked every door and compartment on the next deck then made their way down to the main deck, sweeping through the salon and entertaining areas of the yacht.
On the next deck down, Roger and Michelle came across only one door that was locked. The sign on the door read, Communications Center. Michelle slung her M4 Carbine automatic weapon with a fourteen-and-a-half-inch barrel over her shoulder and drew her sidearm. She fell on to one knee with Roger standing right behind her, then she checked the door, it was locked. Roger banged heavily on the door with the butt end of his M4 Carbine. Rising from his chair, Dela Cruz raised his right hand and kissed his ring again, then he opened the door, greeting Roger and Michelle by name.
The hair on the back of Roger’s neck began to stand up, he grew concerned, something was awry. Roger responded, surprised by the extremely calm state of Dela Cruz. “Well, hello Carlo, or is it, Juan?” Roger peered over his glasses reading his adversary. The Christian maybe? Jack McClaren certainly does not fit.” Roger instructed Juan to backup so they could enter the room. Michelle turned off the music. Juan Dela Cruz complied, he pointed to his monitors and calmly stated, “You are too late! Look, that’s the savings of every FBI agent being transferred from their accounts as we speak.” He smirked, pointing to the data running by that seemed to be of little interest to Roger or Michelle.
Dela Cruz’s tone became a little more intense. “Do you understand, those are the bank accounts of your coworkers; your friends and your families being drained. They are losing their life savings; their homes and their future will not be bright. And you, Agent Quaid, have no way of stopping it!”
Roger and Michelle were still unphased by Dela Cruz’s assertion as he observed them. Dela Cruz assumed they would be panic stricken; he found their calm state to be troubling. These agents lacked any sense of urgency, leading Dela Cruz to assume something may have gone wrong with his plan, but what? Dela Cruz just could not understand why they weren’t even trying to intervene and save the FBI from its end.
Michelle studied Dela Cruz carefully as she broke the news. “Actually Juan, there’s an algorithm running piggyback on your programs.” Dela Cruz laughed, these people would never comprehend the technical genius that he had employed to build out this software, not in a million years, yet Agent Woods seemed unmoved by Dela Cruz’s claims that they were too late.
“A piggyback algorithm?” Dela Cruz echoed, then more inquisitively asked. “What is a piggyback?” Michelle’s smile was as cool as a poker player’s, she let Dela Cruz wrestle with that thought as he became more hostile. “What kind of algorithm?” Juan asked, now in an irater state.
Marco and John arrived, joining Roger and Michelle in the communications center, having been satisfied that the rest of the ship was secured. Roger looked to Dela Cruz and sat in his chair; he then cracked his knuckles as if he were about to start typing.
“Do you mind if I have the room?” Roger asked as Dela Cruz wrongfully assumed Roger was now going to try and break his code. This made no sense to Dela Cruz who laughed, remaining confident that Roger, or anyone else for that matter, had no chance of disrupting his programming.
“You will not be able to bypass the encryption sequences and stop the code from running Agent Quaid.”
“Definitely not Juan, you are right about that.” He smiled. “But I have a shortcut that will accomplish the same thing.” Roger then asked the team to head out to the rear deck of the yacht where he would meet them in short order. As everyone filed out of the room, Roger looked around. All the components of Dela Cruz’s elaborate computer system were built into the bulkheads of the yacht, there was nothing that could be removed easily.
Roger was prepared for this; he opened the duffle bag he had brought and began to affix his HMX explosive materials strategically about the room, rigging the communications equipment with enough explosives that there would be nothing traceable to the U.S. remaining after detonation. This was Roger’s shortcut.
When Roger was finished, he grabbed the duffle bag with the remaining HMX explosives and headed below to the bilge area of the vessel. It was here in the lowest portions of the ship that he located the huge fuel tanks. As luck would have it there was enough space under the tanks for him to place the remaining explosives he had between the hull and the fuel tanks.
As John and Michelle made their way towards the outer deck, Dela Cruz stopped and asked again. “What kind of algorithm?” Michelle just smiled, ignoring his question again, which further infuriated Dela Cruz. Staring into his dark haunting eyes, Michelle prodded him with the barrel of her weapon to keep moving.
Meanwhile, when the chopper landed back in the heliport, Kali was relieved that all had gone well. He and his bodyguards disembarked, it was a momentous day, having made a cool sum of cash and acquiring a new client. As Kali and his men approached their black Cadillac Escalade, they had arrived in, a nearby large airplane hangar door opened. A flood of heavily armed soldiers in tactical gear under the supervision of the Philippine’s National Intelligence Coordinating Agency appeared. As the soldiers stormed out of the hangar, Marco’s contact Vandolph Bagga led the charge. Kali and his bodyguards were clearly out gunned, allowing Vandolph to take them into custody without a single shot needing to be fired.
Vandolph approached Palo and Malik with an extended hand offering his heartfelt congratulations and words of thanks and appreciation. He could not believe they had taken Kali Jhadstan down. As they shared their enthusiasm for a job well done, more good news came from Vandolph’s handheld radio. His NICA officers had secured the four warehouses Marco provided addresses for and the amount of munitions seized was massive. Thanks to Marco, Vandolph had just engineered the biggest windfall his agency had ever seen, along with the disruption of a terrorist network, the gravity of which, Vandolph could only begin to comprehend. His career path was suddenly brighter than he ever could have imagined. Vandolph motioned to an assistant who provided him with a large envelope that he presented to Malik and Palo.
“Per our agreement. Thank you!” A jubilant Vandolph said with a smile. Palo reviewed the envelopes contents then reported to Marco that the mission was completed, Kali and team, along with the cash was retrieved, the warehouses were secured, and the paperwork to extradite Dela Cruz was in hand.
Not a minute had passed from the time Palo hung up the phone when Kali Jhadstan fell to the ground. No one understood for the moment what had just taken place as a pool of blood was released from Kali’s head, accumulating on the tarmac. A member of Vandolph’s team shouted. “He’s been shot!” The unit panned out seeking the shooter. Other than a small, unmarked jet taking off on a runway that was pretty far away, there was no movement perceived by anyone. Had someone on Vandolph’s team taken out Kali? Palo did not know what to think.
Vandolph rolled the lifeless body of Kali over to find a single hole in his forehead. Palo now surmised the hit came from a sniper taking cover behind a refueling vehicle at about one thousand yards out, his exit made easily in the jet that had taken off. Palo did not share his thoughts. No one would ever know that this was the work of Sam Taylor, preserving the interests of his black ops. Kali knew too much about arms deals the CIA was running through his network and he had to be silenced. Sam feared Kali would likely tell all when subjected to torture in the hands of the NIC. It was collateral damage Sam had to sustain even though it cost him a significant contact.
Chapter 46
Loose Ends
Once John and Michelle made their way onto the aft deck of the yacht, Dela Cruz asked Michelle again, in a louder and more demanding tone. “What kind of Algorithm?” Michelle took tremendous pleasure in knowing this was vexing him. She jabbed him in the ribs with her gun, enjoying the grimace that followed. She then told Dela Cruz to sit adjacent to the large oval hot tub. She instructed him to be quiet while they waited on Roger and Marco to complete their work. About three minutes later Roger joined Marco, John, and Michelle on deck.
Now that Dela Cruz was in custody, wearing handcuffs, they could all breathe easier. Roger removed his cell phone and called Malik, after nodding and offering verbal confirmations he addressed Dela Cruz. “Your friend Kali is dead.” “Dela Cruz was stunned but would not mourn the loss of this friend. Roger continued with a smile. “I think you got the idea Juan. The cash you gave him and his four warehouses full of weapons he was going to deliver for you are now in NICA’s possession.”
Juan Dela Cruz screamed to the heavens.
“Nooooooooooooooooo! This cannot be true!”
“Still curious about the algorithm Juan?” Michelle taunted as Dela Cruz’s eyes grew wide and the veins in his neck bulged as they always did when his blood pressure rose rapidly. “Your program isn’t working.” Michelle taunted Dela Cruz who just laughed, then realized Michelle was being completely serious with him.
