The Dragon's children, page 11
Cassandra realized she was still in China when she heard English, Chinese, European, and African languages spoken in the international restaurant.
It was late in the afternoon. The warmth of a fire, with the aroma of burning wood mixing with the aroma of the BBQ meat, created a cozy, relaxing atmosphere.
Cassandra surprised Carter by ordering both a shot of tequila and a double whiskey and coke.
“You don’t waste time, do you?” Carter said.
I have three weeks to finish this, so there’s no need to decide what to drink.”
“Well, in that case, let’s cut to the chase. Why are you here?” asked Carter. “I received no files on you. I know next to nothing about you.”
“Well, that’s the plan. I like to keep to myself and do my job.”
“Come on, we’re all on the same team. So, what’s the story? I heard that you’re able to speak Chinese. And I heard some shit about you rescuing the Chinese Ambassador’s son, something like that?”
“Yeah, I’m okay with languages,” Cassandra said. “I don’t want to talk about the Ambassador’s son. It was a team effort. Hope you understand.”
“I’m okay with that. Being in the company, I can understand confidentiality. I hope you don’t mind if I ask you about your education?”
“Sure. Undergrad at Duke with a double major in Chinese and political science.” Cassandra recalled. “Then my master’s at George Washington University in Chinese and International Affairs. As you can tell I have a love interest with Asia.”
“Seems that way,” Carter interjected as the drinks appeared.
“What about you?”
“Well. After high school, I went to BYU for a major in computer science and economics. Next came Carnegie-Mellon for my Master’s in economics. I’ve been with the agency for about twenty years since joining after college. They have stationed me in Saudi Arabia, Columbia and Iraq.”
“You said something about an ex-wife?” asked Cassandra.
“I married a girl I met in BYU, but after a couple of kids, our marriage ended in a divorce like most people. She got the kids, the house, everything but the bills.”
“Sorry to hear that,” Cassandra spoke in a soft voice.
“Thank you.”
“So, why the Bureau? Why not the CIA, or even the NSA?” asked Carter.
*****
“Well, I was being considered by both, but the Bureau offered a job,” Cassy recalled. “I was a single parent. I thought the Bureau offered me more of an opportunity to be closer to my son.”
“You said you ‘were’ a single parent? What are you referring to?”
A silence swept over the table.
“My son was killed.” Cassandra’s voice dropped.
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. I didn’t know.” Carter said, looking down at the table.
“It was my fault. I failed to protect him.”
CHAPTER 31
HOLIDAY INN WANG JING DISTRICT BEIJING
Cassandra’s eyes fixated on the ceiling of the hotel room as she felt a pounding in her skull. She didn’t think she had consumed that much alcohol. As the pounding became stronger, she recognized that someone was beating on the door.
She sprang up out of bed. She looked at the clock next to her bed. It read 1 AM.
“All right! All right!” Cassandra shouted. “Deng Yi Huir,” (wait a moment). She braced herself against the door, cursing the fact that she had no gun for security. At least she had years of martial arts training as a backup.
‘Cassandra, Cassandra, it’s me, Chris Tang. Open.”
Wearing only a T-shirt and pink polka dotted sleep pants, she threw on her silk robe and opened the door.
“We got to go now. Information just arrived. The individuals in Shang Zhuangzi village are on the move. The surveillance team missed two check-ins. So, we sent a drone over and discovered two bodies. Someone ambushed and executed them.
“Oh, my God.”
“The drone spotted what looks like their operations are on the move.”
“What about the kids?”
“Don’t know, they could still be in the village. We don’t know.”
“What about the truck?” asked Cassandra.
“It’s gone. Get dressed. We’re raiding the village at dawn.”
“Chris, I have a question,” said Cassandra as she grabbed her tactical clothes. “During the meeting, Supervisor Moon talked about ‘political considerations’ between North Korea and China. What was he talking about?”
“Most Chinese are not fond of North Korea; it is a parasitic country. They do what they want. The West is always asking us to help solve the nuclear issue with the North. When the North refuses to engage, the West claims that we are weak in foreign policy. Worst, that we support the North. We must hold up that country. If it fails, millions of refugees will flood across the border into China looking for a better life. We’ll become unstable and the only people that will make it from the North are criminals and gangsters. China has enough problems with population and crime.”
“I understand. Just don’t rock the boat with North Koreans and if they do anything wrong, just look the other way.” Cassandra shook her head. “That is so fucked up.”
“Yeah, other countries export terrorism, but the North exports drugs, children, nuclear weapons, counterfeit money, you name it. Understand this: when you think of criminal organizations, the largest one in the world is in North Korea.”
CHAPTER 32
BUREAU OF PUBLIC SAFETY HQ BEIJING
Arriving at the briefing room, Cassandra noticed the operations center was busier and louder than the last time she was there. The conference room was full of people, many in tactical gear, including Chris. Cassandra found that the empty chair next to Chris was being saved for her. Chris leaned over towards Cassandra and looked around the room.
“What you are going to see is classified,” Chris said in a whisper. “My government is not happy about that.”
“I understand,”
Everyone, including Cassandra, received packets of papers and documents. Cassandra looked at the top cover sheet. It read:
Date: May 23
To: BPS Assault team Red and Blue
From: Captain Tang
Packet Number: 20201734.34
Classification: Secret
Re. Raid on Shang Zhuangzi village
Objectives:
1. Neutralization of criminal elements in Shang
Zhuangzi village
2. Rescue of persons suspected to be victims in
human trafficking
3. Seizure of all drug manufacturing equipment
4. Seizure of all weapons, drugs, etc.
5. Secure and protect the villagers.
“May I have your attention, please?” It was Chris’ father at the head of the table. A large photo, taken thousands of feet above a small village in China, projected on a screen behind him. “Please turn to the second page.”
Captain Tang waited until everyone was ready.
“The photo you are looking at is Shang Zhuangzi village. Roughly a population of 800 people. About one hundred and fifty to three hundred gang members control them. Mostly elderly live there, the young and middle-aged adults are working in factories on the coast. We counted about four hundred structures, mostly homes, small shops, stores, and farmhouses.
“There’re a few places with courtyards in the traditional style. There is, however, one small inn, and that is where the girls would likely be if they are still there. Look carefully at the picture and you can see that a wall surrounds the entire village. This is the focal point of entry for us, and it is also a chokepoint. We must use speed to breach the gate. The WZ-551-wheel armored cars will do the force entry.”
“What about the height of the walls?” asked a SWAT team member in the back.
“We are not sure, but we know the gangs have been strengthening them.” Captain Tang replied. “We have two of our armored cars that have ladders on them to scale any wall or to get to the roofs of the buildings. Remember, though, that the streets are not wide enough, so it limited the armored cars to a small area in front.”
Chris’ father turned away from the picture on the screen and looked at the packed room. “We must hurry. There was an observation team in the hills surrounding the village, giving us updated information. Now, we know that someone compromised and killed the observation team.
“We will use tear gas, flash bangs and smoke grenades. Please be aware of the elders in the village. We will have live drones in the air once we breach the main gate. If you see a villager struggling to breathe, give them help. We will have medical personnel go in as secondary units with oxygen for those who need it. Keep your radios on and keep the chatter down as much as possible.
“Please look at the next page.” Captain Tang took a sip of tea and waited until everyone was ready. We’ll bring five armored carriers, three medical units, two fire trucks and one command vehicle to the village. Also, have around eight buses for prisoner transport.”
“We’ll split up into three groups,” Captain Tang held up a line drawing of the village. “Blue team, you will take the right side of the village. While the red team will go left. Gold team, you will go up the middle with the inn as your primary aim. Special Agent Tang and Special Agent Drake will join the gold team.”
Tang’s father paused for another sip of tea. “Listen up. The threat level is high. Expect rocks and firebombs from the roof. There are a lot of narrow alleyways. It is a maze in there. Expect clubs, knives, poles and maybe even firearms. One more thing: they are cooking meth in the village. Those labs can blow up easily, so be alert.”
Captain Tang held a photo of a blurry picture of a man. “We don’t have an actual name for this face. We call him Park. They believe the Korean man is armed and dangerous. This man is also the leader of the group. He’s our Ace of Spades. Use caution. It is necessary to apprehend him alive. Taking him alive will not be easy. So, study this picture.”
A silence spread throughout the room. Tang’s father straightened himself up and continued, “After this meeting, squad leaders, please get with your people and fill them in.” Captain Tang looked at Cassandra for the first time during the meeting. “Cassandra, please come with me.” He dismissed the rest of the group.
Cassandra nodded her head. This is when I get put in my place on the sidelines, she thought.
Cassandra followed Captain Tang through a door and into a small, well-lit room. Braced up against a wall was a table covered with a Nomex flame resistant SWAT uniform.
Kevlar body armor, helmet, gloves, eye protection, helmet, elbow, and knee pads displayed in front of Cassy. Sitting next to the uniform was a Chinese gas mask with the breather on the left side making for an easier use of a weapon if need be.
Strapped to her right leg was a Chinese manufactured Norinco NP40 40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Strapped around her body armor was a QBZ-192 compact automatic rifle, Ten magazines of 30 round were held in place by pouches on her tactical vest. Next to the magazines rested a Kershaw tactical/utility folding knife and several flash bangs.
“Captain Tang, I can’t take this,” Cassandra protested. “I am only here as an observer.”
“I will not have you go into this village without protection. We are short a few bodies, so we could use your help. I make my own decisions about the people who work with me. You have impressed me and my daughter. So, take it or stay behind.”
“Okay,” Cassandra responded with a grin.
“After you’re dressed,” he said, showing the body armor, “We’ll meet you in the other.”
CHAPTER 33
The young man from Hubei province fought to stay awake. Every night, he took his assigned post as a lookout for Shang Zhuangzi Village. He sat all night on a small raised platform beside a small hut, just off the main road. on the edge of a farmer’s field, close to the turnoff to Shang Zhuangzi Village, the platform offered a clear of anyone come. His duties were simple: stay awake and look out for any sign that the police were going to raid the village at midnight.
It was a job that paid and that was fine for an eighteen-year-old with a third-grade education who grew up on a farm. He kept himself awake most night by playing games on his cell phone or talking with his friends on WeChat app.
He was one of three lookouts, stationed around the district, that made up the first warning of the gang-controlled village. The hardest part of his job was to stay awake all night long, and this night, sleep would win out. He fought as hard as he could for, he knew that to sleep could cost him his life.
The approach of an older model van woke up the young lookout, who found himself inside the hut. His head was still foggy when the van slammed to a stop right before him.
Three men rushed him before he could get to his cellphone to give warning to the village. Before the lookout knew what was happening, three men rushed him and zip-tied him. They then placed him in the rear of the van with two other lookouts. All three failed to protect the village because they were sleeping and got caught.
The raid had begun.
CHAPTER 34
SHANG ZHUANGZI VILLAGE,
NORTHERN TIANJIN
It was still dark when Cassandra and Chris arrived at the staging area, a local high school. The police were using as a staging area just ten miles from the village. The parking lot was full of police vans, jeeps, police armored personnel carriers with breaching bars across the front, SWAT teams, and buses.
Two armored pickup trucks changed with an adjustable ramp; the type used on the tarmac of an airport to load passengers onto a plane. Most of the personnel were ready. Cassandra believed they required more people to tackle such a large village. Cassandra asked Chris about this.
“This was supposed to happen tomorrow night, not now. Because of the incident involving the two officers, we are fast-tracking everything. Now we have to move,” Chris said. Chris reached into the trunk of her car and grabbing a bullet-proof vest matching her own with the words SWAT in English and Chinese printed on the front and back. She handed the vest to Cassandra. “Now you are official. We don’t want any of our team shooting you by accident.”
“But Chris, I have orders not to...”
Chris cut her off. “My father’s orders override everyone else’s on his operations. He gave you that weapon - use it if you must. I don’t think you can remain a bystander - you wanted to save those girls, too. You care. Their lives matter to you. You will be in the middle of things. Don’t worry if you must use it. There wouldn’t be any press with us.”
They both smiled.
“You know what the Korean look like,” Chris said. “For ‘Gold Team’ he is secondary. We’re going to the inn where the girls are. We go in after the initial shock wave to attack the inn, but we’re unsure of their defenses.”
“They will have fewer guns than what you’re used to in America,” Chris continued. “But they have dogs, clubs, and gasoline bombs,” Chris explained. “Don’t forget, the labs themselves can be explosive.”
“What’s the plan for the hostages?” asked Cassandra.
“We go in,” Chris said. “Secure the inn where they are being held. Once we retrieve the girls, we transport them to the medics outside the village. Then we spread out from there. The primary objectives for the girls are their safety and prompt evacuation from the village.”
“We need to understand another thing,” explained Cassandra. “These girls are all country girls. Speed takes precedence. Remember, they are going to be traumatized.”
“I agree with you.” Chris said. “We have a hospital on standby waiting to receive them.”
It seemed like a solid plan, thought Cassandra, but as always, extreme care must be.
“One last word,” Chris said. “Intelligence reports that only ten percent of the families in the village are dangerous. Most are just following the orders of the gangs. There are a lot of innocent civilians, many of them elderly folks, in and among the gang’s members.
“The gang members may use innocent civilians, including elderly folks, as shields. Our orders are to swiftly secure the villagers, ensure their safety, and shut down the operation.”
“Load up, let’s roll,” a voice yelled from the middle of a group of SWAT members. It was Chris’s father.
Vans, buses, cars and two armored riot vehicles started their engines with a massive roar of diesel engines and fumes. Cassandra climbed into one of the last remaining armored vehicles.
CHAPTER 35
The convoy drove down a dirt road with no lights, then stopped about five miles away from the village.
A small hill that rose in the darkness provided cover so that the village couldn’t see the convoy from its present location.
“We get out here.” Chris said.
Chris and Cassandra climbed out of the armored car. As soon as they were out, Chris grabbed Cassandra’s Kevlar vest and led her towards the command vehicle.
Cassandra was standing next to Captain Tang when two black clad SWAT members appeared out of the darkness.
“Did you find the surveillance team?” asked the captain.
“Yes, sir. They executed both officers, shooting them in the back of the head.
“Fuckers.” Captain Tang looked at the two men. “Look, I know you want to get into the village and we can use the both of you, but I need you for a different assignment.”
The two SWAT team members stood at attention.
“Go back to the surveillance site and bring our brothers back here.” commanded Captain Tang. “We can’t let them stay there; they’ll be at the mercy of wild animals. Once you are finished, join us in the village.”
Both men saluted the captain and disappeared back into the mountain’s darkness.
*****
A man with a pair of binoculars scanned the sky and caught Cassandra’s attention.
