“I’m wondering if the Pakistanis are scamming their Isis brothers.”
“More likely scenario is they constantly do things a little off schedule to make sure their idiot cousins don’t leave them hung out to dry. Let’s foil that plan.”
“I’ll do what I can. Call me with the update. We’ll get to the Pakistani problem first to deliver their initial smack-down.”
*
“This would have been a bad op to allow Tim and Grace in on.” John parked their vehicle near the early loading semi-rig on the Seattle waterfront.
“I see five guys loading,” Gus replied. “At least we have all of the buy-in money to give to the Pakistanis in case Muerto is out of position.”
“Muerto is in position, is that not true, Muerto?”
“Yes, John. Pay no attention to Payaso. I’m in position. There are six guys. One is watching from your two-o’clock with field glasses with night vision capability. See him?”
Both Gus and John scanned the ship tied up at the dock. “Yes. See him Payaso?”
“Yeah, second level railing with-”
The observer’s head exploded. The silenced hollow point .50 caliber round from Nick’s M107 sniper rifle destroyed the man’s head.
“Damn it, Muerto!” Gus pushed the chortling John on the side of his head. “That wasn’t funny. You have the sickest sense of humor I have ever been addle headed enough to endure.”
“You’ll love what I have in store for the rest. I’m sick of info gathering. Go meet our truck loading crew. Don’t forget to bring the bag I gave you along with the loot, Kabong. They look to be loading the last of their shipment.”
“Yes, Muerto.”
Gus led the way, slowly walking toward the Pakistani semi-rig, hands held in the open. John followed to his right with the two bags of Albanian buy-in money, and Nick’s equipment bag in his other hand. The crew loading the truck scrambled to move in a loosely formed defense, grabbing weapons at hand. Gus tried not to indicate any reaction as Nick blew the heads off the two men at the back of the formation.
“Shout at them who you are, Payaso.”
“I represent the Albanians. I…” Nick killed a third man who dropped another step back. “I’ve brought the agreed upon money!” Gus shouted to keep their attention.
A third man glanced back. His brain matter sprayed out the side of his skull before he could turn his head. The man in front heard the dead man’s weapon clatter to the pier surface. He died the moment he looked in the direction of the noise. His cohort realized finally what was happening, reached for his weapon, and died in the same messy fashion.
“I’ll bring the truck around for loading, John,” Gus said, as he sprinted toward the Pakistani truck cab.
“Nice and tidy, huh Payaso?”
“Only you would think so, Muerto. I can only imagine what’s in the bag you had John carry with him… probably some flesh eating bugs to be spread over the corpses like in the ‘Mummy’ movie series.”
“No, but that’s a thought. We have a ‘scorch the earth’ order to remind the Pakistanis who is still on the top of the world food chain. I’d sink the ship if it wasn’t for the fact they don’t own it.”
Fifteen minutes later with the bodies piled inside the truck, John opened Nick’s equipment bag. He extracted the three explosives packets with timers.
“When you’ve placed one on each end inside the carrier and one in the middle, simply push the red button on each one, John. You’ll have to hurry. We have an approaching vehicle. I’ll stop it now. Steer clear of it on your way out, Gus. If they’re in the wrong place at the wrong time we should know quickly as you approach them.”
John did as ordered. Gus had retrieved their regular vehicle in the meantime and drove alongside the exiting El Kabong. Gus then drove toward the gate. As they came abreast of a Humvee on the way to the gate, streaming steam and oil smoke into the air, two men jumped from the vehicle, raising weapons. Nick’s burst pulped their heads before they could aim.
“I’ll meet you at the gate in five minutes,” Nick said. “Don’t worry about the gate guard crew. They’re Paul’s men placed earlier in the day.”
At the gate with Nick on board they were passed without hesitation through the security point. The semi-rig exploded in spectacular fashion a few moments after Gus cleared the waterfront exit. Gus watched the flames shooting upwards in his rearview mirror.
“Did Clyde call yet?”
“He’s in the plane ready to take us East, Gus. Are you okay, or do you need to call home for Tina to rub your belly?”
“Not funny. Tina’s a bit worried.”
“Yes, we know. Kabong and I have been watching the great alpha dog, Payaso, in full command of his family life at home. He is truly the master of his dominion, right Kabong?”