"What are you standing around for? Go get your family here, now! Move!" Colonel Martínez's angry shout snapped the dazed Lieutenant López back to reality.
Martínez barked a few rapid orders in Spanish, and a handful of soldiers on rooftop duty hurried downstairs. Within minutes, a convoy of seven or eight Humvees and armed pickup trucks roared out of the repurposed factory-turned-military base.
"Hell of a first day," Mandy Ellis muttered, staring at the car still engulfed in flames not far away.
At dawn, Jack stretched and made his way back to the rooftop, unsurprised to find Jason standing at the edge, staring out over the city.
"Couldn't sleep?" Jack asked, already knowing the answer.
"You should've asked if I even tried," Jason replied, his bloodshot eyes and haggard face betraying his sleepless night.
Jack nodded, already aware of the source of Jason's restlessness. "López's family is safe. I just spoke with him. Later today, he'll bring his wife and kids to the base. Hopefully, that eases your guilt a little."
Jack had been wondering how López was identified in the first place. After some digging, Sonny had explained that during their raid, a shotgun blast from the other side of a door had sprayed López's face with wood splinters. In the chaos, López had removed his mask to rinse his eyes. Moments later, during a firefight in the last room, González had come face-to-face with him before making his escape.
"You should rest," Jack said. "There's a new operation in the works, and I'd rather not have a sleep-deprived commander leading us into an ambush."
Jason's interest piqued. "You have leads?"
"More of a direction. It'll take time to confirm. So, you've got two choices: get some sleep voluntarily, or I knock you out and have someone drag you back to bed."
Jason smirked. "You won one fight on the mat. No need to bring it up every time—I'll win it back eventually." He gave a playful jab at the air.
Jack chuckled but felt the exhaustion himself. Though supported by multiple intelligence agencies, the burden of managing data alongside Mandy Ellis and Rita Alfaro from the Mexican intelligence unit was enormous. Unlike Mandy, who answered solely to the CIA, Jack juggled responsibilities to multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, IRS, ATF, and ICE, not to mention briefing SOCOM separately.
After a quick hot shower, Jack managed two hours of sleep before being woken up for the next mission.
Bravo Team was dressed in civilian clothes, complete with sunglasses and cameras slung around their necks to look like American tourists. They split between two SUVs, heading out discreetly.
"We analyzed the phones seized in yesterday's raid. Every valuable number was shut down within two hours, except this one," Jack explained, driving the lead vehicle.
"Whoever owns this number got careless. Our job is to find them, identify the owner, and see if they can lead us to Mendoza," he added.
"Let's hope this goes smoother than last time," Jason remarked dryly.
Forty minutes later, Jack slowed the vehicle as they entered Mexico City's historic center. Once the heart of Tenochtitlán, an artificial island in Lake Texcoco, it had been transformed by Spanish conquerors. Ornate Catholic cathedrals now stood side by side with remnants of Aztec temples, and colorful murals adorned many of the area's buildings.
"Bravo 1, this is Operations Center. Proceed north. Target is 400 meters ahead," Major Blackburn's voice came through their earpieces.
"Copy that, Operations. Waiting to reach visual range. Out," Jason replied.
"The phone's location appears to be a marketplace. HVT is moving slowly, likely on foot. Stay vigilant," Blackburn advised.
Jack frowned as the crowd thickened. "Eyes open, everyone. It's packed here."
"Too many people. How do we figure out which one's the target? Any tips, Jack?" Jason asked, scanning the bustling streets.
Jack didn't know whether the phone's owner was male or female, young or old, but he had a plan.
"Get as close as we can. Surround the area and let Operations triangulate their position relative to ours. Once we're out, spread out. Priority is staying covert—this is our only lead."
The SUVs pulled up near the marketplace, a vibrant square teeming with vendors, tourists, and locals. The dense crowd allowed the team to blend in as they stepped out, their towering frames and casual attire drawing little attention.
Cellphone triangulation, though less precise than military-grade GPS, used signals from nearby towers to pinpoint a phone's approximate location. While Jack remained behind the wheel of the lead SUV, the rest of Bravo Team dispersed, subtly encircling the target area.
With guidance from Operations, the team slowly tightened their formation, creating an irregular circle around the signal. Within their net were at least 20 to 30 people.
"Good enough," Jason said. "Call the number. Everyone, watch for anyone answering or acting suspicious."
The team tensed, each operative scanning the crowd carefully.
Jack dialed the number from within the SUV, the phone's ringing filling the tense silence over their concealed earpieces. Bravo Team members subtly shifted their gazes, scanning the faces and movements of the individuals within the circled area.
After three rings, a man in his late 30s, wearing a faded baseball cap and carrying a small backpack, reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone. He glanced at the screen before quickly silencing it, slipping the phone back into his pocket.
"Bravo 1, possible contact. Male, cap, backpack, three o'clock from my position," Sonny's calm voice reported.
"Copy. All units, maintain distance. Follow discreetly," Jason ordered.
The man seemed unaware of the interest he'd attracted, weaving through the crowd with a nonchalant demeanor. The team, blending in with the bustling marketplace, shadowed him from various angles.
Jack parked the SUV a short distance away and joined the group on foot, blending into the throng. Over their earpieces, Blackburn's voice cut in.
"Bravo 1, this is Operations. Target is moving west, away from the market. Current trajectory leads toward a residential area. Advise caution."
Jason acknowledged the update. "Keep eyes on him but stay inconspicuous. Jack, circle back to the SUV. We may need a quick extraction."
As Jack returned to the vehicle, the target entered a quieter street lined with modest apartment buildings. The crowd thinned, making it harder for Bravo Team to blend in without drawing attention.
The man stopped briefly at a corner store, glancing around before disappearing into a narrow alleyway.
"He's getting skittish," Clay noted.
"Bravo 2, position?" Jason asked Ray Perry, who had taken up a position to the north.
"I've got eyes on the alley's other end. No sign of him yet," Ray replied.
"Bravo 3, take the south side with Jack. Bravo 4 and 5, hold here. Let's box him in," Jason directed.
As they moved into position, Blackburn's voice came through again. "Be advised, secondary movement detected. Two individuals entered the same alley from the west. Unknown if they're connected."
Jason cursed under his breath. "All units, prepare for engagement. This could get messy."
From his vantage point, Sonny caught sight of the two newcomers—a man and a woman, both dressed casually but walking with purpose. They disappeared into the same alley as the target.
"Bravo 1, they're armed," Sonny reported. "Concealed pistols. I saw the grips when the guy adjusted his jacket."
Jason made a quick decision. "Bravo 3, move in with Jack. Neutralize quietly if possible. Everyone else, be ready to close in."
Jack and Sonny approached the alley's entrance from opposite sides, pistols drawn but kept low. Peering into the narrow passage, Jack spotted the original target in a tense conversation with the newcomers.
One of the newcomers handed the target a small package wrapped in brown paper. The target pocketed it quickly, glancing around nervously.
"Bravo 1, package handoff confirmed. Recommend we intercept now," Jack whispered.
Jason gave the go-ahead. "Bravo 3, move. Bravo 2, cover the other exit. Everyone else, converge."
Jack and Sonny moved swiftly but silently into the alley. Jack raised his pistol, calling out firmly, "Stop! Hands where I can see them!"
The target froze, his eyes wide with panic, but the other two weren't as compliant. The man reached for his concealed weapon, prompting Sonny to fire a precise shot, dropping him instantly.
The woman screamed, hesitating briefly before raising her hands.
The target made a desperate dash toward the alley's far end, but Ray Perry was waiting. He stepped into view, rifle raised, and the man skidded to a halt, surrendering with his hands up.
"Clear!" Sonny called out as the rest of the team secured the scene.
Jason entered the alley, his gaze sharp. "Secure the package and check the ID on all of them. Let's see who we've got."
Jack picked up the dropped package, unwrapping it to reveal several stacks of cash and a burner phone. He handed it to Jason, who examined it briefly before passing it to Mandy Ellis, who had arrived with the backup team.
"This just got more interesting," Mandy remarked.
As Bravo Team began escorting the detained individuals out of the alley, Jason turned to Jack. "You think this lead will finally get us to Mendoza?"
Jack smirked faintly. "If it doesn't, at least we've shaken the tree. Let's see what falls out."
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