The room buzzed with murmurs as the team digested Mandy's suggestion.
"Why not just have the local police arrest Carla Reyes and hand her over to us?" Sonny suggested, his approach as straightforward as ever.
Major Blackburn, who had stayed behind at the base since arriving in Mexico, interjected with a more grounded perspective. "It's not that simple, Sonny. Mexican police could leak the operation or even sell us out to Doza."
"Carla Reyes is critical. She has access to Doza's upper echelon. We need to be cautious. The operation to capture her must be covert, and we need to break her quickly before she can alert anyone," Blackburn emphasized.
Jack had additional ideas, including a "fishing" tactic he was adept at, but those plans depended on capturing Reyes first.
"What about a direct raid on her home or office?" Clay Spencer suggested.
Rita Alfaro shook her head. "It would be extremely difficult. She lives in a high-end residential area with professional security, and her office is similarly well-guarded. The building has over two hundred employees and multiple surveillance cameras."
"What about catching her during her daily commute?" Jason mused, scratching his scruffy chin.
"She drives herself, but always with bodyguards following her," Rita noted. "It's a possibility, but risky. If she disappears mysteriously, it will raise immediate red flags."
"What if she chooses to leave with someone?" Mandy Ellis, who had been staring at the screen, suddenly spoke up.
The team turned to her as she elaborated. "Reyes is single and often attends high-end social events. She has ambiguous relationships with many influential people in Mexico City. Imagine this: she meets a handsome, wealthy gentleman at a glamorous party, they hit it off, and she agrees to join him for a few nights aboard his luxury yacht. That wouldn't raise any suspicion, would it?"
The room filled with knowing smirks and playful glances as the soldiers silently sized each other up, their confidence in their looks evident.
Later that evening, Jack, taking a rare moment of respite, ended a video call with Hannah and wandered up to the rooftop.
For now, the operation was out of his hands. Mandy Ellis and Rita Alfaro were delving deeper into Carla Reyes's background, identifying her preferences, interests, and past relationships to craft the perfect bait for their honeytrap. This kind of work was a hallmark of intelligence agencies.
Lighting a cigar, Jack had barely taken his second puff when he heard Jason and Ray Perry approaching from the stairs.
"Why do I feel like Mexican cheap beer tastes better than American cheap beer? Am I unpatriotic for thinking that?" Jason joked.
"Let me be the judge of that. Pass me a couple," Ray replied.
Turning, Jack saw Jason carrying a small metal bucket filled with ice and a dozen beer bottles.
"Has Colonel Martinez completely given up on stopping you guys from being drunken fools?" Jack teased.
"This is a reward for a successful mission today. What do you say? Two beers for two cigars—fair trade, isn't it?" Jason grinned, handing over two bottles.
"You realize one Cuban cigar could buy enough of that swill to fill the entire parking lot downstairs, right?" Jack quipped, though he handed over the cigars. They weren't even his—compliments of a certain NYPD captain.
The trio enjoyed the cool night breeze, smoking and drinking in rare relaxation. The peace didn't last. A frantic voice broke through the calm.
"Juan! Help! Please, help him—save Juan!"
Lieutenant Lopez's wife burst onto the rooftop, speaking rapid Spanish to Jason. Her desperation was unmistakable.
"Calm down. Take a deep breath. What happened to Juan?" Jason asked, trying to soothe her while glancing at Jack for translation. Though Jason didn't speak Spanish, he knew Lopez's name well enough.
"She says Lopez went to find Doza's people. He plans to trade himself for his family's safety," Jack translated, his pupils constricting in shock. He hadn't expected Lopez to take such a drastic step.
"Is he out of his mind? What an idiot!" Jason cursed, bolting for the stairs.
"Take care of her," Jack instructed Ray Perry, shoving Lopez's wife toward him. "Notify the operations center and get Lopez's location." He sprinted after Jason.
By the time Jack reached the underground parking lot with his gear, Jason had already started a Jeep. The tires screeched as Jason hit the gas, but Jack jumped in front of the vehicle.
"Hey! Jason, you're being reckless!" Jack shouted.
"What else can I do? Let him walk to his death? This is my fault. I should fix it," Jason barked, his anger evident. His outburst subsided when Jack tossed a pile of equipment into the passenger seat.
Jack climbed into the passenger side. "I'm not stopping you. But are you seriously planning to march into cartel territory unarmed? Do you think Lopez's life alone will satisfy Doza? Or are you throwing yours in for good measure?"
"Damn it!" Jason swore, fumbling with the gear Jack had brought—an MP7A1 submachine gun, several magazines, and a radio.
"Every vehicle here is tracked. Ray already alerted the operations center. Now drive!" Jack said as he buckled his seatbelt and inspected his weapon.
"Thanks, man," Jason muttered, clapping Jack on the shoulder before flooring the gas pedal.
Lopez's wife's plea had been timely. The cartel's territory was only a 20-minute drive from the base, and with guidance from the operations center, Jason found a back route to intercept Lopez.
At night, spotting cartel-controlled areas was easy. Armed gunmen patrolled key intersections, and makeshift roadblocks marked their presence. Lopez, wearing a resolute expression, marched toward a checkpoint, ready to sacrifice himself.
"You idiot! Do you even know what you're doing?" Jason hissed, grabbing Lopez and yanking him into a dark alley just before the checkpoint.
"I have to do this!" Lopez yelled, his voice echoing and catching the attention of nearby gunmen.
"Shut up and get in the car!" Jason snapped, his patience wearing thin.
"My family can't stay in the base forever. This is the only way. Don't stop me!" Lopez shouted, his voice growing hoarse.
Jack peeked out of the alley and frowned. The gunmen were whispering among themselves, clearly suspicious, and beginning to move closer.
"Both of you, stop arguing and get in the car. Now!" Jack growled, chambering a round in his MP7A1 with a sharp click to emphasize the urgency.
Jason realized the danger and shoved Lopez toward the Jeep. "Get in the car before I shoot you myself. Listen to me—I promise you, on my life, we'll take Doza down. He'll be wiped out, and your family will be safe. But you need to trust me and get in the damn car!"
Whether it was Jason's words or the interruption itself, Lopez's determination faltered. Reluctantly, he climbed into the Jeep, followed by Jason. Jack, crouched at the alley entrance, fired the first shots as the approaching gunmen shouted and raised their weapons.
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I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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