by Tripp Ellis
The drone had built-in stabilizers and GPS navigation. Through a companion cell phone app, you could create flight plans, or choose from pre-programmed routes.
I turned on the propulsion system, and the tiny blades spun. After I familiarized myself with the controls, I lifted the craft into the air.
It pitched and rolled as I learned to steady it. I buzzed it around the deck for a moment. Once I felt comfortable, I sent it racing across the water toward the yacht.
The drone was 6x6 and virtually silent. It was painted in a dull matte black color that made it difficult to see at night. Ian had gone to great lengths to make sure this was a military grade product, perfect for stealth reconnaissance operations. Equipped with night vision, infrared, and an onboard 8K camera, it was our best chance of finding Madison.
I circled the drone around Luciana’s yacht. With the infrared vision, warm bodies showed up as an orange-red color, while cooler areas of the frame were blue. I counted three people on board. They were all above deck and carrying assault rifles.
That ruled out Madison's presence.
I followed the dock toward the house and buzzed the drone overhead.
The house had two stories, raised on concrete stilts. Wood decking circled the house, and the back deck had a jacuzzi. A staircase descended to the forest of mangrove trees, and a narrow path led to the beach.
I saw four orange blobs around the house. One moved around inside. Another circled the property outside, walking around the deck. There was an orange body in what appeared to be a second-story bedroom, and another body in a separate second-floor bedroom.
I hovered the drone outside the window and moved toward the glass. Through the blinds I was able to see Luciana lying in bed, watching TV.
I backed the drone away from the window and circled around to the other bedroom. Inside, I saw Madison—bound at the wrists and ankles with duct tape across her mouth.
My blood boiled, seeing her like that.
My heart pumped with excitement and the possibility of a rescue.
I increased the altitude on the drone and circled the house again watching the movement pattern of the outside guard.
He was armed with an assault rifle.
I pulled back and took a broader view of the island and circled the area.
The whole island wasn’t much longer than a few football fields, and almost as wide.
I set the drone on autopilot to return to its point of origin, and within a few minutes, the drone hovered over the deck. Since we had drifted slightly, I adjusted its position and landed it manually on the deck.
”What's the plan?" JD asked.
"I'm going to take the tender around to the east side of the island. I need you to create a distraction."
JD smiled. "I love creating distractions."
"Take the Explorer 2 and put a limpet mine on the hull of the Liquid Asset. When I give you the signal, blow it. With any luck, the guards in the house will rush to see what's happened. I'll get Madison and escape via the tender. Then I'll meet you back here."
"Once I detonate the mine, I'll move the boat around to the east side and provide overwatch,” JD said.
"How effective are your sniper skills from a moving platform?" I asked.
“I used to drop enemy targets from the door of a helicopter. This wouldn’t be much different. Just gotta role with the tide."
I gave him a skeptical glance. It had been a long time since he did anything like that. I'd be surprised if he’d be able to hit the broad side of a barn now.
36
I prepped my gear, and we launched the tender. It was the same 7.5 foot inflatable WavePro MK-II from the Slick’n Salty. The pontoons were gray and black, and it had a Barracuda MM7 electric motor that would run at close to 6 knots.
The motor was whisper quiet.
I climbed into the tender and cast-off. I twisted the throttle, and the electric barracuda motor buzzed away from the Wild Tide.
I bounced against the waves and banked around to the east side of the island. I was decked out in full tactical gear—helmet, night vision goggles, tactical headset, tactical vest, 9mm pistol, assault rifle, extra magazines, smoke canisters, fragmentation grenades, C4 explosive and detonators.
I liked to be prepared.
Once I reached the desolate side of the island, I cut the engine and glided in on the surf. I hopped out of the tender in the shallows and pulled it onto the sandy beach, dragging it up to the tree line where I hid it in the underbrush.
The area was thick with mangroves, shrubs, and tall grass.
I tapped my headset. "The Eagle has landed. I'll contact you when I'm in position."
"Copy that," JD said, his voice crackling in my ear.
The dappled rays of moonlight cascaded through the mangrove trees. I advanced through the underbrush with my weapon in the firing position, weaving through the trees, soundless.
I held up at the tree line near the house, taking cover behind a tree and some shrubs. I looked through a thermal imaging scope and scanned the property, looking for the guards. I saw one inside, standing in the kitchen, making a sandwich. Luciana was still in bed watching TV, and I assumed Madison was still in the spare bedroom.
I watched as the other guard circled the house.
He stopped in the back and lit a cigarette. The cherry glowed red as he inhaled a deep breath. Then he blew a thick cloud into the air. It drifted away and dissipated into the trees.
"We are a go on Operation Titanic,” I whispered. "I repeat, we are a go on Operation Titanic."
"Copy that!"
A moment later the dull thump of the limpet mine rumbled through the air.
I could feel the vibration through the souls my feet, even at this distance.
Water splashed in the air, and the panicked voices of the people on board the Liquid Asset echoed across the island.
The guard in the back yard dropped his cigarette and stamped it out.
Just as I’d hoped, he ran around to the front of the house and sprinted down the dock. So did the guard who was making a sandwich in the kitchen.
I watched the thermal image of Luciana leap out of bed and sprint down the stairs to the front of the house. She disappeared through the front doorway.
I slipped the thermal scope into a pocket and climbed the stairs. I advanced across the deck and pushed into the house through a sliding glass door that was unlocked.
The house was well decorated and had an elegant, but beachy vibe. It was like a luxury tropical resort.
I spiraled up the staircase, advanced down the hall, and kicked open the spare bedroom door.
Madison's eyes widened with relief.
She mumbled something but I couldn't make out what she said through the duct tape.
I slung my rifle, drew my tactical knife, and advanced to the bed. The sharp black blade cut the ropes around her wrists and ankles. I peeled the tape from her mouth, then put my finger to my lips, indicating she shouldn't say a word.
I handed her my pistol. "Follow me."
I pushed into the hallway and crept toward the stairs. A quick scan of the living room below revealed it was empty.
With the wave of my hand, I motioned Madison forward, and we descended the steps and slipped out the sliding glass door.
Everything was going according to plan.
We raced across the deck, plowed down the staircase, and weaved through the underbrush. Within a few paces, we were at the tree line by the beach.
I grabbed the tender and hauled it toward the surf.
That's when things got complicated.
The snap of bullets cracked the air.
They zipped past me, and I felt the breeze on my skin.
I ducked for cover and dashed back to the tree line.
The bullets punctured the inflatable pontoons of the tender, and air whistled as it rushed out of the holes.
Within moments, the craft deflated.
We weren't going to be making a quick escape.
I angled my weapon around the trunk of a tree and blasted several shots in the direction of the gun fire. Muzzle flash flickered, and the smell of gunpowder wafted to my nose as my assault rifle hammered against my shoulder.
Another flurry of shots peppered the surrounding trees, splintering shards of wood and disturbing leaves.
I told Madison to stay down.
She hugged the dirt.
I scanned the tree line with my NOD (Night Optical Device), looking for the thug. I caught a glimpse of him hiding behind a mangrove tree. As he angled his weapon around the trunk, I blasted several rounds. The bullets punctured his throat, and the force of impact sent him crashing down. His weapon fell to the sand, and he twitched on the ground for a few moments.
Footsteps in the underbrush drew my attention.
I spun toward the house to see another guard advancing toward us. Before I could get my weapon aimed, Madison blasted two shots with the hand cannon.
She double tapped the goon in the chest, and dark blood spurted out, glimmering in the moonlight. He fell back into the grass, and blood gurgled as his chest sucked air into the wound.
I was impressed.
My father had taught her how to shoot at a young age, but I didn't know if she had kept up with it.
Apparently she still had skills.
There were at least three more cartel soldiers on the island, plus Luciana.
I didn't want to stay in one position for too long.
We advanced southbound along the tree line, then took a position slightly inland, about 30 yards away.
I scanned the area with my night vision goggles. A moment later three more goons marched through the underbrush, walking abreast. They had their rifles shouldered and scanned the darkness.
But they didn't have night vision.
I took aim at the nearest one, pointing my IR laser at his chest. The beam, only visible with a NOD, slashed the night. My finger squeezed the trigger, snapping off two rounds. An instant later, his chest exploded.
He crashed through the leaves, and the two others spun in my direction and opened fire.
Once again, a flurry of bullets peppered the trees around me.
I lined up another goon with my IR laser and squeezed off a quick burst of fire, then aimed at the last goon.
It was like shooting paper targets.
The thugs fell to the ground amid a flurry of bullets.
The forest was suddenly quiet again.
The crickets resumed chirping.
I looked to Madison. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, still hugging the dirt.
I tapped my headset. "Overwatch, do you copy?"
"Sounds like you’re making friends," JD said.
"People love me, what can I say?"
"Need a hand?"
"I think I’ve got this one under control,” I said. “But there's a slight problem with the tender."
"What do you mean?"
"It doesn't exist anymore,” I said. ”We're at the southeast corner of the island. How close do you think you can get to shore?"
"I've got a pretty shallow draft on the boat. Maybe 50 yards?"
I looked to Madison. "You feel comfortable swimming through the surf?"
Madison nodded. "No sweat. I’ve still got some of my swim team chops.”
I tapped my headset. "Pull around and look for my signal."
"Copy that."
A few minutes later, I saw the Wild Tide pull close to shore. I flashed my tactical light twice, and JD hovered the boat in position.
I moved to the tree line and surveyed the beach. It looked clear. "Go!"
"What about you?" Madison asked.
"I'm right behind you. I need to take care of a few things."
She hesitated.
“Go!"
Madison ran across the beach and splashed into the surf. She dove in and started swimming toward the Wild Tide.
I watched for a few moments, then spun around and headed toward the house. Luciana had caused this mess, and I was going to see to it that she did time in prison.
There was an eerie stillness on the island. The air was thick and humid, and the crickets continued to chirp in a pulsating rhythm.
I crept through the mangrove trees, moving through the tall grass. The bodies of the fallen guards lay near the stairs to the back deck. I stepped over them, moved to the steps, and sneaked up the stairs.
With my infrared scope, I scanned the house.
I didn't see Luciana's heat signature anywhere.
I put the IR scope back in my vest and lowered my NODs witch were affixed to my tactical helmet. I pushed across the deck and into the house.
I crept through the living room sweeping my rifle across the space. I cleared the downstairs, then the upstairs, then exited the front of the house.
My head swiveled from side to side as I scanned the west side of the island and advanced down the dock.
The Liquid Asset had taken on a considerable amount of water. But in the shallows surrounding the island, it didn't have far to sink.
In the distance, I heard the whine of an outboard motor, and I caught sight of Luciana attempting to escape in a tender. The tiny craft plowed against the surf as she headed out to sea.
I tapped my headset again. "Overwatch, pick me up on the west side dock. We’ve got a runner!”
37
JD navigated to the dock, and I climbed on board. He reversed away from the peer, then angled the boat around and chased after Luciana in the tender.
She had a considerable head start, but at 6 to 7 knots an hour, she couldn’t outrun us.
The Wild Tide sliced through the water, approaching the small inflatable. I saw muzzle flash illuminate the darkness and heard a bang!
The front windshield pitted and webbed with cracks as a bullet struck it.
JD ducked and veered the boat away. "That bitch just shot at us!”
"What did you expect?" I mumbled.
JD growled, and his face twisted.
Luciana fired several more shots, pelting the boat. The impacts thumped and pinged against the hull.
"God dammit!” JD growled again. “This boat is brand-new.” He scowled at me, perturbed. “Would you get out there and shoot her?"
"We're taking her in. She's going down for this,” I said.
JD circled around the tender, and Luciana continued to shoot at the boat. A wake of white water tossed the tiny inflatable around.
JD made another pass, buzzing close by the tender, and Luciana fired two more shots at the boat.
When we circled back around, I saw that the wake had capsized the tender.
I sprinted to the cockpit and leaned over the gunwale, searching the water with my night vision.
The capsized tender rose and fell on the waves, but I didn't see any sign of Luciana.
JD stopped the boat and idled around the inflatable.
The engines burbled and the smell of exhaust wafted through the air.
The night was still.
Nobody was shooting at us anymore.
Madison stepped into the cockpit, but I told her to get back into the salon and stay down. I didn’t want to take any chances.
Using the bow and stern thrusters, JD navigated close to the tender. I grabbed it with a hook and pulled it to the gunwale and flipped it over.
It was empty.
There was no sign of Luciana in the water.
JD turned on the underwater lights, and we searched the area for another 30 minutes before giving up.
"I think she drowned," JD said.
"I don't know. That woman is evil. And evil is hard to kill."
"Maybe the sharks will get her?” JD said with a grin.
Jack walked around the boat, surveying the damage. He frowned and shook his head, then he moved to the helm, throttled up, and circled back to Coral Key. It was part of Coconut County and within our jurisdiction.
We tied off at the dock, and I scaled the gunwale. “Stay
with Madison. I’m going to take a look around.”
"Do you think she swam back to shore?" JD asked.
I shrugged. "I don't know. Anything is possible."
I circled the island and marched through the underbrush with my night vision goggles.
The only thing alive on the island were the bugs.
I moved into the house, and searched room by room. I found a large closet full of bricks of cocaine, all stamped with the Los Demonios logo.
By the time I returned to the dock, JD had unloaded all the cocaine we had pulled from the narco sub onto the pier. "It's hers anyway, it's not like we're planting evidence," JD said.
I told him I had found additional contraband in the house.
We called Sheriff Daniels, and within an hour, he arrived with the medical examiner and forensics team.
"What the hell is going on here?" Daniels said, eyeing the semi-submerged yacht.
“Luciana kidnapped Madison. I had reason to believe she was in imminent danger. I entered into the home and rescued my sister. As we attempted to make our escape, shots were fired." I kept it by the book.
“Let me guess, everyone's dead? ”
"Only the bad people," I said.
The sheriff’s stern eyes narrowed at me.
“Luciana was a high-level operative in one of the major cartels,” I explained.
Daniels grimaced. "The mayor is going to love this. It's going to be amusing watching him distance himself from her.” He paused. "What's the body count?"
"Five. Possibly six," I said. "
His brow crinkled.
"Luciana attempted to escape in a tender. But her boat capsized, and we are assuming she drowned."
The sheriff sighed. "Anything else I need to know?”
I told him Luciana was responsible for Glenn Parker's death.
"Good job," Daniels said with a stone face.
It was rare praise from the stoic man, and it caught me off guard. I let a thin smile tug at my lips.
It took a few hours to wrap things up on the island, document the events, and remove the bodies.
We headed back to Coconut Key, and JD brought the boat on plane. I took a seat on the settee and processed everything that had happened.