Chapter 8

The Operatives

Back in Caldwell, the morning sky was turning dark gray, the wind was picking up and it was getting colder, the first snow of the fall season was on its way. Chin and Li had departed camp and arrived without any problems back at the cabin. They parked the ATV behind the cabin and Chin grabbed a pile of wood from the woodpile stacked on the porch. The two operatives hurried inside the warmth of the old Cabin. They had not dressed enough for the cold night and the morning felt even colder. They were freezing as Chin started packing some kindling in the wood stove. Li went on his phone; he needed to send the rest of the Dark Water pictures to their contact in China.

Chin got the fire going and Li looked out front for the package of deactivating agent they were expecting, “Still no shipment!” Li said full of concern, “Where could it be?”

“It will arrive, tonight or tomorrow, you will see. Chin replied, “I make food and we rest now, no problem for us.

“I pray it will come,” Li added, I don’t like reporting in that all is good when it is not. You know what could happen if they catch us lying to them.”

Back in town, Hank had finished another bathroom job and stopped at the Get-Go to gas up and grab a cup of his favorite coffee to go. He was tired and dirty, earned my cash today, he said to himself. The bathroom was so damn stinky he had to put on his scented mask to stop gagging from the stench of it. Hank got a large cup of coffee and a pack of the little chocolate covered donuts he loved so much. He was at his car when Stanley pulled his cruiser in and parked next him.

“That’s just what I need,” Stanley said as he got out of the car and pointing to Hank’s coffee.

Hank smiled at his friend, “Nice and hot, looks like snow is coming, you think?”

“You might be right, feels like it,” Stanley replied, “I took a ride over to that cabin last evening, no China men there, but they have an ATV. Saw the tracks out back.”

“What you got there on your chest boss?” Hank asked.

“Oh, this thing,” Stanley replied, “it’s a camera and Chief says we got to wear it whenever on duty. Had some fancy computer geek come in and train us on it.”

Hank hesitated, sipped his coffee, “Yeah, something is funny with those guys, I can’t put my finger on it.” Hank replied with a mouth full of donut.

“I’m going up there in a bit,” Stanley added as he started for the Get-Go for his coffee, “like to say hello, get a look at them.”

“Good idea,” Hank added, let me know how it goes.”

Back in Washington DC, Special Forces Commander Ryan Thompson called for a meeting with the Chief of Staff, General Mark Stanis and Defense Secretary James Baker.

“I have good news.” Thompson said as he passed around some files from the recent operation in New Mexico. One of the Cartel’s major weapons and drug supply facilities are no more. Delta team took it out in a pre-dawn raid and recovered a sizeable amount of Cartel intelligence and two Cartel members were captured.” Thompson looked at his notes, “we estimate at least two million dollars of goods destroyed.”

“Great news,” General Stanis replied as he looked at the files, “The Cartel is not going to be happy about losing such a huge amount of drugs and weapons.” He sipped his coffee, “the prisoners should help provide us with more inside information. Unfortunately with the situation at our southern border, we are going to have another fight with the Cartel sooner or later, but we will be keeping a close watch on things.”

Baker sipped his coffee, “we do need to stay vigilant and give our congratulations to the Delta Team,” He smiled at Thompson, “another job well done General.”

“Thanks Mr. Secretary,” Thompson replied, “I will let Delta team know.” Enjoying his moment of success and feeling proud of his men Thompson added, “we are, as always, here to serve and protect whenever the need calls.”

The meeting went on for another half hour with discussion going around about the new president and the recent firing of Secretary of State James A. Cox.

Baker and Stanis were concerned with the word going around the grapevine. It seemed the president’s choice for Cox’s replacement was inexperienced and unqualified, but seemingly the right color and personality for the president’s political needs. They hoped over time the president would settle down and come around