Free Rosarito Beach by M. A. Lawson Page B

geographical areas in Mexico and South America and they managed drug trafficking, human trafficking, prostitution, and weapons. Others were specialists. A woman—a Harvard MBA—managed all of Caesar’s financial affairs; she had more than a hundred people working for her in Mexico. One man was responsible for transporting Caesar’s major products—people and drugs—both into and out of Mexico; another man was responsible for his physical security, the security of his homes, and his family. This person had technical personnel working for him who dealt with encryption, computer security, and electronic surveillance countermeasures.
    Raphael Mora was, for lack of a better term, Caesar’s intelligence officer and wartime consigliere. And Mora was more than a goon with a gun. He’d been in the Mexican army when he was younger, a graduate of Heroico Colegio Militar, Mexico’s equivalent of West Point. He’d also received training at the United States Army War College, the Strategic Studies Institute in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, as well as training with U.S. Army Special Forces at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, before coming to work for Caesar Olivera.
    â€œWell, do you have a plan for freeing my brother?”
    â€œYes, sir,” Mora said. He had begun developing the plan an hour after Tito was arrested. He told Caesar what he had in mind.
    â€œI leave for San Diego in half an hour,” Mora said, “and I’m taking a couple specialists with me, but I’m going to have to rely on a local gang for manpower. The gang leader seems bright enough, but I’ll have to trust his judgment to pick a decent crew. I don’t have time to screen his personnel.”
    â€œDoes Tito know what’s going to happen?”
    â€œYes. We got to a guard quickly and he gave Tito a cell phone. I’ve told Tito what to expect, and he understands the risks.” Mora hesitated. “Sir, I’m assuming you understand the risks as well.”
    â€œI do,” Caesar said. He didn’t bother with threats about what he would do if his brother was killed or seriously injured during the escape attempt.
    â€œIs there anything we can do to force the judge to release Tito on bail?” Caesar asked.
    â€œNo. Marshals are protecting the judge and his immediate family, and we have less than sixteen hours.”
    â€œIf you fail tomorrow, where will Tito be held pending trial?”
    â€œAs Prescott probably told you, the DEA wants to put him on a marine base, but he thinks that’s unlikely to happen and he’ll be held at MCC, San Diego. Obviously, it’s going to be extremely difficult to get him out of there, but we’ll have at least a year before his trial to work out a plan. Prescott will make sure we have at least a year.”
    â€œAnd if there is a trial?”
    This was typical of Caesar Olivera. He had a Plan A—free Tito before his arraignment. He had a possible Plan B—free him from the Metropolitan Correctional Center before his trial. But he wanted a Plan C.
    â€œThe video is the problem,” Mora said. “Prescott hasn’t seen it yet, so we don’t know exactly what it shows, but once Prescott sees it, he’ll decide if it can be impugned. I will, of course, investigate methods for destroying it and any copies that are made. However, and as I’m sure you know, that may not be possible. The evidence against Tito will be well protected; they’re not going to leave it sitting in a cardboard box in an evidence locker. There are also three witnesses to the killing: Tito’s whore and his two men. They’ll all be dead before the trial. Once a judge is assigned and a jury is impaneled, we’ll start looking at those people to see who can be influenced. But, sir, we don’t want this to go to trial. So, shall I proceed?”
    â€œYes,” Caesar said.
    â€œYou realize that the reaction from the media and