Free Shadow of Death by David M. Salkin

“El Gato’s estate is going to be crawling with security. He’s paranoid, and has every right to be. The Sinaloa cartel would love to whack this guy and take his turf. This has to be meticulous. Slow and quiet, one guard at a time. You can’t call in air support, and help isn’t coming anytime soon. You’re supposed to get inside after you take out the guards and we grab El Gato. Once he’s secure, you’ll make the call for the Mexican Marines. Remember, if El Gato gets tipped off, he’ll be long gone when you get there.
    “If I’m able to get inside ahead of you, that will help. I may end up rendezvousing with you outside before the attack starts if I can’t smooth-talk my way into an overnight visit. My plan is a Saturday night party at his compound that goes very late, and I’m invited to stay over. He has some pretty large parties.”
    “Hardship assignment, huh?” said Ripper sarcastically.
    “If they end up using me as the piñata, yes.”
    “Any civilians inside? Rules of engagement?” asked Moose.
    “There may be a few unarmed females. Gato has a taste for the finer things in life now that he’s a billionaire, including women, who he pays for. He has no family inside—was never married, no kids. Try not to hurt the female civilians, but anything else that moves inside that compound is armed and dangerous. You aren’t cops here to arrest someone—you’re special ops. Kill everyone you see. Except me. Don’t kill me. We want Gato alive, though. He’s our only solid lead on the container. We good?”
    “If you can get us those pictures of the compound to study, that will help. And better maps.”
    “We’ll have to retool our kits for silence,” added Ripper. “What about you, Hodges? Can you provide overwatch without any noise?”
    Hodges shrugged. “Sound suppressor on the M40A5 definitely will help, but if it’s dead silence out there, they gonna hear some pops. Biggest problem I see is a good location. House is on the hilltop. Until I can get up there, it’s gonna be tough. I can help in the approach where it’s flat, but the woods look pretty thick. Not sure what the range will be. Vision will be hampered with the foliage. We’re going in before sunup, so maybe night viz will help. Might be easier to see heat signatures than bodies in the woods.”
    Moose thought about it. “Okay. Sounds like we stay together until we clear a route up to the hilltop.” He pointed to the satellite picture of the compound. “Looks like masonry walls here and some decorative towers. Maybe you can find a perch up there.”
    “Aye, aye, chief,” replied Hodges. He was staring at the map, using his hands to mimic an imaginary route in his head. The boy was always thinking.
    Moose looked around the room. “Ray, can you be spotter and security?” Earl Jones, Hodges’ spotter for many years, had been killed on their last mission and left one of the holes in their team.
    Ray nodded. “Aye, aye, chief. I’ll watch his six and look for targets.” He smacked Hodges in the arm. “I got you, baby.”
    Eric forced a smile, thinking about his friend Jonesy.
    “Okay, so Ray and Big E are overwatch when we get topside. Ripper, Ryan, and I will be point coming from the side of the house. Jon and Pete, right flank over there in what looks like the backyard. Looks like these are cabanas or pool houses. Hopefully, we’ll have better pictures. Secure that area, and then we’ll all move on the house together. K9 units will have to be taken out first. The dogs start barking, we’re screwed. We have no idea how many guards this guy has, but you can bet we’ll be outnumbered as per usual. Silence and surprise, gentlemen.”
    Ripper turned to his team and leaned forward on his knees. His arms were over-muscled like a bodybuilder’s. “Remember those pictures of the dismembered bodies. These guys don’t take prisoners, and if they do, you’ll wish they hadn’t. Stay alert and stay alive. Make sure your