Chapter 4 - The Second Radio
“Give me that radio.”
Iván stepped toward Marcos.
Marcos raised his gun.
“Take one more step.”
Álvaro stared at both men.
“Enough.”
Iván pointed toward Marcos.
“You’re threatening a commanding officer.”
“You lost that title when you threw a teammate out of an aircraft.”
“That teammate committed treason.”
“Then arrest her.”
Marcos lowered his voice.
“You don’t execute people because they know too much.”
Iván’s eyes turned cold.
“You have no idea what she knows.”
“That’s exactly the problem.”
Álex interrupted.
“Lucía said someone has another transmitter.”
They searched their gear.
Nothing.
Then Álvaro noticed something beneath the lining of Iván’s field bag.
A small black unit.
He pulled it free.
“What is this?”
Iván didn’t answer.
Álex took it.
“Encrypted short-range transmitter.”
Marcos stared at Iván.
“You’ve been talking to someone.”
“It’s backup communication.”
“We weren’t issued backups.”
“It’s mine.”
“That doesn’t make this better.”
The device suddenly vibrated.
An incoming message flashed across the tiny screen.
TARGET STILL ACTIVE?
Everyone saw it.
Iván reached for the unit.
Marcos pushed him back.
Álvaro read the message again.
“Target?”
Iván said nothing.
A second message appeared.
RECOVER STORAGE DEVICE. NO WITNESSES.
Álex swore softly.
Marcos looked toward the ridge.
“That shooter wasn’t random.”
Iván stepped backward.
“Listen to me.”
“No.”
“You don’t understand who you’re dealing with.”
“Then explain.”
Iván looked at the transmitter.
Then at each man.
“You think this is about Lucía exposing me?”
“Isn’t it?”
“It’s bigger.”
Marcos laughed bitterly.
“Funny how criminals always say that after they get caught.”
Iván’s expression hardened.
“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“Lucía found payment records. Names. Routes. Government contracts being used to move weapons across the border.”
Álvaro stared.
“Whose operation?”
Iván didn’t answer.
Marcos moved closer.
“Whose?”
Iván said quietly, “General Serrano.”
Even Álex looked shocked.
General Mateo Serrano controlled the entire regional security command.
If Iván was telling the truth, this went far above them.
Marcos asked, “Why sabotage the helicopter?”
“To stop Lucía from reaching the extraction point.”
“By killing all of us?”
Iván looked away.
That was answer enough.
Álvaro’s face went pale.
“We were disposable.”
“Yes.”
Another gunshot snapped through the valley.
This time Iván fell.
Blood appeared across his shoulder.
The shooter had found them again.
Marcos dragged him behind cover.
May you like
Then the transmitter lit up with one final message.
IF ROJAS FAILS, KILL THEM ALL.
