Chapter 12
A Change in the Deal
(Ó
2010)
Logan watched from his window as the city of Chicago, first seen to him as gigantic, as it predominated the scenery, now condensed down in size where one could simply glance with ones eyes from the John Hancock to the Sears Tower. The city, becoming smaller, then began to change from its natural colors, to a shade of blue-gray. Soon Chicago began to disappear behind the other small towns and forest preserves, … then was gone completely.
Logan sat back in his seat and let out a quiet sigh. He made another fleeting look through the passenger car. Once he felt that it was still safe, he allowed himself to relax, but only somewhat.
He then had an old feeling that had plagued him since his youth return to him, it came back to him several times in his life and when it always did, it was like running into an old friend in the most unexpected times and locations. The old feeling was loneliness and of being totally on your own in the world, very alone, by himself. His “old friend” now sat next to him and reacquainted himself.
The Wolverine was now well into Indiana, Logan looked intently as the homes and the trees passed by his window. No one was speaking in the train, the only sounds were those of the engines, the rattling of the train car and the occasional squeal of metal on metal, as Logan remembered - - -
- - - as he, Jean-Luc and Henri arrived in Lille. Their plane taxied directly to a private hangar where they found two other personnel waiting for them. One from the Grope d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale, (GIGN), the elite French counter terrorism force, the other man was from Interpol. Once they entered the hangar, the doors closed securely behind them, greetings were made, and the strategy discussed.
The main target was the business of Bela Volchescu, who had a home that was once a farm with a barn that was now used as a warehouse. It was in a secluded area some thirty kilometers from Lille. It was in a heavily wooded area and Interpol believed that this was the main receiving and distribution point of all of the narcotics that Volchesku traded and sold. It was guarded heavily and Volchescu, through either money or intimidation, kept many of the locals as informants for any sign of police activity.
Some months back during one of their briefings, Logan first saw and learned of this distribution area, and of the difficulty Interpol had in finding a way into the area and conducting a raid. Logan had asked Jean-Luc if he could have copies of the maps and documentation, and Jean-Luc complied.
“Be my guest,” Jean-Luc told him, “if you can make anything out of it let me know.”
Logan brought the information home with him that evening. During the night, he had made a strategy of not only conducting surveillance, but a raid as well. He typed a meticulous plan, made a list of the equipment that would be required along with a map of the area with coordinating grids. The next morning he gave his idea to Jean-Luc, who them immediately submitted it to Captain Thiebulet, which as Logan now experienced, he approved.
The first sign that Logan knew things were going well was what he noticed first when he entered the hangar. There at the opposite end of the hangar were three unmarked vans, each a different model, and each a different color. One blue, one red and the last one white.
“Vans of the same color and make entering these small towns will draw immediate attention,” Logan stated in his strategy. “and besides, the colors I suggested will make Madame le’ Republique very proud.”
Logan’s strategy was this; he would use his experience as a Deep Reconnaissance Commando. He was to be driven some thirty kilometers to the west of Lille where there was a certain back road. Logan was to be dropped off at this point without being seen by anyone in the civilian population, if there were to be several attempts made to insure this, then so be it. Once he was dropped off, he was to hike the distance to the Volchescu compound that was over ten kilometers overland. Logan was to hike this distance through the heavily wooded area … alone.
Now this by itself would be no easy task, however Logan would also be carrying on his person all of the equipment and provisions that he had requested in his plan. The combined weight of these items was estimated to be somewhere between fifty and fifty-five kilos.
Once Logan was to make visual contact with the Volchescu compound, he was to radio at specified times and on different wavelengths, of all intelligence he would collect and observe of the compound. He would alert them of all vehicles that were coming and going, getting license plates if possible and if these vehicles were either picking up or delivering Volchescu’s products. Information on how well armed the guards were inside the compound, how many and what type of weapons. Information on any wandering sentries outside of the compound. All the while Logan would be coordinating where to place the members of the GIGN who would participate in any raid and were now, in squads of three men each, setting themselves up at various hotels in the small towns that surrounded the forested area.
Logan would then secure a specific area that was located on the grids he created on the maps, where he would place these squads of men and show them precisely where to go if the raid was on. In Logan’s written strategy, he claimed that if things went well, and discipline was maintained among all those involved, that the surveillance and the raid itself could be accomplished in seventy-two hours. If this were to happen, this would create such a major blow not only to the supply of narcotics on the streets, but also crate a major cash flow problem for the Volchescu crime organization.
“It’s the cash that’s gives them power,” Logan stated in his strategy report, “not the guns or the muscle.”
Logan went over to the blue van and opened the back door; there he found the backpack that contained the provisions and some of the equipment. Water and food for three days, sleeping bag, first aid kit, binoculars, radio transmitter and receiver, extra batteries, canned heat, and shovel. Behind the backpack, close to the seat in front there was a footlocker, Logan climbed inside and opened it, there inside for him, neatly folded, was a set of military style khakis in forest camouflage along with a camouflage jacket and hat. Underneath the clothing, there was a .45 caliber side arm with fifty rounds of ammunition and a military survival knife. It had a ten-inch razor sharp blade with saw teeth on the other side. As Logan picked up and held the knife in his left hand, he began to gently rub his chest with his right.
“Caesar.” he whispered to himself.
Also in the footlocker, Logan found a pair high top laced military boots, extra socks, extra underwear, camouflage make-up, a compass, a blackjack, and a garrote.
There was also one more item; it was stored inside of a flat metal waterproof case, also painted in forest camouflage. Logan opened it and looked at the contents. Inside was a French FR-F2 manual bolt-action snipers rifle with a 6X scope. Along with the rifle were three magazines that carried ten 7.62x51mm cartridges each. This rifle had a maximum effect range of eight hundred meters.
Logan stepped from the van and gave them all a thumbs up in approval. He then rejoined Jean-Luc, Henri and the other two men and began to go over and confirm the strategy for about a half an hour, there they all put themselves on the same path and established the times and radio frequencies that Logan would be transmitting all information from his surveillance. They then synchronized their watches and all went to their pre-specified vans.
The man from Interpol took the white van and left, he was to travel to a small town further west on the other side of the wooded area of the Volchescu compound. Five minutes later the other man from the French National Police was to take Henri into Lille and drop him off at the hotel that he a Jean-Luc would be staying. There they both would monitor the radio not only for the specified times Logan was to transmit, but also in case there was an unspecified transmission, meaning either Logan had something important enough to break radio silence, or something that may have gone wrong and he needed assistance.
Jean-Luc was to take Logan in the blue van to the drop off point, where he would continue on, then double back and return to Lille and rejoin Henri.
“We got about another minute,” Jean-Luc said to Logan, “you nervous?”
Logan answered quietly, “I don’t believe I feel nervous, it feels more like a rush of adrenaline. I felt like this before in the past.”
Jean-Luc looked down at his watch, “Let us go my friend.”
Logan entered again through the back doors of the van and closed them behind him while Jean-Luc went to the drivers’ seat. Once inside Jean-Luc started the engine and drove the van away from the hangar. Once they had passed through the front gate Logan stood as the van headed toward the highway and began to take off his clothes and change in the clothing from the footlocker. He had just finished tying the laces on his boots when the van entered the highway and headed in a westward direction from Lille.
“Can I borrow the rear view mirror a second Jean?” He asked. He then reached over and looked into mirror where he began to apply the camouflage make-up to his face. “And don’t give me any lines of how this is a great improvement.”
Jean-Luc gave out a small laugh and watched Logan as he began to put on the backpack. It seemed very cumbersome however after Logan finished adjusting the final strap, he said to Jean-Luc, “This is much better than what I was use too. This one sits higher on my back, helps me shift the weight better on my center of gravity. Those rucksacks we had in the Legion? The only good thing they were good for was that the pain caused to your back helped get your mind off of how much your feet hurt.”
Logan then opened the flat case that contained the rifle and inspected the contents one more time. When he was satisfied, he closed it and secured all the latches. While kneeling he tested the weight of the backpack while testing the weight of the case in his hand. He pumped it up and down a couple of times with his left hand and then alternated to his right. “Not so bad.” Jean-Luc heard him say to himself. Logan then undid one of the pockets of the jacket, pulled from it a pair of thin green cotton gloves, and placed them on his hands.
“Logan, come up here for a second, I have one more thing you will need.”
Logan placed the rifle case on the floor and made his way to the front, Jean-Luc picked what appeared to be a shirt box and handed it to Logan. When Logan opened it, he found inside a black nylon ski mask. He looked inquisitively at Jean-Luc and asked, “What’s this for?”
“It is from Thiebulet. He told me to inform you that if this raid does happen and you come to enter the compound that you can only do so with this mask on. Do you understand? He also told me to inform you that this is a direct order and that he will explain it to you upon our return to Paris.”
Logan folded the mask and stuffed it into a pocket of his jacket, “What can I say? Orders are orders, no matter how strange they seem.”
“Also, that if the raid is executed, that everyone there is to address you only as ‘Number One’, not by your name. Understand?”
“Yes, I understand. But why ‘Number One’?
“Because you are the goalkeeper, that is your jersey number, this was my idea”. Jean-Luc said with a smile, he then pointed, “We are about to leave the highway Logan, we should be at the back road in a few moments.”
Logan then sat back and relaxed, he began to have the feeling he would get when he was about to parachute from the aircraft with the rest of his Legionnaires when he was in Corsica, or the other times in Africa. When Jean-Luc slowed down the van to leave the highway, he felt that old rush whenever the side door of the aircraft would open before a jump. The van was now traveling slower with the slower speed limits, Logan knew from his plan that there were two more turns that are right. When Jean-Luc made the first one, it now felt like the times when the ready lights would come on and illuminate the inside of the aircraft.
“Come up by me for a second Logan.”
Logan complied and came to the front again, his body in the space that separated the driver and passenger seat. “Yeah Jean?”
Jean-Luc extended out his right hand to Logan, “We are about a half a kilometer from where we turn, I just want to wish you good luck.” Logan took Jean-Luc’s hand and shook it, then he felt Jean-Luc grasp tighter onto his hand, and he then said, “And I too have an order for you.”
Logan felt puzzled, Jean-Luc never before felt he had to give him an order, “What’s that Jean?”
Jean-Luc then released his grip from Logan and placed his hand firmly on his shoulder and said, “Just come back safe to us my friend.”
Logan felt great warmth come over him; Jean-Luc not only was his partner, but his good friend also. “Thank you Jean,” he said, “that means a great deal to me.”
“Here is our turn.” Jean-Luc said and turned the van to the right. They were now on a small-unpaved side road that had the tree line of the forest on either side of them. The tree line began just two meters from the edge of the road, and it appeared as if they were the only vehicle that was traveling on it at the time. They were coming close to where Logan was to exit the van. Logan grabbed the flat rifle case and adjusted the backpack as he went to the back of the van. He peered through the back window and saw that there were no vehicles behind them. “Nothing back here Jean, how is it up front?”
“I appears to be all clear in this direction, nobody coming from the village down the road.” He answered, referring to a village that was about four kilometers further down in the direction they were driving.
“Looks like were going to make it on the first attempt.” Logan said. “Start to slow down.”
Jean-Luc then removed his foot from the gas pedal and let the van slow naturally, once they came to where Logan had to depart, he came to a quick stop. Logan instantly opened the back doors of the van and placed the rifle case onto the ground, jumped out and said, “See you there Jean.” He then shut the doors and entered the forest on the right side of the van. Jean-Luc watched from his side view mirror as Logan crossed over into the forest. He then looked over to see him as he quickly strode into the line of trees, the bulk of the backpack covering him up and the rifle case in his left hand.
Jean-Luc then released his foot from the brake and slowly accelerated the van, he looked over again, to where he saw Logan go into the forest, but by then he had already disappeared from sight.
* * *
Logan lay face down in a prone position behind a large fallen log. He waited and listened as the van, which Jean-Luc was driving had completely gone.. He then slowly peered up and over the log just in time to see the tail lights of the van disappear down the lone side road. Logan returned to his prone position, he smelled the sweet odor of the forest soil and then felt the old instincts begin to reignite within him. The old warrior instincts of seventeen years serving in the French Foreign Legion.
The other instincts too began to emerge, the instincts and skills taught to him by the elders, all from the other time. In that time before. Before he was Logan.
He stood up and then began to hike a further distance into the forest to insure that he would not be seen from the road. He hiked vigorously for a good twenty minutes, when he felt secure in his position he stopped, set down the rifle case, removed his backpack and went down to one knee. From his jacket, he took out his compass, and from the backpack, his map. He began to figure out his coordinates and get his bearings.
The old senses began to take hold of him as he felt the forest envelope him. His senses began to heighten and spark as he felt his solitude. He began, as in the days before, to become one with his surroundings, become one with his environment. His ears became in tune with the silence, his nose began to register and smell every separate scent. His eyes were constantly scanning all around him. His skin felt all the temperature change and the slightest breeze. He could even now taste the air.
Every sound, every sight, every scent, everything around him, he was aware of, aware that the slightest change in anything had a reason and an origin.
It took just a few moments for him to figure out his exact position. He calculated that if he put in a good effort, that he would be looking down on the Volchescu compound within a couple of hours. He had to hurry, for if he could time it just right, he could be where he needed to be right before sunset.
He folded his map and placed it inside the breast pocket of his jacket, then closed his compass and hung it around his neck and zipped up the jacket. He opened the top of the backpack and took from it one of his water bottles, opened it and took a drink. He replaced it and closed the backpack. He then lifted the backpack and secured it tightly to his body, then picked up the rifle case and then began to make his way deeper into the forest towards the Volchescu compound.
He moved silently and swiftly. His hands guiding him around the trees, bushes and other foliage. His feet sensed the slightest differences of depths, curvatures, leaves and twigs on the forest floor. Silent and stealthily he moved as his senses became in tune with everything around him.
Like the wolf.
* * *
Just slightly over two hours later, in their hotel room in the center of Lille, Jean-Luc and Henri watching a football match on the television with the volume of the set turned completely down. Jean-Luc sat on the middle of a sofa in the center of the room, his arms outstretched along the back of the sofa, his feet crossed and resting on the coffee table. Henri sat at the desk to the side; he was monitoring the radio, waiting for Logan’s first call. On the desk was a copy of the same map that Logan was carrying with him. Both men sat quietly, yet anxiously.
They stared at the television, neither one of them much interested in the match; each would occasionally look at the time on the watches then stand to stretch themselves, and pace the room.
Then all of a sudden, the silence of the room was then broken by the electronic crackle coming from the radio, followed by the whispering voice of Logan, speaking in English “Hey guys? You both there?”
Henri jumped and smiled to Jean-Luc, he turned and pressed the transmit button and answered with the same whispering tone, “Yes, we hear you.”
“I’m here. I’m in.” Logan whispered. “In position, P-33, looking downward, now beginning.”
Jean-Luc stood from the sofa and stepped towards the desk. He took the map, turned it flat on the desk, and looked at the coordinates for P-33. He found them and smiled. Logan was on the hillside, looking directly downward onto the Volchescu compound. Jean-Luc then took the radio, pressed the transmit button and said. “Very well, we have you at P-33.”
“Very well,” Logan answered, “will call again on the schedule.”
“On stand by.” Jean-Luc transmitted, and then placed the radio down. He the shook Henri’s hand tightly and slapped him on the shoulder. “He’s looking right down on them, he can see everything, everything! This is good, this is very good.”
* * *
Logan sat cross-legged in some thick bushes on a hillside to the west that overlooked the Volchescu compound. He had cut a passage in the bushes just wide enough for him to crawl into. There was just enough room inside for himself, his backpack, and rifle case. The fit was snug, but comfortable. The sun had set and the darkness was starting to be broken by the illumination of the electric lights from the compound.
Logan had retrieved the binoculars from the backpack and began to scan the area, beginning with the compound. The compound looked as if it were once a vineyard. The main house stood was of a size that could have housed a good size family, a two-story wood and stone structure painted white. There was what seemed to be a guesthouse to the right of the main home, and across from both of the homes, there was what appeared to be a barn. On the roof of the barn, there was what appeared to be a bell tower. Logan focused his binoculars on the tower and within a few seconds observed the movement of an armed man, which conformed that this tower was being used as an observation point.
Logan whispered to himself in a singing type tone, “I seeeee yooouu.” He then estimated the distance from his viewpoint to the tower for any rifle shot he may have to carry out
He then focused his attention back to the main house, particularly to the second floor windows. It was now dark enough for whoever was inside to turn on any lights, and again Logan saw the movement of men inside. There was a room with a double door that led out to a balcony. Outside on the balcony there was a ladder stored on the right side, stored in a way as if it were at the ready. Logan concluded that this ladder was to be used for any Volchescu sentry to easily gain access to the rooftop.
“Duly noted.” Logan whispered to himself.
A worn pathway, leading in a north-south direction, appearing to be made by motor vehicles separated the homes from the barn. Logan followed the direction of the pathway with the binoculars. It ended just further to the right of all three of the structures, however, scanning in the opposite direction, Logan saw that the pathway led to an entry gate. This gate was connected to a wooden post fence that surrounded the entire compound. Two men that appeared to be armed guarded the gate. Logan scanned and followed the direction of the pathway past the entry. It curved and then wound around to the east of the compound where it connected to another dirt road that ran north and south.
This is when Logan discovered that he was not alone in the forest. While scanning the pathway he saw another man, carrying what appeared to be a pump shotgun. Logan panned his binoculars around the dirt road that the pathway connected to, there he saw another man, walking along the road, like the man on the pathway, he too was carrying a shotgun.
Logan set the binoculars on his lap and looked around the area that he was in. He knew that if there were sentries over on that side of the compound, then he was certain there were some on his side. He slowly reached down to the side of his right boot and unbuckled the large military knife from his ankle and held it, still in it scabbard and placed it on his lap next to the binoculars. He then reached into the left pocket of his jacket and removed his garrote, folded it neatly, placed it on top of the scabbard, then held them both firmly in his right hand.
Logan senses now heightened. He was now finely tuned in to all that was around him, now that he was in danger of being discovered. He became even quieter, yet calmer. It was all so automatic to him, from his time in the Legion; however, he also remembered what the elders had taught him from when he was young. How they taught him how to watch, how to listen. “Everything around you will alert you, teach you, and show you any dangers.” they said to him, “Like the wolf, learn from whom you are named for, learn from the wolf.”
Logan slowed his breathing so that he was doing so through both his nostrils and his mouth. He picked up his binoculars and began to scan by section the forest around him while there was still enough light. In a few moments time he discovered two more roving sentries, one to the north, and the other to the south, which made him certain that there was another nearby to him on his side. Logan turned silently and began to search behind him. He first looked directly behind him, then to the angles from right to left. He then searched to his direct right and left, he did not see any sentry. However, he knew that it did not mean that there was not one there.
He listened, adjusting his hearing to the silence around him for any small sound that may come. He also sniffed the air for any slight odor that was different. Nothing.
He then turned back into the direction of the compound, more lights were beginning to be turned on, and there was movement by some men coming from the main house. Logan brought his binoculars back to his eyes. Three men emerged from the house, two standing shoulder to shoulder, both holding handguns. They behavior showed that they were there to protect the man behind them, Logan focused on this man and was surprised to discover that it was none other than Bela Volchescu himself.
“Whoa.” Logan whispered. He noticed some movement from the double doors on the second floor; he looked too observed as a man with an AK-47 machine gun stepped towards the ladder and began to make his way to the rooftop. The man sat down on the roof concealing himself the best he could. Logan the scanned to the bell tower on the roof of the barn, he saw the sentry there standing up and looking down the pathway that led to the dirt road. “Something’s happening.” Logan whispered. He knew these men were setting themselves up to create a crossfire.
Logan heard Bela speak in his native Russian, “Вызовите другие для того чтобы прийти внутри более близко.” (Call the others to come in closer.) Logan then heard as one of the gave out a loud whistle, two short bursts followed by one long. Logan scanned the forest to where he spotted the roaming sentries; they all began to make their way closer to the compound. They seemed to be making their way to pre-designated areas. He observed as the men on the east side made their way to certain trees. This is when Logan discovered that these men were not only armed with shotguns, but they also had access to Uzi machine guns. These men were positioning themselves for any sort of firefight.
Logan observed and made note of each mans’ position, what they were preparing for was yet still unknown to him. He watched as some more men came from the house, but they all seemed as if they were just socializing, ignoring the activities around them. Laughing and joking in Russian.
Logan was trying to hear and translate what they were all saying when … snap!
The noise came from his direct right. The distinct sound of someone breaking a stick as they stepped on it. Logan heard the thumping of heavy footsteps coming from his right, towards him, whomever it was seemed in a hurry. Then the footsteps suddenly stopped, Logan froze in his position. His grip tightened on the knife in its scabbard along with the garrote.
Logan then heard the man swear in Russian, “Ад oh!” (Oh Hell!) There was silence, and then the silence was broken by the sound of the man unzipping his trousers, then the noise of his labored breathing, and then the sound of him urinating on the ground. Logan used the scabbard to help him peer through the bushes. The sentry had his back to him, he was about ten meters away, and he had set down the weapon he was carrying so that it was resting upright on a nearby tree. Logan thought that if he had to, he could easily neutralize this man in less the a second, however the man was so preoccupied with the joy of liberation brought on by his relieving himself, that Logan could be standing right beside him and he wouldn’t even notice.
Soon the sound of urine drumming the ground ceased and the sentry gave out a sigh of relief. He then adjusted himself and zipped up his trousers. He retrieved his weapon from the tree and then proceeded toward his pre-determined area. Logan watched to where his positioned himself, he then pulled from his breast pocket his copy of the map and proceeded to make notes of exactly where every sentry was hiding outside of the perimeter of the compound.
Logan then sat silently, scrutinizing all the activity below, and the actions of the outside sentries. The only sounds now were of the men at the compound below speaking in their Russian language. This continued for some forty-five minutes, the sky grew darker and soon the eastside scenery from the compound began to fade into the darkness. They seemed to be expecting something and all the while Logan watched and waited.
Then suddenly, from the northeast, there seemed to be a spark of light that was brought immediately to Logan’s attention. He looked through the binoculars into that direction and saw a set of headlights coming from the north on the unpaved road. As the lights drew closer the sentry that was in the barn bell tower called out, “Я думаю они приходит!” (I think they are coming!).
Logan focused on the oncoming headlights. He watched as they came closer to where any vehicle would have to turn off to get to the compound. When they did so, the vehicle began to slow down. It then came to a stop and then turned onto the pathway that led to the compound. Logan watched as the headlights followed the pathway slowly, sometimes bouncing from some of the more rugged areas. It came then to the entrance of the gate where the guard then opened it and let it enter. The car, now identified by Logan as a large black Mercedes-Benz four door sedan then rolled to the well lit area between the houses and the barn.
Logan first looked to see if he could make out any license plate number, to lighting of the area was to his advantage, he could make it out almost perfectly. He reached over to his backpack and carefully removed from one of its compartments a notepad, pen, and a flashlight with a red lens. He wrote down the plate number then looked at the time on his watch, using his hand to cover the red light. He then made note of both.
Logan watched as a large African man stepped out from the drivers side of the Mercedes-Benz. He stood and lifted both of his arms in the air while Volchescu’s bodyguards searched him for any weapons. When they assured Bela that he was unarmed, the African man came up to Bela, shook hands with him and smiled. All seemed to be very well between to two men. They both then walked to the trunk of the Mercedes and the African man opened it. Logan observed as Bela leaned over to inspect whatever was there. In a couple of minutes, Bela stood up and gave a hand signal towards the guesthouse, where a man came out carrying two athletic bags. The African man unzipped each bag separately, he gave a big smile after seeing the contents inside.
Bela then motioned to the bodyguards, both men went directly to the barn each returned with a two-wheeled handcart. The unloaded a total of eight standard size file boxes and took them into the barn. The African man then placed the two athletic bags in the trunk and secured it. He came up to Bela again smiled and shook his hand. Whatever the deal was, it had been completed.
The African man then got back into the Mercedes, started the engine, turned the car around and left the compound. The whole deal took less than five minutes. Logan watched as the red taillights of the Mercedes danced up and down on the pathway, reached the unpaved road, brightened as the driver applied the brakes, then turned southward to continue in the same direction as it originally came.
Logan then observed as the barn was secured, and the roving sentries returned to their duty. Logan waited for the sentry that was assigned to his area to return, his wait was not long. The sentry walked past him, just meters away. Logan waited for a few seconds, then he silently left his hiding place, he was scheduled to make his first radio report in a little more than two hours. He spent most of that time following the sentry.
He learned of where the sentry spent the most part of his time, where he met up with the other rovers, and where he would hide to sneak in some sleep. Logan was always within a few meters of them, and they never once become aware of his presence.
He now knew the habits of the sentries, he was able to find a secluded area where he made his first report. He reported to Jean-Luc of everything that he observed of the deal, of the African man, and of the black Mercedes-Benz with the license number. He then returned to his hiding place to continue his surveillance. Through his binoculars he observed as all activity had ceased. The sentries that were on the roof of the house and in the bell tower of the barn remained though. All was now quiet, and Logan began to think that it was going to be a long night. He looked over the entire area once more, and once when he felt secure, he took a moment to think about the girl Lily.
He looked down at his watch, the hands that glowed in the dark were now telling him that it was almost midnight. He thought to himself that she was probably with her friends at Le Club Argenté D'oiseau. He thought of the kiss she gave him right before he left her at her apartment, of how wonderful it made him feel, considering how the memory of Caesar was also overwhelming him. The way her hands felt on his face, and her lips on his. He thought something like that would never happen to him again in his life.
He sat there in the dark and he looked up to the sky. It was amazing how much more of the galaxy you can see when you are out from the cities. He then remembered of the times he would look to the sky, and ponder of the girl he knew back in America. He did so again at that moment, wondering what ever became of her, and prayed though that she was happy. He also prayed again for her forgiveness.
For the next two hours he sat there in the tranquility of the dark, continuing his surveillance of the compound through the binoculars. Still keeping close attention not only to the guards on the rooftops, but those roaming the perimeter as well. The sentry assigned to the section where he sat passed near him a couple more times, one time just two meters away. The sentry never detected Logan.
Then Logan noticed some movement coming from the main house of the compound. Through his binoculars he saw the two bodyguards coming to the main door along with Bela. They stepped out onto the main yard and called out in Russian to alert the sentries on the rooftops as well as the men who were roaming. Logan sat still as he waited for the sentry in his section to pass, the wait wasn’t for very long, the sentry came running fast, this time to Logan’s left. Logan observed activity again in the compound and believed that another delivery was about to arrive. Logan scanned and studied every man on the compound and their movements. However the demeanor of the men seemed different to him this time. Before everyone seemed staunch and serious. Now, all men were smiling and somewhat jovial, as if they were anticipating something delightful about to happen.
Then, ten minutes later, the stillness of the morning began to be broken slightly by the sound of an engine, coming from the southeastern distance. Logan focused his binoculars in the direction of the sound. Soon another set of headlights appeared and the sentry in the bell tower called to the others, “Здесь они приходят!”, (Here they come!).
Logan followed the headlights coming up to unpaved road. They soon slowed down to where the turning point was for the pathway that led to the compound. The lights illuminated the trees to the sides of the pathway and they too bounced on the rougher portions. Logan could now make out that it was a large cargo van, an American make. The van traveled slower on the pathway, then arrived at the entry gate that quickly let them come into the compound. The van, a dark blue Dodge, drove up to the middle of the compound and came to a stop. The engine and the headlights were immediately shut off.
The driver quickly exited the van and walked around the front, he saw Bela standing at the front of the house and he then outstretched both of his arms and exclaimed, “Bela мой друг!”, (Bela my friend!).
Bela then stepped forward to the driver and embraced him. They embraced tightly as two good friends would and once they separated the driver stepped back to the van and said, “Не ждать до тех пор пока вы те, мы имеем некоторый основной товар внутри здесь”, (Wait until you see, we have some prime merchandise in here). He then pounded his fist on the side of the van and when he did so, the sound of girls’ shrieking could be heard. Logan was able to here it from his vantage point.
Bela and the driver now stepped to the back of the van. The driver unlocked the doors and swung them violently open and yelled while signaling with his hand, “Я о дальше, вы, get out теперь!”, (Come on, all of you, get out now!). He then stepped backwards and pointed to the ground screaming, “Компановка здесь, вы! Движение! Теперь!”, (Line up here, all of you. Move! Now!).
Logan watched as young girls began to exit from the back of the van. Through the binoculars he could see the frightened expressions on their faces as they all looked around to see where they were. They began to exit swiftly, lining up where they were told. Logan looked at each individual one as they departed the van, they looked exhausted and disheveled. Then to Logan’s surprise, two young boys had also got out from the van. The kept emptying out until Logan counted seventeen in all. What amazed Logan now was the ages of the boys and girls. The boys must have been in his estimation nine to eleven years old. Twelve of the girls were anywhere from eight to fourteen, and the three other girls looked to be eighteen to twenty.
All of the young girls were crying. From what Logan could see, one of them was African, two of them looked Spanish or even Italian. The rest of the girls, not only from their appearances, but also from how they spoke, Logan was guessing that they were from Russia, The Ukraine, or some of the other Baltic states.
What followed next made Logan’s blood boil. Bela motioned over to the three oldest girls to come and stand directly in front of him. He then began to rub his hands over their breasts. The first girl tried to push his hands away, he then give a blow to her solar plexus. Bela then grabbed her by her hair and stood her up and continued to rub his hands over her body, first over her clothing, and then under. He did this to each girl, then he made them strip down naked. Once their clothing was removed Bela turned to all the other men and asked, “Nice будет им не?”, (Nice, is it not?) All the men then cheered and jeered.
“Выберите вверх все ваши одежды!” (Pick up all your clothes!). Bela said to them. The three girls hastily gathered their clothing and held the bundles close to themselves so that they could cover themselves the best they could. They stood shivering when Bela asked them, “Могут любой из вас станцевать?”, (Can any of you dance?). The three girls nodded that yes, they could. “Я намереваюсь как в клубы танцульки и erotically. Можете вы станцевать та дорога?”, (I mean like in dance clubs and erotically. Can you dance that way?). The three girls nodded yes again.
Bela stepped closer to them and said loudly, “Вы имели более лучшее упование так, потому что если вы не можете станцевать дорога, то мы хотим, тогда вы будете зарабатывать наша деньг на ваших плоских задних частях и коленях вместо ваших ног.”, (You had better hope so, because if you can not dance the way we want, then you will be making our money on your flat backs and knees instead of your feet.). He pointed to a couple of his men and then yelled, “Получите их внутрь!”, (Get them inside!). The men then grabbed the older girls and took them into the barn.
Bela then turned his attention to the two boys, he stepped over to them and grabbed them both by the back of their necks and brought them out into the light. Both boys were wearing t-shirts and denims. Bela grabbed the first boys t-shirt by the side, violently pulled it off over his head and off his body, then tossed it to the side. He then grabbed the sides of the boys denim trousers and forcibly pulled them down to his ankles, along with his underwear. “Вы не смеете делаете движение! Вы слышите меня?”, (You do not dare make a move! Do you hear me?). He then repeated what he did to the second boy.
“Оба из вас поворот вокруг!”, (Both of you turn around). Both boys did so. They then faced Bela, looking downward to the ground, looking embarrassed and ashamed. “Хорошо! Не волосы на также одном из вас. Вы оба сделаете наилучшим образом для меня.”, (Good! Not a hair on either one of you. You both will do well for me). He then pointed to the barn, “Пойдите! Получите внутри там!”, (Go! Get in there!).
This now left just the youngest girls, and as Bela approached them, they became more frightened and began to cry harder.
“Закройте вверх! Вы! Теперь! Закройте вверх!”, (Shut up! All of you! Now! Shut up!). The girls immediately went silent. Logan sat and witnessed as Bela individually probe and grope each girl with his hands, then undress them, feel them again, and inspect them. All the time in front of the rest of his men. The last girl he came to seemed to be the youngest. She gave the impression to Logan to be only eight years old. She had blond curly hair and blue eyes.
“Я хочу мою мать, я хочу пойти домой.”, (I want my mother, I want to go home.), the little girl said as she cried.
“Я имею вас потому что ваша мать не смогла оплатить мне вас тупоумная маленькая сука” , (I have you because your mother could not pay me you stupid little bitch.), Bela said to her. He then pulled the clothes off of her body and did his hands on inspection of her. When he finished he sent her to the barn crying, so she could join the others.
Logan at that point felt an overwhelming urge to break out the snipers rifle, and kill everyman he saw in the compound. However, he had to compose himself, he knew he had been in similar situations as this before. He had to think, he had to stand fast and think. He watched as two men entered the barn where the girls and boys were being held. The driver, bodyguards and Bela went back into the main house while the other men went to the guest house. Soon, the rovers were back in there places. Logan saw as once again the sentry in his area strolled past and never even knew Logan was there.
Logan then waited for a few moments, once he felt secure enough; he retrieved the knife in its scabbard, the garrote, and the radio transmitter. He then checked to make sure the rest of his gear was secure. He then slowly got up from his hiding place, and crept to a secure part of the forest entirely undetected.
* * *
Jean-Luc sat in the chair with his feet propped up on the desk. He was dozing while monitoring the radio in the hotel room. Henri was asleep in the separate bedroom. The only sound in the room at the moment was that of Jean-Luc’s light snoring. Soon the silence was broken by the distinct sound of the crackling from the radio which cause Jean-Luc to startle himself wide awake.
“Hey guys, you there?” Logan voice said whispering from the speaker.
Jean-Luc swung his feet down from the desk, grabbed the radio, pressed the ‘Send’ button and replied, “Yes, go ahead.”
“Go to our secure band. Number three. Meet me there.” Logan said.
This was an unscheduled transmission, which meant that it was of great importance, or that Logan was in trouble. Jean-Luc then called out the Henri, “Henri! Wake up! It is Logan!”
Henri’s eyes burst open and he quickly jump up from the bed. “What is it?” He asked as he came into the room rubbing his face to wake up, “He is not in trouble is he?”
“I do not think so, he wants to speak to us on the secure band.” Jean-Luc answered. He, Henri, and Logan planned to have three separate radio bands that only they had knowledge of in case they needed to discuss any situation that was to be between them. Also, so that no one else could monitor so that they could speak freely, and they did not have to rely on the predetermined coded language as much, or even not at all.. Jean-Luc set the radio to the frequency that Logan requested, pressed the ‘Send” button and said, “We are here.”
Logan’s voice came through the radio in the quiet whispering tone, “Yeah guys, been here watching. I think there is a lot more here be delivered than the merchandise that we’re after.”
“And what would that be?” Jean-Luc asked.
“Livestock.” Livestock, the code word for prostitutes, “But, livestock of a different type.”
“Meaning.”
“This livestock is unwilling, maybe stolen, like you know, rustlers.”
“Can you elaborate more?”
“Yeah, it’s all stolen, do you catch my meaning, and it is young, very young, and I believe it’s about to be trafficked, soon I presume.” Logan stressed his words, all new that Volchescu also dabbled in prostitution, however this was human trafficking, and it was of children.
“Can you give an approximation of how soon?” Jean-Luc asked.
“Not at this moment, but I think I could find out how.”
“And that would be how?”
“I’m going to enter the compound, have a closer look.”
Jean-Luc became apprehensive at hearing this, “That would be extremely risky. You think not?”
“Yes, but I need to confirm any time of any movement.”
“I do not know about this.” Jean-Luc answered apprehensively.
There were a few seconds of silence, then Logan broadcast in a calmer, yet pleading tone, “Hey man, one is like your oldest.”
Logan had hit home with Jean-Luc, he was referring to Angela, Jean-Luc’s seven year old daughter. Jean-Luc thought for a moment, then hit the send button, “Alright then, do what you must.”
“I’ll take all responsibility if it screws up,” Logan said, “but, we may have to make this deal sooner.”
"How much sooner?”
“I’ll let you know, monitor this band, I will tell you more later.”
With that, the radio went silent. Jean-Luc looked over to Henri and said, “It looks as though we are going to experience a few suspenseful hours.”
* * *
Logan returned to his base site to retrieve his sidearm and donned the dark hood mask that Jean-Luc gave to him in the van. From there he began to make his way to the Volchescu compound. He had to make a wide counterclockwise trek going around and coming up from the south of the compound. He crossed pathways with the roving sentries; however they never even sensed his presence. Soon, he was on the eastern side of the compound, looking down from the hill, his view was now of the opposite side of the barn where the fifteen girls and two boys were being held.
He looked around the compound with his binoculars to check on the positions of all the other sentries in the compound, as well as their posts and timing patterns as the stroll around the premises. Once he felt he knew of their habits, he began to make his way towards the barn.
Quiet and stealthy, he blended in with the darkness. However, Logan felt that something was wrong, that something was out of place. Then he realized that there was nothing amiss, but rather that there was something missing. He came to the wooden post fence that was the boundary to the compound, once he made his way to the other side, he realized what it was that was missing.
“No dogs.” He whispered to himself. “Why are there no dogs?”
He made his way to the side of the barn, looked around himself for the sentries, then began to explore for a way to discover what was transpiring inside.
* * *
It had been now over two hours since Jean-Luc and Henri had spoken with Logan. Jean-Luc grew more nervous as he went through a series of pacing the room and looking out from the hotel room window. He peered through the curtains again and now he now grew more anxious as he saw the first light of dawn. Looking at the time on his watch he asked, “Where is he?” Henri shrugged his shoulders.
Then the crackle came over there radio and both men heard Logan’s voice, “Guys?”
Henri grabbed the radio as Jean-Luc swiftly moved from the window to the desk, Henri pressed the ‘Send’ button and answered, “Go ahead.”
“Yes, the livestock is going to be shipped soon.”
Jean-Luc took the radio and asked, “How soon?”
“Looks like early afternoon, not today, but tomorrow.”
“Damn!” Jean-Luc said to Henri, he though for a second, pressed the ‘Send’ button and asked, “Any suggestions?”
“Yes,” Logan answered, “we deviate from the set timetable and we may have to make a change in the deal, so that it goes on at the same time.”
“That is almost twenty four hours ahead of schedule.” Jean-Luc answered in a concerned tone.
“I realize that, but there’s seventeen total here. Contact our associates, tell them to stand by in their places, I will begin to coordinate everything.”
“Starting when?”
“Right now. You want to hear something strange?”
“What would that be?”
“There are no dogs.”
“What?”
“No dogs, you’d think the guy would have guard dogs. None to be seen.”
Jean-Luc looked to Henri and both men gave a facial expression that confirmed what Logan thought, Bela had no guard dogs at the compound, Jean-Luc then transmitted, “Maybe he has great confidence in his personnel.” He then paused a second and asked, “You are sure this is the way?”
“Hey guys,” Logan said confidently, “we can do this. Really, we can. Get in touch with the others and we‘ll put it together.” - - -
- - - A sudden rock of the train brought Logan out of his thoughts. He looked to his watch and saw that he had been traveling now from just about an hour. He knew that Jo-jo would be on her way to the office by now. She would usually make coffee when she arrived at the bank. “Jo-jo made the best coffee.” Logan thought to himself. “I’m going to miss it.”
Logan then got up from his seat to head to the concession car, the coffee would not be Jo-jo’s, but it will have to do for now.
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