“Jalen, JT, Rush, and Tobias will be heading down there,” said Gator.
“We can do this,” said Mitchell. “Brooks and I will be fine. Let us go as well.”
“Absolutely not,” he said shaking his head. “Bora wants one or both of you and he’s not above killing you. He doesn’t know these guys. He won’t recognize them.”
“It’s cool, guys,” said Tobias looking at the brothers. “Being a multiple is fun until someone wants your ass and your twin or triplet. Don’t leave Lennon when you’re just getting started.”
“I appreciate that,” nodded Brooks. “But I want to be a part of it at the comms desk.”
“That you can do,” nodded Ham. “We’re not going down to try and find Bora right now. We’re going down there to try and find Margarita Ruvienne. If she’s in hiding and still alive, she is the rightful person to take control of Bolivia, or at least we think so. No one from the government is willing to step forward and deal with Bora or the cartels.
“But if she was threatened by Bora or killed by him or the cartels, then we have to find Bora and eliminate him. We all know that the government will not stand by and let a crazy fucking Marine take over a country like Bolivia.”
Gator tapped a few keys on the keyboard and a photo of an attractive woman with streaks of silver in her dark hair appeared on the screen. She wore a designer suit, carrying a matching handbag. There wasn’t a hair or eyelash out of place. She was the epitome of the political wife.
“She doesn’t look very big or very strong. I doubt she fought anyone off,” said Brooks.
“No. She probably didn’t but she might have had a weapon or she might have known of tunnels in and out of the palace. Ruvienne was paranoid and was known for creating secret entrances and exits,” said Ham.
“Have there been any sightings of Margarita?” asked Mitchell.
“Rita. She hates that she’s named after a cocktail,” said Jak. “And no. Not one single sighting. But here’s the stranger thing. No one has claimed her death. The cartels would have happily announced that had they done it but we’ve not heard a peep from any of them.”
“He’s right,” said Gator. “Plus, no one has stepped up to take over rule of the country. It’s as if everyone inside the loop knows what’s happening but won’t say a word.”
“Damn, this just reeks,” said Brooks. “Did Ruvienne have any siblings? Close cousins or confidants?”
“No cousins that we’re aware of and he was a man who trusted no one, not even his wife,” said Ham.
“You guys will be careful, right?” said Brooks staring at the four men.
“Brother, we train just like you. You’ve got two SEALs and two Delta operatives headed down there. I think we’re good,” smirked JT.
“I didn’t mean to imply you didn’t know what you were doing,” said Brooks apologetically. “I just feel like it should be us going down there.”
“Why? Because it involves the woman you love?” smirked Tobias.
“I-I don’t, I mean, I’m not sure,” he stammered. He looked around the room, running his hands through his thick blonde hair, shaking his head. “Fuck. I’m cooked.”
“Yep. And you’re going to be very, very happy,” laughed Mitchell. “I am going to be the best man, right? Or are you going to make Marilisa the best woman or something stupid?”
“Shut up,” laughed Brooks. “Okay. Good luck to you guys. We’ll be here sifting through all the data and potential tips.”
“See you guys soon,” smirked Rush. “I really hope we run across some cartel. Can we take explosives?” He yelled it down the hall as they were leaving and Ham, Gator, and Jak stuck their heads out the door.
“No!”
They all heard the four men chuckling as they walked down the hall. Ham heard one of them mention Miller’s name and a chill went down his spine. Miller would rather blow everything up than go in or out quietly. He knew that’s what their men were thinking as well.
“Do we have the footage pulled up of when the cartel took Ruvienne?” asked Gator.
“Right here,” said AJ tapping the keys and displaying the video.
They would review it over and over again, looking for clues that might tell them what happened to the wife of the dead president. It was very clear that the cartel dragged him from the palace. It wasn’t clear if Bora and his men were with them. They all had hoods and it made everyone look identical.
“Wait! Stop,” said Mitchell. “There! Look behind those bushes. There’s a staircase that leads from the upper balcony to the lower, and then another goes behind the shrubs and into a door in what appears to be a basement.”
AJ narrowed the view, slowing the footage to a snail’s pace. The white stucco of the palace made it difficult to see at first but then it was there. Clearly there was a person, dressed in white, running down the stairs.
