Weapons. Ammunition. Vehicle components. Enough equipment to expand Ivan’s distribution network significantly.
I watch the map while the implications form in my thoughts. Ivan intends to grow his operation quickly, which means his unseen partner expects the same. That expectation creates opportunity.
I straighten from the table. “Mikel. Begin assembling surveillance teams.”
He immediately pushes away from the counter. “You want the depot watched tonight?”
“Yes.”
His brow furrows. “You believe Ivan will be there personally.” It’s not a question.
“I do,” I reply.
Men with ambition rarely delegate moments that expand their power. Ivan will want to oversee the shipment himself.
Mikel nods once. “I’ll coordinate the teams.”
Polina glances between us. “You’re planning an interception.”
I pull my focus from the depot map and brace one hand against the edge of the table, studying the narrow corridor between the warehouses again. The satellite image reveals the same weakness it did a few minutes ago. The approach is narrow, the maneuvering space is limited, and once a convoy commits to the corridor, there will be nowhere for the trucks to turn.
“Yes.”
Her fingers hover above the keyboard now, no longer moving as she considers the plan taking shape. “Capture?”
“If possible,” I reply, straightening slightly.
“And if not?”
I tap the edge of the tablet once with my thumb before lifting my head and meeting her eyes across the room. “Then we remove the network entirely.”
Polina studies my expression before her gaze returns to the monitors. Her hands resume moving across the keyboard while additional surveillance routes appear on the central display. Vehicle markers populate the map one by one as she begins coordinating the observation teams.
Across the room, Mikel remains leaning against the counter, watching the depot. His attention moves between the screen and the growing deployment grid while Polina finalizes the surveillance positions.
The plan is already unfolding. And Ivan Malenko has no idea it’s begun.
She nods once and returns to the keyboard while new surveillance routes appear on the map across the display wall. Vehicles. Entry points. Observation positions.
The hunt has begun.
Mikel moves first, stepping toward the communications console along the far wall while pulling his phone from his pocket. He has a brief conversation and walks back toward the table while the screen fills with updated coordinates.
“Two surveillance vehicles can reach the outer road within twenty minutes,” Mikel reports, resting one hand on the table as he studies the map. “Another team is already monitoring the freight corridor.”
I examine the depot layout while he speaks. Two vehicle entrances lead into the yard. One gate faces the main service road while the other sits farther along the rail line behind a collapsed section of fencing. Several long warehouse buildings stretch along the western edge of the property, their loading docks positioned directly beside the tracks.
A perfect staging area for cargo transfers.
Polina enlarges the southern portion of the property where the trucks will most likely enter.
“The depot’s original security cameras are no longer active,” Polina explains while adjusting the image resolution. “Power was disconnected years ago.”
“Which means Ivan relies entirely on his own men,” I answer.
“Yes,” she replies, her attention still on the screen.
I move closer to the display wall and study the building arrangement more carefully. Three trucks will arrive with the shipment. Enough equipment to significantly expand Ivan’s operation, which means he will want to supervise the delivery himself.
