Central Plaza Apartments – Unit 503
10:36 p.m.
The dim light from the lamp on the desk contrasted with the darkness of the rest of the room. Gustavo was at home, still wearing the top half of his LAPD uniform, but with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms and the holster of his Glock already resting on the bed.
His laptop displayed the encrypted screen of a military VPN. He typed carefully, code by code, until he managed to access the secure directory of the old DoD internal contact portal. After a few tries, the chat window opened.
[SecureComm – Channel 04]
Status: Encrypted line activated – Clearance level 3
GUSTAVO: "ShadowFox, are you listening?"
SHADOWFOX: "Here. Who would have thought I would see you around here again, Silva."
GUSTAVO: "I need information. And fast."
SHADOWFOX: "The tone is serious. Is this a DoD or civilian thing?"
GUSTAVO: "Both. Colonel William R. Hanes. Name came up today. Do you know if he's in private operation? Recent contract?"
SHADOWFOX: "Hanes? Damn, I thought that ghost had evaporated. Give me a second."
Gustavo snapped his fingers impatiently. ShadowFox was the code name for Jackson Reeve, a JSOC liaison officer whom Gustavo had met during a joint DoD-Special Forces training. Jackson was suspicious by nature, but if he trusted someone, he was one hundred percent loyal.
[5 minutes later]
SHADOWFOX: "Silva, this won't show up in the normal databases. I needed access that could cost me my end-of-year bonus."
GUSTAVO: "Spit it out."
SHADOWFOX: "Hanes has been in contact with a group called Praetor Security. The company is registered in Panama, but has recently moved to San Diego, Long Beach and now... guess what?"
GUSTAVO: "Los Angeles."
SHADOWFOX: "Exactly. But the detail? They're trying to secure contracts with the city government for 'urban security consulting.' Using Hanes' name as a credential. Typical of him."
GUSTAVO: "And does the DoD know?"
SHADOWFOX: "Officially? No. Unofficially, they're letting it slide. They don't want friction with him, especially with the connections he has."
GUSTAVO: "So that's it. Hanes is trying to establish a parallel private security force here."
SHADOWFOX: "That's just the tip of the iceberg. The rumor is that he wants to recruit 'disgruntled' ex-military personnel to form intervention units that operate outside the traditional chain of command."
GUSTAVO: "Private militias."
SHADOWFOX: "Spot on."
GUSTAVO: "Thanks, bro. That saved lives."
SHADOWFOX: "Watch your back, Silva. People like Hanes don't just show up. He's up to something big."
GUSTAVO: "If I find out what it is… I'll take him down."
SHADOWFOX: "Good luck, bro. Out of line."
Connection ended.
Gustavo sat back, processing everything.
"Son of a bitch…" he muttered. "He's building a paramilitary force right under our noses."
He stood up and immediately grabbed his cell phone. He needed to talk to Captain Anderson now.
Mid-Wilshire Police Station – Captain Anderson's Office
00:03
Zoe, wearing a gray sweatshirt with the Marines logo on the chest, was hunched over a stack of reports when she slammed her cell phone down on the desk when she saw the name on the screen: Gustavo Silva.
She answered immediately.
— "Tell me."
— "I have information. We need to meet."
— "Here at the police station?"
— "Better in your office. We can't use cell phones."
— "I'm waiting for you."
12:32 AM – Captain Anderson's Office
Zoe was already seated with the curtains closed and the room's recording system turned off, something she rarely did. Gustavo came in with his laptop under his arm and a frowning expression.
— "This isn't good."
She crossed her arms and glared at him.
— "Tell me."
Gustavo sat down in front of her, turned on his laptop, and turned it to show a map with red markings.
— "Colonel Hanes is linked to a company called Praetor Security. Opaque records, base in Panama, but recent movements in California."
Zoe's jaw was already clenched.
— "San Diego, Long Beach... Los Angeles."
— "Exactly."
He clicked on another tab.
— "They're offering 'private urban security consulting' to government agencies. But the real goal is to set up armed cells with ex-military personnel, outside of state supervision. A response force of their own. This is dangerous, Captain. It's insurrection disguised as service."
Zoe ran her hand over her face.
— "And the DoD is letting this happen?"
— "They know, but they don't want to get involved. Politically, Hanes still has godfathers. And any attempt to arrest him without solid evidence could cause a national scandal."
Zoe stood up nervously. She walked to the window, turned and faced Gustavo.
— "Do you recommend involving the FBI?"
Gustavo was silent for a moment. Then he stood up and crossed his arms.
— "Yes. And as soon as possible. But not by us. Let it come from above."
Zoe raised an eyebrow.
— "What do you mean?"
— "We have to make the FBI come to us. We left a trail. Discreet. We pointed out public connections from the Praetor to municipal areas. Some suspicious bidding, some ambiguous contract. They'll bite. And then, yes, they'll open a formal investigation. And we'll cooperate."
Zoe nodded slowly.
— "You're good at this, Silva."
He smiled sideways.
— "You asked me for help."
She crossed her arms.
— "You're more than a patrolman. One day you'll be in charge of something much bigger than this police station."
Gustavo shrugged.
— "For now, I just want to stop Hanes from causing damage."
Zoe looked at him seriously.
— "Then let's do this the right way. I trust you."
— "We'll need discretion. And evidence."
Zoe smirked.
— "Evidence is my job."
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