Chapter 62 – "Crumbs for the Wolves"
Los Angeles – West Municipal Block
Three days later
It was early 5:47 in the morning. The city was still waking up under a sky of dense clouds. Gustavo was wearing dark jeans, black tactical boots, and a long-sleeved gray shirt.
Over that, a civilian coat. Zoe Anderson, next to him, was also in civilian clothes, with her hair tied in a low ponytail and a discreet holster under her dark sweatshirt. They were both inside an undercover police car, parked a few meters away from the building of one of the companies that served as a front for Praetor Security.
Zoe looked at Gustavo and took a deep breath.
"Are you ready for this?"
Gustavo responded with a simple nod.
"If we do this right... he goes down. And no one else will suffer from whatever this guy had planned."
From the backseat, Gustavo pulled out a small digital camera with a long-range lens. Surveillance was illegal if conducted as law enforcement without a warrant but they were there as civilians, gathering evidence that could be turned over to the FBI in a way that they... chanced upon.
— "Let's start with the employee movement. Some of these names match former members of Army units discharged for misconduct."
— "Military men discharged, trained, and now released into a city full of tension. Perfect for Hanes."
Three men came out of the building through a side door. Gustavo turned the lens and clicked quickly, silently. One of the men wore a T-shirt that said 9th Ranger Battalion. The other had obvious special operations unit tattoos. The third carried a black briefcase.
— "It's all here," Gustavo muttered. "Pictures, schedules, profiles. The briefcase has a munitions symbol on it. We just need to plant it in the right place."
Zoe looked at the passenger seat, where there was a flash drive with all the data Gustavo and Jackson had gotten from the encrypted system. Gustavo pulled out a plain envelope.
— "Let's do this like you're a whistleblower. Leave it in the right hands."
Zoe frowned.
— "Do you have anyone at the FBI you trust?"
— "I have someone who owes me a favor. And they never forget."
Two days later – FBI Regional Office – Los Angeles
3:21 p.m.
Special Agent Rebecca Jordan frowned at the envelope on her desk. She'd been working in intelligence for six years now and could recognize something important just by the way it was delivered. An envelope with no return address, left at the front desk, but with a discreet Department of Defense seal on the bottom corner.
She opened it carefully and saw the files: schedules, employee profiles, transportation routes, political connections everything. And at the top, a name: Colonel William R. Hanes.
Rebecca pursed her lips. The name wasn't unfamiliar.
— "Fell in your lap, huh?" her deskmate said, glancing sideways.
She answered without taking her eyes off the paper.
— "No. Someone left it right where I could see it. This is a trail... and they're inviting us to follow it."
Mid-Wilshire Police Station – Anderson's Office
Three days later
Sergeant Grey was standing in front of the window. Captain Anderson was sitting. Gustavo was next to her, his shirtsleeves rolled up, still sweaty from the afternoon patrol.
— "Agent Jordan has already confirmed that she's opened an official inquiry," Zoe said. "Hanes' name is at the top of the list. And the FBI has a joint task force monitoring bank account and weapons movements."
Grey snorted and crossed his arms.
— "I can't say I'm going to miss this guy. He always walked around like he owned the country."
Gustavo smiled wryly.
— "Now he's going to need a good lawyer."
Zoe leaned forward.
— "Now it's just a matter of time. They've already filed a request for preventive detention."
Two days later – 8:00 a.m. – Police Station Meeting Room
Everyone was gathered for the start of the shift change. Gustavo, Lopez, Bradford, Talia and other officers. The television on the wall, usually on local news channels, was now showing CNN live.
"...the FBI has arrested William R. Hanes, a former Army colonel, in a joint operation with the counterterrorism unit in Los Angeles. Hanes is charged with conspiracy to form an armed militia on national territory and money laundering through shell companies."
Sergeant Grey, with the remote control in his hand, turned the volume up a little. The image of Hanes being handcuffed and escorted by two agents in black suits took over the screen. He was haggard, unshaven, but still with a look of contained arrogance.
Zoe, standing in the doorway, looked at Gustavo. He stared back at her.
They both exchanged a firm, silent look.
She nodded.
He nodded back slightly.
The mission was accomplished.
Chapter 63 – "Steel Perimeter"
Mid-Wilshire – 4:42 p.m.
High-Risk Call – Suspect Barricaded with Hostages
The patrol car radio chirped loudly with a tone that would make any officer's stomach clench:
— "Unit 7-Adam-15, priority call. 415 in progress, possible 417. Armed suspect barricaded with hostages. SWAT unit activated. Establish perimeter until 20-David arrives."
Angela Lopez put down the 7-Eleven coffee cup she hadn't even started drinking. Gustavo, behind the wheel, was already turning the wheel.
— "We're five blocks away."
She pulled her seatbelt tight and exchanged a serious look with him.
— "This is going to be big. I can tell by your face."
Gustavo nodded briefly.
— "And if it's big... SWAT will be coming. 20-David, probably."
Angela raised an eyebrow.
— "That team? The one you joined in action with?"
— "That one."
She pulled out her radio.
— "7-Adam-15, code 6 en route, ETA two minutes."
Block 86 – Residential area
4:47 p.m.
The scene was already chaotic. Two patrol cars had blocked the corner entrances, and a police officer in tactical gear was gesturing to the new arrivals, telling them to keep their distance. Gustavo parked the patrol car at an angle for cover and got out quickly, vest tight, hand close to his gun.
Angela followed with the same readiness.
— "What do we have?" she asked the police officer at the blockade.
— "White male, about 40 years old, broke into his ex-wife's house. Apparently armed with a rifle and two pistols. He is holding his ex-wife and 8-year-old daughter hostage. There have been shots fired. No one has been injured so far."
Gustavo analyzed the scene. The house was on a corner, two stories, with partially covered windows. Neighbors were being evacuated urgently.
— "Where is the main entrance?"
— "South side. And he has a direct view of the door."
Angela looked at Gustavo.
— "Let's take the eastern flank. See if we can get any visibility. But no visual contact. No exposure."
— "Understood."
4:59 p.m. – Perimeter Stabilized
Sound of heavy engine in the distance
The deep roar of an armored vehicle began to approach. Gustavo recognized it immediately.
— "They're here."
The SWAT vehicle, black and imposing like an armored animal, turned the corner. On the side, the discreet white paintwork: LAPD – Tactical Division. The 20-David was in the game.
From the roof of the armored vehicle, the first to appear was Sergeant Buck, hard-eyed, commanding in his voice.
— "Establish channel 3 for communication. Who's on the east flank?"
Gustavo answered over the radio.
— "7-Adam-15, agents Lopez and Silva to the east."
Buck got out of the vehicle firmly and soon the other members arrived: Hondo, the muscular field leader with a focused expression, Deacon, with a calm but vigilant face, Luca, smiling slightly even in the tension, and Cris, the only woman on the team, with a serious face and absolute focus. Soon after, a tall Asian man, with a clinical and precise gaze. Tan.
Hondo approached first. He extended his hand to Gustavo with a half smile.
— "Good to see you again, Silva."
— "Same thing, Sergeant."
Lopez, a little surprised, followed with her eyes.
Buck went straight to the point.
— "Our plan is simple. West flank is the main entrance, where we'll approach. Deacon, Luca, and Cris with me. Hondo, Tan, cover. Gustavo, you've worked with us before. Want to come in?"
Angela turned to him immediately.
— "Gustavo..."
He looked into her eyes. There was respect there, but also experience.
— "I have a vest and training. If you give me the go-ahead... I can be useful."
Buck looked at Hondo, who nodded.
— "He's good. He's proven that."
Angela hesitated. But she knew it wasn't just anyone. It was Gustavo. And he knew what he was doing.
— "Go. But come back in one piece."
Gustavo was already receiving a plate carrier from the team, in addition to the Ops Core helmet and the communication system.
Tan approached. — "You were the one who replaced my position in that incident at the 54th? I heard about you."
— "It was an honor. I'm glad you're back."
— "It shows you weren't just lucky."
They both smiled, half nervous, half respectful.
Cris helped him adjust the headset. — "I'm on channel three. Stay behind Buck. He talks, you listen."
Gustavo nodded. — "Understood."
Buck then turned to everyone. — "Standard operation. We have hostages, so fire only on confirmation. We're moving forward on the tactical timeline."
Lopez watched from the background, with a mix of pride and concern. The operation was about to begin.
Chapter 64 – "Clear Entry"
Residence – East Los Angeles
5:05 p.m. – Tactical Position Established
The world seemed to close in on an oppressive silence.
The Ops Core helmet muffled the sounds around it. Inside, all that could be heard was Gustavo's breathing mixed with the soft hiss of the internal communication.
Sergeant Buck was in the lead, with the HK416 in hand, the short barrel perfect for indoor entry. Cris and Deacon followed close behind. Gustavo was in fourth, covering the six sector, with Tan closing the line.
Hondo was in charge of external communication with the negotiators and Sergeant Grey, who monitored the perimeter with Angela Lopez.
— "20-David to all units. Advancing to the east entrance. SWAT in position."
Buck made a signal with his closed fist. Absolute silence.
Gustavo adjusted his rifle. Security in semi-mode. Sweat trickled discreetly beneath his vest, even in the cool late afternoon air. The tension was palpable. They reached the side of the house.
The back door was ajar, as if it had been poorly locked in a hurry. There were signs of forced entry, but from the inside. Buck approached, listened, and then used the tactical mirror. Nothing visible. He gestured with two fingers. Entry. Now.
The door was opened silently by Deacon. The group moved forward. Gustavo entered fluidly. Training activated. Everything he had learned from JSOC operators, from sessions with Mumford, from observations with SWAT... it was there. Narrow hallway. Dim light. Room to the right. Muffled voices ahead.
Buck stopped. He pointed at Cris and Gustavo. Side cover. They moved like shadows. Inside the living room, there was a TV on low volume. Clothes thrown about, signs of a struggle. A broken lamp.
Tan whispered over the radio:
— "Partial view of the central room. Armed man. Female hostage at the side. Child out of sight."
Gustavo adjusted his aim. He saw the figure of a blond man, unshaven, sweating profusely, holding a .45 pistol pointed at a trembling woman.
The girl about 8 years old was partially hidden behind a couch.
Buck signaled: Movement in 3... 2... 1...
They advanced with speed and precision.
— "POLICE! GUN ON THE FLOOR NOW!"
The man turned, pulling the woman violently.
Gustavo, instinctively, positioned himself next to the opening of the room and aimed.
Time slowed down.
The man's gun began to rise. The tip swung toward the girl.
Gustavo saw her look. Pure terror.
He fired.
A single shot.
The bullet pierced the man's shoulder, sending the gun flying from his hand. He screamed, falling to the ground.
Buck and Deacon rushed at him next, handcuffing and restraining him.
Cris ran to the woman. Tan ran and pulled the girl into his arms, protecting her.
— "CLEAR! HOSTAGES ARE OK!"
Gustavo exhaled sharply. His finger was still on the trigger, but the threat was neutralized.
Angela, outside, heard on the radio:
— "20-David to dispatch. Subject neutralized. Hostages safe. Scene secured."
She closed her eyes for a second and whispered:
— "Gracias a Dios..."
5:18 p.m. – Outside the residence
The scene was different now. Ambulances flashing yellow lights, neighbors watching in silence, and the press beginning to gather on street corners.
Gustavo was taking off his helmet. His hair was damp with sweat, his eyes focused.
Buck approached him.
— "Good shot. Control. Judgment. You saved that girl."
— "That was the only shot possible."
Tan joined in.
— "Nothing personal, but I still prefer it when I'm in the right place on the team."
Gustavo laughed, easing the tension a little.
— "You are now. And I'll take the patrol."
Cris, holding the child, looked at Gustavo and said:
— "She asked who saved you. I said, 'a cop with a soldier's heart.'"
He was silent for a second. He felt the weight of the moment.
Hondo approached, offering his hand.
— "Good job, Silva. You'll always be welcome at 20-David."
— "Thank you, Sergeant. But today… I'm going back to patrol. That's my mission now."
They exchanged a look of mutual respect.
6:05 p.m. – Mid-Wilshire Precinct
Angela was leaning against the side of the patrol car, arms crossed, when Gustavo arrived.
He was slowly taking off his vest and handing his SWAT gear to an assistant. When he approached, she looked him up and down, and then said:
— "Do you have any idea what you did in there?"
— "I did what any of us would have done."
— "You saved that girl. And her mother. One shot. Surgical."
He shrugged, as if he didn't want to glorify the moment. But his eyes were different. Steady. More mature.
— "Lopez… when you're in there, it's not about heroism. It's about doing what needs to be done."
She smiled slightly.
— "You're going to be a pain for all those superiors... A rookie with surgical precision, a military background and the heart of a patrolman. No one will know where to put you."
— "I'd rather stay where I am. In the street. With you."
She patted him on the shoulder.
— "Let's eat something. You owe me a snack after leaving me alone outside."
7:30 p.m. – Food Truck in Koreatown
Korean food served in cardboard boxes, sitting on a makeshift wooden bench next to the food truck. Gustavo and Angela shared the moment with simplicity.
— "Do you think there will be an internal hearing because of the shooting?" — she asked.
— "Probably. But they already called Internal Affairs. The footage from the SWAT camera shows everything."
She looked at him for a while.
— "You change when you go into tactical mode. Your look, your body. It's like everything about you becomes a weapon and a shield at the same time."
— "Yeah. But I don't want to be that all the time. I want to remember why I'm on the street."
She raised her non-alcoholic beer in a toast.
— "For remembering who you are."
He toasted back.
— "For not forgetting where I came from."
11:00 p.m. – Gustavo's residence
When she got home, Hailey was watching a movie in the living room. When she saw Gustavo coming in, his eyes still slightly red and his expression tired, she dropped everything.
— "Are you okay?"
He smiled and nodded.
— "Yes. I saved a family today."
She ran to him and hugged him.
— "You're amazing. A true hero."
He closed his eyes for a second. He didn't see himself as a hero. But that hug was enough.
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