It was late in London when Jackson had said good night to Eyal. Trent had just arrived to give Jackson a break for the rest of the long hours before dawn. Nigel Trent was Jackson right hand man, they have worked together for five years and both had cultivated the attitude of bending the rules to get the job done.

"Let me read you in before I leave." Jackson gave Trent the run down on the mission, pointed out the communication set-up and made another pot of coffee. "There is food in the kitchenette for sandwiches. I'll be back in the morning, headed to the flat to grab some shut eye. Good night see you in the morning."

After an hour of being bored, Trent decided to be a company man and read the file on the current mission. He picked up the file Jackson had left on the table for him to read, opening it, picking up the picture of the women Eyal was escorting out of Spain and looking closely at the picture - "Oh shit."

He went on to read the intel on Jaidyn Patino, carefully rereading and just leaned back in his chair. He was thinking what have we gotten into; no wonder the Bolivians are after them. He picked up his cell and called Jackson.

"When will you be back here? I have some information we need to verify."

"What kind of information?" Jackson asked.

"Now sure if Jaidyn Patino is who she says she is, I'll fill you in as soon as you get here." Trent was looking at the picture again.

Within twenty minutes, Jackson was sitting at the tiny communication table in his office and Trent was reveling what he knew.

"Back in 2006, my last mission with the Navy Intelligence before transferring over to MI6, I was to bring this women out of Bolivia. I knew her as Felicita Santiago - born 1963 - Colombian exporter/importer - legally dealing in the export of flowers, coffee and illegally dealing in drugs and weapons. Her import cover was diamonds and other precious stone jewelry along with raw gems. She has a legal distribution jewelry operation in Miami, Florida that distributed jewelry to South American countries with wholesale operations distribution centers in Cartagena, Colombia and Sao Brazil, Brazil.

The precious gems and drugs were her source of income to finance the weapons trade to Arab countries and Muslin insurgents as well as the drug cartel in South America and Africa. Back in 2005 and 6, the precious gems trade became more profitable than the drugs as there was a major crack down on drug shipments. She was stepping up her diamond smuggling with an associate in South Africa. I don't know what happen to that deal or how she became a respected Argentina Military Purchasing Agent - it's been seven years, just about anything can happen.

Anyway, my team and I caught up with her at a lavish ranch near San Jose de Chiquitos very close to Puerto Suarez on the Brazilian boarder. We had her in custory and escorting her to the coast through Brazil for pick-up by a Navy sub when we were ambushed, I lost several members of my team and she escaped."

Jackson picked up the file and starts to read, "Says here she is wanted for treason by the Argentina government for disclosing military weapons shipment to a radical insurgents group in Kazakhstan."

Trent was curious as this mission was not in Jackson area, "How did we get this mission?"

It came across the South American desk with information that she wanted asylum in exchange for weapons movement information. Some bureaucrat over there decided they didn't want to risk a diplomatic clash with Argentina over a Purchasing Agent wanted for treason. Tension is bad enough between us and Argentina. Thinking what information she may have would be important... I took the mission, running it off book."

"I have to agree on this one and especially now with this new development, we are sitting on something worth finishing." Trent had work with Jackson many times on his unorthodox ways of getting things accomplished.

Jackson closing the file, "Where is the best place to start looking for information to fill in the last seven years on Felicita Santiago?"

"Navy Intelligence would be my guest." Trent was now smiling. "Start with 2006 operation code name: Red Slipper.

Jackson, "Nice catch Trent, do we wake Eyal and let him know he has some heavy duty cargo?"

Trent, "No, let him sleep, besides I would like to wait until he is on the boat and at sea. I know our communications set up is good, but there are other geniuses out there that can descramble out signals. I guess I'm still old school."

"You right Trent, let him sleep, nothing he can do about it anyway."

Trent returned to his handler's job, listening to any police traffic about stolen cars leaving to trail south and checking the weather forecast.

Trent reporting to Jackson who had settled on a too short of a sofa for some sleep, "We have some good news, heavy rain in the forecast for the next 24 hours, it is hard to follow someone in bad weather, no eyes in the sky and very low ground surveillance. Heavy rains, cloud cover, add a little fog and the best time to be on the move. Hope our fishing vessel is well outfitted."


Eyal tighten his grip around his 9mm SIG Sauers as he heard the door handle move, then three short knocks, it was Algy.

"Time up already." Eyal asked.

"Nope, just raining like shit, can't see a damn thing out there. Let's lock this place down tight and wait until morning." He was taking off his wet shirt and pants and draping them over a chair to dry. "Can you check with control about the weather forecast and wake up call." They both were closing shutters and baring the door.

Eyal replayed, "No problem." he dials, "Jackson."

"Hey Eyal, this is Trent I'm giving Jackson a break and we have good news." Trent came back with confidence in his voice.

"Good to hear you Trent, what's the news."

"Heavy rain for the next 24 to 36 hours."

Eyal, "Great, can you give me a call back at 6:30?"

"Roger, should also have some news on your transportation by then."

"Thanks." Eyal turned to Algy, "Rain for the next 24 hours and we have a wakeup call at 6:30."

"Okay thanks, let's get some sleep." Algy had found a blanket and laid down on an empty cot and Eyal returned to his overstuffed chair, pulled a blanket over him for more shut eye.


Buzz...buzz...buzz..."Yes." Eyal's cell was right on time for a wake-up call.

"Good morning, this is the lobby desk with your wake up call. There is a continental breakfast being served somewhere in this world." Jackson was back on the Job.

"Morning Jackson, any instructions?" Eyal had stood up, stretching, trying to get the kinks out of his back. Did a quick cot count, all three ladies were still asleep, Annie was just sitting up on her cot and Algy was opening his eyes from hearing Eyal's voice.

"Weather forecast is still for rain, heavy at times, high wind. Pick-up is on schedule for Zone 9. Once under way, radio Papa Fox Niner. Run silent."

"Copy - Papa Fox Niner." Eyal confirm the critical items of his transmissions. He quickly realized there was more serious matter at once when he was told to contact Jackson using the boat's radio and not their communication link. He disconnected, look over at Algy.

Algy was getting his almost dry pants on and watching Eyal, "More instructions?"

"The boat is on schedule with pick-up for Zone 9. Hope you know what that means." Eyal was looking about for some weather gear in the dim light.

Algy went over and open one of the shutters, looking out at the rain. "It is a tiny fishing pier about 40 kilometers from here."

Eyal talking to both Algy and Annie, "This mission is turning into something more serious than a simple asset escort. We are now running silent."

Algy, "Kind of figured that when I was told you had to taken out two watch dogs."

Annie, "Will we find out once we are underway?"

Eyal nodded at Annie than looking at Algy, "When this is over and we are going having a brew together, you going have to tell me where you trained."

Algy, "Royal Navy, but the three of us still have to have that beer together."

Annie smiled back at Algy with a nod going over to wake the sleeping women. "Time to wake up Patino, we are back on the move."

Annie had laid out rain slicks for everyone to put on. The six headed back to the same local bar to eat breakfast, the place was almost empty, only two old men set having breakfast. The weather was just too bad for any fishing boats to go out.

After breakfast, they were back on the move, driving south for about 20 kilometers before backtracking and heading to their final destination - meeting with Maria Corsica. The rain was steady with patches of fog near the coast, Algy was keeping watch for any tail, and Eyal was taking a second chance at a nap. The three passengers were quite, this ordeal had taken a toll on them emotionally, they knew their lives were at stake and only these three were their life line.


Jackson had call a team of people in and motion for everyone to have a seat. Turning to an intel researcher, tell us what you have found out.

Peter Tombs started, "Let's begin, we know Aileen Davy-Eliades, noted South African diamond smuggler, have had several dealings with this Felicita Santiago or now Jaidyn Patino and diamond smuggling operations. There was deep cover mission tracking the arms movement to a splinter faction from a Syrian and Iranian Muslim terrorist group. The mission was to target the receiving groups, the weapons shipments and have British Special Ops launch an attack on the target groups. She was never our mission, although we had a change to take her out once. We know how she operates, her transfers and her partners. Also this Bolivian, Cruz Gaioso was just beginning to have dealings with Davy-Eliades when we pulled out as MI6's mission was finished. From little I know about him, he is one ruthless, murderers' dude. Someone you don't want to tangle with."

"It was two Bolivians that Eyal took out in Spain." Jackson was pointing to a picture of the dead men.

"Our asset brought her two teenage daughters with her, which complicates things." Trent added.

"Not really, if can get the daughters to a safe place and protected, she will be more willing to talk about why she is running and from whom she is running. I don't believe it is the Argentina treason charge. I think it has something to do with this Cruz Gaioso. The other names you pulled intel on are all in the Middle East or Africa. My bet is on the Bolivia connection."

"Radio transition coming through." Trent reported.

Jackson slipping the head set on and motioned for Trent to hand the communication to him. Speaking in German, "Key in 'Kilo India Papa 59678' for scramble."

Eyal in monotonous tone gave the scramble code to the Maria Corsica radio operator as asked for his head set. The entire conversation is in German.

Eyal voice came back on the radio, "Black Bird that you?"

Jackson, "Yes, how far you out?"

Eyal, "Five nautical miles." Eyal knowing he need to be at least four miles out for safe radio link, pigging backing on a friendly satellite, thinking the scramble code Jackson gave him was off a German telex-com satellite.

"Your cargo is not Jaidyn Patino but Felicita Santiago, Colombian drug and weapons dealer that dropped off the map seven years ago. We believe a Bolivian by the name of Cruz Gaioso has her as a target. You are headed to a military base on Gibraltar with a plane waiting to fly them and Algy to London. Good luck and be safe." Eyal and Jackson broke radio communication.

Leaving the bridge, Eyal found Annie and carried her aside. "Our lady friend with us is a Colombian drug and weapons dealer that is being chased by Bolivian mob, namely one Cruz Gaioso. There will be a military escort waiting for her in Gibraltar with Algy accompanying them to London. My assignment ends on Gibraltar."

"Let MI6 have them, they provided more support for us then CIA. This was an off book - green badge op for you, what happen."

"It turned deadly, they need protection. I'm sure Jackson turned this into a full blown MI6 mission or we wouldn't have the Royal Navy joining us."

"You mean Algy?"

"Yeah, and this little fishing boat with state-of-the-art equipment." Eyal looking to see if anyone was watching, reached over and pulled Annie close to him give her a kiss. "Be missing you Neshema, can you run silent another day when we are in Gibraltar before going back on CIA radar?"

"With the lack of back-up I got from them - they own me an extra day." Annie touching Eyal's face.


Auggie was sitting with Devin at his desk eating a sausage and cheese biscuit from McDonald's.

"You know that is really bad for you." Devin was eyeing the biscuit Auggie was enjoying.

"The girl at McDonald's told me is was super healthy for thin people."

"Come on now, you know there is no such thing."

"Hey, I brought you a cheese and egg McSandwich for breakfast, leave my pig alone." He was laughing. Auggie handed Devin two egg and cheese biscuit and reached into the McDonald's bag for another sausage and cheese with a potato cake.

"There is a fresh pot of coffee and some fruit juice in the little refrigerator." Devin was enjoying his McD's breakfast.

"Good morning," Joan came in, "What have we heard?"

"Not a word, Auggie thinks they are running silent." Devin was the one to answer.

"Could be days before we establish further contact, our retrieval ship is overdue at Port of A Coruna. They've got to go to ground for another 24 to 36 hours. We got to do a better job than this - it sucks." Auggie was completing the bad news recap for Joan.

"You right. Keep me posted as soon as you hear something." Joan walked back to her office.