He drove round to the barn, where Ramon and Hector were unfolding a large detailed map over the main table. There were eight men spread around the table, Jack smiled, the exact ones he would have chosen. Maybe they weren't so stupid, he thought. Although this new brain power had only developed because they wanted to be able to get away in one piece if they were ambushed, which he doubted would actually happen.
Jack looked over the map, a large area had been circled in red, which is where the meet was going down. He identified each of the men's positions, going from the best vantage points available. He also made a mental note of where the best place to hide the virus would be. There was what looked to be an old well. He decided he would hide it near there, around the outer layer somewhere. He also took note of the border line, where the troops would be stationed. He estimated that it would take them around 10 minutes to get to there position, if they were fast.
He ran though the memorised number to trigger them once more, nothing wrong with precautions. He also had it scrawled across his upper arm, hidden by the long sleeved sweatshirt, just in case. He hoped he wouldn't need to look there for it as it would waste valuable time. But he also knew the chances of him forgetting it amiss the chaos was as likely a chance as remembering it was.
The men all knew what they were to do, and so left to go to the armoury. They returned shortly afterwards and began to gear up there in the barn. One of the man handed Jack a vest, seeing he already his weapon. Jack also noticed Hector and Ramon picking out certain weapons. He would have to keep an eye on them while the thing went down. He wondered how he would get away to make the call if it wasn't an ambush, and decided that he would alert the men to charge in through the radios, claiming he was suspicious. It was as good excuse as any, he thought. Once they came in he could slip away, hide the virus and call the authorities. After that there would be no time for anyone to realise that nothing was wrong. He'd be home free by then.
Satisfied everything was prepared, Lais pulled up in a large S.U.V. Jack and the brothers climbed into the front, while the men clambered into the back. They would drop them off individually along the way. Jack was sat against the passenger window already looking out, alert, the crutch left behind in the barn. As they dropped off the eighth man, Jack noticed how the sun had almost set. Would that work as an advantage, or against them, he wondered? The car went by a check post and he herd Ramon mutter, 'Were here,' under his breath.
After another 100 yards he slowed the car to a stop. Jack could see the small gathering of men in the open land from inside the car, and looked for anything to cover him. There were a few large rocks, and further to the left, on the direction of the well was some heavy brush. He could disappear through their. The three of them got out and approached the group, Ramon leading, Jack at the back.
Ramon and Amador greeted each other, and Amador said that the funds had been verified, everything was fine. Ramon asked for the virus and Jack watched as Amador, seemingly happy, handed him a sliver case. Something didn't feel right, Jack thought, this was happening too easy. He kept his discomfort quiet, focusing on the case now held loosely in Ramon's hand.
Then the first shot rang out.
Jack instinctively ducked while drawing his gun from his holster, looking for who fired. It had to be more of Amador's men, hidden. That didn't matter too much, for he could hear their own men firing back. It was almost pitch black now, hard to see who was with the Salazar's, and who was with Amador as constant gunfire sounded, along with screams and yells and he could even see two men fighting hand to hand.
He crawled along the floor looking for Ramon, and how could get away now. He saw him to his right, leant over Hector who had taken a shot to the stomach, loosing blood rapidly. The case was on the floor by his side, both were oblivious to the activity around them. Jack swiped the case and moved to a crouch, and started firing ahead at a man aiming in his direction before starting to run.
He made it to the brush unscathed, sure he had taken a few men out along the way. He dived head first through, ignoring the pain in his chest and hip as he did so. He could see there were more men in the area so he crawled through the dirt, seeing the well up ahead, past the fighters who were heading towards the centre of it all behind him. Once they had passed Jack got up to his feet and sprinted to the well.
He opened the case and pulled the glass vial out. He tolled the now empty suitcase down into the well, and pulled the air tight bad from his sock. He hurriedly opened it before tucking the vial inside. He pulled up clumps of the overgrowth and hastily shoved the bag as deep down as he could into the dirt, before covering it over. That done, he rapidly pulled out the phone and dialled the number straight off, letting it ring four times, before ditching that inside the well too.
He pulled himself up and held the gun in both hands now, and headed back towards the chaos. As he came out through the brush he started firing at whom he assumed were enemy combatants, before going to find Ramon. He was back by his side, it hadn't even been five minutes. He crawled around the body of Hector that Ramon was slumped again and realised he was dead. Ramon wasn't coherent, so Jack dragged him behind one of the huge rocks in the area, giving him cover. He would need Ramon alive, after all.
He could hear the should of explosions from behind and assumed it was the authorities. He slapped Ramon hard on the face and told him he could hear sirens, they had to go. This perked Ramon up, and they managed to pull each other up, Jack still in pain from his earlier journey. Jack led the way pistol first seeing that most of the men were dead, the survivors of both teams making a run for it. Ramon set off running too, and Jack followed, struggling to keep up.
Jack could see the many different helicopter searchlights, and different shadowy men covering the land fast. In the distance they could see one man being restrained on the ground so they changed direction, anything to evade capture. Jack shouted to Ramon that they should separate, it would be harder to catch them both, and he agreed. Ramon changed direction again whilst Jack continued on, now meeting more brush, which was higher and denser than the last section of it.
He pushed his way through now all but too aware of the pain whilst branches whipped out at his arms and face. He made it through and saw even more of who he assumed were police, yelling for him to stop. He didn't, he continued on. This had to look like he was trying to escape, they had to believe he was one of the criminals here. He ran out as fast as he could, aware of the men catching up behind him, and the spotlight which now illuminated him as he moved on.
Finally one of the younger men caught up with him and managed to drag him to the ground. In seconds his armed were restrained behind his back, his feet secured, and five weapons trained on him. As he lay on the ground he could hear people talking fast, in some language which he didn't understand.
He wondered for a moment if they had caught Ramon yet, it would only be a matter of time before they did. He closed his eyes as the pain in his ribs hurt more as the hip started to feel better. He knew he shouldn't relax yet as he still had to wait for C.T.U to come pick him up, which would be tomorrow at the earliest. He was just relieved to be alive. The ambush had been more than they had expected, and he was lucky to be here. At least the virus was safe, he thought. His last thoughts were of Hectors staring lifeless eyes staring up at him before he drifted away, exhaustion from the chase caught up with him as he slipped into darkness.