“Something inside sure has them worked up,” Eddie said.
“I just hope they aren’t arguing about whether to destroy the paintings,” Beth said.
“If Eddie and I determine that the artwork is inside,” Juan said, “we’ll decide if we can get it out ourselves. If not, we’ll return with a bigger team. But remember, that transient signal from the homing beacon doesn’t mean this is the storage facility. It could have been taken somewhere else while it was shielded in its case.”
“I know,” Beth said. “I’m just nervous about coming up empty after getting so close.”
“We got an ID on our mystery man,” Eddie said. On the screen was a photo of the man with Tagaan, but in this photo he looked much skinnier.
Juan read the name aloud. “Salvador Locsin. It seems your drug dealers are also communist revolutionaries looking to overthrow the Philippine government, and this guy is the leader.”
Eddie leaned toward the screen. “His men wiped out a dozen policemen during an attempted prison escape at sea last week. The Philippine National Police are still unsure whether he was actually rescued or went down with the ship.”
Juan nodded at the drone feed. “He’s the healthiest-looking dead person I’ve ever seen.”
Eddie scrolled through the list of charges against Locsin. “Murder, political assassinations, extortion, corruption, racketeering. There are pages of this stuff. It would take less time to name the crimes he hasn’t committed. And he has a price on his head. Two million dollars.”
“Our first priority is the paintings,” Beth said.
“Agreed,” Juan said. “But if we can get a two-for-one deal on this job, we might as well help the Filipino police get their man.”
Locsin and Tagaan finished their discussion and both boarded the helicopter.
“This might be good for us,” Eddie said. “Security could loosen up once he’s gone.”
“When the boss is away, the mice will play?” Juan said with a smile.
Eddie chuckled. “Present company excluded, Chairman.”
The chopper took off and pivoted over the compound before accelerating away.
Right toward them.
The sound of the throbbing rotors grew quickly.
“Juan,” Beth said, craning her neck to the window, “isn’t he going to fly right over us?”
Of all the directions he could have flown, the pilot happened to pick the one that would do exactly that.
“Too late to leave now,” Juan said. “They’d notice our dust trail for sure. We’ll just have to hope they don’t spot us through the foliage.” The drab green paint provided some camouflage, but the squat outline of the truck wasn’t designed to blend into a jungle background.
They all held their breaths as the helicopter approached. It didn’t fly directly over, which was actually worse because it meant that one side of the chopper had a decent view. That is, if anyone was actually looking in their direction. The sun glinting off the canopy made it impossible for Juan to tell if anyone was facing them.
The helicopter passed without slowing.
They all sat back in relief, but it was short-lived. The feed from the drone, which was still circling the compound, showed a frenzy of activity as gunmen poured out of the buildings fully armed and piled into four of the five Humvees, including the ones equipped with machine guns.
Two of them sped off on down the driveway leading into the jungle while the other two raced toward the front gate.
“Smart,” Eddie said appreciatively. “The chopper pilot kept going so we wouldn’t know they had spotted us. Good thing they didn’t realize we’re watching them.” He started the PIG and threw it into reverse.
“There must be another exit from the compound onto this road,” Juan said. “They’re trying to catch us in a pincer move. I’ll recall the drone. Eddie, get us out of here.”
Eddie punched the gas, and they shot backward.
Before he could set the drone to return to the PIG, its camera showed six people in white lab coats being roughly removed from the main building by the two remaining guards. They looked around in bewilderment at the suddenly empty compound.
“Who are they?” Beth asked.