“He might pretend not to, and I’d suggest that if he’s armed and he’s slow obeying commands in English, somebody shoot him.”
“This is Chief Barker from the Orchid Beach, Florida, PD,” Dino said. “She’s had considerable experience with Rodriguez. Anything else to offer, Holly?”
“He’s a stone killer,” she said, “and he’ll do anything to avoid being arrested, including shooting police officers. He won’t hesitate, and neither should you.”
“Okay,” Dino said. “We’ve got four detectives in the block observing the house, two in the building across the street on the same floor as our target apartment. We’ll be in two vans, and we’ll stop on the avenue and check with them before moving in.” He looked around the room. “You guys look ready to me. Let’s go!”
The men picked up their equipment and filed out.
Dino walked over to a pile next to the door. “This is our stuff,” he said. “Let’s suit up. We’re aiming for entry at six p.m.”
51
IT WAS HOT in the van in which Stone, Holly, and Dino were riding, and the heavy equipment made things worse. It was past six p.m. A few of the SWAT team were exchanging macho banter, but most were quiet. Stone wiped sweat from his forehead. “I’m going to need a shower after this.”
“Me, too,” Holly said.
“Hey, driver!” Dino called out. “Crank u
p the AC, will you?”
“It’s going full blast, Lieutenant,” the man called back.
A minute later, the van pulled to a stop, and Dino picked up a handheld radio. “Ricardo, you there?”
“Yes, Lieutenant.”
“What’s happening inside?”
“Some women in Muslim dress went into the building carrying groceries, but I couldn’t tell what floor they went to.”
“Anybody leave?”
“No, sir.”
Dino looked at the SWAT team leader. “We’re good to go.”
“Okay, everybody,” the leader said, “fast across the sidewalk, slow up the stairs. I want complete silence from everybody except me and Lieutenant Bacchetti, and we’re using earplugs with the radio.”
Somebody opened the door, and men from both vans spilled onto the sidewalk and ran up the stairs to the front door, while four others ran to the building next door to gain roof access. Somebody defeated the lock to the street door, and everybody crowded inside, with Stone and Holly bringing up the rear. Stone and Holly had earplugs for their radios, and they could hear any conversation between the SWAT team leader and Dino.
The first element of the team made their way slowly up the stairs, being as quiet as possible, but there was some noise—equipment brushing against the banister, the occasional slip of a boot. They climbed the stairs like a giant caterpillar, snaking around the landings and making their way inexorably upward.
Stone and Holly, right behind Dino, were on the fourth-floor landing when the team leader spoke.
“Stop,” he breathed into the radio. “Dino?”
“Right here,” Dino whispered.
“There are two doors on the fifth floor.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Could be two apartments.”
“That wasn’t in the plans.”
“I know.”