Shadows of Allegiance by David Archer & Vince Vogel

Author:David Archer & Vince Vogel [Archer, David & Vogel, Vince]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Right House
Published: 2024-06-04T00:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-SIX

Under the cover of the Caribbean night, the rescue party touched down in Havana, Cuba. The plan had been meticulously orchestrated: three separate commercial flights, false identities, and a rendezvous set for a discreet location in the city.

The oppressive heat and humidity of the Cuban night enveloped each of them as they separately navigated the bustling airport, the air thick with the mingled scents of coffee and tropical plants.

Neil, dressed casually in tourist attire, disembarked first, his eyes scanning the crowds with a practiced nonchalance. Merging seamlessly with the throng of travelers, his senses were alert for any signs of surveillance.

Wally and Molly came next. They moved through the terminal, their interactions natural but their eyes sharp. Molly’s schooling in espionage had prepared her well for such operations, and Wally, despite having spent his entire career in espionage inside a lab, was every bit the skilled field agent.

Sarah and Allison, the last to arrive, moved with the confidence of seasoned travelers. Allison, in particular, was like a shadow, her eyes missing nothing. Inside the terminal, she noticed a few covert watchers, Council agents blending into the crowds but their purpose betrayed by the intensity of their gazes. Her instincts, honed by years in the field, alerted her to their presence, a silent alarm that set her on edge.

At immigration, the biometric spoof kit Wally had provided them each with came into play. It was obvious the Council would be drag-netting for their fingerprints and retinas. Each member, heavily disguised, stepped up to the booth. One by one, they placed their fingers on the scanner, the kit providing them with false fingerprints that matched the biometric data of normal American citizens. The immigration officers, none the wiser, processed them through.

Once they’d picked up their limited baggage, they each slipped into the humid night of Havana, their faces just another blur in the crowd. The city was alive with the sounds of late-night revelry and the distant rhythm of salsa music. Blending in with locals and tourists alike, they made their way to the local taxi points. The mission to rescue Noah and his team from the clutches of the Council had begun, and every second counted.

The team arrived separately at their designated hotels in different parts of the city, prepared for the next phase. The hotels, each a blend of Cuban architecture and modern comfort, offered brief respite and a moment to blend into the flow of tourists and locals alike.

Neil, staying in a modest hotel near the impressive edifice of El Capitolio, absorbed the vibrant street life from his balcony. He watched as classic American cars from the 1950s cruised past, their colors as vivid as the city itself. Below, vendors sold aromatic street food, the scents of frying plantains and spiced meats wafting up to him.

Wally and Molly, in a more upscale hotel by the Malecón, marveled at the ocean view, the moon casting a silver sheen over the water. They shared a quick, inconspicuous toast with tiny cups of strong Cuban coffee before heading out into the night.

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