The night deepened, wrapping the cabin in a cloak of darkness as the four of them huddled together, pouring over maps and notes that Rico had brought with him. The atmosphere was tense but charged with anticipation; they were on the cusp of something big.
“Here,” Rico pointed to a spot on the map, his finger tracing a route along the docks. “This is where the shipment is scheduled to arrive. It’s a secluded area, perfect for their operations but vulnerable if we time it right.”
Jack leaned closer, his brow furrowed in thought. “How many men do you think they’ll have on-site?”
Rico shrugged, his expression serious. “Hard to say. But Bennett doesn’t take chances. I’d guess at least a dozen, maybe more. They’ll be heavily armed.”
Sarah felt the weight of the situation pressing down on her. “We can’t just charge in there without a plan. We need a distraction or something to even the odds.”
“Agreed,” Elizabeth chimed in, her eyes lighting up with a spark of inspiration. “What if we create a diversion at the east side of the docks? If we can draw some of their men away, we can strike when they’re unprepared.”
“That could work,” Jack said, nodding. “But we need to make sure our diversion is big enough to pull them away. Any ideas?”
Rico leaned back, contemplating. “I’ve heard rumors about a shipment of illegal fireworks coming in. If we can intercept that and set off a few, it’ll create chaos and confusion. Just enough to distract them while we hit the main shipment.”
Sarah’s heart raced at the thought. “That’s risky. But it might be our best shot. We’ll need to split into two teams: one to handle the fireworks and the other to intercept the main shipment.”
“Who goes where?” Elizabeth asked, looking around the room.
“I can take the team for the fireworks,” Rico volunteered. “I know where they’re coming in, and I can get us access.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jack said. “We’ll need to be quick and precise. We can’t afford any mistakes.”
“That leaves me to take care of the main shipment,” Sarah said, determination flooding her voice. “I can use my skills to get in undetected.”
Rico raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that? It’s going to be dangerous.”
“I’m sure,” Sarah replied, her jaw set with resolve. “I won’t let Bennett win. This is our chance to turn the tide.”
With the plan in place, they discussed the details, each of them contributing ideas and strategies to ensure success. They mapped out their escape routes, noted the best vantage points, and assigned roles, their collective energy igniting a sense of unity among them.
As the night wore on, they finally settled on a time. “We’ll hit them just after midnight,” Rico said, glancing at the clock. “That’s when the shipment is expected to arrive.”
The hours passed quickly, the urgency propelling them forward. They gathered supplies—walkie-talkies, flashlights, and whatever weapons they could find to ensure they were ready for anything. The sun began to rise, casting a pale light over the horizon, and Sarah felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins.
“Are we ready?” she asked, her heart pounding as they prepared to leave the cabin.
Jack and Elizabeth nodded, their expressions a mix of determination and apprehension. Rico checked the map one last time before stashing it in his bag.
“Let’s move,” he said, leading the way out of the cabin and into the cool morning air.
As they made their way toward the docks, tension hung in the air like a thick fog. Each step felt heavy with anticipation, the weight of what lay ahead pressing on their shoulders. They could not afford to falter.
The docks loomed ahead, the sound of seagulls echoing in the distance. As they approached, Sarah felt the adrenaline surge, a mixture of fear and excitement flooding her senses. This was it—the moment they had been preparing for.
“Stick to the plan,” Sarah instructed as they reached a shadowy spot behind a stack of crates. “We meet back here in thirty minutes, no matter what happens.”
Jack and Rico exchanged determined looks before nodding in agreement. “We’ll take care of the fireworks,” Jack said, his tone resolute. “Just be careful out there.”
With a final glance at each other, the two teams split, their paths diverging as they headed toward their respective targets. Sarah’s heart raced as she crept closer to the loading area, her mind focused on the task at hand.
Peering around the crates, she could see the dim outline of the cargo ship moored at the dock, its silhouette cutting against the early morning sky. The atmosphere crackled with tension, the anticipation of conflict hanging in the air.
She took a deep breath, steadying herself. This was her chance to make a difference, to finally confront the shadows of her past. With her heart pounding in her chest, Sarah moved stealthily toward the edge of the loading area, her senses heightened and alert for any sign of danger.
As she neared the entrance to the ship, she could hear muffled voices and the sound of crates being moved. Sarah’s pulse quickened; she was close. Just a little further, and she would have the chance to uncover the truth and disrupt Bennett’s plans once and for all.