Chapter 18

Everyone in the vicinity was looking a bit odd. They were wearing tactical ballistic vests apart from the curvy models who were only clad in miniscule string bikinis. It was an astonishing contrast that only made them more attractive. Yolanda’s crew were moving cautiously around the models, holding light reflectors, electric fans, cameras, and anything else Yolanda required as she clicked away, taking dozens of shots from various angles, and directing the models into different poses and positions to get the best lighting levels; where to place their arms and hands; what facial expressions to make and having hair falling over a face or tossed back. It was fascinating to watch a professional in action.

The calm was interrupted in an instant.

WEUSALL sent to those who needed to know that Benny had just been called by Trent. That man had been watching from a distance through strong binoculars and also flying a low-powered camera drone as close as possible without being noticeable to us. He told Benny that trying to take the girls here on the beach was not a feasible option. All the grab team were already getting into position, so Benny got upset with this last-minute report, but he agreed they should call it off and plan something else.

We did not relax though. In fact, we became even more aware of our surroundings, not fully trusting them to change their minds; or concerned that they might change their minds back, confusing as that might be.

WEUSALL monitored Khaled and Benny discussing a new plan: grabbing the girls after they had left the Lodge. Khaled would send several of his military trained guards to aid in the snatch. Joey rented a room to allow him to note when our group was ready to leave. Khaled was sending a team of nine men. Combined with the twelve Benny had, that would give them 22 in total. Five would drive; two cars and two SUVs with one driving a U-Haul truck.

Benny would ride shotgun in the rental truck, able to open and close the back. Two would ride in the back, to watch the abducted women once they were loaded inside. There were three dismounts in each car and four in each SUV. The SUVs had sunroofs enabling one guy with a light machinegun to provide cover from the sunroof.

One SUV and car would move to the lead vehicles and the other two along would take the rear of our convoy. The U-Haul truck would come up from the rear as well. Benny judged it a well-planned operation and they were all confident of success.

Henry, Jason, Milton, Deke, Pepper, and I discussed how to counter this unfolding plan. It was decided that my group would be the bait and main security in four vehicles: three SUVs - Tia, ReAne, and I as dismounts in the trail SUV with Kairi driving; Nancy, Iris, and Pepper as potential dismounts in the lead SUV with Alice driving; directly behind in the third SUV Jane, Mary Sue, and Andrea earmarked as dismounts with Bobbie driving; and finally a 15-passenger van, with Salt driving, Spice sitting shotgun and Zalla, Raynan, Qulea, Winka, and Yu as the tempting passenger bait.

Milton and Deke would be riding motorcycles about 300 meters in front of our convoy and could veer back to us in a hurry. Kyle would be driving a fourth SUV with Henry, Pete, and Ignasio as dismounts about 300 meters behind our group. Jason would be driving a Winnebago that was set up as a mini-trauma unit staffed with Linda and Trudi, ready for any emergency.

Yun would also be riding here, running camera drones to give overhead coverage for all of us. They would be some distance behind our group, only coming to us if needed.

WEUSALL was tracking Benny and his men, along with the extras Khaled had sent. They were staged just down the road from the resort. Joey had paid a young kid to call him as soon as we left. The kid called as soon as she saw us pull out of the parking area onto the road.

We were nervous but well prepared. A final radio check was made, and off we went. Milton and Deke on their bikes were already out on the road, driving away from the exit we would be using, so that they would be well in front of us and not appear to be part of our convoy. Henry’s had also staged his SUV further down the road waiting until we turned on to the road then his vehicle would begin following at a discreet distance.

When we were on our way, Henry suddenly called over the radio as the two SUVs, two cars, and U-Haul truck had just sped past him. He said they now planned to pull out, follow behind the attackers and hope the men were too focused on intercepting our convoy to notice the following SUV.

Benny sent a text reminding his team that ALL the women were to be kept unharmed! And he stressed the UNHARMED, adding that if there were more women in any of the other vehicles then only disable, NOT DESTROY the vehicle! Shoot out the tires and the engine block if possible but don’t injure any women. He appeared to be intent on collecting any and all women here.

This announced intention immediately gave us a slight advantage, since there were women in every vehicle. Disabling any vehicle without the occupants being harmed is a difficult call at the best of times.

We were several miles down the road from the resort when we became fully aware of Benny’s group speeding toward us. We had them on video from the drones, for Yun had two, one on either side of Benny’s group, so we had a good view of the opposition.

Then they caught up to my convoy and began recklessly passing us on a road that was not designed for such maneuvers. One SUV and one car charged towards the front and the car cut in front of our second SUV, between both of the lead SUVs of my convoy. Doing a ‘HOLLYWOOD U-turn’ almost causing a head-on collision.