The Wolf of Los Angeles

Chapter 353 - 353: Fire Coffin

[Chapter 353: Fire Coffin]

After leaving Tapachula, the area near the Mexico-Guatemala border was predominantly mountainous, with a main road leading south. This route was quite busy, filled with numerous vehicles and people in transit.

Buddy's convoy arrived at the border crossing, where cars waiting to pass through formed a long line. Crossing over was straightforward; typically, a stamped passport sufficed. For those looking to bend the rules, a little cash could hasten things.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants crossed the Mexico border.

In Buddy's convoy, three armed pickup trucks had machine guns set up in the back, temporarily covered by a tarp, with their deep green canvas making them less conspicuous. Many pedestrians continued to filter past, going back and forth along the roadside.

...

Two locals, carrying tools common in the region, slipped by a passing SUV. The smaller of the two used his larger companion as a cover to discreetly place a tracking device above the rear wheel of the vehicle. They repeated this with a second truck before blending in with the crowd and quickly leaving the area.

...

In Tapachula, Buddy had successfully secured Colonel Cody's cooperation. A military truck that had accompanied the convoy moved ahead to clear the path. The convoy, consisting of several SUV's and trucks, managed to cross the border without issue.

...

In the vehicle behind them, a Mexican-American pulled out his satellite phone and dialed in. "Chief, the target has crossed the border. We've placed the tracker, and they didn't notice a thing."

...

In the northern mountain forests of Guatemala, Bosque activated the tracking monitor, noted the two blinking points on the screen, and said, "Good, I see them."

The informant continued, "They acquired three armed pickups, but the weapons are obscured. The target should be in an SUV."

"Understood," Bosque replied.

Nearby, Hawke, clad in camouflage, signaled to him. Bosque nodded and instructed, "You all meet with those near the border and follow the tracker. Keep your distance to avoid being spotted. When the shooting starts, close in from behind."

After hanging up, he told Hawke, "There are three armed pickups; the target is in the SUV."

"Get ready," Hawke said, placing a hand on his shoulder while reminding him, "Try to bring the target back alive."

"No problem," Bosque assured him. He ducked into the woods to join Garcia, Carlos, and the others, moving swiftly through the trees until they reached a nearby abandoned lumber yard.

An old, weathered truck and several second-hand SUVs they had bought the night before waited there. Bosque quickly called a few words to the group as they piled into the vehicles, awaiting Hawke's orders.

...

In the wooded area, Hawke, Campos, Angulo, and Erica crouched in a small clearing. Erica pulled out a hand-drawn map of the ambush area, pointing out the main road. "We checked out the nearby regions, and this two-way road is the only passage for vehicles. We can block both ends and use the high ground for crossfire. Taking them down should be a cinch."

Angulo added, "The only problem is capturing them alive."

Hawke stated, "Only one SUV in the convoy; the target should be there, so we have to ensure our own safety first."

He marked the road on the map with his finger. "They have three armed pickups, all equipped with light machine guns at least. We'll take them out first with our four RPGs as soon as the action begins."

"The Hurricane team brought two RPG7s."

"I'll let them use them according to the situation," Hawke responded as he stood up. "Alright, let's spread out."

Campos and Angulo departed together. Hawke adjusted his AK-74 slung over his shoulder, checking his grenades, magazines, and sidearm, putting on a helmet as he motioned to Erica, "Let's go."

Erica picked up her sniper rifle resting against a tree and followed closely behind as they made their way toward the forest.

...

Less than a hundred meters away, Raul, Guti, and Morentes concealed themselves behind rocks on the hillside, hiding with a group of over ten people. Guti glanced over the terrain thirty meters away and told Hawke, "I'll look for a good sniping position."

"Go ahead," Hawke replied.

Morentes withdrew quickly, disappearing into the forest. Erica stayed three meters behind Hawke, hidden behind a rock covered in green moss. At the same time, figures in camouflage moved on the opposite side, as Campos and Angulo adjusted themselves before the target arrived.

Hawke opened a box, pulling out an RPG launcher, loading it carefully before handing it to Erica. He prepped a second one and placed it at his feet. The third he'd hand to Raul with a backup ready beside him.

In the nearby rear, Guti set up a PKM light machine gun. Hawke pulled out a palm-sized tracking monitor that showed the target moving rapidly toward them. Coming through the Mexico border into Guatemala, this was the best path to take.

...

After waiting a bit longer, Hawke opened his radio and whispered, "The target is less than a kilometer away; prepare."

From either side, he heard Campos and Bosque reply.

"Copy that, 2!"

"Copy that, 3!"

...

The truck rumbled out of the abandoned lumber yard, drove a short distance, then turned onto the main road. Several SUVs slowly trailed behind. The road was bumpy and challenging to navigate; the driver struggled to maintain speed.

Garcia was behind the wheel, glancing at the tracking monitor beside him and the road ahead, watching as two small delivery trucks passed by.

Suddenly, the voice of an observer came through the radio, "The convoy is approaching!"

Garcia listened closely as he noticed it, too. In a cloud of dust, a long caravan of vehicles was making its way toward them.

...

Hawke lifted his rocket launcher as Erica and Raul also took up their respective rocket launchers.

Hawke noted clearly, "I'll take the leading pickup; Erica, you take the middle, and Raul, the last pickup."

"Got it," came the acknowledgment.

"Truck, accelerate and intercept!" Hawke ordered.

...

In the front of the convoy, one pickup truck led the way, followed by an old Cherokee and then the SUV. In the passenger seat, Pandis reached into his bag to comfort the pet lizard, which was getting agitated from the bumps in the road.

Buddy Ackerman, feeling unwell, sensed nausea from the bumpy ride. The butler had given him motion sickness medicine earlier, and now he felt drowsy, on the brink of sleep. His bodyguard, Utson, anxiously surveyed the rising terrain on either side.

Suddenly, the rumble of a truck diesel engine roared ahead. Utson and Pandis turned to look forward just in time to see a large truck veering off course and blocking the road entirely. The two-lane road had been completely obstructed by the big rig.

Utson yanked Buddy down, shouting, "Get down!"

Pandi quickly reacted, throwing his beloved lizard and bag to a safer spot while grabbing his walkie-talkie, yelling, "Watch out!"

...

Just as the truck claimed its position, Garcia jumped from his vehicle, seeking cover behind the tire. Across from him, several SUVs came to a stop.

...

Those who accompanied Buddy were highly trained and recognized the danger as the lead pickup truck's occupants hurriedly uncovered the machine gun mounted in the back.

...

From the hillside, Hawke hoisted his RPG26 and took aim before launching it, the long flame trailing behind the rocket as it sped toward the lead truck.

"RPG..." the shout was heard, but there was hardly time to finish as the rocket hit the rear of the truck, exploding fiercely and flipping it across the road. The vehicle and its occupants were neutralized immediately.

Meanwhile, Guti and Erica launched their rockets, targeting the middle and rear pickups of the convoy. The three explosive blasts left the fiercest vehicles inoperable.

In the remaining vehicles, as they saw the missiles hit, panic ensued; shouts of "Enemy attack! Get out!" erupted as gunfire began, including that of sniper rifles.

More than twenty individuals scrambled out from the other side of the rockets' launch, weapons ready as they prepared to return fire. But on the slopes behind them, automatic gunfire rang out, dropping several men to the ground.

Among them were at least two machine guns.

Following this, a few high-powered grenades rained down, sending plumes of dust into the air. Those inside the vehicles hesitated to exit, hugging their heads down on the car.

Guti fired at each vehicle with a machine gun while dozens of feet away, another gunman unleashed fire from a different machine gun.

From above, Erica and Morentes took to their sniper rifles, accurately picking off targets.

The latter focused on the tires of the SUV, ensuring the front and rear tires burst.

Ahead of the convoy, behind the large truck, Bosque led his group, using the truck as cover to shoot back.

A Latin member readied an RPG7, launching it at the old Cherokee in front of the SUV, resulting in a fierce explosion that ignited the fuel tank, causing it to burst into flames.

...

On the SUV, Utson pressed Buddy down onto the seat beneath him. Fully awake now, Buddy remained calm, "FBI?"

"No!" the butler replied. "Most of the sounds are from Soviet-style weapons; this doesn't feel like an FBI style."

In the passengers' seat, Pandis shouted, "Turn around! Go!" as he assessed the gunfire on both sides.

Despite the tire blowouts, the vehicle's power held up.

The driver swerved, the windshield exposed the firing range.

...

From the high ground, Erica adjusted her gun and squeezed the trigger. Her aim was excellent; one shot penetrated the SUV's front windshield, hitting the driver square in the chest.

The driver was incapacitated, the vehicle screeched to a halt as more cars attempted to flee. Three SUVs from behind blocked the road as their occupants leaped out with automatic rifles, aiming at the vehicle with unrelenting fire.

The slaughter continued as the chaos unfolded.

*****

/Sayonara816.