Chapter 60 – The Action Has Begun

Dani of the Spanish Gang was seated in his office, enjoying a cigar with the song "Scarborough Fair" playing on the record player. The first time he heard the song, he was so impressed that he had a record burned privately.

The office door knocked.

Dani frowned, irritated at the interruption.

"Come in," he called.

A man in his forties, thin with a long face and wearing glasses, entered. This was Charles Simon, the new Spanish gang commander.

Simon began to speak, but Dani gestured for him to wait until the song was over. Simon took a seat on the sofa and waited respectfully.

When the song ended, Dani turned to Simon. He wasn't entirely pleased with the new commander; while Simon was competent, he lacked the broader skills that Burstein had brought to the role. Nevertheless, with Burstein dead, Simon was the best option available.

"Simon, how is the loan business progressing?" Dani asked.

Simon stood and respectfully handed Dani a check. "Boss, the loan is settled. Here is the check."

Dani examined the check for $300,000. He had mortgaged stocks, bonds, and real estate to secure this amount. If successful, he was confident he could recover the funds quickly.

"Simon, contact Colombia again and let them know I'm ready. See when I can meet with General Gustavo," Dani instructed.

"Understood, boss. I'll get in touch immediately," Simon replied.

After a recent failed drug transaction, which resulted in a $300,000 loss and the death of sergeant Burstein, Dani needed to smooth things over with General Gustavo. This meeting was crucial for continuing business.

The Spanish gang was a major seller of cocoa powder, and recent shortages had caused prices to double. Dani anticipated significant profit if this deal went through.

Simon returned a few hours later. "Boss, I've arranged for you to meet General Gustavo in Bogotá in five days."

Dani considered this. "Book me a flight for the day after tomorrow. I'll arrive early to demonstrate my sincerity."

"Shall I arrange for additional guards?" Simon asked.

"No, just one. Anything more would be excessive," Dani said.

Simon also reported, "Boss, Cranston and Shellman haven't paid their dues this month, and no one has seen them in a while."

Dani vaguely remembered Cranston's investigation into the casino robbery. With so much going on, he had forgotten about it until now. 

"I'm heading to Colombia in three days. Look into Cranston and Shellman and report back to me," Dani instructed.

The next day, Simon arranged Dani's travel documents and booked the flights to Colombia.

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Hardy was in his underground gun vault, surrounded by a vast array of weapons—pistols, submachine guns, sniper rifles, shotguns, and heavy machine guns, all acquired from Old Mike. Though Hardy had limited funds, he had invested heavily in weapons and hired forty-five men for his security company.

At this point, Hardy felt the team was ready for internal training rather than additional recruitment.

A messenger entered and informed Hardy that Director Lanster needed to see him urgently.

Hardy met with Lanster, who revealed, "We've received information that Dani has booked a flight to Colombia the day after tomorrow, arriving in Bogotá in the evening. He will be accompanied by only one guard."

Hardy's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. This provided a clear opportunity for action.

"We've been waiting for this chance," Hardy said with a smile. "It's time to act."

He instructed Henry and Matthew to prepare for a mission. "You'll fly to Bogotá tomorrow. I've arranged your tickets. Your task is to locate Dani and his bodyguard, eliminate them if possible, and retrieve the $300,000 check. If you can't do it quietly, handle it however necessary."

Henry and Matthew accepted the mission without hesitation, trusting Hardy's judgment.

The plan was set.