Chapter 39: Provoking Divorced Fishermen to Profit

On a cliff outside Los Angeles, two trucks were parked at the edge. The trucks were filled with dead bodies, including Cranston's. Neil placed large firecrackers in each truck, then reversed the second truck to push both vehicles over the cliff. They crashed down, exploding and burning at the bottom.

It's unlikely the Spanish gang would discover Cranston's death anytime soon. Cranston had been sent to investigate on his own initiative, and his aggressive approach was a personal decision. The Spanish gang was unaware of their operation.

Back at the factory, Hardy assessed their situation. "We need to find a new location. This place is compromised. We must be more cautious from now on."

Henry and the others agreed. They quickly cleaned up the factory, moved their belongings, and found a new location on the edge of Los Angeles. It was a country hotel with a living room, bedroom, and a large yard for parking—ideal for their new base.

The next day, Hardy led his men to the pier Cranston had mentioned to investigate. The pier was a modest fishing dock, suitable for small fishing boats and shrimp boats. When they arrived, they saw several fishing boats docked and people moving fish and cargo onto trucks.

Richard noticed a three-story building next to the pier. He suggested to Hardy that he should scout the building for a better vantage point. Richard climbed to the top, where he discovered it was an excellent spot for surveillance and sniping.

Back at the hotel, Hardy and his team gathered to plan their approach.

"Boss, if the trade happens during the day, we can pose as fish buyers and monitor them with two trucks. If it's at night, we can set up an ambush and strike when they're making the deal," Henry proposed.

Hardy considered the options and assigned tasks accordingly. From the next day, Henry, Matthew, Leo, Kerry, Richard, and Neil went undercover as fishmongers, driving two trucks to the pier daily to gather information.

Richard placed two large packages in a concealed spot on the roof of the nearby building, ensuring they were prepared for any outcome.

Two days passed. That afternoon, as the sun began to set, the fishing boats had mostly docked, and the dock was sparsely populated. Suddenly, two cars drove up, and a group of men in suits got out. They seemed to be inspecting the area but left without making a purchase.

Henry, dressed in overalls and gloves, whispered to Matthew, "I think those guys might be from the Spanish gang."

Matthew agreed, and Hardy was informed that the transaction might be imminent.

At nightfall, Hardy gathered his team. "Get ready. We're about to take action."

The team prepared their weapons with enthusiasm. 

At eleven o'clock, the pier was shrouded in darkness. Four cars arrived and parked side by side. A dozen people disembarked and began scanning the surroundings. The cars' headlights flashed toward the sea.

The sea responded with a distant, four-flash signal. A ten-ton fishing boat approached the dock, and waiting on the shore were the Spanish gang members, led by their military commander, Burstein.

A man disembarked from the boat and greeted Burstein. "Hello Burstein, are all the funds ready?"

Burstein replied, showing a suitcase filled with neatly packed dollar bills. "Here's $300,000, as agreed."

Garcia, the Colombian leader, nodded and directed his men to unload the cargo. They brought ashore packages, each about one cubic meter in size.

Burstein examined the goods and, satisfied, offered Garcia a cigar and lit it for him.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. Garcia fell with a bullet wound to his head. The dock erupted into chaos as Colombians and Spanish gangsters exchanged gunfire. Some Colombians, armed and hidden on the boat, joined the fight.

Burstein, realizing the confusion, tried to calm the situation. "Stop! There's been a misunderstanding!"

Before his words could take effect, a bullet struck him in the head, killing him instantly.

The remaining Spanish gangsters fought desperately, but their short-range weapons were no match for the Colombians' superior firepower. Meanwhile, a group of armed individuals emerged, attacking both the Spanish gangsters and Colombians. 

Kerry, wielding an M42 heavy machine gun, fired relentlessly at the fishing boat, while Neil threw a grenade into the boat's cabin, causing an explosion that silenced the gunfire.

The remaining Colombians fled, and Hardy ordered his team to retrieve the goods quickly. They discovered a money box in a car filled with neatly arranged banknotes.

"Boss, we've found the money!" Henry exclaimed.

"What about the cocaine?" Leo asked.

Hardy contemplated briefly. Although he opposed drug trafficking, he recognized the financial opportunity. "Load it all up. We'll figure out what to do with it later."

The team complied, preparing for their next move.