Washington Post, APâLos Angeles
At approximately 7:15 a.m. PDT yesterday morning, narcotics officers of the L.A. County Sheriffâs Department conducted a drug raid against a private yacht moored at the world-famous Marina del Rey. Sources report the yacht belonged to Raul Montavo, thirty-two, Hollywoodâs hottest Latin superstar. Police confiscated more than two hundred kilograms of opium and an undisclosed amount of heroin that one officer stated âwas in plain view.â
In a recent press conference, police spokesperson Martha Stellano said, âThere were no fatalities or injuries during the raid. We found several bodies on board we believe are drug-related homicides.â
When questioned about the identities of the deceased, police refused to comment until members of the immediate family were notified and causes of deaths determined. However, confidential sources indicate Raul Montavo is among those dead, as is the relative of a U.S. politician. There is no word yet on when police plan to provide further information.
Mack Bolan parked his rental car in the lot of the Los Angeles Sheriffâs Departmentâs Marina del Rey station and climbed from the air-conditioned interior into the midday August heat. The salty odor of the Pacific breezes stung his nostrils. Bolan pulled the mirrored sunglasses from his face and rubbed his eyes. He still felt the aftereffects of jet lag. Shortly after his return from a personal mission in Europe, Hal Brognola had called and begged him to go to California.
âWhatâs up?â Bolan asked the Stony Man chief.
âWe donât have all the facts quite yet, but it was enough to draw the Manâs attention.â
Mention of the President got Bolanâs interest. âLetâs back it up a little. Tell me what you know.â
Brognolaâhead of the ultracovert Sensitive Operations Group, based at Stony Man Farmâtold Bolan about the drug raid in Marina del Rey. Police had seized almost two hundred kilos of pure-grade opium. âAnd there were seven bodies,â Brognola added.
âAny make on them?â
âThree were Asian, but local law enforcement is having one hell of a time putting names to faces.â
âThe other four?â
âThree Hollywood celebrities and Senator Simon Lipinskiâs daughter.â
âLipinskiâ¦â Bolan murmured. âFrom California?â
âYes, the same Lipinski whoâs been making such a big stink over human rights on cheap, exported labor. He also happens to be a close personal friend of the Presidentâs family. Their kids went to high school together.â
âThat explains why the Manâs involved.â
âIt gives us a possible reason for why someone might want to kill the girl, too,â Brognola said. He paused and his tone softened. âShe was just a college freshman, Striker. Barely out of high school with her whole life ahead of her, and just like that itâs snuffed out.â
Bolan could sense his friendâs pain, even empathize with him, but heâd learned long ago he couldnât take those things personally. Vengeance, even exercised with righteous might, wasnât the sort of baggage a professional soldier could afford to carryânot that Bolan hadnât been tempted himself a time or three. Heâd started his war against the Syndicate for the sake of vengeance but quickly converted it to a much higher call: duty.
âLipinski may not be popular, but I doubt professionals would risk indiscriminate murder,â Bolan replied. âIf the killers wanted to send him a message, there are easier and more effective ways.â
âWe considered that possibility,â Brognola said. âTruth be told, itâs the drugs that concern us the most.â
âYeah, thatâs the angle I think we should play. Myanmarâs the place I think of for that volume of pure opium.â
âAnd they have the distribution network to back it up.â Brognolaâs tone became matter-of-fact. âIf anyone could move it without drawing attention, the heavies in the Golden Triangle would be my first choice.â
âPractice makes perfect. There are two main transshipment points in that area. China, via the Thai route, or straight out of Myanmar. Myanmar still runs the major action, near as I recall. Iâd say we start there,â Bolan said.
âIâll make some calls to our DEA contacts, see what I can come up with as far as the current atmosphere. Weâll make the travel arrangements here. You can expect Jack there within the hour.â
âSo soon?â Bolan asked.