C528 Preparations

Early the next morning, we woke up and prepared to head to Lucia Goods to investigate Ann Smith further. As usual, Alicia woke up before me. She had always been an early riser, and no matter how comfortable our bed was, she rarely stayed in it longer than necessary. After waking me, she got ready to leave. I took a little longer, but eventually, we were both dressed and ready to go. The moment we reached the downstairs, we found Mark already waiting for us. "Alicia, Mike, come here," he called. Alicia smiled as we approached him. "Dad, what is it? We're supposed to meet the Lions at Lucia Goods." "I know," Mark replied, nodding. "But before you leave, there's something you need to know. The Mayor contacted me last night and provided some important details about Ann Smith." My expression immediately changed. "What kind of details?" I asked. Mark looked at both of us before answering. "Ann Smith will be at a warehouse on XXX Street today at exactly 17:00." I frowned. "Wait a minute. How does the Mayor have that information in the first place? If Ann Smith is involved in the Harris Cartel, how does he know where she'll be and when?" Mark shook his head. "That's precisely what I don't understand. He didn't give me a convincing explanation. However, whether he's telling us the whole truth or not, we now have a location to investigate."

Alicia folded her arms, thinking about what he had said. "And what exactly does he expect us to do?" "Your primary objective is to identify Ann Smith and take photographs if you get the opportunity. Don't approach her recklessly, and don't allow yourselves to be drawn into an unnecessary confrontation. Remember, we still don't know whether the Mayor is helping us or leading us into a trap." I exchanged a glance with Alicia. "Father, do you think someone might be waiting for us at that warehouse?" she asked. "It's possible. I can't say for certain, but we cannot afford to ignore that possibility. If everything goes smoothly, you'll get the information you need. If something feels wrong, pull back. There's no point risking everyone's lives just to satisfy the Mayor's request." Alicia nodded. "Fine, Dad. We understand. We'll prepare accordingly and make sure everyone knows what we're dealing with before we make any decisions." Mark looked relieved that she understood the seriousness of the situation. "Good. Keep your eyes open, both of you. I don't want either of you assuming that this mission will be easy simply because the Mayor has given us an address." "We won't," I assured him. After exchanging a few more words with Mark, Alicia and I finally left for Lucia Goods. However, before we arrived, Alicia turned towards me. "Husband, I've been thinking about something." I glanced at her. "That usually means you're about to suggest something." She laughed. "Really? Is that what you think of your wife?" "Well, experience has taught me to be prepared."

She playfully nudged my arm. "You're impossible. Anyway, I was thinking about the Lucia Goods employees. They've been working hard for us, and they've taken on responsibilities that most people wouldn't willingly accept. What if we reward them today? We could give them the day off or pay them extra." I considered her suggestion. "I was thinking along the same lines, but I don't think paying them again is the best idea. Besides, money isn't the only way to show appreciation." Alicia raised an eyebrow. "Then what do you suggest?" "A braai." She stared at me for a moment before smiling. "A braai?" "Exactly. We have sixty-five employees there. Imagine how happy they'd be if we arrived with enough meat, drinks, and everything else needed for a proper celebration. We could set up the braais, let everyone relax for the day, and enjoy themselves. They've been working hard, so I think they've earned it." Her smile widened. "I like that idea." "Of course you do. You won't be the one standing over the braai all day." "Excuse me, husband. Are you suggesting I can't braai?" "I wouldn't dare suggest such a thing." "Good. Because I was about to remind you who usually takes care of you at home." I laughed, and she shook her head, still smiling. "Fine," she said. "We'll do it your way. We'll buy everything we need, and I'll add some booze for the employees who want to celebrate. They deserve to know how much we appreciate them." "That's what I wanted to hear."

We changed our plans slightly and stopped to buy the supplies. We purchased plenty of meat, drinks, and the other essentials. Alicia also made sure we had enough beer for the employees who wanted it. Then we bought five new braai stands to ensure that cooking for sixty-five people wouldn't turn into a disaster. By the time we finished shopping, Alicia inspected the supplies with satisfaction. "Do you think we've bought enough?" I looked at the amount of meat and everything else we'd purchased. "Unless you intend to feed the entire city, I think we'll manage." She laughed. "Let's hope so. I don't want anyone complaining that we forgot them." "Trust me, after seeing all this, the only complaint we'll hear is that we should have done it sooner." We continued towards Lucia Goods, ready to surprise the employees. Although we still had a dangerous mission ahead of us, I wanted us to take a moment to appreciate the people who helped keep everything running. We didn't know how the day would end, but at least we could begin it by making someone else's day better. Meanwhile, at Hanna's estate, the morning began very differently. Hanna woke up with the same uneasy feeling that had followed her since the previous evening. Frank Potter had personally requested that she deliver fifteen kilograms of merchandise, and he had insisted that she appear in person. That detail bothered her. She had conducted business with Frank before, but he had never insisted so strongly on meeting her himself. If he had wanted to kill her, he could have tried something during their first meeting. Instead, he had continued doing business with her. So why was he suddenly demanding her presence?

Hanna got out of bed, dressed, and summoned everyone to the main meeting room. Within a short time, Charlie Kinlore, Tiger, Warner, and the others had gathered. Hanna stood at the head of the table, looking at the people around her. "Everyone, we have a delivery to make today. Fifteen kilograms." She paused, allowing them to absorb the information. "However, the delivery itself isn't what concerns me. It's the circumstances surrounding it." Charlie leaned forward. "What do you mean?" "Frank Potter personally requested that I deliver the shipment. He specifically wants me there, rather than sending one of my subordinates as I've done before." Tiger frowned. "That sounds suspicious." Hanna answered. "Yes it is but also confusing, he hasn't shown his hand yet. And if he simply wanted me dead, he had an opportunity when we first met. He didn't take it." She walked slowly around the table. "That doesn't mean I trust him. Frank may have another reason for insisting on this meeting. Perhaps he wants to negotiate a bigger deal, or perhaps he intends to threaten me into lowering my prices. Either way, I'm not going to walk into that meeting unprepared." Warner nodded. "We should assume he's planning something until we know otherwise." "Exactly," Hanna replied. "I want everyone to remain alert. We don't know how many people he might bring or whether someone else will be waiting for us."

Hanna turned towards Charlie. "Charlie, you'll remain here and take charge of everything while I'm away. I don't want our operations interrupted because I'm delivering a shipment." Charlie nodded. "Understood. I'll handle things here." Hanna then looked at Tiger and Warner. "You two will be my backup. Take ten men with you and make sure they're properly prepared. I don't want a large group attracting unnecessary attention, but I also won't go into a potentially dangerous situation without protection." "Understood, Boss," Tiger replied. "Good. As for the people accompanying me directly, I'll need only four. The rest will stay out of sight unless we have a reason to call them in." Warner considered the arrangement before asking, "Where exactly are we going?" Hanna smiled faintly. "I can't disclose that just yet. All you need to know is that we leave at 15:00. Make sure everyone is ready before then." Tiger nodded. "And if Frank tries anything?" Hanna's expression hardened. "Then we'll deal with it. But don't make the mistake of assuming this is already a fight. I want to know what Frank is planning before we decide how to respond." She looked around the room one final time. "Prepare yourselves. Keep your weapons and equipment ready, but don't draw attention to yourselves. Until we know what's happening, nobody acts independently. Is that understood?" "Yes, Boss," they answered. "Good. That's all." The meeting ended, and everyone began preparing for the afternoon. Charlie remained wuiet for a moment, watching Hanna prepares everything. She had learned that Hanna rarely revealed everything she was thinking, even to the people working closest to her. Whatever Frank Potter had planned, Hanna clearly intended to discover it on her own terms.

On the other side of the city, Frank Potter was preparing for the same meeting. He stood before a group of men gathered in a private room. Several vehicles had already been arranged, and everyone present understood that the day's operation was more serious than an ordinary drug transaction. Frank looked at them before speaking. "Everyone, today's mission is straightforward. We are meeting Ann Smith at the warehouse, and I want answers." One of the men shifted his weight. "What kind of answers, sir?" "I want to know who Ann Smith really is, who she's working with, and where she's getting her merchandise. I also want to know whether she has other suppliers or contacts we haven't identified." Frank paused. "We've been doing business with her, but we still know very little about the operation behind her. That changes today." He walked towards the table and placed both hands on it. "Our priority is to capture Ann Smith alive. I want to question her personally. We need to find out where the shipment comes from and how far her network extends." "And the others?" another man asked. Frank's expression turned cold. "Anyone who interferes with the operation is to be eliminated. I don't want unnecessary witnesses, and I don't want anyone giving her an opportunity to escape." The men nodded, taking his instructions seriously. Frank continued. "I'll travel to the warehouse with two cars. The other vehicles will remain nearby and keep watch. If something goes wrong, I want our backup ready to respond immediately."

He glanced around the room to ensure that everyone was listening. "One more thing. We are bringing Ann Smith in alive if possible, but don't misunderstand that instruction. If she escapes and there is no other way to stop her, don't hesitate to kill her." A few of the men exchanged brief looks, but nobody questioned him. Frank straightened. "Make sure everyone knows their position before we leave. I don't want confusion when we arrive, and I don't want anyone acting without orders. We move according to plan." He dismissed the group with a gesture. "Now go and prepare everything you need." The men began filing out, each heading off to make the necessary arrangements.