C16 Chapter 16
**Warehouse 11**
Vandel's hideout and the central base for the annual cartel meetings. This location also served as the storage facility for all weapons and machinery.
**Warehouse 12**
The storage house for all raw materials required in drug production, controlled by Don Alfonso.
**Warehouse 13**
The primary drug production base, where all narcotics were manufactured, overseen by Don Theodore.
**Warehouse 14**
The post-production storage facility for drugs, situated between production and distribution, controlled by Don Thiago.
**Warehouse 15**
The last and most secretive of Vandel's warehouses, its existence was known only to him, and its location remained a closely guarded secret.
Each warehouse had its distinct purpose and significance within the cartel's operations, but our plan began with targeting Warehouse 13. To dismantle a syndicate, one must strike at its core, and by targeting the raw materials, we aimed to disrupt the drug production process and create discord among the cartel members.
**Warehouse 11**
*The Next Day*
"Bryson, you're here early," Arnesto remarked as he surveyed a table strewn with guns.
"Yeah, I decided to come in early today in case the boss needed anything," Rowen replied, concealing his true intentions.
Arnesto explained, "You shouldn't have bothered; the boss isn't coming in today," while deftly loading bullets into one of the guns.
"He's not coming in today? But why wasn't I informed of this?" Rowen inquired, genuinely surprised.
"It was Boss Antonio who told us about it yesterday; perhaps you weren't around then," Arnesto offered, searching for an explanation as to why Rowen hadn't been informed.
"Or maybe he deliberately kept me out of the loop," Rowen retorted.
Aware of the tension between Rowen and Antonio, Arnesto advised, "I know you and Sir Antonio aren't on good terms, but my advice is to try to follow his orders and avoid getting on his bad side. At the end of the day, he's above us, and we're just ordinary men here, with no one to depend on but ourselves."
Rowen nodded, acknowledging the advice, then queried, "I understand. But wait, where has everyone gone? The warehouse seems almost empty."
Arnesto explained, "A large shipment is arriving today. The boss ordered Sir Antonio and Miguel to oversee the shipment to ensure it goes smoothly. Some men are with Don Thiago to assist with drug sales in Starling City, while the rest accompanied Boss Vandel on his trip. Only a few men are left in the warehouse now."
"Alright then, I see you're busy. I won't disturb you any longer; I'll catch up with you later," Rowen said as he left the room. He began to explore the building, noting the locations where the remaining men were stationed and the positions of the CCTV cameras to avoid detection.
After ensuring he had a good grasp of the surroundings, Rowen exited the warehouse. He ventured to a small field nearby, scanning the area to confirm that no one was following him. Rowen then walked a measured ten steps to a particular spot and began to dig. After a while, he unearthed a black box from the ground, dusted it off, and opened it, revealing a mini spy camera.
He closed the box and headed to *La Casa De Questo Cafe*, buying food and drinks before returning to the warehouse. After securely hiding the cameras, he gathered the attention of the remaining men on guard.
"Guys, come over here for a moment," Rowen called, and the men assembled.
"These past few days have been tough for us. As brothers in arms, I decided to get us breakfast today, so we can have the strength to work efficiently. Enjoy," Rowen announced.
"Thanks a lot, Bryson," they chorused, immediately diving into their meals with gusto. This was the distraction Rowen needed to install the cameras unnoticed. The men were so engrossed in their food that they failed to notice Rowen slip out of the room.
He retrieved the box containing the mini spy cameras from its hiding place and carefully planted the devices in various secure locations. Rowen moved discreetly, avoiding the existing CCTV cameras in the warehouse. After successfully placing the cameras, he swiftly returned to the room, where the men had just finished eating and resumed their positions.
**At Jay's House**
"Jay... Jay!" Mason called from the secret underground room. I had just returned from the grocery store.
"What's going on?" I asked, hurrying into the room after depositing the groceries in the kitchen.
"Look here," Mason said, pointing to his computer screen.
"He did it. He successfully placed the cameras in the warehouse. Now, we can hear and see everything they're doing without putting his life in danger. Good job," I praised Mason for his successful mission, even though he wasn't currently with us.
A few minutes later, Rowen passed by one of the cameras. He looked around briefly but didn't directly acknowledge the camera. Holding a card with a heart symbol on it, symbolizing safety, he continued on his way.
**Starling City**
"Welcome, Don Alfonso," William Cooker greeted, the former business partner of the Rodriguez brothers before they relocated to El Paso.
"It's always a pleasure to see you, amigo," Don Alfonso replied, taking a sip from his glass of vodka.
"So, what brings you to Starling City?" William asked after they exchanged pleasantries.
"Business as usual. I came to supply the drugs for the sale at the black market today. Since I was in town, I thought it would be nice to visit an old friend," Don Alfonso explained.
"Business hasn't been the same without you. Your new partner, is he treating you fairly?" William inquired.
"Not a boss, a partner. Yes, he treats us fairly. We receive our fair share of the earnings equally," Alfonso assured him.
"Just be cautious. You haven't known him for long. He might be stealing from you without your knowledge," William warned.
"I understand your concern, but I'm confident he wouldn't dare betray us. If he does, we'll make him pay. Cheers to a lasting partnership," Don Alfonso proposed, raising his glass.
"Cheers," William replied, and they clinked glasses in a toast, sealing their partnership.
