Chapter 40: The Infiltration

Jay adjusted his cap and checked his reflection in the mirror. Dressed in the attire of a dockworker, he blended seamlessly with the other workers milling around the docks. The controlled riot was set to begin within the hour, and he could already hear distant murmurs of unrest from the nearby streets.

Owen, posing as a delivery driver, pulled up in a beat-up van. "All set, Jay. Got your equipment in the back. You ready?"

Jay nodded, slipping into the passenger seat. "As ready as I'll ever be. Let's make this quick and clean. The longer we're in there, the higher the risk of getting caught."

Elena and Eva sat in the back, each dressed in simple work clothes, their faces shadowed by caps. Elena was reviewing the map of the docks, while Eva was checking the medical supplies in her bag. "Remember," Elena said, "the goal is to gather information, not to engage. If things get too hot, we pull out."

Eva added, "I've got enough medical supplies to patch us up if needed, but let's not test our luck."

Owen started the van and drove toward the hub's entrance. As they approached, the guards seemed on edge, glancing toward the rising commotion from the streets. Jay noticed a few of them exchanging nervous glances and gripping their weapons tighter.

"We're almost there," Owen said, his voice low. "Just follow my lead."

They reached the security checkpoint, where a burly guard approached the driver's window. "What's your business here?" he asked, his voice gruff.

Owen handed over a clipboard with falsified documents. "Delivery for the storage units. Got some fresh supplies from the city. You want to check the list?"

The guard glanced at the documents, then at the van. "You got a manifest number?"

"Right here," Owen replied, pointing to a number on the clipboard. "Matches the schedule you got."

The guard seemed satisfied and waved them through, but Jay could sense the tension in the air. It wouldn't take much to set these guards off, and the riot was designed to do just that.

Once inside the hub, Owen parked the van near the storage units. Jay and Elena stepped out, carrying crates as part of their cover. Eva stayed in the van, ready to act as a lookout and provide medical assistance if needed.

Elena led the way, moving with the practiced ease of someone who'd been undercover before. "Keep it casual," she whispered to Jay. "We need to find the central office where they keep the records. That's where we'll get the information we need."

Jay nodded, following her through the maze of storage containers and warehouse buildings. He kept his eyes down, trying to avoid drawing attention. The guards seemed preoccupied with the growing noise from the riot, but that only made them more vigilant.

They reached a large warehouse with a single entrance guarded by two sentries. Elena approached them with a confident stride, holding a clipboard in one hand. "We've got a delivery for this unit," she said, pretending to check her list. "You want to let us in, or should I get the supervisor?"

The guards exchanged a look, then one of them shrugged and stepped aside. "Make it quick," he said. "We've got enough trouble outside without you causing more."

Elena nodded and led Jay into the warehouse. It was a vast space, filled with crates and machinery. At the far end, they could see a row of offices, where the hub's administrators likely worked.

"That's our target," Elena whispered. "Let's move."

They carefully navigated through the warehouse, avoiding the few workers who were still on duty. As they approached the offices, Jay's heart raced. This was the most dangerous part of the mission—once inside, they'd need to find the right information without being caught.

Elena signaled for Jay to follow her lead as they entered the first office. It was empty, but filled with filing cabinets and computer terminals. She quickly began searching through the files while Jay kept watch at the door.

"We're looking for anything that links the shipments to the Mastermind," she said, her voice barely audible. "If we can find out who his suppliers are, we can cut off his resources."

Jay nodded, keeping an ear out for approaching footsteps. The noise from the riot was growing louder, and he knew it wouldn't be long before the guards were called away to deal with the chaos. They had to act fast.