Chapter 17: A New Ally
The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting long shadows across the room. Miguel sat at the small round table in the corner, nursing a cup of coffee that had long gone cold. His eyes were fixed on the door, waiting. Across from him, Robo-Aubree stood perfectly still, her gaze focused intently on the hallway outside.
“You think he’ll show?” Miguel asked, breaking the silence.
Robo-Aubree didn’t look away from the door. “Probability suggests he will. The information he offered was too valuable to pass up.”
Miguel nodded, but the tension in his shoulders didn’t ease. After everything they’d been through rescuing the hostages, escaping the mafia’s stronghold trusting someone who had once been part of that world wasn’t easy. But they needed the intel, and if this former mafia member could deliver, it could turn the tide in their favor.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, drawing closer. Miguel set his coffee down and straightened up, his hand instinctively moving toward the gun holstered at his side. Robo-Aubree’s sensors picked up the familiar gait, and she gave Miguel a small nod, indicating it was their contact.
The door creaked open, and a man stepped inside. He was tall, with dark hair that was slicked back, and his face bore the hardened lines of someone who had seen too much. He wore a simple jacket over a faded shirt, but there was an air of cautious confidence about him. His eyes flicked between Miguel and Robo-Aubree, assessing the situation before he spoke.
“Dr. Sanchez,” the man greeted, his voice low and gravelly.
“I’m glad you agreed to meet.”
Miguel stood up, extending a hand.
“You must be Luca.”
Luca shook his hand, his grip firm.
“That’s right. I owe you both my life. Figured the least I could do was offer some help in return.”
Miguel gestured to the empty chair at the table. “Have a seat. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
Luca hesitated for a moment, then sat down, his posture tense. Robo-Aubree remained standing, her presence a silent reminder that this was no casual meeting.
“You said you had information on the mafia’s operations,” Miguel began, leaning forward. “Information we can use to bring them down.”
Luca nodded, his expression serious. “I do. I’ve been part of the organization for years, seen things most people wouldn’t believe. But when they started using innocent people as pawns… I knew I had to get out.”
Miguel exchanged a glance with Robo-Aubree. “What changed your mind?”
Luca’s eyes darkened, memories flashing behind them. “I wasn’t always a bad guy, you know. Got mixed up in the wrong crowd, made some stupid choices. But I never signed up to be part of something so… cruel. When I saw what they were doing taking hostages, extorting people, threatening their families I couldn’t stomach it anymore.”
Robo-Aubree tilted her head slightly, her voice calm but probing. “You were willing to turn against them even though it meant risking your life?”
Luca let out a bitter laugh.
“Life? What life? The moment you’re in, you’re as good as dead. The only difference is whether you go out on your terms or theirs. I decided I’d rather go down fighting.”
Miguel nodded, understanding.
“We’re glad you made that choice. Now, what can you tell us about their operations? Specifically, any connections they have within the hospital?”
Luca leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair as he gathered his thoughts. “The mafia has a lot of hands in a lot of pies, but their connection to the hospital is one of their most crucial assets. It’s not just about money; it’s about power. They’ve got people on the inside doctors, nurses, administrators who are on their payroll, feeding them information, covering up their crimes.”
Miguel frowned, the implications of Luca’s words sinking in.
“Do you have names?”
“Some,” Luca replied, nodding.
“But it’s not just about individuals. They’ve got entire departments under their thumb. If they want someone dead, it happens quietly. If they need a place to stash someone, the hospital’s basement is more secure than any prison. And then there’s the drugs.”
“Drugs?” Robo-Aubree repeated, her tone sharp.
Luca’s expression grew grim.
“They’ve been using the hospital to distribute counterfeit medications. People think they’re getting lifesaving treatments, but instead, they’re getting poisoned. Some of the drugs are just placebos, others are laced with chemicals that make the patients sicker, driving up the demand for more ‘treatment.’ It’s a vicious cycle, and the mafia is raking in billions.”
Miguel felt a surge of anger.
“And no one’s noticed? No one’s tried to stop it?”
Luca shook his head.
“The few who did… didn’t live long enough to do anything about it. The mafia has eyes everywhere, and they don’t take kindly to loose ends.”
Robo-Aubree’s processors whirred as she analyzed the information, her mind racing through the possibilities.
“If we can expose this operation, we can bring the entire network down. But we’ll need proof something undeniable that we can take to the authorities.”
“I can help with that,” Luca said, leaning forward. “I know where they keep the records the real ones. They’re hidden in a secure vault deep in the hospital, disguised as part of the archives. But it’s heavily guarded, and getting in won’t be easy.”
“We’re not afraid of a challenge,” Miguel replied, his voice firm.
“If you can lead us to the vault, we’ll take care of the rest.”
Luca hesitated, his eyes searching Miguel’s face.
“This isn’t just about taking down a few corrupt doctors, Sanchez. Once you start this, there’s no going back. The mafia won’t stop until they’ve destroyed everything you care about.”
Miguel met his gaze, unwavering. “They’ve already taken too much from me. It’s time we took something back.”
Robo-Aubree, who had been silent for a moment, now spoke up, her tone measured. “We have the skills and the resources to pull this off, Luca. But we need to know that you’re fully committed. If you’re in, there’s no turning back.”
Luca’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, he seemed to wrestle with the weight of his decision. But then he nodded, his expression resolute.
“I’m in. I’ll do whatever it takes to bring them down.”
Miguel extended his hand once more.
“Then we’re in this together.”
Luca grasped his hand firmly, sealing their alliance. “Together.”
---
The plan was set in motion quickly. Luca provided them with detailed layouts of the hospital, highlighting the areas where the mafia had the most influence. He identified key players, including corrupt doctors and administrators who were deep in the mafia’s pockets. With Robo-Aubree’s advanced hacking capabilities, they were able to dig even deeper, uncovering encrypted communications and financial records that painted a damning picture of the mafia’s operations.
“The vault is here,” Luca explained, pointing to a spot on the digital map they had displayed on a large screen in Miguel’s apartment. “It’s buried in the sub-basement, behind several layers of security. You’ll need access codes, biometric scans, and there’s a rotating guard shift that we’ll have to bypass.”
Robo-Aubree studied the map intently. “I can handle the electronic security. Disabling the cameras, overriding the locks, and scrambling the alarms. But we’ll need to time it perfectly to avoid detection.”
“Julian can provide us with a distraction,” Miguel suggested.
“He’s good at that kind of thing. If he can create a commotion on one of the upper floors, it might draw some of the guards away from the vault.”
Luca nodded. “That could work. But once we’re in the vault, we’ll need to move fast. The records are likely stored in a secured server. If we can download everything, we’ll have all the evidence we need to take them down.”
“And you’re sure this will be enough?” Miguel asked, his tone serious. “We need to be certain that what we find in that vault will hold up in court.”
“It will,” Luca assured him. “The mafia’s arrogance is their weakness. They believe they’re untouchable, so they keep detailed records of everything payments, transactions, orders. If we can get our hands on that, it’ll be more than enough to bring them to justice.”
Miguel nodded, his resolve hardening. “Then let’s do it.”
---
The night of the operation, the team moved with military precision. Robo-Aubree, Miguel, and Luca entered the hospital through a service entrance, avoiding the main security checkpoints. Julian, stationed in a nearby van, monitored the security feeds and provided updates through their earpieces.
“All clear on your route,” Julian reported as they made their way through the dimly lit corridors. “No sign of increased guard activity. The distraction is set to go off in five minutes.”
“Roger that,” Miguel replied, keeping his voice low.
Robo-Aubree led the way, her movements swift and silent. She accessed the first security checkpoint, her fingers dancing across the keypad as she bypassed the lock with ease. The door clicked open, and they slipped inside.
“The guards will be rotating in two minutes,” Luca whispered. “We need to be in position before they switch.”