Scouting the Compound
When the sun started to rise in the east, the trio moved in closer to the compound. It looked as if it were a resort. The low wall circled the compound, which consisted of a beautiful main building, a pool, a recreation center, well-manicured lawns, a maintenance shed, a Tiki bar, and several round tables shielded from the sun by large umbrellas and surrounded by chairs. In fact, it appeared to Ali, Kelly, and Mohammed that every amenity that they had ever associated with the exterior of a modern luxury hotel or exotic holiday resort was present at this compound. They could only imagine what other features were available inside the main building.
Ali, Mohammed, and Kelly crawled over a low ridge and made their way toward the compound. They strode through the native vegetation so quietly that it seemed as if the wind had caressed them. The trio could not afford to attract any undue attention. Lights were on in a large room on the left side of the main building, and when he saw this, Ali, who was leading his team, he raised his hand, signaling Mohammed and Kelly to stop. Each of them took out a pair of binoculars and slowly started to scan the area. They fully expected the compound to have guards posted at lookout positions, and it was crucial that they spot the guards before the guards spotted them. They scanned the entire length and width of the compound but saw no sentries.
“I do not get it,” said Kelly, still looking through her binoculars. “Where are all the guards? Doesn’t the leadership need any guards? This is very surprising.”
“They don’t think they need them,” answered Ali, who also continued to scan the compound. “After all, this is their private island. Actually, I’m pleased. The lesser the number of guards, the lesser the number of people we have to shoot”
Mohammed was looking through his binoculars in one particular direction. “No guards, but that does not mean that the place is wide open for us. Look to your left—ten o’clock position.”
Ali and Kelly shifted their sights and saw security cameras rotating on tall, metal poles, surveying the perimeter of the compound. “Good use of technology, those security cameras. I bet they have tripwires and motion sensors, too,” offered Kelly.