novelraw Chapter 1335 725: Heavy Losses
Chapter 1335 725: Heavy Losses
After the gunfire ceased, members of the Juárez police force also entered the hall from the door, instructing everyone in the hall to stand up and line up nearby. They began to search each person to ensure that no one had any weapons that could be used for a surprise attack on the crowd.
The SRT members didn't have time to handle these tasks. All they could do was aim at everyone in the hall and fire warning shots at any sudden moves. A key point was that they were authorized by the government for this operation, but the arrest of other personnel needed to be done by local law enforcement.
After the Juárez police force took over the hall, the SRT and Jimmy started blocking the entrances and exits on the first floor, followed by checking each room and the floors above.
The building only had four floors—three above ground and one below. There weren't many rooms, and Jimmy and his team moved swiftly. Gang members hiding in a few rooms opened fire bravely and were shot dead. Those who were cowardly simply raised their hands, waiting for Jimmy and his team to capture them before being taken to the hall for unified control by the police force.
This joint operation made it easy to spot certain things that would normally go unnoticed, like some policemen pocketing items during arrests and searches. However, this was unrelated to Jimmy; at least none of the outsiders engaged in such behavior. Perhaps it was the atmosphere here.
Soon, Jimmy and his team arrived on the third floor, scattering and storming each room to see if anyone was inside, ultimately arriving at a large room.
Jimmy relaxed, noting that the entire third floor was empty. Based on the photos of Victoria they had previously obtained and the people they saw downstairs, he was certain Victoria wasn't here. Whether she hadn't come today or had received advance notice and fled remained unknown.
There was a two-hour assembly period from announcing the target to the operation. If information leaked, it would have been in those two hours, indicating someone at the police station promptly relayed messages, giving Victoria time to prepare. The informant was indeed diligent. Another possibility was that Victoria usually didn't come here every day, and today she just happened to be absent.
Regardless of the situation, this arrest operation failed miserably, a complete failure.
Entering the large room, it was well-decorated, with office, reception, and resting areas. The place featured solid wood furniture, several oil paintings on the walls, a large wine cabinet filled with various wines and drinkware, and even a frequently used punching bag in the resting area. Its arrangement clearly indicated the office belonged to someone significant, likely Victoria.
After confirming no one else was there, they stood at the door with a sigh. Alejandro looked the most disappointed; this was his target, and it was his first operation since arriving in Juárez, only to end up like this.
Jimmy: "It seems capturing Victoria won't be that easy. What do we do next?"
Alejandro shook his head: "We failed. We need to continue investigating her whereabouts. The next task is yours, and we'll cooperate with you."
Jimmy: "OK, what about here then?... Get down!"
Just as Jimmy was about to speak, a sharp pain suddenly struck him. Without having time to determine the issue, he immediately ducked to the ground, pulling Harvey beside him, attempting to bring him down as well. However, before Harvey fell, an explosion thundered, blowing a large hole in the wall. Carlos and Alejandro, in front of Jimmy, were knocked down by the explosion's shockwave without any time to react.
Cries of pain echoed; no one was left standing in the large office, including the SRT team and the Juárez police who entered afterward.
"FXXK!" Jimmy cursed. His quick reaction, along with Harvey's blocking, left him hit by just one or two pieces of debris. Though Harvey wasn't as fortunate, lying on the ground without a sound.
Jimmy crawled to Harvey's side to check, finding a fragment had struck his head, now bleeding, though his carotid artery was still pulsing; he seemed to have been knocked unconscious.
He quickly got up, ran, and checked on Carlos and Alejandro: "How are you? Carlos, Alejandro!"
They looked worse, though slightly better off than Harvey, who at least hadn't fainted. "What happened? My head hurts so much!"
Jimmy: "Don't move! Please don't move! I'll find someone to help you immediately. Don't worsen your injuries."
Jimmy stood up, grabbed the radio, and called: "Explosion occurred, urgent rescue needed. We require ambulances as soon as possible! As soon as possible!"
A voice on the other side of the radio replied: "Received, what happened?"
Jimmy: "Explosion in the building, we've suffered heavy casualties."
The radio went silent for a few seconds before responding: "Arrangements have been made, please wait a moment."
Not everyone at the police station spoke English; many spoke Spanish, so a translator was arranged by the station. The recent voice must have been from the translator, whose distorted tone made identifying them difficult.