Read Online Champagne Romance (Romance Novel) by Suellen Smith - Free Book Online Page A

were a savvy group and knew how to deal with
the unexpected. They would have the American out of camp and on the
Apache chopper by nightfall.
    Columbia is the fourth largest country in
South America. It is also one of the toughest hotspots in the world
making it a perfect breeding place for the lowlifes of the
universe. Three Andean mountain chains, grasslands, and extensive
jungle coastlines on the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean make it
easy to smuggle drugs and human trafficking in and out of the
country. Kidnapping for ransom is also part of their illegal
activities. All of the above is an extremely lucrative business for
the scum that choose this way of life.
    The natives of Columbia eke out an existence
farming as did the nomadic farmers during the pre-Columbian period.
It has the largest reserves of coal in Latin America. In the next
decade, natural gas will be available to millions of Columbians.
With luck, their wealth will help Latin cities eliminate the hordes
of homeless children that live in the sewers with the rats.
Hopefully, their plan will include deleting the sophisticated
organized drug lords and the government that gives them immunity by
looking the other way.
    Today, there is a wide range of ethnic
diversity in Columbia due to the intermingling of the native
Indian, Spaniards, and black slaves. Only about 1% can claim 100
percent Chibchas Indian. They originally lived off the land that
Slater was observing from above in the helicopter as it zigzagged
over the lowlands and highlands to reach the kidnapped victim
before he was assassinated.
    Slater looked at the swirling green
grasslands below as the helicopter hovered above and they repelled
to the jungle floor. The object was to evacuate quickly, melt into
the lush vegetation, and leave no evidence of any kind of human
disturbance. Rendezvous was established early evening after the sun
went down around 1700. Faces painted and ready for action, the
three men moved in swift silence toward their intended target three
miles away.
    It was misty and muggy when the chopper
dropped them off. That was not a surprise as rain was usually
expected daily during the rainy season. The forest was alive with
the wild animals of the region. A brightly colored macaw’s scream
blended in with the spider monkeys as they swung from branch to
branch on the overhanging trees. An occasional jaguar or ocelot
lurked lazily on high branches or blended among the vegetation. It
was alive as well with the smaller creatures that slithered and
scampered throughout the jungle floor. They seemed very aware that
man had invaded their territory and they wanted to make sure that
they knew that they had not gone unnoticed. The only native
wildlife that seemed happy to see them were the mosquitoes.
    The three men neither had the time to notice
the nature around them nor could they afford to be distracted from
their mission. They were only aware of anything that seemed out of
the ordinary or moved like a human. Faces covered in jungle green
camouflage they moved quietly towards their destination silently
signaling as they went. It was about forty-five minutes before they
spied the guerrilla camp.
    This group of narco-terrorists that they were
observing was the largest group in Columbia. They are well
organized. They are known as FARC, the Revolution Armed Forces of
Columbia. In addition to their trafficking activities, they are
reputed for their frequent vicious attacks on the oil pipelines.
Their bombing campaigns occurred weekly as a recreational activity.
They also enjoy the status of extortion, kidnapping, and are the
instrumental lead suppliers to the world with heroin and refined
cocaine. They are as tough, rough, and experienced as any trained
army and were not to be underestimated.
    Today, the band of mountain guerrillas was
lazily smoking marijuana secure in the knowledge that they were
safely camped in highlands of the Andes. Little did they know that
their safety would be jeopardized