He looked around and formulated a plan. The interior base of the wall offered an opportunity. A box-trimmed hedge followed its entire length with a concrete sidewalk between the hedge and the wall. The hedge shielded the lower third of the wall from view. Gaps in the hedge allowed access up to the pool via fern-lined, flagstone steps.

Using his Predator knife, he cut a chunk from the branch and watched the Dobermans as he dropped it. It landed with a barely audible sound. Two sets of ears perked up simultaneously, but the dogs didn’t approach. The bodyguards seemed clueless to the alerted status of the animals and Ramsland saw why. They were both drinking, exchanging a small liquor flask. He carved bigger piece and let it drop.

That did the trick.

The dogs padded down the steps toward the wall.

He heard bodyguard one call after the dogs. “Hey, where you guys going?”

The other waved a hand. “Probably to take a dump.”

Watching the dogs approach, Ramsland anchored his knife into the branch and leaned left so he could grab the laser-sighted dart pistol from his waist pack. The ticking of the dogs’ nails on the concrete grew louder. The first dog sniffed the big sliver of wood and issued a low growl. He toggled the laser, lined up on its back, and fired. The second dog jumped as its companion whined. He opened the breech and loaded another dart. The second dog yelped as the projectile delivered its payload. He exchanged the dart gun for his Beretta.

Bodyguard one looked his direction. “What was that? Did you hear something?”

His partner took another swig from the flask and wiped his mouth. “No, and you didn’t either.”

“Sancha. Teva.”

“Leave ’em be, will ya?”

“Sancha. Teva. Come!”

Bodyguard one cursed and got up. “Come on, we’d better see what they’re up to down there.”

“You’re being paranoid.”

“Get off your ass and come with me.”

“Okay, okay. You don’t have to get nasty.”

He watched the guards tread down the steps and turn left at the wall.

The lazy one said, “I can’t see anything. We should’ve brought flashlights.”

“Sancha! Teva!”

Keep coming.…

Bodyguard one tripped over the lead dog and fell onto the second. “What the hell? What’re you guys doing down here?”

In the green NV image, Ramsland saw everything in perfect clarity. He zeroed the laser on top of the lead man’s head and squeezed the trigger. The subsonic round did its work. His mark went stiff for a split second before slumping against the wall.

“Genaro!” The second man reached for his sidearm, but not in time.

The next bullet tore through the top of his scalp and exited under his jaw.

Gravity did the rest.