Keeping Score

 226.

Julie is keeping score. Of the five active protocols, three have seen positive movement. With no one worried about Mr. Big going anywhere we are the closing act on a marque day in our endless defense of life, liberty and the pursuit of those that threaten them. As we prepare to initiate the strike, final preparations and back-up plans set, I can't help but remember a meme from years ago suggesting that 'Whatever doesn't kill me is going to be very sorry it ever tried.' Almost instantly I recoil at this and shake myself from the trap of revenge and back to the mindset of this being a duty and a service to humanity, just the rescue of a hostage held by heavily armed domestic terrorists. Nothing personal.

At 0835 a eighteen foot rented Penske truck leaves the Zimmerman compound, past the tiny one-man security check point and heads South on the two-lane country road. Merle and Drysdale meet it as it departs tailing safely a hundred yards behind. They follow it for ten miles until it makes a turn into a small industrial park and to an all-steel warehouse. The roof and siding of the building are covered with red, black and orange rust, almost complete in its cover of the black impact font advertising Zimmerman Hay and Soy. The truck pulls into the warehouse, twenty minutes later reappearing from behind its huge sliding doors. It heads back towards the compound on the same route it came. At a four-way stop sign between the warehouse and county road the truck comes to an obligatory halt. From the left a Montana State Patrol SUV, blue lights on fire, blocks the intersection. At the rear Merle pins the truck in place as Drysdale jumps out and runs to the yellow Penske. Weapon drawn he climbs aboard and takes command, ordering the driver to keep his hands in the air and not to move a muscle. Drysdale removes his belted sidearm, cell phone and wallet, then signals to the State Trooper that his work is done, much appreciated and please stand by the radio for possible additional assistance. Drysdale returns his attention to the driver instructing him to continue back towards the compound, adding the street Miranda, "Stay cool, do as I say and nobody will get hurt."

Halfway back to the compound Drysdale instructs the driver to pull over into a wide spot in the road. Once stopped his tells the driver to slowly exit the cab and open the rear cargo door. Drysdale slides over and follows him with gun in hand. As they walk back Merle brings the rental car up to meet them. Mustang and I exit the vehicle and make our way to the aluminum loading ramp of the truck that Drysdale has slid into position. Assist motor on and up we go. Inside of two minutes and we are inside the empty truck and headed to the old Zimmerman place and our unannounced rendezvous with The Queen.

On the way I text Julie with an update. "If yr kpng score, we a go."