The Rescue Attempt, Part 1
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:26 pm
Rachel had a contact in Veracruz, a guy named Pablo, who had done a bunch of law enforcement work and was now in the private sector - on both sides of the law, I gathered. She said Pablo had the gulf coast of Mexico pretty well wired, and so when Rachel gave him the details we had about Amber's whereabouts it took him very little time not just to locate the warehouse but find a trustworthy local contact and rouse the local law enforcement.
So she showed up not long after I'd gotten ready for the day.
"OK. Big day today, I think."
"It seems so. You're dressed for it."
"Yeah? You like my outfit?"
"I do. That skirt definitely works for you."
"I'm just shocked that you noticed the black thing I'm wearing first."
"Well, it's what I expect since you simply cannot stop wearing black."
"Hey, I'm making progress."
"I know. Black AND WHITE shoes today."
"Oh, come on. These have some personality."
"They're very zesty, Rachel. I will give you that. And yes, I see that you not only have a blue t-shirt but blue accessories as well. It's an amazing amount of progress."
"Haha! You're such a tough crowd."
"And the almost-blonde hair, too. Boy are you coming around."
"I mean, it's auburn. It's like a happy medium. I change, y'know, slowly."
"Amber always says auburn is a happy medium, too."
"Oooookay then."
"I guess I should say I'm sorry for bringing her up, but I'm really not."
"No, you shouldn't. I'm sorry. I felt like we were having a little moment, but you're right. In fact, I'm here because this could be a big day working our case."
"Your guy came up with something?"
"Oh, did he ever. They've got the dry cleaner. In fact, they've got the van. And the Tampico police are using it to raid the warehouse around sundown."
"Why sundown?"
"Because that's when the van makes deliveries. They'll drive on in, and then the doors will open and out come the cops."
"Seems like a good plan."
"Look, Oscar. So far everything in these dreams of yours has come out as good intel, and I'll admit I've been wrong about it from the start. But we need to be realistic here."
"Nothing about anything this seems realistic, Rachel. It's like a horror fantasy show. Like a season of Lost or something."
So she showed up not long after I'd gotten ready for the day.
"OK. Big day today, I think."
"It seems so. You're dressed for it."
"Yeah? You like my outfit?"
"I do. That skirt definitely works for you."
"I'm just shocked that you noticed the black thing I'm wearing first."
"Well, it's what I expect since you simply cannot stop wearing black."
"Hey, I'm making progress."
"I know. Black AND WHITE shoes today."
"Oh, come on. These have some personality."
"They're very zesty, Rachel. I will give you that. And yes, I see that you not only have a blue t-shirt but blue accessories as well. It's an amazing amount of progress."
"Haha! You're such a tough crowd."
"And the almost-blonde hair, too. Boy are you coming around."
"I mean, it's auburn. It's like a happy medium. I change, y'know, slowly."
"Amber always says auburn is a happy medium, too."
"Oooookay then."
"I guess I should say I'm sorry for bringing her up, but I'm really not."
"No, you shouldn't. I'm sorry. I felt like we were having a little moment, but you're right. In fact, I'm here because this could be a big day working our case."
"Your guy came up with something?"
"Oh, did he ever. They've got the dry cleaner. In fact, they've got the van. And the Tampico police are using it to raid the warehouse around sundown."
"Why sundown?"
"Because that's when the van makes deliveries. They'll drive on in, and then the doors will open and out come the cops."
"Seems like a good plan."
"Look, Oscar. So far everything in these dreams of yours has come out as good intel, and I'll admit I've been wrong about it from the start. But we need to be realistic here."
"Nothing about anything this seems realistic, Rachel. It's like a horror fantasy show. Like a season of Lost or something."