March 19, 2023
CHASE
Parker and Franks made their way slowly down the slope. Mike heard an audible groan behind him. He turned around and saw Aaron sitting on the ground, grabbing his ankle in pain.
Aaron complained, “My foot slipped.”
Mike requested, “See if you can stand on it.” Mike offered his arm to Arron for support.
Aaron stood and stated, “I’m going to make a slow go of it.”
Mike suggested, “I will walk further and see if we are close to the impoundment dam. I’ll be right back.”
After a short time, Mike returned and reported, “We are about ten to fifteen minutes away. I can see two of them digging into the embankment. I suspect explosives, so we have to be careful. I am going to have to go ahead.” He took another look at Aaron’s ankle, which was swollen. “Try to make it to the ridge so you can cover me.”
Aaron struggled to get up. “Will do.”
When Mike returned to the ridge, he saw the suspects lowering something into a hole and assumed it was explosives. He continued to get closer without being seen, but he could not fire now because of the explosives. He continued to observe to determine the spot from which they would detonate the explosives. He watched as they connected wires. He saw one of them pointing to boulders above the embankment. The heavier one struggled to stand up.
Mike made his way to the left of the impoundment dam while being careful not to be seen. The larger man sat on the ground again while the other approached the boulders. The man with the roll of wire turned and yelled, “Damn Mason, get up, don’t think I won’t detonate the charges while you’re still sitting there.” The large man rolled, got on all fours, and slowly pushed to a standing position. Mike heard a siren. He paused to determine the direction of the sound. The larger man started to run but fell, then attempted to stand again. Mike was near the bottom of the embankment and started running up the embankment toward the boulders as best he could.