As I pulled in the driveway alongside the building, I noticed a car parked in front of the door, pointing back out to the street. Inside were three yutes who gave me a bad feeling as I drove past them to park in back of the building.
After I parked, I took my shooting bag from the cargo area, and walked alongside the building to get back to the entrance. Just as I was about to turn the corner, I caught a glimpse of the white car again. One of the occupants was gone, and the other had just got out of the back seat. It was then I noticed that the car was parked at a weird angle in front of the door that left plenty of room for both passengers to get in or out quickly.
I also noticed the yute pat down his T-shirt, a sure tip off that he was carrying a weapon. I ducked my head back out of sight, and then carefully peaked again, just sticking enough of my head out to get one eyeball on the guy. Sure enough, some sort of handgun was stuck in his waistband, printing through the shirt.
I knew the store usually had about four or five guys and gals on the sales floor, all openly carrying. They also had a "broom closet" between two wall racks, with at least one shotgun and one AR-15 in it. Then there would be a few more armed employees in the office or stockroom. I didn't even want to guess how many customers were inside.
I wasn't about to approach the driver/lookout, but I couldn't just walk away, either. So I knelt down, got out the FN, and loaded it with the one loaded magazine I brought with me. I put it back in the bag, turned on the green laser, and slung the bag over my head like a purse. Then, still kneeling, I peeked around the corner again, my hand still inside the range bag, still grasping the FN. I saw the two yutes backing out the door with their hands visible in sort of a "so what?" position. They backed up to the car, got in, and the three quickly drove away.
Once I started breathing again, I cleared my weapon, and zipped up the bag. Once inside, the owner explained that everyone came to the unspoken agreement that the two "customers" back out of the store with their hands visible, rather than trying a robbery where they were outgunned four to one.
Crooks carry guns, they just don't know how to carry them concealed properly. These three yutes might just have well worn signs that said, "armed, dangerous, and stupid". What lesson they took away with them, I hope I never know.
One positive result (aside from everyone surviving), was that not only did the 30-round magazine work perfectly, the FN still fits in my computerized strongbox. Now if things go bump in the night, I have 30 rounds ready to rock and roll.
And I'm up this late because the last of the adrenaline is only starting to wear off now.