Derek looked over his shoulder.
“What is it?”
“Somebody’s been watching us.”
The atmosphere changed.
Granger looked toward the convenience store.
Then toward the alley.
Sharon.
Gone.
He turned back toward Alicia.
“What agency?”
She said nothing.
He stepped closer.
“State?”
Silence.
“Internal Affairs?”
Nothing.
“Federal?”
Alicia’s expression remained unreadable.
Granger grabbed her by the front of the sweatshirt again.
“Answer me.”
She looked at his hand.
“No.”
For the first time, Derek stopped smiling.
Sloan stepped closer.
“Put her in the cruiser.”
Alicia looked toward the highway.
Nothing.
No SUVs.
No lights.
Just ordinary traffic under a clear Georgia sky.
Her watch vibrated once.
TEAM INBOUND.
She exhaled.
Hold.
That was all.
Hold.
Derek grabbed her arm.
“Move.”
He guided her toward the rear seat.
Alicia stopped beside the open door.
The steel cage waited inside.
Derek leaned close.
“You know what happens once that door closes?”
“No.”
“You disappear into paperwork.”
Alicia turned slightly.
“Not today.”
He laughed.
“You really believe somebody’s coming.”
She said nothing.
Nine minutes.
At the Atlanta operations center, Samuel watched the GPS icons.
Then another screen flashed.
Traffic accident.
Route blocked.
Delay eight minutes.
Monica looked over.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
Samuel reached for the radio.
“Isaac.”
“Go.”
“You just lost Highway 27.”
“How much?”
“Eight minutes.”
Silence.
Then Isaac:
“That’s too long.”
Samuel knew.
Back in Red Creek, Granger walked toward Alicia.
He had become angrier as control slipped.
Normal people begged once they were cuffed.
Alicia did not.
Normal people explained themselves desperately.
She did not.
Normal people started fearing the station.
Alicia seemed to be waiting for something.
Granger pointed toward her face.
“What are you smiling about?”
“I’m not.”
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
“Then why are you so calm?”
Alicia considered him.
“Practice.”
That answer landed wrong.
Derek frowned.
“Practice doing what?”
Alicia looked away.
Granger snatched her bag again.