"Good." Elias leaned back slightly in the passenger seat, watching the road behind them in the side mirror. The intersection they had bypassed was already far behind. Victoria Hale sat quietly in the backseat absorbing everything that had happened over the last hour. Three traps, three different methods, all designed to end the same way.
Her car crashing, her convoy piling up behind it, her death disguised as a catastrophic accident. Marcus broke the silence. "That guy back there wasn't improvising." "No." Elias said, "He expected the oil trap to finish the job."
Elias nodded. "And when we slowed, he expected the funnel." Marcus tapped the steering wheel thoughtfully. "But the plan assumed something." Elias looked at him.
"That you'd drive exactly where he wanted." Marcus nodded slowly. "And you saw it coming." Elias shrugged faintly. "I've seen traps built like that before."
Victoria leaned forward slightly. "You didn't just see them." she said. "You designed ways around them." Elias didn't answer. Marcus glanced at him.
"Military convoy defense, right?" Elias stared out the windshield for a moment. Finally, he said quietly, "Something like that." Marcus gave a short laugh. "That explains why a roadside mechanic just outplayed someone who planned a three-stage assassination attempt."
Victoria studied the calm man sitting in front of her. "You didn't panic once tonight," she said. Elias shrugged again. "Panic doesn't fix mechanical problems." The convoy continued down the quiet highway, tires humming steadily against the wet asphalt.
The storm clouds were beginning to break apart in the east, revealing the faint gray edge of morning. Marcus checked the navigation screen. City limits in 12 minutes. Victoria nodded slowly. That means whoever planned this has officially failed.
Elias shook his head slightly. Marcus glanced at him. You disagree? They failed tonight, Elias said. But people who plan something like that don't give up after one attempt.
Victoria crossed her arms. That's a problem for tomorrow. Marcus smirked faintly. Preferably one solved with law enforcement instead of roadside mechanics. Elias finally allowed himself the smallest smile.
Probably a good plan. Marcus's radio crackled again. Lead vehicle to command. Go ahead, Marcus replied. We've got police units waiting at the southern checkpoint.
Victoria nodded. I called ahead. Marcus looked impressed. When? While you two were discussing brake lines.
Elias chuckled softly. Efficient. The convoy rolled past another mile marker. The city lights beginning to glow faintly on the horizon. Victoria leaned forward again.
Elias. He turned slightly. Yes? You stopped tonight because you saw a woman stranded on the road. Yeah, you had no idea who I was.