The rain had softened into a mist now, leaving the pavement slick and reflective beneath the headlights. The rest of the security vehicles spread out around them in a tight protective formation. Marcus spoke quietly into the radio clipped near his collar. Convoy maintaining low speed. Route change confirmed.
Southbound. A voice crackled back with acknowledgement. Victoria rested her hand against the back of the front seat. How far to the alternate road? Marcus glanced at the navigation screen.
About eight miles. Elias leaned slightly toward the windshield, watching the faint curve of the road ahead. That's where you'll want to slow again, he said. Marcus frowned. You memorizing the road?
Elias shrugged faintly. Habit. Victoria studied the back of his head. You really did spend a long time doing this. Elias didn't answer directly.
Instead, he said, "Road conditions tell you a lot if you pay attention." Marcus drove in silence for another minute before speaking again. You said earlier that whoever set the trap probably planned a backup. Yeah. You still think that?
Elias's eyes remained on the highway. I know they did. Marcus tightened his grip on the wheel slightly. You're very certain. Because they came back.
Victoria nodded behind them. The van, Elias, continued watching the dark road stretching ahead. "That wasn't someone panicking," he said. "That was someone checking the result." Marcus nodded slowly.
"Which means they were close." "Exactly." The convoy lights reflected across a line of wet guardrails as the road dipped into a shallow valley. Victoria broke the silence. "You still haven't explained something."
Elias glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "What?" "How a mechanic spots a professional sabotage job faster than a trained security team." Marcus smirked slightly. "I was wondering the same thing."
Elias exhaled quietly. "You ever watch something break apart in slow motion?" he asked. Marcus frowned. "What?" "Convoys hit by mechanical traps," Elias said.
"Vehicles designed to fail exactly when the attackers need them to." Victoria's eyes narrowed. "You're describing military sabotage." Elias didn't confirm it. But he didn't deny it, either.
Marcus gave a short laugh under his breath. "So, let me guess," he said. "You weren't just around convoys." Elias finally looked at him. "No."
Marcus nodded slowly. "You were the guy who figured out why they failed." Elias looked back at the road. "Sometimes," Victoria leaned back slightly in her seat. "That's quite a career change," she said.
"Yeah." Marcus glanced at him again. "What made you walk away?" Elias hesitated for a moment. Then, he answered simply, "My daughter."
Victoria watched him carefully. "That's it?" "That's enough." The SUV rolled across a small bridge spanning a narrow creek below. Water rushed beneath them, dark and swollen from the storm.
Marcus checked the speed again. 32. Elias nodded approvingly. Keep it there. The radio crackled again.
Lead vehicle to command. "Road ahead clear." Marcus answered, "Copy." Victoria glanced out the side window at the trees sliding past. Do you think the person who set this trap is still nearby?
Elias considered that. "Hard to say, but possible." Marcus added. "Yeah." The road curved gently left.
Marcus slowed slightly. "Pressure still holding," he said. Elias watched the brake gauge for a moment. Then he looked up again. Something in his expression changed.
Marcus noticed it immediately. "What?" Elias leaned forward slightly. "Slow down." Marcus frowned.
"We're already slow." "Slower." Marcus eased off the accelerator. 25. Elias kept staring ahead.
Victoria felt the shift in tension. "What is it?" Elias pointed through the windshield. At first Marcus didn't see anything unusual, just wet pavement stretching forward beneath the convoy headlights. Then he noticed it.
A faint shimmer across the road, almost invisible, like oil on water. Marcus's stomach dropped. "Is that?" "Yeah." Elias said quietly.
Victoria leaned forward. "What are we looking at?" Elias's voice remained calm. "Another trap." Marcus braked carefully, bringing the SUV nearly to a crawl.
The convoy vehicles behind them slowed instantly. Victoria stared at the road ahead. The thin reflective layer stretched across lanes like a glass sheet under the lights. Oil? She asked.
Maybe, Elias said. Marcus shook his head slowly. No accident would leave a spread that even. Elias nodded. Someone laid it there.
Victoria's voice dropped. Right where we'd slow down for the curve. Marcus looked toward the tree line. "Damn it." Elias scanned the dark woods on both sides of the highway.
Don't stop here, he said. Marcus blinked. What? If someone set this trap, Elias continued, they're probably watching to see if it works. Victoria understood immediately.
So if we stop, they'll know we spotted it. Marcus exhaled slowly. You're saying we keep moving. Elias nodded. But carefully.
Marcus stared at the slick road ahead. Oil. Rain. A curve. Every instinct screamed danger.
But the calm man beside him was already studying the road like a puzzle he'd solved before. All right, Marcus said quietly. You guide me. Elias nodded once. And the convoy crept forward toward the second trap waiting in the dark.
The SUV rolled forward inch by inch as Marcus eased his foot off the brake. The thin sheen across the highway shimmered beneath the convoy headlights like a frozen river of glass. Oil. Or something close enough to it. Marcus kept the wheel steady though his knuckles had gone pale against the leather.
Tell me what to do, he said quietly. Elias leaned forward. Studying the road carefully. Keep it straight, he said. No sudden steering.
Victoria leaned slightly between the seats. her voice calm but tight. How far does it stretch? Marcus squinted through the windshield. Hard to tell. Elias pointed toward the faint curve ahead.