About 30 yards. Marcus exhaled slowly. Perfect place for a slide. Exactly, Elias said. The convoy vehicles behind them crept forward in silent formation, headlights reflecting across the slick surface.
Marcus spoke into the radio. Convoy, hold formation. Road hazard ahead, a guard's voice crackled back. Understood. Victoria studied the reflective streak across the pavement.
This was placed here deliberately. Yeah, Elias said. And the rain makes it worse. Marcus nodded. If we lose traction here, the convoy piles up, Elias finished.
Marcus glanced at him. You thought this through already. Elias gave a faint shrug. People who build traps usually build them in layers. Victoria crossed her arms.
Meaning the first sabotage was only step one. Right. Marcus muttered under his breath. Step two being this. The SUV crept closer to the slick section of road.
Marcus slowed even further. 20 miles an hour, good, Elias said. The tension inside the vehicle thickened. Victoria broke the silence. You seem oddly familiar with this kind of planning.
Elias didn't answer immediately. Marcus smirked faintly. That's because he used to fight it. Victoria raised an eyebrow. You figured that out already?
Marcus nodded slightly. People who can identify sabotage patterns that quickly usually spent years studying them. Elias stared ahead at the road. I spent years trying to stop them. Victoria watched him carefully.
Military convoy defense? Elias said nothing. Which was answer enough. Marcus spoke again into the radio. All vehicles maintain distance.
Minimal braking, another voice replied. Copy. The SUV's tires reached the edge of the slick patch. Marcus felt the steering wheel loosen slightly beneath his hands. Contact, he murmured.
Easy, Elias said. Marcus kept his movements slow. The vehicle glided forward carefully. Victoria watched the road intently. What exactly did they use?
She asked. Elias leaned forward slightly. Probably diesel or hydraulic fluid. Marcus nodded. Both would reduce traction enough.
The SUV slid slightly to the left. Marcus corrected gently. Easy, Elias repeated. The curve ahead loomed closer. Marcus's heartbeat thudded steadily in his ears.
You ever done this before? He asked. Yeah, Elias said. Marcus glanced at him briefly. How many times?
Enough. The SUV moved deeper across the slick section. Behind them, the convoy vehicles followed carefully. Victoria spoke softly. Whoever planned this assumed the first trap would disable the car.
"Right?" Elias said. So the oil would finish the job. Marcus nodded grimly. Multiple vehicles crashing on a blind curve.
Elias watched the road carefully. That would guarantee it. The tires began to regain grip as they approached the end of the slick stretch. Marcus exhaled slowly. Almost through.
The SUV reached dry pavement again. The steering wheel firmed in his hands. Marcus let out a quiet breath of relief. Clear. The convoy vehicles behind them rolled safely across as well.
Victoria leaned back slightly in her seat. That's two traps. Elias nodded. Which means whoever set them planned this route carefully. Marcus glanced at the navigation screen.
We're almost at the alternate road. Victoria looked toward the dark highway behind them. Do you think they expected us to get this far? Elias considered that. Probably not.
Marcus smirked. Good. Elias shook his head slightly. Don't celebrate yet. Marcus frowned.
You think there's another one? Elias looked out the windshield again. Maybe. Victoria leaned forward again. You're telling me someone spent hours setting multiple mechanical traps across public roads?
Yeah. Marcus tapped the steering wheel thoughtfully. That kind of planning takes resources. Victoria nodded slowly. And motive.
The SUV continued down the highway as the trees thinned ahead. Marcus pointed forward. There. The intersection appeared under a blinking yellow light. Their alternate road.
Elias studied it carefully. Then his expression hardened. Marcus noticed immediately. What now? Elias pointed toward the intersection.
See that? Marcus squinted. At first it looked like nothing. Then he noticed it. A dark vehicle parked just beyond the junction.
Engine running. Lights off. Victoria's voice lowered. That wasn't there earlier. Marcus slowed the SUV.
Someone's waiting. Elias nodded. Yeah. Marcus's hand tightened slightly on the wheel. Ambush?
Maybe. Victoria's voice remained steady. A confirmation. Elias watched the silhouette of the parked vehicle. If it's the same people who set the traps, Marcus finished the thought.
"They're not done." Victoria leaned forward again. Marcus. "Yes, ma'am." "Don't stop."
Marcus nodded slowly. The SUV continued rolling toward the intersection. The dark vehicle ahead remained motionless. Watching. The next few moments are where the real plan behind this attack finally starts to reveal itself.
Inside the SUV, Elias kept his eyes locked on the shadowed car ahead. Because something about the way it waited there told him one thing. The traps on the road were never the final move. They were only meant to slow the convoy down. The SUV rolled closer to the intersection.
Its headlights cutting through the mist that still hung low over the road. The dark vehicle ahead remained parked just beyond the blinking yellow light, engine idling softly, headlights still off. Marcus Trent slowed the SUV, but did not stop. "Distance?" he asked quietly. Elias leaned forward slightly, studying the silhouette of the car.
"Maybe 50 yards." Victoria Hale remained calm in the back seat, though her eyes never left the vehicle waiting at the junction. "That car's been sitting there long enough to know we're coming," she said. Marcus nodded. "Yeah."