Victoria Hale stepped closer, ignoring the damp pavement beneath her shoes. "What exactly are you doing?" she asked. Elias held up a small metal clamp. "Temporary pressure lock." Marcus frowned.
"You carry that around for flat tires?" Elias gave a faint shrug. "Sometimes jobs turn into bigger problems." He slid partially under the SUV, shoulders disappearing beneath the chassis as he reached toward the damaged brake line. A guard instinctively crouched beside him with a flashlight.
For several seconds, the only sound was the steady tapping of rain and the low hum of the convoy engines. Then Elias spoke from under the vehicle. "Whoever cut this line knew exactly where to do it." Marcus crouched lower. "You keep saying that."
"Because it's true." Elias tightened something with a short metallic clip. "Brake pressure lines don't just fail cleanly unless someone preps the failure point." Victoria crossed her arms. "You're certain this was intentional?"
"Yes." Marcus watched carefully as Elias adjusted the clamp. "You sound like you've investigated sabotage before." A quiet pause followed. Then Elias slid out from beneath the SUV.
His face was wet, streaked with rain and grease. "Investigated it," he said. "Prevented it, cleaned up after it." Marcus studied him again. "That doesn't sound like roadside mechanic work."
"It isn't." Victoria's curiosity deepened. "Where did you learn it?" Elias leaned back on his heels, examining the brake line again. "Convoys."
Marcus exchanged a quick glance with Victoria. "Military convoys?" Elias didn't confirm it directly, but he didn't deny it, either. Instead, he tightened the clamp another quarter turn. The metal line hissed softly as pressure equalized.
Marcus heard it immediately. "You just sealed it." "Temporarily," Elias corrected. "It'll hold long enough to move the car safely." Victoria exhaled slowly.
"You did that in under 2 minutes." Elias wiped his hands again. "Didn't have the luxury of taking longer where I learned it." Marcus leaned closer to inspect the repair. "Pressure looks stable," he admitted.
Elias nodded. "But don't drive it far." Marcus stood again, glancing toward the distant curve in the road. "That turn would have killed her." Elias didn't answer.
He didn't need to. Victoria looked down at the damaged wheel. "You saved my life tonight." Elias shook his head slightly. "Not yet."
Marcus frowned. "What do you mean?" Elias gestured toward the convoy. "Whoever set that trap didn't expect this delay." Marcus followed his gaze.
"You think they're still nearby?" "I think someone planned this carefully." Victoria tilted her head. And careful people check their work. A guard jogged toward them from the roadside perimeter.
Sir. Marcus turned. What is it? The guard pointed down the highway. "Vehicle approaching from the north."