Marcus narrowed his eyes. Headlights appeared in the distance, slowly cresting a hill. Victoria's voice dropped. "That wasn't one of ours." Marcus shook his head.
"No." The approaching lights moved slower than normal traffic. Too slow. Elias stood up fully now, watching the road. "That might be your van."
Marcus's hand drifted toward his sidearm. "Everyone hold positions," he ordered quietly. Guards shifted into defensive positions around the convoy. Victoria remained beside Elias, her expression unreadable. You think they came back to see if the job worked?
She said. Maybe. The headlights grew brighter as the vehicle approached. Marcus spoke into his radio. Vehicle incoming.
White cargo van, possibly suspect. The convoy lights reflected off the wet road as the van slowed even further. For a moment, it looked like the driver might stop. Instead, the van accelerated suddenly. Marcus cursed.
"That's them." The vehicle sped past the curve ahead, racing toward the convoy. Security agents stepped into the road, hands raised. The van swerved violently, and disappeared down a side access road before anyone could react. Marcus lowered his weapon slowly.
"Damn it." The sound of the van's engine faded into the distance. Victoria looked toward the road where it vanished. "They came back." Elias nodded.
"And now they know the trap didn't work." Marcus turned back toward him. "How sure are you about that?" Elias gestured toward the disabled SUV. Because if the plan had worked, he let the sentence hang.
Marcus finished it. "They'd be looking at a wreck right now." Victoria exhaled slowly. "Instead, they saw us standing here." Marcus nodded grimly.
"So, now they'll adapt." Elias looked down the highway again. The rain had almost stopped now. But, the air still felt heavy. "They already did," he said quietly.
Marcus studied him. "What makes you say that?" Elias pointed toward the road where the van disappeared. Because whoever was driving that didn't panic. Marcus followed the thought.
"They were observing." "Exactly." Victoria crossed her arms. "They wanted confirmation." Elias nodded.
"And now they have it." Marcus rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. So, the question becomes, Victoria finished the sentence. "What do they try next?" Elias looked at the convoy.
Then at the quiet highway stretching beyond it. His voice remained steady. If someone planned to crash that carefully, he paused, they probably planned a backup. The word settled heavily over the group. Marcus looked toward his guards.
"Stay alert." Victoria glanced at Elias again. "You're staying with us until we reach the city." Elias blinked slightly. "That wasn't the plan."