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?