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.