Oil. Or something close enough to it.
Marcus kept the wheel steady though his knuckles had gone pale against the leather. Tell me what to do, he said quietly.
Elias leaned forward. Studying the road carefully.
Keep it straight, he said. No sudden steering.
Victoria leaned slightly between the seats. Her voice was calm but tight.
"How far does it stretch?"
Marcus squinted through the windshield. Hard to tell.
Elias pointed toward the faint curve ahead. 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 some kind of slick contaminant. 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.