"Distance?" he asked quietly.
Elias leaned forward slightly, studying the silhouette of the car.
"Maybe 50 yards."
Victoria Hale remained calm in the back seat, though her eyes never left the vehicle waiting at the junction.
"That car's been sitting there long enough to know we're coming," she said.
Marcus nodded.
"Yeah."
The convoy behind them tightened formation instinctively, SUVs spreading slightly across the road to shield the vehicle carrying Victoria. Marcus spoke into the radio.
"Unknown vehicle at intersection. Possible contact."
A voice crackled back.
"Do we engage?"
Marcus glanced at Elias.
"What do you think?"
Elias watched the vehicle carefully. Driver hasn't moved yet, Marcus added.
Victoria leaned forward again. If it's the same group who set the traps, they already know the convoy survived.
Elias nodded. Which means this part of the plan doesn't rely on surprise.
Marcus frowned slightly. Then what does it rely on?
Elias pointed toward the intersection. Position.
Marcus looked again. The parked car sat at a slight angle, nose pointed toward the road they were about to turn onto, blocking part of the lane.
Marcus's voice dropped. That's not a coincidence.
No, Elias said. The SUV continued creeping forward, 30 yards now.
The silhouette inside the parked car became clearer beneath the dim intersection light. One person in the driver's seat.
Still unmoving, Victoria spoke calmly. Marcus, do not stop the vehicle unless absolutely necessary.
Marcus nodded. Understood.
Elias's gaze shifted briefly toward the tree line on both sides of the road. Dark.
Still. But that didn't mean empty.
Slow, Elias murmured. Marcus eased the brake slightly.
The SUV rolled forward almost silently now. Behind them, the convoy vehicles adjusted their spacing.
20 yards. The parked car remained motionless.
Marcus narrowed his eyes. Why isn't he moving?
Elias studied the car's tires. Because he doesn't need to.
Marcus blinked. What?
Look at the angle. Marcus looked again.
The car wasn't blocking the road completely. It was positioned just enough to force their SUV to slow and adjust slightly left, right where the shoulder dipped toward a shallow drainage ditch.
Marcus felt a cold realization settle in his stomach.
"That's not a roadblock," he said.
"No," Elias agreed, "it's a funnel."
Victoria's voice sharpened.
"Explain."
Elias pointed toward the edge of the pavement. Soft ground, Marcus saw it now.
Rainwater had turned the shoulder into dark mud.
"If we drift off the lane while turning," Marcus said slowly.
"The car slides," Elias finished.
Victoria nodded grimly.
"And once the lead vehicle loses control," Marcus completed the thought.