Naomi stares at him. “Travis, we can’t run. We’ve got two kids back here.”
Elise sits up straighter. “What’s happening?”
Ryan’s voice comes out quiet. “Are we getting stopped?”
Naomi turns toward them, forcing her tone down. “It’s okay. Nobody moves around. Just stay calm.”
Then she looks back at Travis. “It might be highway patrol. It might be nothing. If we don’t stop, we make it worse.”
Travis scans the shoulder ahead, then the trees, then the rearview. The patrol car stays close enough to fill the van with colored light. The pressure doesn’t let up.
Travis signals and eases onto the shoulder.
The van rolls to a stop. The engine drops to idle. The road goes quiet in a way that makes every small sound stand out.
A door slams behind them.
Footsteps crunch on gravel.
A flashlight beam sweeps across the rear windows, then moves forward. It pauses on the kids. It pauses on Naomi. It pauses on Krueger, who snaps his teeth at the air and growls again.
Travis swallows. He lowers the driver window halfway.
The man outside moves slowly. The badge catches the flashlight glare. He leans in close enough that his breath fogs the glass edge.
Travis recognizes his eyes first.
Grant smiles.
Naomi freezes beside Travis. Elise’s stare locks on the window. Ryan’s face goes pale in one fast shift.
Grant raises a gun and presses it against Travis’s temple through the opening.
“Don’t move. Don’t reach for anything.”
Travis holds the wheel with both hands. His knuckles go white.
Naomi’s voice shakes. “Travis.”
Grant’s gaze slides to her. “You’re going to do exactly what I say.”
His eyes move to the back seat. Elise and Ryan don’t speak. Both of them watch his hands.
Grant pulls the driver door open. Cold air rushes into the van. “Everybody out,” he says. “Now.”
Naomi starts to speak. Grant cuts her off. “Out.”
Travis steps out first, slow and careful. His shoes hit gravel. He keeps his hands visible. Naomi climbs out next with her hands up, forcing herself to breathe. Elise climbs out stiff and furious. Ryan follows, eyes darting between the patrol car and the trees.
Krueger tries to jump out behind them. The leash yanks him back hard. He growls and thrashes, trapped by the clip in the cargo area.
Three men step into view around him, all armed. One stays near the patrol car. One stays near the shoulder, watching the road. One moves closer, his gun angled toward the kids without a tremor.
Naomi’s eyes widen.
Grant’s smile stays calm. “Turn around,” he says to Travis.
Travis hesitates for half a beat. The gun presses closer to his head. Travis turns. A man grabs his wrists and cinches zip ties tight. The plastic bites into skin. Travis flinches once and forces himself still. Naomi is next. She jerks when the zip ties snap shut, then steadies her breathing and lifts her chin.
