“I copy.”
“We have your position.”
Silence.
Then:
“Your duty line remained open. The exchange has been logged and backed up.”
Speck stared at the dashboard.
The Bluetooth indicator glowed faint blue.
Immani continued.
“Response units are moving.”
The highway became completely silent.
No trucks.
No wind.
Only the soft idle of the patrol car.
Speck looked at Bowford.
For the first time, his voice changed.
“Listen.”
Bowford waited.
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”
No response.
Speck stepped behind him.
“I’ll take these off.”
Bowford’s eyes moved toward him.
“No.”
Speck froze.
Bowford said:
“The time for professional courtesy expired when the second cuff closed.”
Cowell took two steps away from Speck.
Speck noticed.
“What are you doing?”
Cowell raised both hands slightly.
“I’m separating myself from this.”
“You’re my trainee.”
“I’m not part of what you just did.”
Speck whispered:
“You’re going to stand there and let this happen?”
Cowell looked at Bowford’s wrists.
Deep red marks already forming.
“You made it happen.”
Then the sound began.
Low.
Far away.
Heavy engines.
At first, Speck looked toward the north.
Nothing.
The sound came from the south.
Bowford did not turn.
He already knew.
Cowell stepped toward the road.
Two miles away, headlights appeared.
Then more.
Multiple vehicles.
Tight formation.
Speck stared.
“What the hell is that?”
Bowford remained silent.
The lights grew rapidly.
Cowell saw the outlines first.
Large armored response vehicles.
Interceptors.
Tactical support units.
Speck stepped backward.
“We’re leaving.”
Cowell looked at him.
“What?”
“We get in the cruiser.”
“No.”
Speck moved toward him.
“Get in the car.”
Cowell backed away.
“I’m not running.”
“I said get in.”
“From federal jurisdiction?”
Cowell shook his head.
“Absolutely not.”
Speck looked toward his cruiser.
For half a second, his hand drifted toward his holster.
A voice came from the darkness behind him.
“Keep your hands visible.”
Speck froze.
Three figures emerged from the tree line.
Tactical gear.
Weapons held at ready positions.
Not raised unnecessarily.
But ready.
A red aiming laser appeared on Speck’s vest.
His breathing changed.
“Hands away from the weapon.”