Not yet.
The road grew quieter as the morning advanced.
A few trucks passed.
Then another.
Elias watched each one disappear into the distance.
He had left his farmhouse before sunrise, not because the museum was far away, but because he preferred arriving early.
There were places a man could be late to.
There were places he could not.
Today was one of the latter.
Ramsey returned to the motorcycle.
"Open the left bag."
Elias shook his head.
"Why?"
"I want to inspect it."
"For what?"
"Possible stolen equipment."
Elias looked genuinely confused.
"What equipment?"
Ramsey pointed toward the faded markings on the motorcycle's frame.
"This used to belong to the military."
"Probably."
"Probably?"
"I bought it at an auction."
"When?"
"Long time ago."
"How long?"
Elias considered the question.
"Long enough that the receipt is older than you."
Hale turned away to hide a smile.
Ramsey did not.
"You're being difficult."
"No."
"Then cooperate."
"I've cooperated with everything you've asked that had a legal reason."
Ramsey stepped closer.
"Do you know how this works?"
"Probably better than you think."
The words changed the atmosphere.
Ramsey's face hardened.
"Step away from the motorcycle."
Elias did.
"Hands where I can see them."
They were already visible.
Hale stepped forward.
"Cole."
"What?"
"Back off for a second."
Ramsey ignored him.
"Elias Mercer, I'm investigating possible possession of government property."
"This motorcycle is mine."
"You said it was military."
"It was."
"Then prove it."
"I don't carry sixty-year-old auction records in my pocket."
Ramsey looked at the saddlebags.
"Open them."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you haven't given me a lawful reason."
The younger officer's expression darkened.
"You think because you're old you can talk to me however you want?"
Elias looked at him.
"No."
"Then what?"
"I think age has nothing to do with whether a question deserves an answer."
Hale stared at the ground.
He knew the stop had gone wrong.
It had started with dust on a license plate.
Now Ramsey was searching for a reason to justify what he had already decided.
The radio suddenly came alive.
"Unit 14, dispatch."
Ramsey grabbed the microphone.
"Go ahead."
"Need you to stand by regarding the name Elias Mercer."
Ramsey frowned.
"Why?"
"There's a protected federal record associated with that name."
Hale looked up.
Ramsey smiled.
"What kind of record?"
"Unable to disclose. Requesting confirmation from Redstone installation security."
The smile disappeared from Ramsey's face.
"How long?"
"Unknown."
Elias looked at his watch.
8:43.
His appointment was at nine.
He had sixteen minutes.
He closed his eyes briefly.
For the first time that morning, Hale noticed something unusual.
Elias was not worried about himself.
He was worried about being late.
The sound came from the west.
A low vibration.
At first Hale thought it was a distant truck.
Then another rumble followed.
And another.
Elias opened his eyes.
He knew that sound.
Not because it was loud.
Because of the rhythm.
Heavy engines traveling together.
Ramsey turned toward the horizon.
"What is that?"
Elias put his gloves back on.
"Probably traffic."
"There's no traffic out there."
"Then maybe you should find out."
Ramsey looked at him.
"You're not going anywhere."
Elias sighed.
The convoy appeared five minutes later.
First came two motorcycles.
Then dark utility vehicles.
Then trucks.
Then more trucks.
The line seemed endless.
Ramsey stepped backward.
Hale stared.
A military police vehicle slowed beside them.
A captain stepped out.
She looked first at the motorcycle.
Then at Elias.
Then at the two officers.
"Mr. Mercer?"