It belonged to a man named Victor Crane.
Victor had been one of Marcus's closest business partners years earlier.
He was also one of the most feared men in the local motorcycle scene.
Evan had seen him once.
That had been enough.
The garage door shook.
"Open."
Evan backed away.
Then another sound came from behind him.
A motorcycle engine.
He turned.
Marcus had entered through the rear entrance.
He held a handgun.
"Stay behind me."
Evan nodded.
Marcus walked toward the front.
"Victor!"
Silence.
Then Victor laughed.
"You should have stayed out of this, Marcus."
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You know exactly what I'm talking about."
Evan looked at Marcus.
"What is this?"
Marcus didn't answer.
Victor spoke again.
"The boy found the wire."
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
"What do you want?"
"Give me the motorcycle."
"No."
"Then give me the boy."
Evan's stomach dropped.
Marcus stepped forward.
"Why?"
"Because he saw something he wasn't supposed to see."
The garage became silent.
Evan looked at the motorcycle.
The damaged wire.
The regulator.
Then he understood.
The sabotage wasn't about the motorcycle.
The motorcycle was only the beginning.
Someone had wanted Marcus's machine to fail.
But why?
Marcus looked at Evan.
"Run."
Evan shook his head.
"No."
"Run!"
"I can help."
"This isn't a machine anymore."
Evan looked at the motorcycle.
"Maybe it is."
Marcus stared at him.
"What?"
Evan pointed toward the fuel system.
"The person who damaged the wiring knew exactly what they were doing."
Marcus nodded.
"So?"
"They wanted the bike to fail at a specific time."
Marcus's expression changed.
Evan continued.
"They weren't trying to destroy it."
"Then what?"
"They were trying to make you believe it had a random electrical problem."
Marcus understood.
Someone wanted to hide the real problem.
Evan moved toward the motorcycle.
Marcus grabbed his shoulder.
"What are you doing?"
"Looking for the rest."
The Hidden Compartment
Evan removed the motorcycle's side panel.
Then the seat.
Then part of the rear assembly.
Marcus watched impatiently.
"Find something?"
"Not yet."
Evan inspected every modification.
The custom parts.
The aftermarket wiring.
The fuel system.
The battery.
Nothing.
Then he noticed a bolt.
It looked ordinary.
But the metal around it was scratched.
Recently.
Evan touched it.
"Someone opened this."
Marcus crouched.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"Because nobody knows about it."
Evan looked at him.
"About what?"
Marcus hesitated.
Then he removed the bolt.
A small compartment opened beneath the frame.
Inside was a black metal box.
Marcus stared.
"I didn't put that there."
Evan carefully removed it.
The box was locked.
Marcus reached for a tool.
"Don't."
Evan stopped him.
"Why?"
"If it's what I think it is, damaging it could destroy whatever is inside."
Marcus stared at the box.
"What do you think it is?"
"I don't know."
"Then how can you—"
"Because whoever installed it wanted it hidden."
Evan examined the casing.
There was a small light.
It was blinking.
Marcus stepped backward.
"What is that?"
Evan's voice became quiet.
"A tracker."
Marcus stared.
"Someone has been tracking my motorcycle."
"Yes."
"For how long?"
Evan looked at the device.
"Long enough."
Marcus's face became pale.
The garage door shook again.
Victor shouted.
"Last chance!"
Marcus looked at Evan.
"Can you disable it?"
"Maybe."
"Do it."
Evan worked quickly.
The device was more sophisticated than anything he had seen before.
It had its own battery.
A transmitter.
A backup circuit.
He studied it.
Then smiled.
Marcus noticed.
"What?"
"It's clever."
"This isn't the time to admire it."
"I don't admire it."
Evan pulled out his tools.
"I admire whoever designed it."
Marcus stared.
"You really are your grandfather's grandson."
Evan smiled faintly.
"That's what he used to say."
He disconnected the transmitter.
The blinking light stopped.
Outside, Victor suddenly shouted.
"Something's wrong."
Marcus looked at Evan.
"How do you know?"
"They expected the signal to remain active."
Marcus nodded.
"Then they know we've found it."
The front door burst open.
Two men entered.
Marcus raised his gun.
Everything happened quickly.
A shot struck the ceiling.
Another hit the workbench.
Evan ducked.
Marcus fired once.
The attackers retreated.
Victor disappeared into the darkness.
Marcus rushed to the door.