“The way the tire exploded didn’t sit right with me,” Rico began, his tone grave. “Both Ben—the driver—and I conducted a full inspection of the SUV before leaving the hotel. Everything was in order. Had Ben not been so skilled behind the wheel, I have no doubt we’d be having a very different conversation right now. His quick reflexes, and the fact that he wasn’t speeding, probably saved our lives.”
Mark’s expression darkened, but he remained silent.
“While I was arranging for another vehicle to complete the journey,” Rico continued, “I also had the original SUV impounded and sent to a trusted mechanic for a thorough examination.”
Mark exhaled sharply through his nose. The more Rico spoke, the more it felt like a game of twenty questions. He was dragging this out, and Mark’s patience was
