By the time the sky turned dark blue and the first stars began to show, the sound of two vehicles pulling up outside broke the quiet. Elias and Lucas stepped to the door and looked out. Gideon’s strong truck and Cole’s familiar car had arrived. They parked close but not too close, keeping a low profile so no one watching from a distance would notice anything unusual.
Within minutes, both men were inside the shop. They did not waste time with long greetings. They shook hands firmly and looked around the room, their eyes already scanning for details just as Elias had done. They could feel the heavy tension in the air, but they also brought with them a sense of calm and order that made the place feel stronger.
“Tell us everything again,” Gideon said, leaning against the workbench. “Leave no
