The drive back to the SCU headquarters was significantly more crowded than the drive out had been.
Marcus piloted the vehicle with one hand on the wheel and the other pressed against the bullet wound in his shoulder that was already knitting itself closed—slowly, painfully, but healing. In the passenger seat, Detective Castellanos spoke rapidly into her phone, coordinating with backup teams and arranging transport for the two buyers they'd apprehended.
In the back seat, Vance sat handcuffed and silent between two uniformed officers, her expression blank except for the occasional twitch of fury when she glanced at the rearview mirror.
Following in a second vehicle were Emma, Oliver, Maya, and James, escorted by Officer Rodriguez who'd arrived with the backup team and had nearly had a heart attack when four children emerged from the woods carrying the evidence.
