Page 165 of Knot So Lucky
"What the fuck happened?" Richard demands, already moving toward the affected area.
Elias and I converge on the fuel system simultaneously, both of us pulling out diagnostic equipment to investigate.
It takes maybe ten minutes of intensive examination before we find it.
"Fuel line failure," Elias says quietly, his voice tight with controlled fury. "Catastrophic separation at the primary coupling."
I lean in closer, examining the failure point with practiced eyes.
"This wasn't mechanical failure," I say, voice barely above a whisper. "Look at the fracture pattern. That's a clean break, not the kind of stress fracture you get from normal wear or vibration."
Elias's expression darkens as he confirms my analysis.
"This was deliberate. Someone weakened the coupling, probably with a chemical agent that compromised the material integrity without leaving obvious physical damage."
"But executed so cleanly it leaves no trace," I finish, the implications settling over me like a weight.
Someone on our team—someone with access to the cars and technical knowledge to pull this off—just tried to cause an accident that could have killed someone or destroyed months of work.
The sabotage is escalating.
We reconvene in one of the private conference rooms, the core pack members only.
Cale, Luca, Elias, Adrian, and me.
The people we can trust absolutely, without question.
Adrian has his laptop open, already compiling information with the kind of methodical efficiency that speaks to experience with this kind of investigation.
"I've been building a list," he says quietly, turning the screen so we can all see. "Potential saboteurs based on access, opportunity, and motive."
Names scroll past—team members, contractors, FIA officials with system access. Each one has a detailed profile: their role, their access level, any financial irregularities or personal issues that might suggest vulnerability to bribery or coercion.
Then one name makes me stop breathing.
Marco Rodriguez - Pit Crew Lead
My crew member.
One of the people I've worked with for two years. Someone I trusted enough to let handle critical systems without constant supervision.
"No." The word comes out sharper than intended. "Marco wouldn't do this."
"He has access," Adrian points out gently. "And the technical knowledge to execute this kind of sabotage without leaving obvious evidence."
"He also has mounting gambling debts," Elias adds, pulling up financial records that he definitely obtained through less-than-legal means. "Significant debt to some very unsavory people. The kind who might leverage that into coerced cooperation."
I want to argue. Want to defend Marco because he's been nothing but loyal and professional in all our interactions.
But I can't ignore the facts in front of me.
"He's not the culprit," I say firmly, meeting each of their eyes in turn. "But he might be being used. Someone with access to our systems, knowledge of our operations, and financial pressure making him vulnerable to manipulation."
The distinction is important. Because if Marco's being coerced, then exposing him publicly could endanger him or push the real saboteur deeper into hiding.
"So what do we do?" Cale asks, voice tight with barely controlled fury.
I take a breath, thinking through the strategic implications.
