Grady Hart: The Disappearing Act (Episode 11, Part 1)

The train carved through the winter prairie, its whistle tearing across the vast quiet like a wounded beast. Grady Hart leaned against the rail of the livestock car, the cold steel biting his palms as his eyes scanned the horizon. Charleston was well behind them, but the weight of its troubles hadn’t lightened. The horizon stretched on like a promise no one had bothered to keep.

Sam stepped up beside him, cigarette between his fingers, smoke curling against the wind. “You got that look again.”

“What look’s that?” Grady asked without turning.

“The one that says trouble’s sniffin’ around, and it’s found us.”

Grady didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. Trouble didn’t just find them. It stayed close like a bad shadow.