As the car journey continued, Dexter's unease grew. The scenery outside the window was unfamiliar, and the road they were on was far less crowded than the bustling streets he knew led to the courthouse.
Something felt off. Glancing nervously from left to right, he began to realize this route wasn't one he had taken before.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked, suspiciously looking at the man behind the wheel.
The driver met Dexter's eyes in the rear-view mirror with a calm, practiced ease. "It's a shortcut, Mr. Dawn. The main road is clogged with traffic, and I figured this way would get us there faster."
Dexter quickly checked his wristwatch. The hearing was scheduled to begin in just thirty minutes, and he knew missing it could have serious repercussions. He couldn't afford delays. If he missed it, he wouldn't get another session soon.