THE MAN WHO STOPPED THE TRAIN 

The last train out of the city was already disappearing into the darkness when Jace Morgan pulled his motorcycle onto the empty road beside the railway crossing. It was almost 1 a.m., and the industrial district was completely deserted. Jace was thirty-two, tall and heavily built, with broad shoulders, a rugged angular face, sharp jawline, dark brown eyes, short black hair, light stubble, and a thin scar running through his left eyebrow. He wore a faded black leather jacket, dark gray T-shirt, black jeans, heavy black boots, and black gloves. His matte-black motorcycle was the only vehicle on the road.

He wasn't supposed to be there.

His GPS had redirected him because of road construction, and he had already decided to turn around when he noticed a red light flashing beside the railway crossing.

At first, he thought it was a warning signal.

Then he heard someone shouting.

Jace immediately stopped the motorcycle.

A small delivery van was sitting directly across the railway tracks.

Its front wheels had dropped into a damaged section of pavement.

The driver was desperately trying to reverse.

The barrier had already come down.

And in the distance, two bright train headlights appeared through the darkness.

Jace looked at the driver.

The man was trapped inside.

“Get out!”

The driver slammed his hands against the window.

“The door's stuck!”

Jace looked toward the approaching train.

It was getting closer.

He threw his helmet onto the ground and ran.

The driver tried the passenger door.

Nothing.

Jace reached the van and grabbed the driver's door handle.

He pulled.

It didn't move.

“Move away from the door!”

The driver scrambled toward the opposite side.

Jace planted both boots against the vehicle and pulled with everything he had.

The metal frame groaned.

The door opened several centimeters.

The train horn exploded through the night.

The driver screamed.

“I can't get out!”

Jace pulled again.

The door finally tore open.

He grabbed the driver by the jacket and dragged him out of the vehicle.

Both men hit the pavement just as the train entered the crossing.