Based on the number of spots, this building must cater to high-end clients, because most normal city dwellers just used the shared transports available on nearly every corner. At least, that’s how it worked in human cities. Maybe Valoffs were different.
The garage was well lit, and suddenly the armor made sense because surveillance cameras likely covered everything. If Torran was supposed to keep his investigation quiet, then showing up with an unknown human woman in tow wasn’t the best way to go about it.
Torran parked the lev cycle in the first spot. I expected the restraints to release, but they remained securely strapped around my legs. I tapped Torran and waited until I felt the telltale mental coolness. “What are we doing?”
“The kidnappers were in the vehicle when it exited the storage area. We’re going to look around inside.”
“We should’ve brought Lexi. This is her thing.”
“I did not expect this opportunity tonight or I would’ve given you more warning. I apologize for startling you and disrupting your sleep.”
“So this isn’t a sanctioned visit?”
Torran’s mental voice was quietly amused. “Not exactly.”
The garage machinery clamped around the lev bike’s landing pads and swept us deeper underground. The night-vision helmet became useful once again as the lower garage was barely lit. A few emergency lights indicated exits, but the rest of the large area was dark.
Spaces for vehicles lined the garage from floor to ceiling. There were no stairs or walkways because a vehicle wouldn’t be moved into storage with passengers inside. Torran must’ve overridden the safety controls.
Our vehicle settled into a narrow slot with a jolt. We were on the lowest level, just a couple of meters from the floor. At least I wouldn’t have to figure out how to climb down from the top.
The safety restraints released my legs, and I scooted back so that Torran would have room to stand up. It took a little more maneuvering, but he eased out of the vehicle and held the door for me. If the cycle had been any wider, we wouldn’t have had room to exit. As it was, Torran had to crouch so he wouldn’t hit his head on the platform above us.
Torran jumped to the ground, a trick I wasn’t about to copy. My knee had been a lot better since Havil had healed it a second time, but I wasn’t going to take stupid risks.
“I’ve got you,” Torran said a moment before his power clamped around me. It felt different in armor, not as personal, and I could still breathe. Well, that was handy.
I landed softly next to him. “Thank you.” I looked around, then tapped him. “Where are the access points?”
Torran pointed at the three emergency exits indicated by the lights. “All entry points are monitored, yet none of the cameras caught the kidnappers.”
“They overrode the system?”
“If so, they did it surgically. No data breaches were recorded, and the video has no obvious loops.”
“Do you still have access? Lexi and Kee might find something.”
“No. We barely got access the first time. The main part of the building is a financial institution with a great deal of influence. The upper floors are apartments for the rich and powerful. Without an official investigation, they will give us nothing. My original access was a favor from a friend.”
“Why doesn’t the empress make up something to investigate? Surely she has the power.”
Torran paused, and when he spoke again, his mental voice was filled with frustration. “Her reasons are her own.”
“Her reasons suck,” I muttered.
“I agree,” Torran responded, very quietly.
Chapter Twenty-One
Torran climbed to the top of the room with nothing but strength and determination. I watched him until my nerves couldn’t take it anymore, then I went to investigate the entrances. The kidnappers hadn’t materialized in here, so how did they get in?
“Don’t open the doors,” Torran warned. Despite the physical distance between us, his mental voice sounded exactly the same, like a comm. “The cameras are down in here, but not outside.”
“Noted.”
Two of the doors had matching labels with a pictogram of what looked like stairs. The third door was an elevator. If I were sneaking in a team, I would use the stairs. Service stairways often had access hidden from public view, especially in fancy buildings where the clients didn’t want to see maintenance personnel. A pair of loose, slightly dirty maintenance coveralls was the easiest way to make yourself invisible to the types of people who inhabited these buildings.
But in the video from Torran’s house, the kidnappers had been wearing armor. Building security would not have allowed a team of armored soldiers past the front door, even if the video surveillance was down or altered. And while it was possible that security was in on it, the more likely answer was the soldiers had been disguised. None of the reports mentioned clothes in the transport, so I started looking for a place where they could have stashed their extra gear. It might give us the clue we needed to trace them before they arrived at the building.
My frown grew as I searched. Why pick a building in the middle of the city in the first place? It made sense only if they didn’t want to burn their home base, either because they still needed it or because of what—or who—it would reveal. Stealing and hiding a transport early added a lot of additional risk if they were planning to abandon the city anyway.
My gut said they were still in Zenzi. If not in the city proper, then at least nearby.
Whoever had picked this building had done their research well. They knew that it wasn’t likely to be investigated, and even if it was, the occupants would not be overly helpful. And because of the residences, a transport staying for a while wouldn’t be unusual.
I slowly walked the perimeter of the room, looking for hidden entrances or areas big enough to hide a change of clothes, but despite my careful perusal, I almost missed the square vent cover. It was about a meter wide and as black as the wall around it. Tucked in a corner behind one of the massive legs of the transport storage tower, it was nearly invisible.
My pulse leapt, even as I tried not to get my hopes up.
I wedged myself into the narrow space and examined the vent cover. I couldn’t find any attachment points, so I pulled on one corner, but my gloves made it hard to get a grip. I adjusted my hands, but my fingers slipped again, and I cursed under my breath.
“Tavi?” Torran’s voice whispered across my mind.
“I’m in the corner opposite the stairs,” I said while focusing my thoughts toward him. “I need your help, if you’re back on the ground.”
I heard faint footsteps approaching, then Torran peered into the narrow gap where I’d wedged myself. “What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to get this vent cover off, but I can’t get a good grip. Do you have anything flat to pry it with?”
“Move back.”
I eased away from the cover. As soon as I was clear, it popped away from the wall, held aloft by Torran’s power. Right. Telekinetic.