Page 14 of Heartless Enemy
This department handled security on the north side. Or more specifically, security around the parliament building.
After casting a quick look up and down the hall, I cracked open another door and listened for sounds of people. When everything remained silent, I snuck inside the room.
Moist air that smelled of leather, sweat, and soap met me.
I quickly scanned the changing room.
Empty.
Relief washed over me.
With my heart pattering in my chest, I hurried between the lockers and towards the board at the back of the room.
There were of course complete reports about guard positions in the captain’s office. But sneaking in there and finding it would be nearly impossible. The quickest, and easiest, way of obtaining the exact same information was almost ridiculous in its simplicity. Check the schedule in the changing room.
While still casting glances around me, I closed the final distance to the board and scanned the documents that were stuck to it. The names themselves meant nothing to me. But by each name was a location, and that was the real treasure trove, because it meant that I could piece together my own map of where all the guards were stationed.
After memorizing the locations, and the number of names that was listed on each one, I turned around and started back through the room.
The door was yanked open.
My heart leaped into my chest as I dove behind a row of lockers.
“By the Current,” a man’s voice said in what sounded more like a groan. “Now I really need a warm shower.”
“Me too,” another man replied.
“Why areyoucomplaining? You were stationed inside all night.” Another groan. “I had to stand out there in this bloody rain all night. It feels like my very bones have been submerged in ice water.”
With my pulse thrumming in my ears, I snuck along the row of lockers while tracking the two men by the sound of their voices so that I could keep the barrier between me and them.
“I did that last time,” the second man retorted. “And you told me to just suck it up then. So, guess what? Suck it up, man.”
A chuckle sounded. “Holding grudges, are we?”
While the other guy retorted, I slunk around the edge of the lockers and peeked out.
Two men in white leather uniforms were standing halfway across the room. They didn’t have their backs to me, but they weren’t looking in my direction either.
Deciding that this was as good a chance as I would get, I darted out from my hiding place and slipped out the door.
“Marcus?” the first guy called. “You already back too?”
But by the time they figured out that it was not Marcus they had seen from the corner of their eyes, I was already gone.
Chapter7
Narrowing my eyes, I studied the darkened parliament grounds before us. Next to me, Eve was tapping her fingers against the stone roof we were lying on while doing the same. The white boots below didn’t move.
“They’re not leaving any gaps,” I said.
“No.” Eve cocked her head. “Unless we create one.”
“Can’t. Not out here. They’ll notice it right away.”
“True.”
With the information Eve had gotten about the guard positions, it was easier to get a full view of the security we were up against. Unfortunately though, it was not looking all that good.