“Higher stun than you used,” Fiona said. “That’s not very nice.”
She leaned forward, plucked the restraints the Balcoan had clipped to his belt, and used them on him while he was still struggling for breath.
A call came from down below, and Hal caught Fiona’s gaze.
“Guess they know we’re here.”
CHAPTER 20
Hal lookedlike he wanted to go first, but Fiona put a hand on his arm.
She’d clipped the silver rod back in place, because the injuries would be difficult to explain if these intruders were Baruke’s people or somehow from the Security Department.
Not that the ski mask said official to her.
She wondered suddenly what a ski mask was called in Grihan or Balcoan.
She’d have to ask Eazi later.
“Let karma do the work,” she whispered in Hal’s ear. Then she stepped out of the door and stood on the landing looking down at the two masked Balcoans moving toward the stairs.
“Who are you?” she asked. She saw movement behind them, and froze for a moment until she worked out it was Eazi’s drone, moving in their direction. It stopped along the way to pick up another part.
“Who are you?” one of the Balcoan’s called up.
“I asked first.” She took the first step down, careful to keep their attention as the drone drifted closer.
In response, the Balcoan shot at her, and she stayed where she was so her reflector would keep Hal safe, too.
The shooter moved forward immediately, so the ricochet struck him in the head rather than at chest height, and he grunted as he went down on one knee.
So the masks had shockgun protection, too, because otherwise he’d be unconscious at the very least.
The Balcoan behind him took a step back, trying to work out what had just happened, and the drone brained him on the head from behind with the part it had picked up from the stacks moments earlier.
He fell forward, making space for the drone to hit his partner, as well, who was still on one knee, hand to his head.
“You say you didn’t see them come in?” Hal asked Eazi, stepping around Fee to run lightly down the stairs.
“No, there was no hover or any other sign of approach from outside. Did you see where they came from?” Eazi asked.
“No, my view was blocked.” Hal stopped beside the two fallen Balcoans and then crouched beside them and went through their pockets. He pulled out more restraints and a small portable light, but nothing else. “They’re pros. No identifying items.” He made sure neither of them were going anywhere, even when they came to.
He rose to his feet. “I thought they might have come through from the front office.”
Fiona had, too. “We could ask the one upstairs. He’s still conscious.”
“Why don’t I do that?” Hal smiled as if he’d just remembered a treat he’d saved for later. He jogged back up the stairs and Fiona moved aside to let him pass.
“I’ll look around downstairs.”
Hal stopped. “There could be more coming.”
She shrugged. “Then I’ll deal with them.” She lifted her wrist and he gave a nod at the reflector bracelet.
The drone put the part it had used to hit the two Balcoans back in its box and then turned away into the stacks to get the last few items on the shelves.
“Thanks for the muscle,” she said to Eazi.
