Page 255 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘What?’

There’s a delay while Riley tips his head, looking both ways.

‘You lost?’

‘Shut it, Tanner.’

‘I can lead if you’re not—’

‘It’s this way.’

‘You sure?’

Riley turns left.

‘Positive.’

This passage is narrower, almost entirely dry and lined with disused electrical conduit. It ends at a corroded steel door, already open, that leads up to a concrete service stairwell.

Relieved to be out of the narrow tunnels, so unlike the ones Kade himself designed, they climb. The stairs turn twice. At the top, Riley raises a closed fist and all three of them stop.

A square metal hatch sits snugly in the ceiling above.

New hinges, modern lock.

‘This is it.’ Riley glances at Lachlan. ‘Not gonna ask if I’m sure?’

Kade sees Lachlan very visibly reject a scathing comeback.

‘No, you’re good.’

‘High praise. OK, this is their emergency exit at the very bottom of their complex,’ Riley whispers to Kade. ‘It’ll take us up through their storage and into the living quarters. From there, I can find the book.’

‘How?’

‘I can smell it.’

‘Fuck, Riley. That’s thin.’

‘It’s the best we have. I just need him to cover me. You can wait here.’

‘What? I’m not waiting here! You said I could help.’

‘You don’t wanna use your Vox.’

‘No, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. I practised.’ Kade puts a hand on Riley’s arm. ‘I can do this.’

‘No doubt, but it’s safer if you stay and guard the exit.’

‘He’s right,’ Lachlan points out. ‘Much as I hate to admit it. His power is much more useful right now.’

‘The fuck do you know about my power, Tanner?’

Lachlan checks his gun. ‘I know what you are. Come on, we’re wasting time. If we’re doing this, we do it now.’

Kade gives an unhappy nod.

Riley holsters his gun and steps onto the highest stair.