In the loading bay, Rhysa leaned against the wall next to the door. “I’m going with.”
She was dressed all in black and stood as Cifer and Blaize approached. Cifer scowled. “This isn’t a party.”
“I’d be dressed differently if it was,” Rhysa shot back. “You two will be busy with the ship. I’ll keep watch.”
Cifer considered the change in plan. Not a terrible idea to have some backup.
“Dez suggested I tag along. He and Cyra are meeting her brother at the shipyards.” Rhysa’s pink-eyed gaze narrowed. “By suggested, I mean ordered.”
“Fine. But same rules apply. You do what I say and only what I say when I tell you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Duh.”
Cifer already regretted agreeing to her coming, and they hadn’t even left.
Using the shadows of the other ships, Cifer led the two women toward Cain’s Alibi. The smaller ship was at the opposite end of the port from The Treasure. Cifer had noted the cameras, and while the coverage was good, it wasn’t perfect. Cameras were more of a deterrent and after-the-fact evidence than any kind of warning system. He would not be deterred when it came to protecting kids, and if the mission went according to plan, no one would need to review the images for evidence. He slowed as they neared the target ship. The splash of water at the edges of the tarmac covered any sounds they created but made confirming no one was around more challenging.
“Wait here. I’ll get the panel off, and then I’ll signal like we practiced.”
Rhysa melted into the shadows.
Blaize handed him a slim metal tool. “You’ll need this for the bolts.”
He took the tool, even though it was unnecessary. His ability to morph his body meant tools were always at his fingertips. “Stay.”
The panel came off easily enough. Before he could wave her over, Blaize was at his side. She shone a flashlight into the cavity. Wires going every which way, multiple flexible conduits, and pipes filled the tight space.
“That one.” Blaize pointed with her finger and the flashlight.
Cifer handed her the tool and stretched his arm into the cramped space.
“No, to the left.”
Footsteps stomped down a ramp.
“Hurry,” Blaize urged.
Rhysa’s voice wafted to them from under the ship. Was she trying to provide a distraction? Had they been found out?
Cifer tugged on the connector, but it was stuck.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
He yanked harder. The connector popped free. Cifer snatched the flashlight out of Blaize’s hand and shone it in the face of the confronter. “Run,” he hissed at Blaize. “Get Dez. Run.”
“Get that fucking light out of my eyes. Who are you? What are you doing to my ship?”
“Go. Now.” Every instinct screamed at Cifer himself to run. He could get out of the situation, but not with Blaize at risk.
Blaize crept away from him, and as soon as she was in the shadows, her heavy footfalls testified to her obedience. Floodlights on vehicles lit the area. Blaize screeched. Varik sucker-punched Cifer, and he dropped the flashlight. A port officer came around the ship a moment later. Cifer could still escape, but they had Blaize. He raised his hands in surrender.
Varik laughed. “Got you.”
The officers put Cifer in the same vehicle as Blaize. She leaned toward the barrier between the driver and the containment portion of the vehicle—a box with staggered benches. “You don’t understand. We’re the good guys. That ship is being used to traffic children. All you have to do is go in there. He has cages. There will be kids in those cages. You have to believe me. Please check. You’ll never forgive yourself if I’m right and you find out too late. They could be kids of people you know.”
Cifer had to give it to Blaize. Her emotional appeal was on point, but she’d killed any argument he could make that she wasn’t involved. He’d already freed himself from the shackles. The officer eyeballed Blaize.
“Please, I’m not lying. You have to check.”
