Night Shadow by Jaxon Reed

Author:Jaxon Reed [Reed, Jaxon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Space Fleet Fantasy, Colonization
ISBN: 9798304542043
Published: 2024-12-26T00:00:00+00:00

21

Merchants guarding the rooftops were few and far between tonight. Haley spotted two. One of them had fallen asleep, propped up against the stairwell door with his head slumped over.

She might have thought he was dead, but her enhanced hearing picked up a gentle snoring so she did not worry too much about him.

Unlike the time Haley was spotted on a rooftop not long ago, and unlike the immediate aftermath of the Southsider riots, few merchants were now willing to sacrifice their evening hours for guard duty. Trouble had died down, and other than some random muggings no one seemed intent on ransacking their businesses.

So, rooftop guard duty remained light.

Still, Haley exercised caution. She squatted near the corner of her current perch and peeked over the edge, watching the sidewalk below and the alley emptying out to the street.

Pedestrians strolled below, oblivious to any threats or the clandestine overwatch.

“Lisa? Could you monitor all the alleys between here and the bazaar, please? Let me know if anyone is lurking there. I want to try and prevent any muggings before they happen this time.”

“Will do, Haley.”

She waited, sighing behind her mask.

This is typical law enforcement work, she thought. You spend hours waiting on something to happen. Stakeouts, investigations, questionings, waiting, watching. Those are the true time sinks for cops. It isn’t all action and adventure like you see in the holos.

“And they never tell you that when they’re recruiting,” she said to herself. “I know that from experience.”

Lisa interrupted her thoughts.

“Haley, I see three men who have entered an alley two blocks over. They are being sneaky as they approach Commerce Boulevard in the dark, and acting very suspicious.”

Haley stood up and said, “Thanks, Lisa. Can you port me to a rooftop near them, please?”

She popped away and reappeared on another rooftop. A quick scan of the nearby area showed that she had the upper floors to herself. No one stood guard over here.

Carefully, she approached the ledge at the corner and bent over, looking down into the darkness below. Her enhanced senses picked out the three men. They stood against the wall of the alley, watching the sidewalk.

A couple walked by, arguing.

Then a group of six businessmen passed, deep in conversation. They all wore suits and ties, though none carried briefcases. The hidden trio let them walk on unperturbed, probably concerned they were outnumbered, Haley thought.

Finally, a lone merchant walked down the sidewalk, approaching the alleyway.

Haley could pick out the merchants now, after spending time with them at the bazaar. The local ones all dressed the same. They often wore nice clothes, although usually not business attire. Their pants were brown or gray, and their shirts were high quality solids.

Farmers or those selling to farmers often wore jeans and plaid shirts, so the merchants who owned shops or rented booths from the city stood out. Not farmers. Not businessmen. Haley thought their attire comprised an informal uniform, or at least a dress code of sorts.

The men in the alley tensed. The merchant did not notice them.

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