Page 23 of Claimed By the Wraiths

Watching the infrastructure. Not protecting the diplomats above. Watching for someone in the dark below.

Second check-in. “Tal’s reception appearance confirmed for tomorrow. I’ve identified his aide. She’s approachable. I’m laying groundwork.”

“There’s a second security layer in the service corridors.”

Silence for three seconds.

“Describe it.”

“Six personnel, three teams of two. Not conference staff. Combat-trained. Running two-hour rotations on the service access points near the conference levels.”

“Consortium?”

“I don’t know. They’re not wearing identifiers.”

Another silence. “Could be supplemental security for high-value delegates. Some diplomats travel with private details.”

“Could be.”

“But you don’t think so.”

“Their rotation pattern covers the service access points. Not the conference floors. They’re not protecting delegates. They’re watching the infrastructure.”

“Watching for what?”

“For someone doing exactly what I’m doing.”

I heard her breathe. One slow breath. “Assessment?”

“They haven’t found me. I’m below their patrol corridor. But if someone is monitoring the station’s service levels with trained personnel, this isn’t a routine conference.”

“I’m not aborting.”

“I’m not asking you to. I’m telling you what I’ve found. Adjust your extraction planning accordingly.”

“Acknowledged. Check in three. Out.”

After the second check-in, I sent the Raptor a compressed status burst: six unmarked, combat-trained personnel in the service levels, meeting still scheduled, mission continuing. Deyric acknowledged receipt.

I spent the next three hours learning the second security layer’s blind spots. They were good, but they had gaps.

Twenty minutes between coverage shifts on the eastern service spine. A maintenance shaft on level four that wasn’t on their patrol route. The ventilation system connecting the conference levels to the commercial ring, too narrow for most people.

By the time the third check-in came, I had three separate routes mapped between the conference levels and the Ghost. None of them went through the second security layer’s coverage.

“Reception went well,” Jessa said. “Tal’s aide remembers me. She’s arranged a meeting with Tal after his session tomorrow. Private room. Side room 14-B.”

“I’ll be on the level below.”

“Serak.”

“I won’t come to the conference floor.”

“I know you won’t.” A pause. Longer than the operational pauses. The kind of pause that meant she was deciding whether to say something that wasn’t about the mission.

“Thank you. For being here.”

I didn’t answer right away. The maintenance corridor was dark and cold and smelled like coolant.