Page 41 of Urban Justice

“True, if I consume enough chips, jellybeans, and tang powder, I can go for days on end.”

“You’re such a child.” The smile she gave him revealed her outer annoyance hid inner amusement.

“Guilty as charged, but I’m also a computer whiz, which is why you love me. Too bad that love will end when I show you what I found.” The main screen switched to a street camera showing a manhole in the road. “That’s the one you two were standing under. We were lucky. Because it’s an intersection where the police have an ongoing problem with speeding and drivers burning red lights, they changed the angle to see the plates better in order to issue fines.”

Cars, trucks, and people moved at high speed as they watched the footage.

“I downloaded a two-week window, but I’ve focused on the time you were in the tunnels, with twenty minutes either side to include the time the traffickers were there.”

Luke and Sloane leaned forward. “So?”

“So, nothing. I’ve watched the footage, and that specific time frame, over and over again, and nothing. The vehicles stop at the light then go again. No one gets out of their cars to drop something into the manhole.”

To prove his point, Devin rewound the video and let it play again. Luke focused on the screen, trying to see anything specific, weird, or unusual, but it was as Devin had said. “It doesn’t make sense. We saw them come inside, go to that spot, and come back. Sloane and I checked and there’s nowhere else they could’ve gone. Not in the time they were down there.”

Sloane sighed. “He’s right. Apart from that manhole, I don’t understand how else they could have gotten the drug.”

“Guys, I haven’t been to the tunnels, so I’m not saying you’re wrong, only that I don’t see how the drug was dropped down there.”

Still focused on the image, Luke frowned. “Can you replay it and focus on that truck?”

Devin didn’t answer, just did what Luke asked. The image was tighter when the video started, showing the moment the truck stopped to the moment it pulled away. Luke knew something didn’t jive but couldn’t put his finger on it yet. “Again, please.”

Sloane didn’t say a word and copied him, focusing all her attention on the screen. Devin looped the video until a tiny detail caught his eye and he inhaled sharply. “Look underneath the side of the truck.”

Devin repeated it again and froze at the moment Luke pointed. It was faint but there were two flashes of light coming from under the vehicle.

“I’ll be damned.” The hacker noticed it too, and zoomed in even more, pixelating the image, but even then, the flickering light was undeniable. “They must have a hole in the bottom of the truck. If they control the traffic lights, their plan is perfect. They switch the light to red, stop, remove the manhole cover, drop the drug, replace the cover, and go on their merry way, entirely undetected. It’s brilliant!”

Sloane tapped the screen. “Why can’t we see the plate?”

Luke could answer that one. “It’s got a blur shield. I have the same thing on my car. It’s easier not to be worried when I park near abandoned sites for exploration. If I get picked up on a camera, it can’t read my plates. A friend gave it to me when I did some post-doctoral research in Russia. It’s not exactly legal, but unless the cops get a close up look, it’s impossible to see it with the naked eye.”

“Of course! We noticed the same phenomenon when we were tracking you down after your escape following our first encounter in the tunnels.”

Devin shook his head, ignoring Sloane’s outburst and cutting off any questions he may have had for her. “I can check with past deliveries, maybe one of the trucks got sloppy, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up.”

Luke sighed as he pulled away, rubbing the back of his neck. As he thought, he noticed the men had left, except for Lance, who’d wiped his face with a towel and was headed their way.

“I’d suggest returning to the scene of the crime to gather possible evidence from the trucks, but after the explosion, the place is swarming with cops. I asked Devin to keep an eye on that side of things with the police, and so far, they don’t have a clue we’re involved, or the traffickers are for that matter.”

Sloane looked deep in thought, and Luke loved seeing her bright mind at work. “What about the traffickers? Is there any footage from when they exited the underground parking after the explosion?”

Devin shook his head. “I’m still searching for a good enough image of the plates, or the men inside. They’ve probably used that same blurry thing on all their vehicles.”

Luke saw Lance shake his head as he came forward. “We’re running out of time. We need to cut the lines of entry for the drug. Just today, a hundred people have died from an overdose. The count is slowly rising. And it’s gaining interest in the media, which isn’t good. The more it’s talked about, the more curious people will be to try it, and the more they’ll die.”

Luke had to agree with him. Phantom had gained speed on social media, and it coincided with the increasing number of deaths, as well as the number of people hospitalized.

“If only they left that box behind. Beyond stopping the spread, we were hoping to get our hands on a sample, the first since Phantom poisoned our streets.”

“So until we get more information about who is doing the delivering, we’re back at square one.” Sloane seemed resigned, so much Luke came closer to offer her support this time. Instead of retreating, she leaned into his touch. “Ready to do some more exploring, professor?”

For the first time, Luke looked forward to going urbexing with Sloane by his side. At least now, he knew what she was capable of.

“I’d tell you two to get some more rest, but knowing Sloane, she’d probably ignore me.” Lance’s sarcasm was light with teasing. “But from now on, you’re not going down there alone or without outside support. It’s still your show, Sloane, but now they know we’re onto them and the Vigilante is close, it’s becoming too dangerous. They may think you were killed in the explosion, and we can use that to our advantage.”

Luke agreed. “I have to say Quincy has been a valuable source of information. Maybe I can use him if I can find him again. He knows my number, but after everything that happened, he may not want to speak to me again.”

Sloane smiled. “I’m sure you’ll convince him otherwise. You have a knack.”

He wouldn’t say it was a knack, but people interested him, and Sloane Friday was the most interesting of all. So for whatever time he had with her, he’d definitely make the most of it.

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