18 |

Professor Ampheres’ Residence
Atlantis
Before the fall

 

Senior Enforcer Kleito motioned for her men to spread out, the pedestrians already blocked, crowds gathering at either end of the street. Nothing annoyed her more than onlookers. Too often, it meant people complaining about excessive use of force, when they had no clue what was actually going on, or shouted questions or protests that tipped off whomever they were after. If it was up to her, she’d arrest anyone who risked her people.

Though the courts wouldn’t allow it. Freedom of speech. Too often, it was a notion she disagreed with, but then, how often had she questioned her own political masters in private?

The ground shook again, prompting more questions as she tried to maintain her balance.

If this keeps up, I’m buying a boat.

She loved the sea, a significant portion of her youth spent on friends’ boats, sailing around the island nation, or paddling up and down the extensive canals that crisscrossed the city, but she had never been able to afford one of her own. Wood was expensive, a small boat a luxury even for those of means.

And an Enforcer was not someone of means.

She wanted for nothing, her salary decent, even more so since the promotion, but after paying for a roof over her head and food for her belly, there was little left over for luxuries. Yet these earthquakes had her wondering if the conspiracy nuts were right this time.

Shouts from behind the block of homes lining the street in front of her, had her motioning for silence as she cocked an ear.

“They’re getting away!”

She cursed at the shouted warning from behind the home, and stormed toward the front door of Professor Ampheres’ residence. She kicked it open, the door splintering at the bolt. She rushed into the modest home, her team following her as they pushed through the house, each room checked by the others as she continued through to the back, the door ajar. She looked to the left then the right, and cursed, two of the men she had sent to cover the back, sprinting after someone.

“Let’s go!” She took off after them, the pounding feet of her men echoing in the alleyway behind the row of houses. One of her men overtook her then slowed. She glared at him. “Don’t you dare slow down for me!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

He took off past her, a couple of the other men doing the same, and it prompted her to redouble her efforts, though her shorter legs were no match for her colleagues. It was an annoyance, but one she could do nothing about, and there was no point complaining about things beyond her control.

She reached the canal to find her team gasping for breath, staring out at the water, two of them sitting on the ground, their faces bloodied.

“What in the name of the gods happened?”

The senior of the two began to struggle to his feet when she waved him off. He smiled gratefully, instead wiping at a seeping wound on his forehead. “When we reached the alley we saw several men running toward the canal with a woman and three children. The suspect’s rear door was open, and since the report said he had a wife and three children, we assumed it was his family. We shouted our warning in the hopes you would hear it, and gave chase. As we neared, the men stopped and assaulted us. I’m sorry, ma’am, but we were outnumbered. They bested us, though we got some good blows in, let me tell you, but it was enough to slow us down, and by the time we resumed our pursuit, they had reached the canal and escaped in a waiting boat.” His head sagged. “I’m sorry we failed you, ma’am.”

She frowned at the two, then stared at the water. “This was well-coordinated, by the look of things. I’m sure you did everything you could.” She redirected her attention to their wounds. “Get yourselves tended to, then when the doctors clear you, return to the station. I want descriptions of the men, and the boat.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Several of her team helped them to their feet, leading them away as she stepped to the edge of the canal, shaking her head. “Why would they run?”

“Ma’am?”

She glanced at her second-in-command, not having meant to speak aloud. “Just thinking. The family ran, with the help of others. What happened at the Senate wasn’t even an hour ago, yet they escaped, with the help of others, who had a boat at their disposal of sufficient size to carry what, ten people?” She shook her head. “That would suggest that Professor Ampheres had planned on stealing Poseidon’s Trident all along, but if that were the case, then why not send his family into hiding before he even left?” She growled in frustration. “There’s more going on here than we’ve been made privy to. Somebody else is involved.” She spun on her heel, turning to her remaining men. “Send out dispatches. I want the entire city looking for Professor Ampheres and his family. And find me that boat. Somebody must have seen something.”