I kept close to the floor and let the air clear out. A pall of smoke still hung high, fed from the fires outside, but I could see, now. I staggered to my feet, grimacing.

Dumped more adrenaline, felt it slam through my veins and the pain flickered and retreated into the back of my awareness. I stumbled over to the smashed computer console and kicked at its frame, and then knelt and pulled out a few of the boards. Stuffed those in my pocket.

A VTOL ’s roar deafened me and I struggled to stand against a blast of wind behind me. Turned and looked out, into the cockpit of a deep blue VTOL , bucking wildly against the wind, barely 10 meters away from the open window. I saw the helmeted visage of a black man through the canopy, a flash of red behind.

I noticed the heavy-duty, armored camera slung underneath the craft’s nose, lens glittering. Gave it the finger, flashed my best death’s-head grin and ducked into the hallway.

Suite 3503. If there was anything to find, it’d be there.

“About time to check on Louise.”