Chapter 28 · Backup Heat

"This channel's compromised." Petra's voice cracked through the override speaker, thin and fast. "I'm invoking board authority over the residency clause effective now, June, and I need you to confirm on rec—"

The speaker died mid-word. Not static. Cut clean.

Torin's hand was already on my shoulder, pulling me back off the pipe rack. "That's not a bad connection," he said. "That's someone at the panel."

The pump room lights dropped to the emergency strip, that ugly orange that makes everyone look half-dead. Three men were already past the grate door. I hadn't heard it open. That was the part that scared me — not the men, the silence.

"Evening," the one in front said. Bald, thick through the neck, a jacket too clean for a boiler room. "Don't touch anything red."

"You're in a restricted mechanical space," Torin said, flat, like he was reading a sign. "Get out before I make you."

"Big talk for a guy who just lost backup heat.