//------------------------------//
// Dirty Low Blow 
// Story: Zipporwhill P.I. and the Show Stopper 
// by Hopeful_Ink_Hoof 
//------------------------------//

HVAC: Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning.  Zipporwhill had never really been interested in architecture or most technology.  She much preferred being outside, playing with the animals that she could.  Besides, HVAC systems were not really a thing in Ponyville.  When it came to heat, most places had fireplaces built in that they could use and snuggle up by.  As for ventilation or air-conditioning, normally they would just open a window, and maybe turn on a fan.

So when a teenage Zipporwhill took a trip to Manehattan with her parents and got to stay in a big fancy hotel, she had been quite confused, and then curious, when she discovered... The Thermostat!  With the single turn of a knob, she could make it as warm or as cool as she wanted.

Admittedly, she had gone overboard with it.  One night, she turned the heat up until it was practically a sauna.  The next, turned up the air conditioner until she could see her breath.

As it turned out, nearly all the buildings in Manehattan had some sort of HVAC or other.

A few years later, when Zipporwhill moved to Baltimare, she learned that many of their larger buildings had them as well.  Unfortunately, it turned out neither her office nor her apartment had either air conditioning or central heating.  This in turn led to her to learn about window units air conditioners and space heaters, which she was saving up for.

Although most of that was not immediately relevant.

It took some searching, but she was able to find someone that was able to tell her that, yes, The Baltimare Civic Center did indeed have a ventilation system built into it.  After further searching, Zipporwhill managed to find someone who knew where it was and how to get there.  One who knew the ins and out and every inch of the center.

The janitor.

The janitor was a zebra mare, whose normally black stripes were a silver color, just barely darker than the white of her coat.  She was dressed in a short-sleeve, button-up work shirt and a cap, both in a dark blue color.  She also was not very talkative, giving little more than grunts with slight nods in response to Zipporwhill's questions.  Still, the mare had been nice enough to agree to show where the main ventilation unit was.

The two walked in silence, making their way through some of the less used portions of the building, Shadow following alongside Zipporwhill.  The pegasus detective looked around, studying the area as she walked through it again.  She had definitely been through this part before, and thought she had looked over everything.  Even if she had not, the center's security team should have as well, and they definitely knew about the HVAC unit.  Which means either they all missed something, or the suspect had done something after they had looked.  In either case, it made her want to double-check everything, make sure there was no detail that she missed this time.

Reaching an industrial door, the janitor pulled it open, motioning for Zipporwhill to go ahead.  With a smile and a nod, she entered the room.

Which turned out to be a broom closet.

The realization as she stared at shelves did not fully sink in by the time the door slammed shut behind her.  Even as she heard an audible click, Zipporwhill turned and threw herself at the door.  She grabbed at the knob, twisting it and giving the door a hard shove.

Locked.

And her without any lock-picks.  Although, in truth that did not really mattered.  Zipporwhill had never learned to pick a lock to begin with.  She was going to be a good, legal, private investigator.  No sneaking into suspects' homes or breaking into cabinets to steal files.  Why would she need to know how to pick a lock?

Turns out at least one reason would be in case someone locked you in a broom closet.

From the other side, she could hear barking and snarling.  After a second, it was replaced by whimpers and sounds of scratching at the door.

"Shadow!" Zipporwhill called out.  "Shadow, can you hear me?"

Shadow gave two barks in response.

"I need you to go get help," Zipporwhill shouted.  "Understand?  Go.  Get.  Help."

There were two more barks, and then silence.  She had to assume that he had listen, and was going to get help.  All she had to do was wait, and sooner or later, someone would let her out.

However, Zipprorwhill was not one to just wait around.  Especially since she had work to do.

With a flap of her wings, she took up, making her way toward the ceiling and trying to find a way to escape.  If she was lucky, she would find a way to escape, meet up with Shadow and the rescue team, lead them to the main air ventilation system control, and capture the culprit in the process, before she could set off whatever she was planning.

Hopefully, whether she escaped herself or was freed, it would be before she had to use the bathroom.