Once he has made that call, Winters can put into operation phase two of his plans to get Josh, Emily and the others out of harm’s way. Phase two is just as fraught with danger as the start was, if not more so.
An explosion rocks the wall of the corridor on Winters’ right, the doors to the outlets rattle in their frames. Urgency grips Winters and he picks up his pace, starts to jog and then to run up the long passageway. Nobody will be going anywhere if the infected get inside the building.
The two lifts are in Winters’ sights as the gunfire continues. As he gets to them, he slaps his finger on the call button and gets his phone out.
Chapter 17
Josh feels his phone vibrating in his pocket. A ray of hope flashes through him as he goes to get it out. Please let it be Lieutenant Winters with some good news, he thinks to himself. Josh’s hope grows when he sees that it is him calling.
“Hello, Sir,” Josh answers, bringing his head up with his phone to his ear. Josh feels the weight of expectation as Emily, Catherine and Stacey look at him from their seats with hope and desperation on their faces.
“Listen up, Josh; I’m about to get in a lift so I’ll have to be quick in case I lose signal,” Lieutenant Winters says.
“Sir.”
“Are you still in the First-Class lounge?”
“Yes Sir, but we were just about to evacuate to a higher floor,” Josh answers.
“I’ve sorted out transport, but it won’t be straightforward. I need you all to meet me outside the command room, one floor up from you. Leave there and go right, up the corridor to the lifts. Take the lift up to floor five, then, out of the lift, go right then first left. The command room is at the end of that corridor. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir, we will leave immediately.”
“Is Dixon still with you?” Winters asks.
“Yes Sir, and Collins.”
“Good, make sure they come and bring all the firepower you can, okay?”
“Yes Sir, I would have a job to stop Dixon coming.”
“Good, wait for me outside the command room. I’ll meet you there, don’t try and come in. I’ve got to go.” Josh’s phone clicks and Winters is gone.
“What’s happening?” Catherine asks as soon as Josh’s phone leaves his ear.
“Lieutenant Winters has got transport, so we have to meet him on the floor above us. Get ready to go, we have to leave now,” Josh says and then turns to speak to the others.
Dixon, Collins and Alice are at the barricaded door to the lounge. No one else is in the lounge now. Dixon managed to get rid of their guard, with a few choice words. They have already started to disassemble the barricade and are in the process of lifting furniture away as Josh reaches them.
“What you saying?” Dixons asks Josh.
“Lieutenant Winters has arranged transport; we need to meet him on floor five.”
“That’s what I like to hear. I knew he would come through in the end. Let’s get moving,” Dixon Replies as he shoves some furniture out of the way of the door.
“What kinda transport?” Alice, asks.
“He didn’t say. He did say it would not be straightforward, though.”
“Sounds like more fun and games,” Dixon says ominously.
“Yes, yes it does,” Josh replies. “I’ll make sure the others are ready,” Josh says as he leaves them to finish off clearing the door.
Catherine, Emily and Stacey are up, have gathered their few belongings together and are ready to leave.
“Josh, are the Rabids outside the door?” Emily asks, taking Josh by surprise at her use of the word Rabid.
“No, Emily, but we are going to take it very carefully, okay?” Josh answers as best he can.
“Why is there so much shooting then?” Emily asks.
“That’s downstairs and we are going up, so we will be moving away from the shooting, okay?”
“Okay, will you stay by me?” Emily asks worriedly.
“Yes, of course, little sister, I’m not going to let you out of my sight,” Josh tells her, picking up his rifle and checking it.
“Okay, let’s go then,” Emily announces.
The three move over to the still-closed door out of the lounge.
“Right, listen up,” Dixon says. “We haven’t got far to go, but eyes open, everybody. Collins will take point with Alice. I will take the rear with Josh and you ladies will be in between us. If we run into trouble, stay together and listen to what I tell you, okay?”
“Okay, Mr Dixon,” Emily says.
“Good girl,” he replies with a smile on his face.
“Has anybody got a spare sidearm I can use?” Catherine asks.
“I’m not sure that is a good idea,” Dixon informs her.
“I didn’t ask if it was a good idea, Mr Dixon. I asked if you had a spare sidearm? I am well trained if that’s what you’re worried about.” Catherine retorts.
“Are you sure?” Dixon asks.
“Yes, my father used to take me shooting in South Africa and I shoot regularly when I go back.”
“Fair enough,” Dixon says as he reaches for a holster in his body armour, on the left side of his chest. He pulls out a Glock and hands it to Catherine.
Everybody watches surprised as Catherine checks the safety, releases the magazine to inspect, reinserts it and pulls back the action.
“What, have you never seen a glamorous PA with a gun before?” Catherine jokes as she finishes checking her weapon and sees everyone looking at her.
“No, not since Miss Moneypenny, but I like it,” Dixon jokes.
“Steady on, cowboy,” Catherine fires back. “Let’s get going, shall we?”
Dixon nods once at Catherine and then at Collins, giving him the go-ahead to open the door.
“Wow, that was brilliant,” Emily says to Catherine as Collins slowly opens the door.
As soon as the door opens, the volume of the constant shooting increases considerably. The gunshots echo around the cavernous departure
