“That’s good, mate, the last thing we need is to be babysitting a load of civvies.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Dan agrees.
“Right,” I say, “let’s get all the men onto the first floor, to keep that perimeter covered, apart from Ian and Mick. Keep them here, one on the main door and one on the side service entrance and fire escape. The rest of it down here is concrete and they won’t be getting through that.”
I know both Ian and Mick and have worked closely with both numerous times.
“Yes, Boss.”
“Has everyone got radios?”
“Yes, and here’s one for you,” Dan says, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a palm-sized two-way radio.
“Thanks, mate, are all the cameras still operating?”
“They were, Boss, before I went out to meet you.”
“Okay, tell the men their positions and that heavier firearms are on the way, and I’ll go and check the cameras.”
“Understood, Boss.” Dan turns to speak to his men.
Emily and Stacey have sat down on one of the reception’s light grey sofas, Stacey in the corner with Emily leaning in, cuddled into her.
I go over to the booth where Lindsay sits, her eyes following me as I walk.
“Are you okay, Lindsay?”
“Yes, Andy, thanks. I’m a bit in shock, I must admit.”
“I’d be shocked if you weren’t, Lindsay; you’re not the only one, believe me.”
“It’s terrible, Andy, what are we going to do?”
“We should be safe in here for the time being while we decide what to do. You can come upstairs with us in a minute. I don’t think you’ll be needed on reception today,” I tell her, smiling.
“No, somehow, I don’t think I will,” Lindsay agrees.
Just to the left of the reception booth is an unassuming door with a security panel next to it. I press my Orion security card against the panel and push the handle. The door opens to reveal what is known as Reception 2, our state-of-the-art Security Room.
Stan is seated in front of an extremely large wraparound screen which must easily be two metres across and one meter high. The screen can be used as one massive picture when needed, but now it’s split up to show what each and every security camera both inside and outside the building is showing.
Inside the building, cameras cover all general areas—the reception, all corridors, open workspaces, meeting rooms, the canteen, lift areas, inside the two lifts, the underground carpark and all rooms that are not private offices.
Outside, the coverage is just as comprehensive, the whole outside perimeter covered, including cameras on the perimeter walls of the courtyard, looking both in and out onto the street, and the gatehouse with its three separate cameras. Overall, there are more than sixty views from the different cameras, all displayed on this one large screen. Some places including reception and the gatehouse, for example, are given a higher priority centrally on the screen and are shown in larger spaces. This is easily changeable depending on what you want to look at.
From this room, many other aspects of the building can be controlled and monitored, doors locked or unlocked, and lights operated. Even phone calls and internet access can be monitored when required, with the right clearance, of course.
The front main reception may look like any other at a large company, comforting and with a friendly receptionist, but nobody gets past reception without clearance from this room.
“Ahh, Andy! Nice of you to make it to work, better late than never, I suppose. Was the traffic bad?” Stan’s usual sarcastic greeting is delivered in his deep voice with a strong Caribbean accent.
“Yes, Stan; as a matter of fact, it was, as there’s some sort of commotion in the city today! There always seems to be something going on that plays havoc with the traffic in London, doesn’t there?”
“You’re not wrong there, my friend. Seriously, it’s good to see you, all hell, literally, is breaking loose out there and I was worried about you and your little girl.”
“Yes, so was I, it wasn’t easy. Where is Adam, your young assistant?”
“I am worried about him too, I have heard nothing from him. I’m just hoping he is home with his family.”
Stan has been working for the company for over ten years. He is in his early 50’s and also served in the Marines, many, many years ago, as I like to remind him. He is an expert on all the gadgets and wizardry at his disposal in this room and even puts his much younger assistant to shame in controlling this modern technology.
“Stan, is everything operating as normal?”
“I’m offended, Andy. Of course, everything is operating as normal. I run a finely-tuned operation in here, you know. Although, we do have one camera out, down on the gatehouse. One of those things out there must have damaged it but there are still the other two in operation.”
“Apologises,” I laugh, “I didn’t mean to offend. Can you show me the gatehouse and take me around the perimeter and courtyard so I can see how bad it is?”
Stan stands up and, using the touchscreen facility, begins to swipe between cameras, enlarging alternate views to give me a good look at the situation around the whole of the outside of the building.
The view I see is dire. Virtually the whole of the building’s outside perimeter is infested with Rabids and there are large numbers on the opposite side of the canal at the back of the building. Rabids are constantly getting through the gap in the gate at the main entrance and moving down towards the building, the Courtyard filling rapidly. And they are massing at the front entrance.
I can only assume that the car alarms I can still vaguely hear are attracting them or maybe it is something else bringing them towards us?
“Thanks, Stan, it’s not looking good out there, to say the least, is it?”
“No, no it isn’t.”
I tell him to let me know if anything happens on my radio and he confirms. I
