Military helicopters are zigzagging the skies, too many to try and count, some circling around and others hovering. I see at least one firing missiles at the ground over Kensington, whilst others are moving at speed both in and out of the city, back towards Heathrow.
More explosions happen away to our right. I can’t see any helicopters in that vicinity, so assume they must have come from a drone, which are bound to be flying high all over the city, controlled and flown from miles away.
I gather my thoughts, getting my head back in the game. I check my watch. 12.04, and I turn away from the windows. We can’t control what is going on out there, all we can do is to try and take all the precautions possible and protect ourselves in this building.
Going over to my desk, I pull out the bottom right-hand drawer, revealing the built-in safe. Electronic, it requires a six-digit passcode which I enter, and a light next to the keypad turns orange. I press my right thumb against a panel situated on the other side of the keypad and the light turns green. The safe is open.
Lifting the safe door up and back reveals several folders in the main compartment, which I ignore. What I want is in its own little compartment to the left, the key that is required to open the Armoury. There are only three of these keys, another being in Sir Malcolm’s safe in his office, while the last sits in his safe at home. The key is one of three things needed to open the Armoury, together with a six-digit passcode and either my or Sir Malcolm’s full palm print.
Sir Malcolm does not want anybody to have access or even know about the Armoury. I have only had direct access for the last couple of years following a bout of illness for Sir Malcolm. This meant that I couldn’t access the Armoury for a particular operation that Orion was carrying out for one of the 'Supermajor’ Oil Companies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Annoyingly, I was forced to make other arrangements that were not completely satisfactory.
Closing the safe and getting up, I see Dan has also turned away from the windows and is ready to move. We stand looking at each other for a second.
“You okay, Boss?”
“Yes, mate. Just trying to square this shit in my head and what it’s going to mean for Emily. And I’m concerned about Josh.”
“I know what you mean, I’m finding it hard. God knows how I’d feel if I had two kids caught up in the middle of it.”
Dan is a very genuine man, pretty much says what he is thinking but he has never married and never had children, not that he is admitting to anyway. He is of the opinion that relationships and the line of work we are in don’t mix, and I for one can’t argue with him even though I have two beautiful children and wouldn’t change that for the world.
“Are we good to go?”
“Yes, I’ve got the key, let’s just pop and check on the girls.”
“Any excuse for another sandwich. Some things don’t change,” he jokes.
“Funny fucker.”
“I do keep you entertained, Boss, you got to admit that.”
“I’m not admitting anything,” I say laughing. “Come on, let’s go.”
We go back over to the canteen where all four girls are seated around the table, Emily, Stacey and Lindsay still eating while Catherine has a cup of coffee cradled in her hands.
Picking up another sandwich, I give Dan a sideways glance and see him smiling from ear to ear. He takes my lead though and picks up one too. Going around the table, I give Emily a kiss on the top of her head and tell her I’ve got more things to do but will be back shortly. She seems fine, a lot calmer now and doesn’t really protest.
“Catherine, can I have a word, a minute?”
“Of course, Andy,” she says smiling.
I walk out into the lounge area and she gets up from the table and follows me.
“Dan and I are going down to the Armoury; we are going to be fifteen minutes or so. Are you okay up here with the girls? Maybe when they finish eating, you can put a DVD on for them out here?”
“Of course, Andy, don’t worry about it. The girls and I will be fine,” she says, her hand curling around my left arm, which feels good.
“Thanks, can you also pull the blinds so they can’t see the courtyard?”
“Good idea,” she agrees, her hand still there.
“Have you seen anything of Sir Malcolm?”
“Only briefly at around 8.30 this morning, he was very offish. He is in his office, I am pretty sure of that.”
“Okay, thanks, Catherine, I’ll go and see him when we get back. We’d better go.”
Her hand slides off my arm, and I go back in give Emily another kiss on the head and grab another sandwich, this time not giving Dan the satisfaction of a look before we move out towards the lift.
“How’s the sandwich?” Dan asks as we are walking, chuckling to himself.
“Leave it!” I reply sternly trying not to chuckle back.
Chapter 12
As we go back out into the mini reception area and towards the lift, I check my phone again, but nothing new has come through. I will try to phone Colonel Reed back as soon as I have a spare minute, and I must try Karen and Jim again when we get back up here with Stacey.
I am surprised Jessica, the children’s mother hasn’t at least been in contact to see if they are okay, but I’m not exactly amazed either. She could be anywhere; she was in Spain the last time we spoke, three or four weeks ago, so she may not even have heard what is going on?
Dan is on his radio checking in with his men. I can hear that there is nothing major new to
