Bobby groaned and began clicking the files on the drive. “This is going to take a while. You sure Jim and Deric can kill that much time?”
Gregg chuckled. “They can be there all night if you need them to be.”
Bobby sighed and settled into the chair. “Good. Because it may well take all night.”
Langley, VA
DERIC PULLED THE box van up to the security gate and handed his ID and repair order to the gate guard. The guard glanced at the documents then pointed to Jim. “I’ll need his as well.”
Jim pulled the clip from his front pocket and handed it to him. “Sorry man. It’s been a long day.” He glanced at the building beyond the massive parking lots. “Any idea where we’re headed?”
The guard compared both men’s IDs to the list then handed them back. “You’ll want to pull around to the back. There’s a loading dock. Security will meet you there and escort you to where you need to be.”
“Thanks.” Deric took both IDs back and put the van into gear. He tapped the brakes as the guard pressed the button, raising the bar blocking the road. He navigated the bulky van around the concrete barriers and felt the truck bounce as they drove over the bastions buried in the road.
Jim leaned back in his seat and glanced out the side mirror. He keyed his coms. “We’re past the gate.”
“Copy that. Proceed to the loading bay.” Gregg’s voice sounded static-filled over the secure channel.
“You really think we’ll be able to pull this off?”
Deric shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time a plan shit the bed.” He shot Jim a crooked grin.
The pair pulled the truck to the rear and wasn’t surprised that two men waited for them, weapons at the ready. Deric backed the truck into the loading bay then slid the driver’s door open. He stepped out and nodded to the security officers. “Evening ‘gents.”
Both men stared on stoically.
Jim pulled open the rear doors of the van and they retrieved their tool belts and tool bags. Before either man left the rear of the van, the security personnel pulled their bags away and searched them. Satisfied that the bags contained non-threatening material, they stepped aside and allowed the techs to enter the loading bay.
“The security sensors are located throughout the building. The main hub is in the basement.”
“Lead the way.” Jim motioned with his hand.
The guard gave him a cautious stare then stepped into the loading area. “Stay with me.” He motioned to the other man behind him and they fell into step with Deric and Jim between them.
They were led to a freight elevator and the guards rode the lift with them to the basement. Jim gave Deric a knowing look, but the other man dismissed it.
As they stepped off of the elevator, the lead security officer held a hand up to stop them. “Everything you do will be monitored. You will have a security officer with you at all times. Every action you take will be announced prior to initiating that action. Are we understood?”
Jim raised a hand shyly. “What if we need to go to the bathroom?”
The guard frowned at him. “At. All. Times. Are we understood?”
Jim glanced to Deric and smiled. “Yeah. I’m good with an audience. You?”
Deric sighed. “Just show us where the control systems are so we can get done and get out of here.”
The man studied them both for a moment then turned and pushed open a steel fire door. “Along the back wall.”
Deric tugged at the broad shoulder strap and approached the units. He dropped his tool bag on the floor and reached for a Phillips screwdriver.
“You are to announce each step before initiating it!” The guard stepped between him and the control unit. Deric took a half step back then glanced at the other guard, who seemed to have the same make, model, and size stick shoved up his ass as well.
“This is going to take all fucking night if you expect me to announce, ‘I’m picking up a screwdriver’ or ‘I’m going to take a reading with my multimeter’ or ‘I’m going to scratch my ass.’” He turned to Jim, who shrugged. “If I told you that I was going to check the DC convertor relay, would you have a fucking clue what I was doing?”
The guard remained stoic, his weapon still held at the ready. Deric glanced to the other guard, who was just as statuesque. “Would you?”
He dropped the screwdriver into the bag and motioned to Jim. “Let’s get the hell out of here. I can’t work like this.” He picked up the tool bag and pointed at the guard. “When the bosses ask tomorrow why the security system is still wonky, I want you to tell them that it’s because you wouldn’t let us do our job.”
Jim turned and headed to the door. “We’ll send the bill for the housecall.”
The second guard stepped into his path. “It’s protocol.”
Deric dropped his bag again. “I don’t give two shits what your protocols are. We have a job to do and likely we’ll be going back and forth between here and the truck a dozen times before the night is over.” He pointed to the ceiling. “In case you haven’t noticed, there are six floors above us and two below. That’s an awful lot of area to cover and an awful lot of separate pieces-parts that could be screwed up. We don’t want to be here for a fucking week, if it’s all the same to you.”
Jim stepped between Deric and the guard. “Look, fellas. It’s been a long day and we’re both tired. I’m sure you don’t want to have to babysit us anymore than we want to be babysat.” He held a hand up to prevent the guard from speaking. “How about, you stand by, do your job, let us do ours and
