With a quick glance over her shoulder, Scarlett moved forwards to stand beside Tim. “Tim, is there nothing you can do? He’s obviously fond of the cat. No one can see us, can they?”
Ronnie and Raven looked at him with pleading eyes.
“Oh, okay then. Whatever you say, but let’s go.”
Ronnie gave Raven the thumbs up sign.
Once all three of them were out in the corridor and Ronnie’s cage was closed, Tim took out the card and held it against the pad at the front of Raven’s cage. When nothing happened, Tim screwed his eyes and started tapping his fingers impatiently on the wall. “Come on, come on, open up!”
When, thirty seconds later, the cage still didn’t unlock, Tim returned the card to the pad. “Strange,” he said, shaking his head.
Noticing Tim’s worried expression, Scarlett moved up close. “Tim, what is it?”
“It’s not opening. I’ll try one more time.” Tim raised the card to the pad for a third time, but it was no good. He folded his arms and gave the matter some thought. “Oh, of course!”
“What, what is it?”
“The silent alarm must have been tripped, which means the entire facility will be shut down in no time.”
Scarlett looked aghast. She’d only come to rescue Ronnie and now it seemed all three of them were going to end up in hot water. Noticing the worried expression on Tim’s face, Scarlett felt a shiver of panic.
A heavy door clanged shut somewhere behind them and Scarlett glanced at Tim, hoping for some reassurances that they weren’t sealed in. But Tim’s face was completely expressionless.
“Excuse me!”
Each of them swung round to look at Raven, Ronnie grinning. “Yes, Raven, what is it?”
“You’ll have to hotwire the keypad. It’s the only way of getting out.”
“Really?” Ronnie glanced at the others. “Okay, stand back then.”
“What are you doing?” said Tim, as he pulled his keys from his pocket and pried open the pad. “Smashing it won’t help, this requires delicate surgery… I don’t suppose anyone knows how to do the rewiring, do they?”
“Okay, Scarlett, listen to me.”
Scarlett jumped out her skin at the sound of the voice behind her, or was it in her head?
“Yes, it’s me, Raven. Don’t turn around. From what I’ve seen so far, I think you’ll be the best person for this job, so do exactly as I say. You got that?”
“Y-Yes.”
Scarlett stepped forward, looked at the mess of wires, and did exactly as instructed by Raven. The moment she began the intricate task, the reality of the situation faded and she became like a kid who’s just discovered that Santa is real and is planning a journey to visit.
No one was ever going to believe that she—Scarlett Slater—was in a secure military facility, shorting a security pad under the guidance of a talking cat. In years to come, she’d tell the story to her grandchildren and they’d laugh, saying it was too unrealistic.
“How’s it going?” Tim whispered, looking over Scarlett’s shoulder.
“Nearly done. I’d never have believed that I was capable of doing something like this.”
“You amaze me.”
“Shhh.” Raven motioned to Tim.
“That’s it, finished.” Scarlett stood back and waited with bated breath. When nothing happened, she frowned and was about to start readjusting the wires when the door buzzed, clicked into life and slid open.
Scarlett turned to face the way they’d come. “This way, follow me.”
Tim grabbed her arm. “No, wait. The main door is locked down.” He frowned. “I’m afraid we’re trapped in the lab.”
“Excuse me.”
Everyone turned to look at Raven who was in a great mood and exuding calm confidence in this mess. “Excuse me, but there is another way out of here, but you must follow me now.”
Tim jumped out in front. “No, wait. I have to return Moseley’s pass first. Wait here, everyone.”
Raven shook her head. “No, we’re coming with you. All for one and all that.”
They followed Tim along the corridor to Moseley’s office. Hiding behind the door, backs pressed to the wall, still as statues, they held their breath as Tim crept in and carefully exchanged the passes again. Moseley was nowhere to be found, which was either good or bad, depending.
Tim a smile. “Well, that solves that problem.”
Raven assumed command. “This way, come on, follow me.”
It was apparent to Scarlett right from the get go that there were parts of the building even Tim was unfamiliar with. His expression, the way he kept widening his eyes and shaking his head, told her he was as surprised as anyone about how much Raven knew.
She took them through a labyrinth of old, abandoned offices, with cobwebs on the wall and a layer of dust on the desks. Some dusty, half empty bottles lined the shelves, holding some kind of liquid that looked years beyond its sell by date.
“This way. Keep moving.” They followed her through one set of offices, where she paused for Tim to open a door that led to the next. Scarlett took one step through the door and covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh my God,” she said, looking down at the cockroaches running around in some kind of spillage. And the smell. It was quite unlike anything she’d ever smelt before.
Entering the room, Scarlett caught sight of something that was lying in a heap beside the opposite wall. Whatever it was, she just didn’t want to know. Focusing her eyes out in front, she proceeded forward to the exit.
As they opened the door, a loud alarm started to sound. “Let’s move,” yelled Tim.
Once outside, Scarlett doubled over and took a deep gulp of air. “I am never stepping foot in that place again.”
Raven looked up at her, grinning.
+++
Outside RAF Bicester, Launton
Staring through the windscreen, Karl saw some movement outside the base.
“What is it, Karl?” Tabitha said, leaning forward. “You seen something?”
“Not sure just yet.”
“Oh, well let’s hope.” Tabitha leaned forward as far as the gap between the front seats would allow her.
After five minutes of staring in silence, they heard footsteps, followed shortly by voices.
Karl unlocked the door. “It’s them.”
“Oh, thank God.” Tabitha looked up at the ceiling.
Waiting for them to emerge through the gates, Karl opened the door and stepped out into the night. Before he’d even taken two steps, he heard Tabitha telling Tarquin how worried she’d been, with concern rather than panic in her voice. Although Karl couldn’t hear exactly what was being said, Tarquin’s tone of voice suggested he was offering some reassurances.
“Scarlett!” Karl dashed towards them feeling an unusual and overwhelming sense of relief and happiness. “Thank God you made it out in one piece. And Ronnie, oh my, you’re a mess aren’t you? Come on, let me help you.” He took his arm to help Ronnie get steady.
Something furry brushed against Karl’s leg, making him jump. “What the—”
Ronnie grinned at Raven, then looked at Karl. “This is Raven. She helped us escape, we wouldn’t have got out at all if it hadn’t been for her.”
Karl looked down at the cat, confused.
Raven grinned at his expression. “Don’t mind me. I’m just a talking cat.”
Karl smiled. What a strange night it had been.
The back door of the car opened and Tabitha stepped out. “Oh, I’m so glad you made it! We were so worried when the spell quit.” She rushed towards them and wrapped her arms around Scarlett. “Come on, get in and warm up. You’re shaking with cold aren’t you?”
Scarlett nodded.
In no time at all, Scarlett, Ronnie, and Raven were all crammed in the back seat with Tabitha.
Tarquin was now up front with Karl.
“I’ll see you later alright?” Tim leaned in and kissed Scarlett on the lips.
“Yes, pleas
e. And Tim, thank you so much for doing this” She squeezed his hand.
“Oh well, no time for this now. I’ll go get my car now and follow you.”
Scarlett smiled at him. “Drive carefully.”
As soon as the door thudded shut, Karl fastened his seatbelt, reversed and turned the car round. “Okay, hold on to your seats everyone.”
They all went quiet and, although he couldn’t see it, Karl got a sense that each of them looked terrified.
Rushing along the road, the car clunking every time Karl changed gear, Scarlett looked out through the window, wanting to be the first to see if Tim passed them. The hedges separating the road from the farmers’ fields passed by. Taillights out in the distance got closer by the second, but still no Tim.
“Where is he?” Scarlett asked, worried.
Karl shot a glance in the wing mirror. “Oh, he’s behind us, don’t worry.”
When they reached a set of lights, a streetlight shone in on Tabitha. Noticing her weary expression, Scarlett leaned in to ask if she was okay.
“Yes, I am now. Now you’re all safe. But it was a close thing and it took an enormous amount of energy.”
Scarlett gasped. “Yes, I can see that.”
+++
Secure Facility, RAF Bicester, Launton
Moseley chinked his spoon around the mug and was about to head back to his desk when a strange sound pervaded the heavy fire door. He held his breath and decided that he must be imagining things. Too much coffee with too little sleep. Stepping from the mess, he told himself that he’d make this his final mug of coffee and then head off home. He owed it to his hostiles to be at his very best, he thought, grinning.
The hot, bitter liquid swirled round in his mouth as he headed towards his cubicle. The he heard the sound again, louder this time. He paused, rooted to the spot, blanking out all the night time noises coming from inside and outside the lab.
It was still there. Quickening his pace, he got back to his desk and had just placed his mug down on his desk when the sound got louder. Definitely the alarm; either someone had broken in, or one of the hostiles had broken out. As grave a security breach as this was, Moseley grinned. When he got hold of the culprit, he was going to have a lot of fun punishing them. He reached for his electric cattle prod by the wall.
He looked around to get an idea of where the alarm might be coming from. Hopefully, he’d catch them red-handed and he could administer some punishment before he went home.
The alarm grew louder. This was serious. If whoever it was had managed to break out of the facility, it was going to be his head on the block. And if they went on some kind of killing spree... He couldn’t let that happen. He’d be stripped of his position, he’d never get to work with hostiles again, he’d…
The alarm blasted out around the facility, full force now. Covering his ears, Moseley left his office and dashed along the row of glass enclosures, heart pounding, mouth dry, expression awash with panic. Everything appeared to be to be in order. Assuming the breakout to be on another floor, he continued straight for the door without noticing the two empty cages.
He’d only taken a couple of steps into the neighboring laboratory when he came across a group of soldiers, laughing and joking, strolling towards him without a care in the world. They saw Moseley and saluted.
“What in the devil’s going on?” he demanded.
The soldiers shrugged.
“Can’t you hear the alarm?”
“What alarm?”
Moseley thrust out an arm towards the source of the noise. “That alarm.”
“Oh, that.” The soldiers chuckled.
“Yes, that.” He glared at each of them I turn. “Do none of you have any idea of what happened? How can this be?”
“Well, I think it came from down that way, sir.” The soldier pointed in the direction of the alarm. “That’s where we were heading.”
“Well what are you doing just standing here? Go and have a look already!”
He continued to stride through the deserted laboratory, finding the secure elevator to be on the top floor. He pressed the button and waited patiently for it to descend. It was only once it pinged and came to a halt that he delved into his jacket pocket. “Damn,” he muttered to himself, “I must have left it back in my office.” There was no time to go back to fetch it.
A soldier saluted as he passed. “Hey there! Do you have your badge with you?”
“Yes, sir.”
Moseley held out this hand. “Give it here.”
The soldier fumbled around in his pocket, dropped the pass onto Moseley’s sweaty palm and grinned, nervously.
“Dismissed. Go on, about your way. I need the culprit found before it’s too late. God only knows what will happen if there’s an escape.”
Moseley held the card against the pad and waited for the elevator to return, glancing across his shoulder every few seconds, wringing his hands behind his back.
Another group of soldiers was waiting for the elevator on the upper floor. “Does anyone know what’s going on?” Moseley barked.
They shook their heads. “Nothing to see on this floor, sir. We were just on our way to the basement to see what we can find down there.”
“Nothing to see down there either, but you go on. I may have missed something.”
Strolling along the assessment aisle, Moseley let his mind wander. If no one had seen or heard anything, maybe it had been a false alarm. He’d meant to have the engineers in to give the thing the once over, but had kept putting it off. First thing in the morning, once the emergency had been dealt with, he was going to arrange for it to be done.
In contrast to the basement, everyone in assessment was awake. Some of them ran around in their cages, thumping and clanging on the glass. Some of them crouched, cowering at the back of the enclosure. Coming across one of them that looked like he had his wits about him, Moseley banged on the bars with his baton.
“Come here.”
The man, elderly, with long gray hair and wild eyes, crawled towards the front of the cage.
“Can you tell me what’s going on?”
Staring right through Moseley as if he didn’t exist, the man shook his head.
“Well, did you see who escaped?”
The man shook his head again.
Moseley reached through the food door of the cage, grabbed a fistful of hair, and pulled the man towards him. “Listen, if I find out you’re lying to me, I’ll make sure your assessment is extra painful and your tests—let’s just say it will be an experience you’ll never forget. Now then, freak, can you tell me what’s going on?”
The man stared at him with a blank expression.
“Oh—” Moseley shoved the man, sending him tumbling down on his ass, “you’re no good.” He continued along the aisle, looking out for anyone that might be with-it enough to tell him what had happened.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Secure Facility, RAF Bicester, Launton
Moseley reached the end of the assessment aisle and turned around, eyes darting around as he walked, just to make sure he hadn’t missed anything the previous times he’d passed. And just as before, everything looked in order. By the time he approached the end of the aisle for the third time, Moseley’s expression had turned to one of resignation. He reached out and clanged his baton against the glass of one of the cages. The inhabitant sprung to its feet, ran to the front and glared at Moseley through the glass.
Moseley opened one of the hatches for delivering food and struck him across the shoulder with his electric probe, laughing when it screamed. For two minutes, he stood watching it writhe around its cage in agony, before continuing towards the elevator.
Everything had gone quiet in the basement, the alarm reduced to a periodic whimper. Passing a group of soldiers on the way to his desk, he stopped to ask them if they’d seen anything.
“No, sir.”
“Oh well, I thought not. On your way.”
Moseley marched back into his cub
icle, sat down at his computer. He wiped the sweat from his face with the sleeve of his white lab coat and reached over to switch on his computer. It seemed to take longer than normal to start up.
“Come on,” he growled in frustration. When finally, the computer declared itself ready for use, Moseley leaned over, grasped the mouse and began checking the system files, trying not to breathe in the smell of coffee that was emanating from the cold mug in front of him.
Shaking his head, he clicked on the button, proceeded to the next record and shook his head again. It seemed like ages since he’d sat at his desk, going through the images of the tortured hostiles with Tim, though he knew it had only been a few hours. Now he was searching for something altogether different.
“What the…?” Moseley narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, peering at the screen in front of him. This can’t be right. The number on the screen corresponded with his own. No, this can’t be right. Leaning right in, he re-read the number for a second time, and then a third, comparing each digit with the corresponding number etched in his memory.
There must be a malfunction. The alarm must have got into the system in some way. Or maybe the alarm was the result of a system malfunctioning. He sat staring up at the ceiling, his mind flicking over all the possibilities. But it always came back to the same thing. His card had been used to open a series of access points, including two of the cages.
He replayed the night’s events. He’d been sitting at his desk. Tim showed up. He got up to make a coffee. The night watch came through a few times. Maybe he’d dropped the card when he was pacing along the aisle earlier. But then if he had, surely he would have noticed it. Or someone would have picked it up. Sitting down, he dropped his chin into his hands and tried to recall the last time he’d seen it. He checked his desk drawer where it was usually kept, not actually expecting to find his card, yet it was there. The system must be malfunctioning, and maybe it was this that had caused the alarm to trigger.
Wearing a smug grin, Moseley sat back down at his desk. In all likelihood, it was a malfunction, but he had to make absolutely sure. Once this got out, he’d have some explaining to do so he had to ensure he’d covered all angles. Thinking back once more, he recalled in more detail the conversation he’d had with Tim.
Mauve (A Very British Witch Book 3) Page 15
