Apocalypse Aftermath (13 page)

“Remote but not too remote.”

“You got it.  It should work out well for what we need it for now.”

Jessica nodded and fell silent.  The road stretched straight back through the trees quite a ways, well past a mile, until she finally saw a heavy duty chain link fence up ahead.  The trees ended about fifty feet from the fence to reveal neatly trimmed grass and the entire facility.

It was larger than Jessica had expected.  There was a three story building that looked remarkably like a hotel, save for any sort of signage indicating it was owned by any hospitality company.  Two other buildings, sheet metal braced with wood, were off to the right of the taller building, and behind all three she saw a huge expanse of land.  There were some sections that had been cleared down to dirt back there, and in places she saw some white and silver colored posts she couldn’t figure out.

The road was laid to roll right up to the tall building, which had a covered drive-through area at the front and a parking lot with what looked like thirty or thirty-five spaces.  There was a second length of pavement that connected the other two buildings to the entrance.  A pair of small wooden buildings,
well-constructed but barely large enough for a single person to fit inside, stood to the side of the gate on both sides of the fence.  The gate itself had a large sign, white metal with raised black lettering that was reflective to be extra attention gathering.

Eagle Security and Executive Protection

Knoxville Training Facility and Firing Range

Private Property – no trespassing beyond this point

Warning – firearms are in use

Please use call box to announce yourself.

“Okay, sit tight.” Austin said as he stopped ten feet from the gate.  He checked the area carefully, then slid out.  Jessica glanced around, then back to him as he went over to the outside guard house and opened the door.  She noticed he stood back from the door as he opened it, his hand hovering near his weapons, and waited several seconds before stepping into the doorway.  After a few seconds the gate began rolling back, and he came out.

“Who’s that on the roof?” Candice asked as Austin walked back.

Jessica looked around, then noticed a figure on top of the tall building.  Whoever it was crouched on the near edge, studying the convoy.  They weren’t doing anything aside from watching.  “I don’t know.”

“Can I ask Austin?”

“It’s probably someone who works for Eagle.”

“How can you know?”

“Okay, ask Austin then.” Jessica said, though she felt certain the man already knew someone was on the roof.  He had demonstrated far too much competence for her to expect him to have missed the rooftop observer.

“Who’s that up there?” Candice asked Austin when he reached the SUV and opened the door.

“Up there?” he said, looking up at the roof as he got in.

“Yes.”

“I’m not sure yet, but if I had to guess I’d say it’s probably Lori.”

“Who’s Lori?”

“Lori is one of the instructors who works here.”

“What does she teach?”

“Hang on a second girlie-girl.” Austin said.  He reached for his radio and pressed the button.  “Scott, Carter.”

“Right here.”

“When you’re through, stop and close the gate.  It’s the big green button.  Works just like a garage door opener.”

“Got it.”

Austin released the radio and put the SUV in gear.  “Lori teaches marksmanship and firearms maintenance.”

“What’s marksmanship?”

“Shooting guns.”

“A girl?” Candice asked after a few moments, after the SUV had cleared the gate.

“Sure, why not?”

“I . . . I don’t know.  It just seems odd.”

“Well, I think you might like Lori.” Austin said as he followed the road.  “She’s tough.”

“Tough like you.”

“Oh yeah.” Austin said, his tone pitched to convey understatement.

Jessica found herself smiling.  “She must be quite a woman.”

“Oh yeah.” he repeated.

“You’re pretty tough.” Candice said as they reached the shaded area under the tall building’s drive-through.

“So is Lori.”

“Wow.”

“Wow indeed.” Austin said, shutting the SUV off for the first time since they’d left Johns Creek and turning to wink at her.  Candice giggled, and he made his eyebrows wiggle up and down a few times before turning to look around outside his window.  He checked, but it was a quicker check than he normally made before he opened the door.

Jessica looked out her own window as she spotted movement, her heart lurching for a moment.  But it wasn’t a zombie, just a normal looking man who was maybe in his mid or late forties coming out of the building’s double glass doors.  They slid back automatically as he emerged.  A handsome exterior rug was positioned in front of them, embroidered with the ESEP emblem.  She saw what looked like a typical – though upscale – corporate lobby inside behind him.  Sculpted hedges and flowerbeds bordered the base of the walls to either side, and she saw every sign the building was carefully and attentively maintained.  The paint was fresh and there were no imperfections in the
underlying surface to ruin the image.

“Are we getting out?”
Candice asked.

“Yes.” Jessica said, shaking herself a little mentally.  She reached down beside the seat and lifted the cane Dennis had given her back at his house.  She looked around again, but except for the man standing at the doors and Austin coming around the front of the SUV, it was clear.  She opened the door and swiveled her legs out.  As she eased her weight down on her right leg and got the cane propped under her in her left hand, she heard Austin talking to the man.

“Who’s that up on the roof?”

“Lori, who else?”

“Figures.  What’s the story here?”

“Danny and Charlotte are no-shows; well Danny was here up until Saturday afternoon, but he split when the news indicated it was getting bad.  Charlotte never came back after Friday night.”

Austin glanced at the other convoy vehicles as they pulled up under the drive-through.  It was wide enough for them to fit three abreast, and long enough for all of them to park beneath it.  “So you and Lori are it?”

“Well, I had my wife come in Saturday morning with my son, but yeah.”  He laughed, though it was a tense one.  “Whatever Lori tells you when you talk to her, she’s happy y’all are here.  Especially you.”

“I’ll bet.”

Jessica stood carefully, wary of the long spell of sitting having made her stiff.  It was hot, at least a few degrees warmer than she remembered Atlanta being.  The air was thick and heavy even with the gusting, gentle breeze moving it across the grounds from one side of the cleared area to the other.  She took a limping step away from the door to make room for Candice to slide down out of the SUV.  “Candy Bear, can you dig my purse out from beneath the seat?”

“Sure.” the girl turned and looked under the seat, then reached beneath it and tugged the bag out.  “Here.”

“Thank you.” Jessica dropped the strap over herself and positioned the purse to hang on her right side, where it was out of the way of her cane.
  She also made sure the purse was in front of the holstered pistol, so it wasn’t in the way of her getting at the gun.

“Mr. Farring, good to see you again.” Tyler said, holding his hand out as he appeared from the back of the SUV.

“Mr. Morris, sure am glad to see more folks.  Things were getting a little spooky, you know?”

“I do.” Tyler nodded.  Doors were opening and engines were shutting off as everyone else parked and began exiting the vehicles.  “Any problems on-site?”

“No, not so far.”

“No issues with . . . zombies?”

“Not yet.” Farring shook his head.  “Well, I mean, I think Lori had to take a few shots at something last night, but even with that it’s been quiet.”

“Good.”  Tyler turned and raised his voice.  “I’m sure more than a few of us would like to use the bathroom and get something to drink.  There are restrooms and water fountains inside.  Gather in the lobby here when you’re done while we start getting organized.”

“Mom, what about our suitcase?” Candice asked, tugging lightly on Jessica’s shirt hem.

Jessica was only just starting to consider whether or not she thought she could manage the suitcase along with her cane when Austin moved closer.  “Need a hand?”

She looked up at him with a smile.  “You don’t mind?”

“Of course not.” he shook his head.  “Think I’m going to stand around
while girlie-girl here has to struggle with it?”

“I can carry it.”

“I’m sure you can.” Jessica said to Candice.  “But it’s heavy, so why don’t we let Austin help us, since he’s offering?”

“Okay.”

Austin retrieved the case from the back of the SUV and gestured inside.  Jessica waited for the others to file through the double doors, then limped in after them.  It only took a couple of steps before her knee began transitioning from aching to actually hurting, even though she was barely putting any weight on it at all.  She suppressed the urge to let her face show the discomfort as she entered the building.  A solid wall of heavily conditioned air met her as she limped through the glass doors, cooler even than Austin had set the SUV’s at.

The lobby was spacious and littered with tastefully arranged couches and cushioned chairs, mostly positioned around low glass topped tables.  A long wooden counter – stained and burnished to a rich, deep gloss – dominated the right side of the large room.  The walls behind and to either side of the counter had pieces of what Jessica always thought of as ‘We’re Awesome’ art hanging; framed news articles, advertising portraits and awards from this organization or that which each proclaimed the value and worth of Eagle Security.  The corporate logo was etched into the wood paneling dead center behind the counter, where she saw a high backed receptionist’s chair was positioned.

Corridors stretched off in both directions; two on the side opposite the counter, and one just past it heading right.  Discrete signs labeled what was located along each; meeting rooms, restrooms, stairs, and building services.  A single elevator was on the left wall, its doors standing open.  There was a general flow in the direction of the closest left side corridor, which was marked for restrooms.

“I have to use the bathroom.” Jessica said, mostly for Candice’s benefit.  She
did
have to go, but she figured the girl certainly did as well.  The trip down had been long and without any comfort breaks.  For that reason she had kept Candice from drinking more than a few sips of water, but it was past mid-afternoon now, and that was a long time for a ten-year-old to hold it.

“Good, so do I.” Candice agreed.

“I’ll just leave this here.” Austin said, setting the suitcase down next to a leather couch.  “And I’ll save your seats.”

“You’re spoiling us.” Jessica told him.

“Not yet.” he grinned.

Jessica shook her head in amusement, but she looked around again and felt the frown coming on.  “Austin.”

He gave her a curious look, and she leaned closer to him.  “How sure are you it’s safe here?”

“Isaac would have told me if there were any problems.”

“But—”

He shook his head gently.  “Jessica, honest.  This isn’t a bank or a jail, but it’s a secure facility.”  She looked at him silently, wanting to believe, but unable to just take his word for it.  “Look, the fence is solid and sturdy.  There’s a top grade surveillance system that includes cameras and microphones on the grounds inside the fence, with more covering the buildings.  And every building is alarmed.”

“Why?”

“There are some ATF and other state and federal regulations involved, because we keep and operate weapons.  But honestly, insurance is the big one.  My understanding is the policy savings paid back all the capital investment pretty quickly, because the insurer gives a break if they figure it’s less likely they’ll have to actually cut any checks.”

“I need to be sure.”

“The building is secure and clear.  And before dark I’m going to have some people standing watch that’ll make sure nothing gets near us without being seen.”

She just looked at him.  She wanted to believe.  The risk of being wrong was so terrible though.  She glanced down the corridor where people were disappearing into the bathrooms.  For a change, there was a line outside the men’s room, but she saw a woman disappearing through the door to the ladies’.  She listened, trying not to chew on her lip, but no sign of problems erupted.  No screaming, no blood, no nothing.

“Tell you what.” Austin said after a few moments.  “Do you agree the restrooms, at least, are okay at the moment?”

“Yes.” she said slowly, unwillingly but unable to point to anything that disputed the evidence things seemed normal down that hallway.

“Okay.  So you two use the restroom, and come back out here with everyone.  Mr. Morris and I will get started on organizing everyone, and the first thing I’ll do is sweep the entire building.  Someone will lay eyes on every corner of every room and confirm all is well, before you and Candice have to leave the lobby.  How’s that sound.”