The Sacred Vault_ A Novel - Andy McDermott [71]
But he couldn’t wait long. Every passing second was another slice off Zec’s deadline.
He arrived at the security station. ‘Evening, Lou. Henri.’
‘Workin’ late, Eddie?’ Jablonsky asked. Vernio looked up from the Nintendo DS he was using as a boredom-buster and nodded in greeting.
‘Yeah. Nina’s engrossed in some ancient wotsit or other. She asked me to check some files for her. It’s a glamorous job, being the special assistant to the director, eh?’
Jablonsky smiled, gesturing to the computer. ‘What do you need?’
Eddie inserted his ID and gave him the appropriate locker numbers. Vernio checked them on the screen. Tension rose up the Englishman’s spine. If Lola’s use of Nina’s security code had been discovered . . .
He couldn’t see the screen directly, but a faint wash of green over the Haitian’s face was enough to tell him that he had been approved. ‘Huh,’ said Jablonsky. ‘Lola just put some files in those lockers.’
‘You know how it goes,’ said Eddie, shrugging. ‘These scientist types: “I’ve finished with those, send them downstairs,” then half an hour later it’s, “Oh, I need to check that thing again, can you go and get it?” Still, at least I only need to take notes instead of faffing about signing ’em out of the vault.’
‘Small mercies, huh?’ Jablonsky let him through the gate and started down the central aisle. ‘This way.’
Eddie glanced towards the vault door as they turned off into one of the side stacks, navigating the maze until they reached the first locker on Eddie’s list. Jablonsky used a key attached to an extending chain on his belt to open it. One of the items inside was a large box file, held closed with an elastic band.
The guard moved to retrieve it, but Eddie stepped forward, putting down the briefcase. ‘It’s okay, mate. I’ll get it.’ He reached into the locker for the file - and while the other man’s view was obstructed, he surreptitiously jammed a rolled-up piece of cardboard into the rectangular slot in the lock plate.
The box file was heavy and awkward, an object clunking about inside. ‘Okay,’ he said, backing up. Jablonsky closed the door. It clicked. Eddie’s heart froze for a moment - if he couldn’t get back into the locker without a security key, it would seriously complicate things . . .
A thin line of cardboard was barely visible in the gap between the door and the frame, the bolt pressed against it. It had worked - just.
Covering his relief, he picked up the briefcase and followed Jablonsky to the next locker. No need to jam this one, as its contents were only a decoy, a collection of documents plucked from Nina’s office at random. This time, he allowed the security guard to collect them for him. The locker closed, they headed for the reading area, Eddie glancing up at the cameras along the route. The other guard would be watching him - but so would his friends.
He hoped Rad was as good as he claimed.
‘Here you go, Eddie,’ said Jablonsky. The reading area, a series of booths with high sides for privacy while reading classified material, was fortunately empty. ‘Sit where you like. When you’re finished, just wave - one of us’ll come get you.’ He indicated a camera, positioned so that while it couldn’t see anything being read, any occupants of the booths were still visible.
‘Cheers.’ Eddie went to the booth furthest from the main entrance and sat, putting down the briefcase and the box file and spreading the papers across the desktop. He made a show of finding some specific page until Jablonsky was out of sight, then opened the file.
Inside were two items: a three-litre plastic container of a thick transparent liquid, and an earpiece, taped to the top of the box. He removed the latter, tapping it twice as a signal before pushing it into his right ear.
‘Eddie, are you there?’ Karima. Her voice was distorted, his underground location making the signal crackle. ‘If you can hear me, give me a microphone check.’ He hummed