Lock-down

“Not another security check?” I asked Charlie, the Firm's guard who stood rigidly in front of the locked door.

“Yep...afraid so....the place is in lock-down. You know the drill,” he said with a sigh, knowing that it would be another missed lunch.

Yeah I knew the drill...standing around while the suits from level 4 swarmed all over the place, poking and prodding until they found something incriminating.  It was happening all too often these days with the economy steadily going into meltdown. 

I  knew all the security guys by name but didn't attempt to start any conversation with them when they were in work mode. Two went straight for the computer terminals and followed their usual routine of checking for any hardware tampering: another went to charm the secretaries who had gathered around the water cooler, hoping to pick up any general gossip: and then there was Gavin. He was a small insignificant looking man but renowned for his unorthodox methods.  If something was amiss, he would discover it.

I prided myself on not being easily intimidated but as he walked purposely towards me with an unsettling smirk on his face, my pulsed quickened.  I had nothing to fear as I'd never sell any secrets to a rival company for a quick buck. I could never understand why anyone would do such a thing. They deserved everything they got in my book.

My would be  inquisitor didn't say a word but gestured towards the door as it opened.  My breath caught in my throat as I saw her standing there.  The one woman who made my life worth living and whose lips I could still feel on my own.

The Boss's wife.

I felt Gavin's eyes boring into me.  “So...where were you last night?”

(Word count: 294)