“What’s going on?” Tom asked.
Veyron shook his head. “We’re in trouble, again.”
“We’re not in trouble,” Elise challenged him. “So long as I can sort this out within the next day or two, everything will be fine.”
“Why, what’s wrong?” Tom poured himself a mug of black coffee. “I’ve been away for an hour setting up the makeshift machinegun turret above the bridge. How much trouble could we have gotten into?”
“Veyron tried the engines,” Elise said, as though that explained everything.
Tom looked at Veyron. “I thought you said everything was working?”
Veyron shook his head. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
“You were wrong?” Tom almost sounded happy at the thought of catching Veyron out for once. “What’s broken?”
“Nothing,” Veyron replied. “Per the computer controls in the bridge they are working perfectly fine.”
“So what’s wrong then?” Tom persisted.
“The computers are! Nothing’s physically working on the diesel engines and now we’re floating ducks in a sea that’s about to freeze over for the oncoming winter. The computers say everything’s working perfectly fine, but the second I try starting the engines, I get nothing.” Veyron’s face took on a new surly nature. “And do you want to know the best part?”
“What?”
“Guess where the access sites to the engine rooms are?”
Elise was grinning, but remained silent. Veyron was a double Doctor
“So, where are the engine room access sites?” Tom asked.
“Inside the crew levels.”
“Oh, good news there,” Tom said. “I just spoke to Gerald and he says he’s got a copy of the security codes.”
“Who’s Gerald?” Elise said.
Tom took a drink of coffee. “He works in security for the cruise ship company that owns the Antarctic Solace.”
Elise shook her head. “Sorry, and he has the security codes — to what?”
“Everything,” Tom replied. “The backup digital security tapes, the elevators, the crew living quarters — everything. He told me he had them in a spreadsheet on a memory stick in his drawer in case there’s ever an emergency where people need to gain immediate access.”
“So, where’s he been for the past few days?” Veyron asked. “Why are we only just now hearing of this?”
“He said he’s been on vacation and returned to the office last night, or this morning our time?” Tom looked at Elise’s face, beaming with relief. “I thought you might be happy.”
“You’ve got the codes?” Elise said.
“Should have,” Tom replied. “Gerald said he’d email them to me straight away.”
Elise pushed her laptop towards Tom. “Log in here and download them now.”
Tom quickly typed in his details, found the email and downloaded the spreadsheet. He clicked print and the entire list of codes to the ship was printed on a single page.
Elise picked the page up, read the first couple lines and said, “All right gentlemen, it’s time to get some answers.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
There were two elevators in the middle of the Antarctic Solace and one at each end of the ship. Tom entered one of the main elevator doors in the middle of the ship with Veyron. It was modern with a full length mirror extending to the floor on the inside and a recent digital photo of both the Arctic and Antarctic landscape. A security camera in the far corner still displayed its red light indicating it was recording. Both men held Israeli built Uzis. Each of them carried an additional four magazines, each one loaded with thirty two 9mm rounds.
Of the two men in the mirror, Tom looked taller and despite his muscles he appeared thinner. Veyron, on the other hand, appeared shorter, but not much at six foot three inches; he was also obviously heavier. Once a successful heavyweight boxer, Veyron would now be considered overweight. Beneath the excess body fat he still maintained extraordinary strength and agility. Despite Tom’s military training, he correctly guessed Veyron would be the one who was more dangerous in a fight.
Elise handed them both a security card with the code imbedded into a microchip inside. “These cards should grant you access to every location on board this ship.”
“Everything?” Tom asked.
“Anything on the list Gerald provided you with from the Captain’s quarters, right down to the cleaner’s storeroom.”
“You’re not coming with us?” Veyron asked, holding his Uzi cheerfully.
“No. I’ll keep an eye on you from the computer station.” Elise had a wry smile. “Besides, you don’t want to leave the entire topside of the Antarctic Solace unmanned if THEY return, do you?”
“Good point.” Tom looked at her. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Are you kidding me?” Elise replied. “I’ll be fine.”
“We’ll start at the bottom level,” Veyron said. “From the engine room we’ll work our way up so we don’t miss anyone. Elise, you’re certain you’ve put the other two elevators out of action?”
“Certain. I’ve disconnected power to them. They’re not going up or down anytime soon.”
“Good,” Veyron said. “And you can stop the doors from opening on any of the main passenger levels?”
“It’s already done, Veyron.” Elise reached for the Uzi attached to her right thigh. “The only place anyone’s getting from the crew decks to the passenger decks is through the doors of these two elevators on this level. And I’ll be watching from this level — don’t worry, I don’t want a loose rat running through this ship any more than you do.”
“Good,” Veyron said. “Then I think we’re ready, Tom.”
Elise noticed the red light on in the elevator’s security camera. “Has that always been on?”
“I don’t know,” Tom said. “I just noticed it when we opened the elevator doors. Why?”
“It means I should be able to access the camera and visualize the elevator. I have access to every other camera that’s currently active,” Elise said. “But I don’t have access to that camera.”
“So, what’s it doing there?” Tom asked.
Veyron removed the safety from his Uzi. “It means someone else is watching us.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
The elevator descended past the second deck, where the main living quarters for crew and entertainers were. It then carried on down to the lowest deck. Per the ship’s schematics this level opened to the engine room. The plan was to clear out the lowest level first and then work their way back up.
Tom looked at Veyron. “Are you ready?”
“No, but I don’t have any other choices, so let’s get this over and done with.”
Tom switched the safety to off and held his trigger finger at the ready. “All right, here we go.”
The elevator came to a stop at the lowest floor. The engine room was located two stories below the ship’s waterline. A terrifying thought as the elevator doors remained closed. Veyron hit the door release button and the doors opened — to a completely dark room.
“Well that’s perfect!” Veyron said.
Tom switched on the flashlight at the end of his Uzi. The light barely reached the end of the room and there were more shadows than areas able to be seen. “Hey, if anyone’s down here, my name’s Tom and this is Veyron. We’re the good guys. We’re here to help.”