The Lab (Closed for Forthinu)

Eric Gatland - Security manager


"Mr Gatland? I need to see you immediately in my lab. Can you come?"
That was the new girl, or rather oman on the phone. She sounded upset; and I wondered what she ran into.
"Sure. What is it?"
 
"Sure. What is it?"

"I've been attacked. Please, i'd rather not talk about it over the phone."
I then gave him my lab room number.

I know Mr Gatland wasn't my favourite person, but he was one of the few people round here who didn't have long hair and that made me feel a certain degree of trust.
 
Eric Gatland

"You have been attacked? I'll be right on."
I called three of the guys to get along with me. I could tackle an intruder rather easily, but I wanted to have people read if the rooms had to be searched.
I hurried up and passed the security gate, there was no damage to be seen. And to open them, you would either need a card or a lot of time and the right tools.
I got in, the lab wasnÄt that big not to find her right away.
 
"Thank you for coming."

"I was getting some samples from here." I showed him on the map where. "but as soon as I entered the room someone came behind me and put a hand over my mouth. He ripped my blouse." I opened my whitecoat to show him the damage "And then he pulled me under the stairs here where it was dark and he...." my voice faultered "he took my top and bra off and ..." I wasn't sure I could go on as it was embarrassing to talk about especially in a room full of men and also the memory was still strong.

I knew I probably looked a mess as my eye make up was smudged
 
Eric Gatland

I didn't budge my face, as she opened her coat and I got a glimpse on her bra. Sure she was quite firm there yet, and I woulnd't mind having a grope. I saw that one of the men, all looking on Miss Dixons chest, was grinning, but a quick blink set him right.
"You two, go forward and search the corridor." I sent two men forward; the long corridor did have some turns but ended under the stairs; if anybody did hide there, he could not escape without passing this room.
"And you-" I sent the other man "-have a look and check if anyone messed with that gate."

So for the moment, I could speak alone with her.
"You know, nobody can enter this rooms without the security-pass. So if anyone attacked you, it had to be one of the staff who got the right password, or it was somebody who stole a card and got access to the password. Did you see who it was, or where he went?"
 
I looked at him and shook my head. "He was behind me and when he wasn't he made sure it was somewhere dark so I could see what he looked like." I thought for a minute and then remembered the kiss. "I know it's probably not much help, but he had long hair."

"I didn't see anyone whilst I was here, but it is like a maze." I shivered at the thought of so many hiding places.

"Do you think he'll try again? Trying to grope me that is?" I needed this job, but as this was the job I was hired for, I doubt it would be looked kindly upon me asking to swap with someone, also I couldn't with a clear consciouns let another female take my place in case it happened to her. But what would I do, risk being attacked again or just leaving and running as far away from this place as I could. At this point in time I wasn't sure.
 
Eric Gatland

I looked around and the man signaled that he didn't find anything at the door. The two others weren't back yet. I started to wonder if she had made up the story. When, why? Just to gain attention? To blame anyone? Was she neurotic? Any cunning plan?
"I only know to longhaired guys around, one is your boss and the other one an assistant that has no access to this part of the lab. But I wonder..." I looked at her sharp. "Do you think anybody has forged a security pass and got somehow access to the passwords, and he infiltrated a hig security lab, and all this just to have a grope on you?"
 
"Do you think anybody has forged a security pass and got somehow access to the passwords, and he infiltrated a hig security lab, and all this just to have a grope on you?"

"How the hell would I know?" I asked, "I only got here yesterday and started today. So I have no idea who knows what passwords or access to what. I can't even find my way around without a map! And I have no idea why anyone would do this to me." I knew the stress was catching up with me and it was frustrating that I was being asked questions I couldn't answer.

"Don't you have security cameras in all the corridors or any that may have picked anything up?" I asked. "Anyone who shouldn't be where they should be?"
 
Eric Gatland

Was she thinking she could tell me what to do?
"I will check the security cameras. But there are reasons we don't have any inside the labs." I looked at the two men returning, shaking their heads.
"So you haven't found anyone? Very well."
 
But there are reasons we don't have any inside the labs."

"I was actully talking about cameras in the corridor, if they caught anyone wondering around." I was beginning to wonder who was in charge of security around her, Mickey Mouse? Yes the corridors were dark, but surely cameras would have been put up to compensate? But I kept my thoughts to myself as I didn't want to get Mr Gatland's back up.

"So you haven't found anyone? Very well."

I actually wasn't very surprised, it was like a maze down there and with the correct passes would have been easy to slip from one place to the next.

"Do I need to imform Dr Wolf of the attack on myself?" I asked wondering what the protocol for this was, or would Mr Gatland just need to put it in a report.
 
(Hehe, that's the trouble with couples sharing one account.)

Eric Gatland

Say, did this bitch try to plot against me? She would better not try.
"No. I want so see you in my office in 15 minutes. There is no way anyone can hide in there, and we will check anywhere else for suspicious persons."
I thought again about the ridiculous rumors. Maybe Woods told her about, very probably he did. He would have taken any opportunuity to make himself looking intersting, to charm a new woman with funny stories and silly smalltalk. Hey, maybe he was involved in that, too, he never liked him. So maybe they thought they could make him ridiculous if they set him on the track of some invented bogeyman. Haha. Think again.
 
I want so see you in my office in 15 minutes
.

"You'll excuse me if I go get changed first." And with that I made my way back to my room.

Once in my room I began shaking with reaction from my ordeal and sat down. I knew I didn't have time for a coffee or tea or even alcohol to calm my nerves. Taking a hold of myself, I made my way to the bathroom and quickly tidied my make up, something that wasn't easy when your hand was shaking.

I put on a new blouse and wondered what to do with the old one. I put it in a plastic bag and put it in my lab pocket. Okay, so maybe i'd watched to many cop shows, but I wasn't sure if Mr Gatland wanted it or not.


I was still surprised by Mr Gatland's reaction to the cameras. It was possible Mr Wolf was old school and spent more money on equipement and less on security, but Mr Gatland reaction still seemed odd, also the way he hadn't asked once if I was okay? Maybe he was the sort of guy who would have been more at home in the 70's.

Checking my watch, I made my way to Mr Gatland's office.
 
Eric Gatland

Of course I had a look over the cameras - and as I expected, I didn't see anybody who did not belong there. And I gave orders to check out that longhaired assistant, although I didn't expect much from that either. And there no reports of anything wrong or unusal. Now I was sure she had made everything up, I just did not know why. But I would know soon, for sure.
"Come in." I said as it knocked.
 
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