17.00. The man steps up to the lectern and opens the
Media Conference. The room has had to be changed because of the level of
interest not just from the UK media but international journalists as well. To calm
the level of noise and excitement the man goes through the traditional start
reading out the statement for activities for the week before signaling that the
questions can begin.
17.05. The people in the shop are complaining about
not being let out onto the street. They are objecting to being questioned
despite having been shown ‘some form’ of identification. Two of the team are
reviewing the internal CCTV. They note the behavior of the group of young
people and quickly assess the situation and what has happened. Only the Leader
of the team knows why they all have to wear the surgical gloves.
17.10. Faith and I have feedback from our group in
Oxford Street. They have not been able to get into the store as the shutters
are down. One of the team says he is sure that he has seen an agent he
recognised inside the shop. Somehow they have got there ahead of us again. As
we curse the Minister’s superior walks in and glances around. The remainder of
the CRISIS committee suddenly become animated and start barking orders.
17.15. The media conference has been dominated by the
Minister’s death. The questions started respectfully but have now become more
pointed and the first reporter for an online publication risks asking about the
rumours. The man chairing from the lectern says he will not even ask the
representative from the organisation ‘respond to such speculation’. The
journalist sits and wonders whether he can
ask his questions with such little substance behind it.
17.20. The bus has arrived at the terminus. The driver
glances at the screen displaying the internal views of the bus. There is a shape
at the back of the ground deck. The driver jumps out of his seat and walks to
the rear. ‘Excuse me,’ he says, ‘end of the line I’m afraid. You’ll have to get
off here.’ As he gets no response he leans forwards pushes the slumped figure.
The next thing he remembers is screaming.
17.25. He sits and considers how he will take out the
next contract. There has been no sign of either of them since they stepped out
onto the balcony and the hotel now has police officers inside. It didn’t take
them too long to work out which building the shot had to come from but they are
on the wrong floor. With this much activity he is going to have to be really
careful.
17.30. Everyone has been let out of the store and the
Zurich team are explaining to the staff that they will have to be extra
vigilant. They don’t of course but the team has used their ‘identification’ as
members of the Anti Terrorism Squad. Although unnerved most of the staff feel
somewhat excited to be trusted with such work. The security guard in particular
thinks this is the sort of work he should really be doing.
17.35. The bus driver is explaining to the police what
happened. Meanwhile the ambulance crew have called back to the hospital to say
that they have never seen anything like this and need advice. On the bus, in a
taped off area, Tracey-Rebecca is dead. Her face is covered with pustules that
have hideously deformed her skin which, once clear, now is shaded with purple
and black.
17.40. The lads and girls have walked then length of
Oxford Street and gone to sit in Hyde Park. As they are messing about the boy
with the USB stick produces it. ‘Where’d you get that?’ As he explains the
others start laughing. That’ll teach the staff to hassle them. It’s tossed from
one to another until one of the girls finally asks the question, ‘I wonder
what’s on it?’
17.45. The dead Minister’s Superior has spoken to a
handful of the CRISIS committee and then makes a bee line for Faith. It’s
amazing how powerful people know automatically where the real power is. He
ushers her away from me and they have a quiet conversation. At one point
Faith’s face gives away a moment of surprise before almost immediately resuming
the professional air.
17.50. The depot is now shut and taped off whilst
people in white suits and face masks work feverishly on the bus. The driver has
been taken into quarantine along with those people he has spoken to. A press
announcement is prepared to request everyone who was on that bus to go to a
named hospital. How do you say that without causing a panic? Meanwhile at
hundreds of bus stops travellers are bemoaning the delays.
17.55. With the media conference drawing to a close
and the rumours that the Minister’s death was not natural growing in strength
he decides has little to lose. He raises his hand and is pointed at. He stands,
gives his name and publication and then asks his question. A room that had been
filled with background chatter falls to silence and stares at the raised dais.
The representatives on the stage rise and file out as the spokesperson declares
the conference over.
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