Return to The Deep (From The Deep Book 2) Read Online Free

sensor was triggered, correct?"
    "Yes sir."
    "So, forgive my lack of understanding, but why such a gap? Shouldn’t your response have been immediate?"
    "Yes sir."
    "So, would you care to explain to me why it wasn’t?"
    Tom paused, still unsure what to do. The reason neither he nor Harry had seen the silent alarm is because they weren’t paying attention. Harry was sleeping in his chair, feet up on the desk. Tom had been on his laptop chatting to his girlfriend. Of course, if he told Andrews that, they would both be fired, and so the two of them had concocted a cover story.
    "Well, sir, the truth is, it was an unfortunate coincidence. Harry - uh, Mr Benjamin had gone to use the bathroom. I offered to make coffee."
    "So you're telling me your post was unmanned?"
    "Only for a few minutes, sir. We came back and noticed the alarm and responded immediately."
    "And these intruders, you say they were children?"
    "Teenagers."
    Andrews nodded, and folded his hands on the desk. "How old are you?"
    "Twenty six, sir."
    "You work out?"
    "Yes," Tom said, caught off guard by the strangeness of the question.
    "Thought so, you look fit and healthy."
    Tom said nothing, not sure where Andrews was going.
    "So, I ask myself how these teens managed to so easily evade you and escape without you being able to apprehend even one of them."
    "I’m sorry, sir, I take full responsibility," Tom said.
    Andrews stared at him for a few seconds, then turned his icy stare away from Tom and grinned. "Well, no harm done in the end. Mistakes happen, that much is a given. One thing I will say to you Mr..."
    "Young," Tom said.
    "Mr Young, is that although I will tolerate a mistake once, I don’t expect it to be repeated."
    Tom nodded, unsure what was happening.
    "With that in mind," Andrews went on, "I want you to personally oversee an upgrade to our security systems. I want you to ensure that this incident isn’t repeated."
    "Sir, I don’t have the authority..."
    "You do now. I’m giving it to you. If anyone tries to question you or stop you, tell them to speak to me."
    "I don’t understand, sir, I’m just a security guard. Why me?"
    "Because you've had your one chance. I’m confident you will do whatever it takes to makes sure my instructions are followed to the letter, otherwise, it will cost you your job. Understood?"
    "Yes, I understand."
    “Also understand this is not a promotion. Although this will certainly mean much more work and responsibility, you will remain at your current pay grade.”
    “I understand, sir,” Tom said.
    "Good. I hope I don’t have to speak to you in this way again, Mr Young. I need to know my staff can be left to do the job they are paid to do. Are we clear?"
    "Yes sir."
    "Very good," Andrews said, standing and removing his glasses, slipping them into the breast pocket of his jacket. "Now, if you will excuse me, I’m late for an appointment."
    Tom could only watch as the enigma known as Andrews swept out of the room in a cloud of expensive aftershave, leaving the minimum wage security guard confused as to what exactly was expected of him.
    Outside, Andrews was met by his head scientist, a brilliant but socially frigid man named Neil Barker. Barker fidgeted as Andrews strode past him, almost having to jog to keep up.
    "This is completely unacceptable," Barker said as they strode through the vast array of fish tanks open to the public.
    "Relax, Neil, I'll deal with it."
    "It might have just been kids, but what if it's someone else next time? What if the press get in?" he hissed. “I’ve been requesting a security upgrade for this facility for over two years now. Surely, now you will agree to my request?”
    "Look, I'm arranging for security to be beefed up internally. As well as that, I'll speak to Tomlinson and see if we can get a skeleton crew down here to ensure our restricted areas remain that way."
    They strode past the knee level open enclosure containing several dark skinned terrapins and down through one of the