CHAPTER 109
Night time had descended, and with it the storm carried in a violent downpour and heavy winds. Seth, Kyra, and Shelly were all camping out in the control room. Ms. Murdock had suggested it to be the most secure location, being that there were no skylights or windows.
"Hey, does this thing have Mine Sweeper?" Kyra was grabbing for the mouse at a vacant terminal.
"Don't touch anything." Bryce wagged a commanding finger. "I'll be back to check up on you in a little while."
"Alright, Dad." Kyra slumped in the office chair and swiveled it around. She stuck her legs out to kick Seth in the butt as she whipped by.
"Hey!" He toppled against a desk.
Shelly was clinging close to her mom. She seemed less distraught than she had been earlier, but she still wasn't interacting much with Kyra or Seth.
Phill had slipped over to the terminal where Kyra was spinning and took control of the keyboard. "This thing totally has Mine Sweeper, but I'll do you one better." He lowered his voice. "I took the liberty of installing Doom on all the terminals. Just keep the volume down so nobody gets pissed." He was chugging a Pepsi and woofing down Combos as he woke up the monitor, punched in a password, and loaded the game. "There you go. Don't go snooping anywhere else on the computer though, or Carrie'll have my balls."
From across the control room Ms. Bolton shot him a look. "Phill, when you're done screwing around over there I could use a hand doing some actual work over here."
With a stiff salute Phill replied, "yes, Lord Vader."
In the lobby of the operations building Dr. Conners had gone to assess the situation. Lab technicians and Costa Ricans alike were armed to the teeth. Hector and Ms. Murdock were giving lessons to anyone who did not know how to handle a gun.
Dr. Conners shifted his attention to the floor-to-ceiling windows that made up the front face of the building. The rain was so heavy he couldn't see ten feet beyond the glass. Lightning flashed and lit up the sky. A clap of thunder rattled the windows. Loose palm fronds and branches whipped past. If the raptors were breeching the compound they'd never know it until they were right on top of them. Dr. Conners slipped into thought, and he didn't notice when Hector came up beside him.
Hector observed the rain with Dr. Conners for a while before saying, "well, Amigo, what you think?"
"I think I could use another drink."
"Sorry, Amigo. I kicked the last bottle. All we have now is Bud Light."
Dr. Conner's face sank, then together they both burst out laughing at once.
Hector slapped Bryce on the shoulder. "It might be a long night, Amigo."