Disputed Sea - 7. Disp Ch 7

The second building has a fitness gymnasium, a café, an undercover lap pool, four meeting rooms and a conference room, on the ground floor, and three floors of business suites, while the third building is almost identical to the second building, where outside there are two basketball courts and a tennis court. This building has the same features on the ground floor, two floors of family suites, plus a floor of recreation space above that, which includes a covered lap pool, spa pool, basketball court and two wide deck areas.

The top floor has four executive suites and 2 staff rooms, for the family and any staff, plus there is a service area, containing a small kitchen, pantry and laundry, and an outdoor deck area in the centre, that features a spa pool. Just as we were settling into our suite, Joshua’s mobile rang, and he groaned before answering it. “Hello Mother, we have just arrived and are settling into our suite at Cullen Bay,” I heard him say… “Yes, of course, he is here with me, hang on a moment…” Joshua replied before putting the phone on speaker.

“Boys, we have just had news that there has been a development, stay there in your suite, as there is an operation currently in progress, it appears that the Federal Police have located a secret Chinese police station there in Darwin, and the AFP are currently rounding up everyone involved. Do you remember what I told you about locking down your level, do it now, just to be safe, and I will speak to you soon,” Julia announced, and Joshua looked at me with a concerned frown, as the call disconnected.

I followed Joshua, as he walked out of the suite and into the service area, which was thankfully empty, and opening a cabinet, and keyed in a six-digit code, before he opened the locked panel behind it and hit the red button, where there is a red light, as we heard the sound of three beeps and the sound of a click, and the light changed to green. We both jumped when a telephone rang nearby before Joshua answered it.

“Mr Alliston, this is Jeff Lemmon, the Duty Manager. The security panel here in the manager’s office, just beeped and indicates something about your level in your building, do you know anything about it?” the caller asked. “Yes, it is a security feature that is controlled from this level, I have locked down this floor so no one can get in or out without me or my partner unlocking the feature, no one is to attempt to try to enter this floor, no matter what the situation.

We will let you know when we unlock the floor or if we need anything,” Joshua replied, “Very good sir, I will let my staff know,” the duty manager said. “No, management and senior supervisors only are to know, understood?” Joshua replied, “Yes sir, understood,” the duty manager said before ending the call. “What happens now? Do we have food and drinks to get us by for the next few days?” I asked, sounding worried.

Joshua walked over to the Butler’s pantry area, where there is a stove, oven, microwave, dishwasher, lots of cupboard space and a full-size fridge/freezer, which he opened to see both filled with supplies, and we both smiled. “Looks like we are cooking for ourselves for a while,” I commented, and Joshua chuckled at this, as we exited the service area and returned to our suite. An hour later, my mobile rang, and the caller ID was Xander Devonport, “Hello my friend, how are you and Langley going, and where are you guys?” I said when answering the call, before putting it on speaker, so Joshua could hear.

“Hello guys, we heard that you two are back in Darwin, so we thought we would come and join you for a while, but we were told that you have not checked into your hotel at Lee Point,” Xander responded, and Joshua chucked, “No mate, we have a second hotel in Darwin, it’s brand new and we are one of the first guests to stay here. Have you heard about the current situation here?” Joshua said in reply.

“Yes Josh, we were asked to come and join you in Darwin, just in case our assistance is required, but Julia didn’t say anything about a change of venue. How do we find you?” Xander asked, “I see, well I will thank Julia… my mother later, come into the city, you find us at the end of Myilly Terrace, I will arrange for a suite for you guys to stay in,” Joshua said to Xander.

“Thanks for coming to our rescue guys, see you soon,” I added before we ended the call. Joshua picked up the suite phone and dialled a number, “Yes Mr Alliston, how may I assist you, this is Henry Lemmon, the hotel manager speaking,” came the voice on the other end of the line. “Did you say Lemmon? Do you have a son working for you too?” Joshua asked. “That is correct sir, my whole family works here, my wife – Victoria is the Housekeeping manager, and my other son – Jack is the Concierge manager,” was the reply.

“I see, that’s good to know, that it is a family-run property. Can you please book our guests into a suite in this building, on the second floor, the name is Alexander Devonport and his partner Langley Ashburton, and they will be arriving very shortly, have them call me once they have arrived in their suite please,” Joshua said.

“Very good sir, I will have it done, bye” came the reply. “Why the floor below us?” I asked, “Because once they have arrived and settled in, we will have them move on this floor, so it looks like they are staying down there, but they will be close by instead,” Joshua replied. “Very sneaky of you,” I said smiling. Fifteen minutes later the suite phone rang, and I answered it.

“Kipling speaking,” I said, “Hey buddy, Xander here, we are here,” came the familiar voice. “Hey mate, do you have a porter with you still?” I replied, “No, just the hotel manager, Mr Lemmon, no one else,” Xander replied, “Perfect, in a moment, we will be unlocking the security feature, have Henry bring you up to a suite on the top floor,” I responded, before ending the call, as I saw Joshua head out of the suite and towards the service area.

I heard three beeps and a click as I was waiting, so I headed towards a panel in the wall, from the direction of the noise, where I opened it and saw a keypad, and a red light on, indicating that the feature has been turned off, plus a small video screen, that shows two camera views, and moments later Joshua appeared on the screen, as he returned. After he closed the suite door, I pointed towards the panel, which Josh came over and looked at. “Julia didn’t tell me there was one here too, but it is good that there is,” Joshua said to me, and I nodded in agreement.

When we heard the elevator arrive outside, we both stepped out of the suite to see Henry and our two guests arrive, “I will place them in the suite next door if that is fine with you both,” Henry said to us, “Yes please, and can you keep the booking for them on the second floor in place,” I asked, “Very good Mr Ashburton. May I suggest that I assign my son – Jack to this floor to assist you with anything, he has Butler training as well,” Henry suggested.

“Yes, that will be fine, but arrange for him to stay in one of the staff rooms on this floor, so we can keep this floor secure,” Joshua responded, “I will get that done right away,” Henry replied, before showing Xander and Langley to his suite, then returning downstairs, and from the panel in the living area, I locked the floor down again. A few minutes later there was a knock on the suite door, and I was about to open it but stopped.

Retrieving my phone, I sent a quick text, “Where are you guys?”, and moments later a response came, “Outside your suite, let us in or we will huff and puff and blow the door down,” and I laughed out loud as I opened the door, where Xander and Langley were smiling. “Very funny lads, please come in,” I said to them. “This must be very serious if you are taking this kind of security matters,” Langley said once we sat down in the living area, and briefed our friends on what was currently happening in Darwin.

“Wow, that is some very serious sh… stuff going on,” Xander said adjusting his wording a little, which had us chuckling. “Yeah, and I am grateful that Grandfather has included the security measure for this floor in the construction of the hotel, and not only do we have our own power supply, but we also have fresh water tanks to keep a supply of water for the bathrooms and kitchen to remain operational,” Joshua responded. When the suite phone rang, I went to answer it.

“Kipling speaking… ok we will unlock it in a moment, thank you,” I said into the phone before hanging up and walking over to the panel, where I unlocked the security feature, and as I did, I watched the security screen, and a few moments later, I saw the elevator door open, with a young man in a morning suit, stepping out with a suitcase and a food trolley, as he headed towards the service area, and then to the staff accommodation area, and I locked down the floor again.

“Our butler has arrived, with extra supplies and also his luggage,” I informed Joshua and our guests, “Butler? I have one of them, but he is in Denham at the moment, spending time with his brother and my cousin,” Xander said to us, “You mean Xavier?” Joshua asked, “Yes, that is correct, I am giving him some well-deserved holiday time, and in the meantime, we should just relax, as best as we can with the security measures in place,” I replied.

Ten minutes later the doorbell rang, and I went to open it, where the young butler stood in a full morning suit, “Hello sir, is there anything that I can get you or your partner and friends?” Jack said to me, “Come in Jack, I guess you are already familiar with the suite,” I said to our hotel butler. “Yes sir, I am. Would you like me to start preparations for dinner, and what would you like to eat?” Jack replied.