The Ben Franklin Distribution Center on Bush Lake Road stood alone with no other industries nearby. The huge facility sheltered everything from lollipops to Levi's, and the value of the goods at any one time was in the double digit millions. There was a railroad spur running inside the main building with loading docks equipped with extendible ramps to provide efficient handling of materials.

Eerie blue-gray mercury vapor lamps provided minimum safety and security lighting along the rail siding, day and night. But, on a clear day, quite a bit of light entered through the windows, about twenty feet above ground level.

Light wasn't the only thing that entered the facility of its own accord, however. The industry requirements were much less strict in those days and, as might be expected with railroad cars actually entering the main storage area, there were frequent breaches of the perimeter by birds and rodents. Unlike many of today's facilities distributing edibles as well as durable goods, there were no sealed positive-pressure systems to keep out contaminants and pests. As a result, it was not uncommon to see quite a few birds at the windows inside the building, directly above the rails. When the facility was fully staffed, no one really paid any attention. But there was no dismissing the unsettling effect it had on a lone individual performing security duty in the hours between twilight and dawn. The scene was occasionally reminiscent of a Hitchcock thriller.

Additionally, some freight cars were occasionally kept inside on weekends and holidays. This, of course, enhanced the effects of shadows and provided a greater number of potential places of concealment for would-be mischief-makers. More butterflies for the stomachs of the security guards.

Gusts of wind gripped the monstrous doors at the ends of the freight bay and shook them threateningly with the passing of even the smallest of storms.

This was not Rick's idea of a choice assignment. But you couldn't always expect to get lobby duty at the Plymouth Building. When he reflected upon it, he had to admit to himself that there were drawbacks there as well. In addition to securing transportation (taxi or patrol car) for occasional unruly patrons of the Cork and Cleaver, there were the scheduled security rounds.

The detective agency that paid him also required that he carry a device called a 'Detex Clock'. This instrument contained a clockwork drive and a round paper graph turned by the mechanism, and an aperture through which a key could be inserted and turned, imprinting a symbol on the graph paper. It was used as evidence that the security patrolman had indeed made his appointed rounds, at the designated time.

Here's how it works. The agency contracts to various real estate management companies in the city. At the buildings where they hold contracts, the agency installs 'Detex stations'. These stations have coded keys which contain a shaft to which a piece of raised type (something like a typewriter slug) has been secured. Each station's code is unique. When the graph is read, it shows what time the patrolman arrived at each station, proving that he had at least been there at that time. It could not confirm that he had made certain that a particular door was locked. It just confirmed his presence. That's how they made sure he wasn't just sitting in the lobby all evening.

That doesn't sound so bad, does it? Not on the surface. But there were areas, even in a pleasant place like the Plymouth Building, where your heart could inch its way up into your throat.

The place that sent chills through his soul was the elevator loft. Wouldn't you know they'd put a station up there? There were lights installed in the loft, but you couldn't access them without a maintenance key. We don't feel that security requires access to maintenance lighting. Easy for them to say. Without lights, the place resembled a Gothic cathedral bell tower. Quasimodo or a gargoyle may round the corner at any instant. Besides the Detex Clock, hanging by a strap over his left shoulder, all Rick carried was the agency's version of a Boy Scout utility flashlight, a shiny chrome-plated whistle worn on a chain attached to an epaulet,....and the nightstick, of course. They should have included Van Helsing's silver crucifix for a place like this.

You may well ask what the hell was the point of looking for interlopers in the bloody elevator loft. Actually, there was good reason. The building was home to a great many businesses, some of which were jewelry brokers. Access to all floors was free and unencumbered, except after normal operating hours. After that time, all persons entering and exiting all offices or businesses, with the exception of the Cork and Cleaver, were required to sign the visitors' log.

Let us suppose that someone had entered early in the day and then concealed himself (or herself) somewhere in the upper floors. The loft would provide a relatively good place of concealment. How often, really, would anyone have to go up there if not for a security check? So, it had to be done. But, at least, that was only approximately once an hour. I say approximately because the schedule was not perfectly cyclical. Variations had to be incorporated into the schedule so that a predictable pattern did not develop. It wouldn't do for a trespasser to know when the patrolman would arrive.

Damn it! It was still good duty. Luxury duty compared to this mausoleum.

Rick happened to glance at the windows. The gray twilight, weakly peering in, provided a background for the barely discernible dark forms randomly moving about on this side of the glass. The wind complained gently as it tested the locked doors of the freight bay, almost as if some great beast was scratching to get in.

Stop it! Get a grip on yourself!

Rick shook himself out of his reverie and realized it was time for a perimeter check. Yep, they had Detex stations here, too! A little more caution was required at this place, though. A wrong step here, or a dropped newspaper there, and he would have lots of company.

The nature of the patrol, and the area to be covered, ordinarily required two security guards with sticks only -or one canine unit and handler. But this building was equipped with an infrared detector network. A system of focused beams was set up in sensitive areas, such as the warehouse office and points of possible ingress. Individual sections could be selectively enabled or disabled by entering codes at an arming station, after activating the station with an interlock key.

If an enabled beam was disturbed, a silent alarm was triggered at the nearest police station. Patrol cars would be immediately dispatched with orders to apprehend all persons on the grounds. Just who was supposed to be there would be sorted out later.

It was comforting knowledge that the Cavalry would be there to help you out. But it was a bit frightening as well, because it also meant that the security officer must be particularly careful to avoid tripping the alarms himself while making his rounds.

False alarms were not treated lightly.

Morning couldn't arrive soon enough for Rick's taste. He wished he could afford to quit this second job. He almost wished he had something a little stronger than black coffee in the thermos. .