Denis Adams had been a chartered accountant before he retired in twenty-eighteen. His job had required a certain amount of attention to detail and a mind that could sort through reams of data and connect it all together.

He’d been good at his job and harboured no little ill will to the company that had taken four decades of his life and never truly allowed him to achieve his potential. The bosses had always kept him low on the totem pole, as he liked to say, and never let him be one of the chiefs.

That resentment had festered in what passed for a soul and he had released that tension by being overly controlling towards his family and both verbally, and physically, abusive to his wife. Not that anyone had even known that, no she had taken that to her grave a bare two months before the crisis that had half the block of flats crowded into his living room.

The block contained sixty flats, all two-bedroom, and while some people lived there singly, others had two or even three people sharing the rooms. At last count, there were one hundred and thirty-seven residents of the Heath Knight block of flats.

Far too many to fit in the one flat, so one person from each floor had been selected and they had made their way to Denis Adams flat, to sit in his living room and eat his biscuits as they discussed the current crisis facing them.

“Bloody bollocks it is,” Lennie Pearce said, crumbs falling from his overstuffed mouth as he spoke. “Who’re they to tell us we can’t leave?”

“They’re the ones with the guns,” Darcy Carter said.

A stout woman with tight blonde curls and too much makeup for a woman her age, she was a definite ally Denis thought. As he looked over the crowd, he guessed that he could count on just enough to swing it so that he was the man in charge.

“Anything new on the news?” A younger woman asked.

Emmie Dean, a single mother with a new-born babe she had brought with her. She seemed intelligent enough, though opening her legs to some man who didn’t hang around, suggested otherwise, Denis thought.

“Nothing, love,” Lennie said. “I reckon they will wait till they have everyone in place to stop people panicking.”

“Makes sense.”

Denis looked across at the speaker, another younger woman by the name of Kyra Russell. She had been a consistent source of irritation to Denis. Her and that stupid little dog she kept even though the tenant’s association rules were quite clear about it not being allowed.

He had been in the process of getting either her, the dog, or both kicked out of the building, but the current crisis had put that on hold. She returned his enmity in equal measure and he considered it a source of irritation that she had been selected to represent her floor.

“What’re we gonna do then?” Emmie asked. “Do we just wait? I need nappies and formula.”

“My Gracie will need her insulin,” Seth Barnes said. “She has enough for a week but that’s it.”

“We will all need something,” Jack said in his strong baritone.

Denis eyed him carefully. Of all those in attendance, Jack was one of the few unknowns. Denis knew his roommate, of course, everyone did. But, Jack was always out before six and not back until late. It made him hard to get to know.

When he was in the building, he kept himself to himself and aside from a sneaking suspicion that both he and his roommate were actually sharing a bed, Denis knew little about him. Not that he cared to know more if his suspicion were true.

The others seemed to naturally respond to him though, his voice cutting through the babble and drawing all eyes towards him.

“I suggest we all make a list of what we have and what we need. That way, when this officer turns up we can let them know exactly what we need.”

“Makes sense, lad,” Seth said. “I have plenty of paper if anyone needs any.”

“Would be good to know what food we have on hand,” Kyra added, giving an appreciative look to Jack. “We’ve no idea how long we’ll be in here and we can share together or starve alone.”

“Who’ll pay for the food you eat?” Chester Shaw asked. An irascible old man, he would be firmly on Denis’ side but would expect something in return for his support. “I can’t be giving away good food, not for free.”

“If anyone wants to keep their own supplies, then so be it,” Denis said, cutting in before anyone else could speak. “But if they choose to do that, they will not be welcome to share ours when they run out.”

Chester grumped, crossing his arms over his broad belly and turning his face away, but he didn’t say anything else. Denis determined to ensure everyone thought it was his idea, continued.

“Once you have your lists, bring them to me and I will be happy to create a full inventory. Food, toiletries, batteries and anything else you think might be useful.”

“Water too,” Jack offered, seemingly unperturbed by Denis attempting to take charge. “If you have any empty containers, fill them. Pots, pans, cups, even baths. Fill them up because if things get worse we can’t be sure of the supply.”

“What do you mean?” Emmie asked. “Why would the water stop?”

“If everyone is stuck inside, lass,” Seth said, not unkindly. “Won’t be no one working to keep the water flowing through the pipes.”

Loud, fearful chatter filled the air as the gathered people turned to one another, all trying to talk at once. Denis waved his arms for silence, cheeks reddening as he was ignored.

“Quieten down,” Jack said, voice loud enough to be heard over everyone else. “We don’t have time to argue. This officer could arrive at any time, so I suggest we make our lists and give them to Denis. He’ll collate them and we’ll have something ready.”

“Sounds like a plan, lad,” Lennie said.

“TV and internet is still working,” Jack continued. “Everyone pay attention and we can meet up again later to discuss what’s happening.”

“Who is going to meet this soldier?” Samuel Fletcher asked. A young man, somewhat shy, it was a surprise to find him in the meeting.

“Let Jack do it,” Kyra said, smiling nastily at Denis.

“Aye, if he wants to, it’s no skin off my nose,” Chester said.

Several others gave voice to their own agreement of the idea and that was that. Denis, fists clenched, and eyes narrowed, could only seethe inwardly at the insult.

“Well, it’s not something I’d ask for, but if you want me to, I will,” Jack said, with that quiet confidence that had everyone eating out of his hand.

Denis, more than a little upset at how easily the meeting had been taken over, waited in silence as the majority of the people filed out, each to their own floor to let everyone know what was going on.

Jack lingered, watching Denis and waiting for the others to leave. Once alone, he approached the older man.

“Sorry about that,” he said. “Didn’t mean to try and take over.”

“Not your fault, lad,” Denis said, forcing a smile to his wrinkled face. He reached up and pushed his thin-rimmed spectacles up his nose. “I’ll have plenty to do just keeping track of the supplies. I would suggest we keep them all in one place though.”

“Why?”

“People, lad. People being people.” He leant forward, voice lowering conspiratorially. “Can’t trust some of the people in this block, you know? If things get desperate, we can’t trust they will be willing to share.”

“Okay, I see your point but I think-“

“No, you do what you think’s right, lad. I’ve no doubt you know best.”

Jack wore a troubled expression as he stared at the other man, not knowing whether he was being sincere or an absolute prick and landing on the latter.

“Alright, Denis. Whatever you say, mate.”

“You should go to the fourteenth floor.”

“Why?”

“Deacon. I guarantee he won’t be agreeing to share any supplies, let alone list them.”

“That’s his choice.”

“Aye, but he’s one of them demented prepper folk. He’s got a stockpile if anyone has.”

“I’ll talk to him.”

“You do that, lad. If he doesn’t want to share though, you might have to take it.”

Jack gave him a cool look, cocking one eyebrow at that. “I don’t think it will come to that.”

“We’ve no idea how long we’ll be in here, but I’ve seen the news. If it’s come down to locking people in their homes, it’s as bad as it’s ever been.”

“I’ll think on it.”

“You do that, lad. You do that.”

Denis turned away, dismissing the younger man and making it clear he was done. As Jack left, Denis began clearing away the cups and plates before opening his own cupboards up.

His wife, for all her faults, had been the one that kept the house and that included the larder. With her gone, he’d not done the same and his cupboards were not overflowing. One thing he would need to ensure was that they stored their supplies somewhere that he had access to.

The world was going to hell and he was damned if he would go with it. No, he would finally get the recognition he deserved and if that meant teaching the younger man, Jack, a lesson or two, well he would be happy to do so.

With that thought, he retreated to his living room and began to formulate a plan for just how that would happen.