Chapter 11: The Underground Exit
The sterile quiet of the maternity ward shattered. Sirens wailed softly in the distance, growing louder as patrol cars converged on the hospital’s main entrance.
“They bypassed standard protocol entirely,” Thomas said, his hands moving rapidly as he zipped his briefcase shut. “Elena has completely weaponized the judicial system. If we walk out through the main exit, the police will arrest you on the spot, seize the baby under a ‘temporary protective custody’ order, and hand the child directly over to Elena.”
Dr. Sterling stepped toward the door, locking the deadbolt with a sharp twist of her wrist. “They aren’t coming through this door without tearing down the wall. But the main exit is compromised. We need to use the subterranean service tunnel connected to the old wing.”
Nurse Marcus didn’t hesitate. She grabbed a spare set of scrubs from the supply cart, handing a clean top and trousers to Clara. “Put these on over your gown. We need you looking like hospital staff if we encounter any security personnel in the service corridors.”
Clara acted quickly, sliding the burgundy scrubs over her hospital gown and tying her messy ponytail back even tighter, letting her bangs frame her face as she secured the baby sling tightly against her chest under a heavy wool coat Dr. Sterling had brought from her office.
“What about the evidence?” Clara asked, pointing toward the white envelope on the tray table.
Thomas picked it up carefully, tucking it inside his jacket pocket right next to his heart. “It stays with me. The original DNA results and Dr. Hayes’s ledger are our ticket out of this nightmare. Once we reach the state attorney general’s office downtown, Elena’s legal firewall will crumble.”
The group moved quickly toward the far corner of the room, where a heavy, unmarked fire door led to the service stairwell. Dr. Sterling inserted her master card into the digital reader. The red light flickered green with a quiet click, and the heavy metal door swung outward into the cool, concrete stairwell.
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“Move fast, and don’t look back,” Dr. Sterling instructed, holding the door open.
As Clara stepped into the stairwell, followed closely by Marcus and Thomas, the distant sound of heavy boots echoing down the maternity ward hallway signaled that Detective Miller and his backup had arrived at Room 214.
