Chapter 13
The narrow concrete staircase felt like an endless vertical tunnel as Elena, Marcus, and the two children climbed furiously toward the upper floors. The low, rhythmic mechanical rumbling grew louder with every step, vibrating through the cold handrails and shaking dust loose from the ceiling overhead.
“Keep going, kids, we’re almost at the third-floor landing,” Elena encouraged, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she kept a firm grip on Clara’s hand.
Suddenly, the heavy metal door at the third-floor landing burst open with a loud crash. Two of Pendelton’s tactical guards blocked the narrow passage, their riot shields locked together to form an impenetrable wall across the stairwell.
“End of the line, detective,” the lead guard sneered, resting his hand on a heavy stun baton that crackled with blue electrical arcs.
Marcus pushed Elena and the children behind him, raising his service weapon. “Stand down! This building is scheduled for demolition in less than ten minutes! If you don’t let us through, you’ll go down with us!”
The guard laughed behind his visor. “Mr. Pendelton already arranged our transport from the roof. You’re the ones who are out of time.”
Before Marcus could fire a warning shot, the guard lunged forward with his stun baton, aiming directly for the detective’s chest. Marcus ducked swiftly, using his training to sweep the guard’s legs out from under him, sending the man crashing hard against the concrete steps. The second guard swung his riot shield forward, slamming into Marcus and knocking him back against the iron railing.
Elena saw her opportunity. While the second guard was focused on subduing Marcus, she slipped past the struggling men, pulling Clara and Leo through the narrow gap between the shield and the wall.
“Run!” Elena shouted, sprinting down the third-floor corridor toward the main communications room.
The hallway was lined with polished mahogany doors and darkened executive offices, illuminated only by the pulsing red emergency lights on the ceiling. They reached the heavy oak door of the communications hub at the end of the hall. Elena threw her weight against the brass handle, but it didn’t budge—it was electronically locked.
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From behind them down the hallway came the heavy, rapid thud of approaching boots. Arthur Pendelton stepped out from the shadows near the corner, holding a small electronic override device in his hand. He smiled coldly, pressing a button on the device.
“You really thought you could outsmart us, Ms. Ross?” Pendelton mocked, walking slowly toward them as the digital countdown on the wall clock ticked down to its final five minutes.
