Chapter 9 - Elaine’s Choice
The forward security gate dropped toward the floor.
The lead guard ran ahead and forced his flashlight beneath it.
The metal struck the flashlight and stopped less than a foot above the ground.
“Move,” he ordered.
Samuel slid the evidence drive beneath the opening.
Mercer crawled through after it.
Elaine lowered herself beside the gate.
Then she looked at Khloe.
“You cannot crawl.”
“I can try.”
“No.”
Elaine studied the old control box attached to the wall.
A red emergency handle sat behind cracked glass.
She struck the panel with the base of her phone.
The glass broke.
An alarm sounded.
Elaine pulled the handle.
The gate rose several inches.
The guard pushed upward from the opposite side.
Richard supported Khloe as she crouched and moved beneath the metal barrier.
Pain tightened across her abdomen.
She nearly fell.
Elaine caught her shoulders and guided her through.
Richard followed last.
The flashlight shattered when the gate slammed down again.
Darkness filled the tunnel.
Only emergency lights remained.
Khloe leaned against the wall.
The baby moved.
She placed one hand over the movement.
“I’m still here,” she whispered.
Elaine watched her.
“So is the baby.”
Richard looked at the evidence drive in Samuel’s hand.
“We need to get that outside the hospital.”
“The old tunnel exits beneath the parking garage,” Samuel said.
“Victor will have people waiting.”
Elaine removed a tiny metal object from her necklace.
It was a memory card.
Khloe recognized it as the card containing Mercer’s messages.
Elaine looked toward the others.
“I can leave through the public garage.”
Richard shook his head.
“Too dangerous.”
“They will watch Khloe and you.”
Elaine slipped the card beneath the lining of her shoe.
“They may not watch an event coordinator.”
Khloe understood immediately.
“You want to separate from us.”
“I can reach the gala ballroom through the maintenance stairs.”
“The ballroom is full of reporters.”
“Exactly.”
Elaine’s expression became determined.
“If I give the evidence to one reporter, Victor cannot erase every copy.”
Richard looked unconvinced.
“Once the media has it, we lose control.”
“We already lost control.”
Elaine faced Khloe.
“Your husband owns the active network.”
“Victor controls the hospital.”
“Isabella controls the public story.”
She glanced toward the tunnel behind them.
“The only place they do not control is outside.”
Khloe took Elaine’s hand.
“Find someone you trust.”
Elaine gave a faint, humorless smile.
“I stopped trusting people a year ago.”
“Then find someone who hates Marcus.”
That smile became real for one second.
“I know exactly who to call.”
A branching passage appeared ahead.
Samuel pointed left.
“The garage.”
Elaine pointed right.
“The ballroom.”
Richard removed his access badge.
“This will open the final maintenance door.”
Elaine took it.
Khloe held her gaze.
“Do not risk your life for me.”
“I’m not.”
Elaine touched the hidden memory card in her shoe.
“I’m doing this for Rachel.”
She disappeared into the right-hand passage.
Khloe watched until the darkness swallowed her.
Then the tunnel speaker activated again.
Victor’s voice sounded almost gentle.
“Ms. Parker has made a poor decision.”
Khloe looked up.
He had been listening.
“Elaine,” she called.
No answer came.
Victor continued.
“She will not reach the ballroom.”
May you like
A distant metallic door slammed.
Then someone screamed.
