Chapter 4 - THE CHASE IN THE TUNNELTrapped in the Sub-Basement"It's a trap," Adrian said instantly, grabbing Claire’s hand and pulling her toward the emergency stairwell. "Ashford knew we’d come here. He’s locking down the hospital to burn the evidence—and us with it."
They sprinted down three flights of concrete stairs into the sub-basement steam tunnels, the acrid smell of burning plastic and smoke filling their lungs. Behind them, heavy boots echoed off the walls—at least half a dozen armed professionals moving with military precision.
"Adrian, go! Leave me! You can make it through the vent!" Claire gasped, her legs shaking as she tripped over a stray pipe.
Adrian didn't hesitate. He scooped her up into his arms, ignoring her protests, and vaulted over a steaming steam valve just as a suppressed gunshot pinged off the metal wall inches from his ear.
They burst through a rusted maintenance hatch into the freezing Chicago alleyway behind the hospital, tumbling onto the wet asphalt.
A sleek black bulletproof Mercedes was already waiting with its engine idling, Marcus behind the wheel holding the passenger door wide open.
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"Get in! Now!" Marcus yelled.
As the car tore away into the predawn gloom, Claire looked back through the tinted rear window. The upper floors of St. Catherine’s Medical Center were engulfed in a controlled, roaring inferno, the flames licking at the gray sky, erasing every trace of Margaret Bennett’s legacy.
