Chapter 16 - Grandmother
Mara did not scream.
She handed June to Teresa.
That surprised everyone, including Mara.
“Lock the nursery,” she told the nurse.
Evelyn walked toward them slowly.
No rush.
No weapon visible.
That made it worse.
“Mara,” Evelyn said.
The doors locked between them with a heavy click.
Evelyn stopped on the other side of the glass.
“You look terrible.”
Mara almost smiled. “You look wanted.”
Evelyn’s expression tightened.
Security was coming. Hale was coming. Mara knew that.
Evelyn knew it too.
So why was she there?
She lifted one hand.
A small remote control.
Then the NICU ventilation alarm sounded.
A nurse swore and ran to the wall panel.
“Pressure drop.”
Evelyn had tampered with the building system.
Not enough to kill anyone immediately.
Enough to force evacuation.
Doors unlocked automatically under the fire-safety override.
Evelyn smiled again.
Smart.
Terrifyingly smart.
Staff began moving incubators toward the emergency corridor.
Mara picked up June herself.
“No,” the nurse said. “We need the transport bassinet.”
“There isn’t time.”
Mara wrapped June under her gown, skin to skin, and followed the evacuation line.
Teresa wheeled beside her.
At the stairwell, smoke began to creep from a mechanical room.
Evelyn had planned the route.
She stepped from a side hall.
People screamed.
Evelyn grabbed Mara’s arm.
“Give me the baby.”
Mara twisted away.
“Go to hell.”
Evelyn slapped her.
Hard.
Mara’s head snapped sideways.
Then Teresa drove the wheelchair straight into Evelyn’s knees.
Evelyn fell.
Teresa looked almost pleased.
“Old maid,” she muttered. “My ass.”
Mara laughed once, shocked.
Then Evelyn pulled a small pistol from beneath the nurse’s coat.
The corridor froze.
“Baby,” Evelyn said.
Mara held June tighter.
“No.”
Evelyn cocked the gun.
A security guard appeared behind her.
“Drop it!”
Evelyn spun.
The gun fired.
The bullet hit the ceiling.
Sprinklers exploded overhead.
In the chaos, Mara ran into the stairwell.
She made it one floor down before realizing Teresa was no longer behind her.
Mara turned.
The stairwell door above slammed shut.
Then came a gunshot.
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And Teresa’s wheelchair rolled empty down the stairs.
