Chapter 3 - The Midnight Escape
Claire gasped, looking between her trusted head of security and the quiet, broad-shouldered man in the worn security uniform.
Marcus didn't waste time defending himself. His hand reached toward the holster inside his suit jacket. "Take the guard out. Secure the girl. Dr. Vance is waiting at the private clinic."
"No!" Claire shrieked, throwing her body over Ellie.
Logan moved with terrifying speed.
Before Marcus could clear his weapon, Logan closed the distance, slapping Marcus’s wrist upward and striking his collarbone with a swift, calculated palm strike. The weapon clattered to the carpet. Logan grabbed Marcus by his lapels, spun him into the second security guard, and shoved them both back through the door frame, pulling the heavy mahogany conference door shut and slamming the electronic deadbolt home.
The lock clicked into place just as heavy shoulders slammed against the outside panel.
"They control the main elevators and the building's security grid!" Claire yelled over the thumping against the door, her composure entirely shattering as she hugged a terrified Ellie tight. "What do we do?"
Logan looked at the window, then at the ventilation shaft, and finally at Ellie, who was watching his face with wide, perceptive eyes. She wasn't crying. She was reading his lips, trusting the calm authority in his face.
"Is there an unmonitored service route out of this tower?" Logan asked, his tone crisp, commanding, yet reassuring.
"The old freight elevator in the archive basement," Claire said, wiping a tear from her cheek. "It’s off the digital network. It was installed in the 1920s when my grandfather built the original structure."
"Good. Stay behind me," Logan commanded. He pulled a heavy fire extinguisher from the wall mount, shattered the glass balcony door, and cleared the dangerous shards with his sleeve. "We aren't going down the hallway. We're taking the service catwalks."
He turned to Ellie, kneeling so he was at eye level with the frightened girl. He didn't use sign language; he used his eyes, his gentle smile, and clear lip movements.
"Ellie," he spelled out slowly with his lips. "We are going on an adventure. I will keep you and your mom safe. Trust me?"
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Ellie looked at the strong, grounded man who had seen the hidden truth inside her when no one else had. She gave a small, brave nod, grabbed her missing shoe from under the table, and reached out her tiny hand to grab his.
Logan picked her up, slinging her onto his back, and held out his other hand to Claire. "Let's go take your daughter's life back."
