Chapter 6 - Breach at Saint Jude's
The heavy iron drainage grate gave way with a screech of rusted metal as Daniel slammed his shoulder against it. He and Sarah tumbled out onto the dry, polished concrete floor of Saint Jude’s auxiliary sub-basement, coughing and shivering from the freezing drain water.
Without wasting a second, Daniel checked his weapon, racked the slide, and sprinted toward the main service elevator bank.
"Elevators will be locked down if Michael’s security team has control of the building's digital grid," Sarah warned, keeping her weapon raised as they cleared a corner near the laundry chutes. "We take the service stairs."
They vaulted up the concrete steps three at a time, their wet boots slapping rhythmically against the steps. By the time they reached the third floor—the pediatric intensive care unit—the sounds of chaos echoed down the sterile hallway.
Shouting voices, the sound of splintering wood, and the frantic wail of hospital monitors cut through the quiet hum of the ward.
"Move! Clear the hallway!" a harsh, gravelly voice echoed from around the corner.
Daniel peered around the doorframe. Three of Michael Carter’s private mercenaries in full tactical gear were standing outside Trauma Bay 3. One of them was holding a heavy pneumatic breaching tool against the reinforced glass door of Olivia’s room, while another kept terrified nurses pinned against the opposite wall.
Inside the room, Dr. Harrison stood protectively in front of Olivia’s hospital bed, where the young girl lay pale and unconscious under an oxygen tent, while Emma screamed and pummeled the glass from the inside, her tiny fists red and bruised.
"You don't have the legal authority to do this!" Dr. Harrison yelled through the reinforced glass, holding a sterile surgical tray as an improvised weapon. "This child is under federal medical protection!"
"Step away from the bed, doctor," the lead mercenary growled, raising his carbine. "We have a corporate extraction warrant signed by the board. Last warning."
Daniel didn't wait for Sarah to give the signal. He stepped out from the hallway junction, raised his Glock, and shouted, "Drop your weapons! Federal police! Hands behind your heads!"
The mercenaries whirled around, but instead of surrendering, the lead guard raised his rifle toward Daniel with terrifying speed.
Before the guard could squeeze the trigger, a sharp crack echoed down the corridor. Sarah’s precise shot struck the mercenary’s weapon barrel, sending sparks flying and forcing him to stagger backward into the wall.
"Drop it! Do it now!" Sarah roared, stepping out beside Daniel with her service pistol locked dead on target.
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Cornered, outnumbered by the sudden arrival of hospital security backup rushing up the opposite stairwell, and realizing their element of surprise was shattered, the remaining guards dropped their weapons and raised their hands.
Daniel sprinted past them, kicked open the door to Trauma Bay 3, and rushed inside to shield Emma and Olivia.
