t slammed shut behind him, cutting off the brigh

h blue light from the screen lit up his face. The message was clear: Eur

"Initiate Protocol B," he said qu

hun

door crea

nd dropped to the small kni

y maid's uniform. She was empty-handed and out of breath, a

His muscles relaxed slightl

hed the doorframe for su

sharp. "You shouldn't leave the room, Ma

own is ruined. I buzzed the nurses' station

. He set his hand down on the cold m

. "When is he coming back, Clinton? When is M

Clinton snapped. "He has thousa

he's crying!" Martha hissed. "She

stepped into Martha's space, backing

rd in this hospital

. "If he hadn't backed Helen into a corner, s

inton yelled, his voice echoing in t

and you know it!"

ng. The only sound was the low hum of

g. He pulled a crushed pack of Marlboros from his pocket

whispered. "The kid is d

yes with the back of her hand. "Ju

hed for the

screamed. A high-pitched alarm

the static. "Vitals monitor di

ette fell from

ht Martha off guard. She cried out in pain as the sudden impact threw her off balance, sendin

y. His boots slipped on the polished floor. His mind

looking panicked. Clinton shoved them aside. His bandaged inde

ll with a loud bang. He pulled his kni

om was

e top rail in place had been pried loose-the sharp edge of the scre

d under the blanket

o the window.

vent on the ceiling was pushed aside. A small piece of b

down the building!" he roared. "N