Nathan pulled into the underground parking garage, bypassing the crowd outside.

The concrete structure was cold and smelled of damp earth and car exhaust.

We took the private executive elevator straight to the twentieth floor.

The doors slid open to reveal a lobby of white marble and brushed steel.

The receptionist’s desk was entirely empty.

Instead, two uniformed security guards stood near the double glass doors of the boardroom.

Evelyn Price was standing by the window, her gray suit immaculate, holding a black tablet.

She looked up as the elevator doors opened.

“Claire,” Evelyn said, her voice calm and professional. “I’m glad you’re here, though you shouldn’t have left the hospital.”

“Where is he?” I asked.

“Downstairs,” Evelyn said, checking her watch. “Security stopped his vehicle at the parking gate, but he abandoned it and ran up the service stairs.”

As if on cue, the heavy fire door at the end of the hallway banged open.

Victor stumbled into the lobby.

His tie was crooked, and his dark hair was damp from the rain.

His expensive leather shoes clicked loudly on the marble as he gasped for breath.