“The service stairs lead to the basement laundry chute,” Liam said. “From there, we can get to the underground doctors’ parking lot.”

He looked at the nurse.

“If anyone asks, you haven’t seen Claire since ten o’clock.”

She nodded quickly, her eyes darting to the door.

“Go,” she whispered. “I’ll clear the hallway.”

She stepped out first, her rubber-soled shoes squeaking against the polished floor.

Liam held my waist, guiding me out of the room.

The air in the hallway was cold and smelled of bleach and old wax.

We moved down the corridor in the opposite direction of the main elevators.

Every step sent a throb of pain through my abdomen, but I kept my teeth clenched.

We reached the heavy gray fire door marked *Employees Only*.

Liam pushed it open, and the cool, damp air of the stairwell hit my face.

We descended the concrete steps slowly, my bare feet slipping slightly in the oversized hospital slippers.

The stairwell echoed with our breathing and the dull hum of the building’s ventilation system.

When we reached the basement level, Liam pulled me into a narrow corridor lined with industrial washing machines.