The Poisoned Cradle and the Mother Who Tried to Steal Our Child
I turned and ran back toward the service elevators near the rear of the building.
I pressed the button, my thumb leaving a smudge of sweat on the metal panel.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime.
I stepped inside and pressed the button for the third floor.
The doors began to slide shut.
Just before they closed completely, a hand reached between them.
The doors detected the obstacle and slid back open.
A man in a gray maintenance uniform stepped into the elevator.
He didn’t look at me.
He pulled a set of keys from his belt, inserted one into the control panel, and turned it.
The elevator bypassed the second floor and began to rise.
I looked at his keys.
Attached to the ring was a small, laminated badge with a red stripe.
The exact same badge the nurse at the neonatal desk had.
My eyes drifted to the name tag on his shirt.
*Admissions Staff – Float.*
I took a slow step back, my hand reaching into my pocket for my phone.
The maintenance worker stared at the metal doors, his face completely expressionless.