Chapter 13 - The Delivery Floor
Julian moved toward the door.
Victoria caught his wrist.
"Don't leave me."
He stopped.
That was the choice.
Not the company.
Not the investigation.
Not his mother.
Her.
He locked the door and pushed a cabinet in front of it with the help of a nurse.
Police radios crackled in the hall.
Another gunshot sounded farther away.
Naomi called Detective Chen.
"Mercer's here."
The detective answered, "We know. Stay inside."
Victoria's contractions were less than two minutes apart.
The obstetrician looked at Julian.
"This baby isn't waiting for your security situation."
"Of course she isn't," Victoria gasped.
A nurse checked the monitors.
"We need to move to delivery."
"Hallway isn't secure," Julian said.
"Then we deliver here if we have to."
A pounding hit the door.
Everyone froze.
"Chicago Police!"
Julian did not move.
"Name?"
"Detective Chen."
Naomi called Chen's phone.
The woman outside answered at the same time.
Only then did Julian move the cabinet.
Chen entered with two officers.
"Mercer came in wearing fire department gear. We have one wounded officer. He got away from the stairwell."
"Where is he now?"
"Somewhere on this floor."
Victoria closed her eyes as another contraction hit.
"Wonderful."
Then a ceiling tile moved.
Julian saw it first.
"Down!"
The tile crashed onto the floor.
A man dropped from the maintenance cavity.
Caleb Mercer landed badly, rolled, and came up holding a pistol.
Everything happened at once.
Chen fired.
Mercer ducked behind a medical cart.
Julian shoved Victoria's bed toward the far wall.
A bullet shattered the window behind them.
Naomi dragged a nurse into the bathroom.
Mercer shouted, "Victoria! I only need one authorization!"
Victoria stared at him in disbelief.
"You're shooting at my husband during labor and you want a signature?"
Mercer laughed.
"I admire perspective."
Chen shouted for him to drop the weapon.
Mercer fired again and ran into the corridor.
Officers chased him.
Julian turned back.
Victoria's face had changed.
"Julian."
"What?"
She grabbed his hand.
"The baby's coming now."
Twenty-three minutes later, amid sirens and shattered glass, their daughter entered the world screaming.
Julian cried before Victoria did.
The nurse laid the baby against Victoria's chest.
For one breath, nothing else existed.
Then Detective Chen stepped into the doorway.
Blood marked her sleeve.
"Mercer escaped."
Julian looked at his newborn daughter.
May you like
Chen continued.
"And he took Naomi."
