contents out onto a library table. There were wiring diagrams of
electronic equipment, computer printouts, and numerous maps. There was
also a large and lumpy manila envelope that had the words Stevenson
Bridge written across its top.
‘Now we’re cooking,’ Candace said. She opened the envelope, reached in,
and pulled out a ring with five identical keys.
‘Voila,’ Melanie said. She took the ring and began to remove one of the
keys.
Kevin peeked at the maps and picked up a detailed contour map. He had it
partially unfolded when he became aware of a flickering light out of the
corner of his eye. Glancing at the window, he saw the reflections of
headlight beams dancing along the slats of the half open blinds.
Stepping over to the window, he peeked out.
‘Uh-oh!’ Kevin croaked. ‘It’s Siegfried’s car.’
‘Quick!’ Melanie said. ‘Get this all back into the file cabinet.’
Melanie and Candace hastily crammed everything back into the folder, got
the folder into the file cabinet, and closed the drawer. No sooner was
it closed than they heard the rattle of the front door of the building
as it was opened.
‘This way!’ Melanie whispered frantically. She motioned toward a door
behind Bertram’s desk. Quickly, the three went through the door. As
Kevin closed it, he could hear the door to the outer office being pulled
open.
They had entered one of Bertram’s examining rooms. It was constructed of
white tile and had a central stainless-steel examining table. Like
Bertram’s inner office it had windows covered with blinds. Enough light
filtered in to allow them to rush over to the door to the hall.
Unfortunately, en route Kevin kicked a stainless-steel pail standing on
the floor next to the examining table.
The pail clanged up against the table leg. In the stillness, it sounded
like a gong at an amusement park. Melanie reacted by throwing open the
door to the hall and racing toward the stairwell. Candace followed. As
Kevin dashed into the hall, he heard the door to Bertram’s office slam
open. He had no idea if he’d been seen or not.
In the stairwell, Melanie descended as fast as the moonlight would
allow. She could hear Candace and Kevin behind her. She slowed at the
foot of the stairs to grope for the door to the basement level. She got
it open none too soon. Above they heard the first-floor stairwell door
open, followed by heavy footfalls on the metal stairs.
The basement was utterly black save for a dim rectangular outline of
light in the distance. Holding on to each other, they made their way
toward the light. It wasn’t until they had reached it that Kevin and
Candace realized it was a fire door with light seeping around its
periphery. Melanie had it open with her magnetic card once she’d located
the slot.
Beyond the fire door was a brightly lit hallway which allowed them to
run full tilt. Melanie pulled them to an abrupt halt halfway down the
narrow passageway. There she opened a door marked pathology.
‘Inside,’ Melanie barked. Wordlessly, everyone complied.
Closing the door, Melanie locked it with a throw bolt.
They were standing in an anteroom for two autopsy theaters. There were
scrub sinks, several desks, and a large insulated door leading to a
refrigerated room.
‘Why did we come in here?’ Kevin said with panic in his voice. ‘We’re
trapped.’
‘Not quite,’ Melanie said breathlessly. ‘This way.’ She motioned for
them to follow her around the corner. To Kevin’s surprise there was an
elevator. Melanie pounded the call-button, which brought forth an
immediate whine of its machinery. At the same time, the floor indicator
illuminated to show the elevator cab was on the third floor.
‘Come on!’ Melanie pleaded as if her urging could speed up the
apparatus. Since it was a freight elevator, it was agonizingly slow. It
was just passing the second floor when the door to the hallway rattled
on its hinges followed by a muffled expletive.
The three exchanged panicky glances. ‘They’ll be in here in the next few
seconds,’ Kevin said. ‘Is there another way out?’
Melanie shook her head. ‘Only the elevator.’
‘We have to hide,’ Kevin said.