Chapter 5: The Lockdown and the Federal Response
Within ninety seconds of Dr. Bennett’s evacuation order, St. Jude Memorial Hospital was plunged into a state of hyper-secured lockdown. Heavy steel fire doors dropped automatically into place across every corridor, sealing off the emergency wing from the rest of the facility. The wailing of standard fire alarms was replaced by an automated, robotic security voice echoing through the intercom: “Facility lockdown in effect. Code Black. All personnel shelter in place.”
Outside the emergency bay, flashing red and blue lights from half a dozen police cruisers painted the rain-slicked asphalt in frantic strokes. State troopers and local SWAT units swarmed the perimeter, establishing a three-block quarantine zone.
Inside the quarantined trauma bay, Dr. Bennett had carefully maneuvered himself back to the side of the stretcher. He was kneeling, his hands steady despite the cold sweat dripping down his neck, talking to little Chloe in a soothing, hypnotic tone.
“You’re doing so brave, sweetie. Just keep looking at me,” Dr. Bennett instructed gently, his eyes never leaving the blinking red numbers on the device inside the boot. 00:02:15... 00:02:14...
Ethan had been placed in a heavy-duty containment chair in the adjacent decontamination corridor, secured with industrial zip-ties while two federal agents from the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force interrogated him under the harsh glare of a single overhead bulb.
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“Talk to me, Ethan!” Special Agent Miller demanded, slamming his palm onto the metal table. “Who strapped that device to your daughter? Give us the name!”
Ethan breathed heavily, his chest shaking. “I don't know his name! He called himself ‘The Architect.’ He intercepted us on the highway three hours ago. He said if I didn't walk Chloe into the ER and let the doctors examine her, he’d detonate the secondary charge wired to our home!”
