Chapter 13 - THE STAIRWELL PURSUIT
Heavy echoes of footsteps bounced off the concrete walls of the emergency stairwell as Noah flew down the flights of stairs.
"Stop right there, kid!" Marcus shouted from the landing above, his dress shoes clattering loudly on the metal steps.
Noah didn't look back; he leaped down three steps at a time, his chest burning with raw exhaustion and fear.
He hit the ground floor door, bursting out into the underground ambulance bay of Chicago Memorial.
The humid afternoon air hit his face as he sprinted past idling transport vans toward the hospital's outer perimeter fence.
Detective Miller was just stepping out of his unmarked cruiser near the ambulance bay when he saw the boy running for his life.
"Noah! Hey! Stop!" Miller yelled, jogging over and intercepting the panting, terrified child.
Noah crashed into the detective's chest, grabbing onto his jacket with both hands.
"Marcus... my dad's lawyer... he's trying to take my phone and hurt me!" Noah sobbed hysterically into Miller's shirt.
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Miller drew his service pistol instantly, spinning around to face the stairwell exit as Marcus emerged into the garage.
"Hold it right there, FBI and CPD! Put your hands on your head!" Miller roared, leveling his weapon at the corporate attorney.
