13
The pounding of footsteps escalated as Talia continued pressing the Up button. The elevator door slid closed a moment before the gunman arrived. As the elevator ascended toward its only destination, the parking deck level, Talia panted to catch her breath. A wave of heat flushed up her neck, and a brief bout of nausea ensued, chased with a dose of dizzying imbalance. She slumped to the floor and tried her deep breathing exercises.
So much adrenaline coursed her veins that her hands, arms, and even torso began to shake. The vertigo leveled off but did not relinquish its grip. She stood and leaned on the wall and looked for an emergency phone or call button, anything with which she could alert the Sayeret soldiers.
The imbalance in her equilibrium made it hard for her to hold her head
