CHAPTER SEVENTY
I don’t wait around.
The moment Linda is out of my sight, I pivot and head for the stairwell, my shoes slapping against concrete as I climb.
One floor. Two. Three. My lungs burn, my chest tightens, but I keep going like I’m running from something that might reach out and grab me if I slow down.
By the time I reach the fourth floor, I’m gasping.
I lean against the wall for a second, pressing a hand to my chest, forcing air back into my body. My legs feel weak as I push open the staff room door.
Annabel is already there.
She’s seated on one of the benches, shoulders stiff, hands folded tightly in her lap. The first thing I notice is her face, slightly swollen, eyes red like she’s been crying but trying very hard to hide it.
She looks up at me and frowns.
“Why are y
