Chapter Forty-Four Noah

Noah hovered outside the lab, trying not to look out of place.

He hadn't wanted to risk following Susie all through the hospital, so when she had stopped to talk to a colleague, he'd moved on past. He'd ditched the mop and bucket and collected a cleaning trolley from the equipment store, hoping it would help with his cover. Extremely thankful he'd overheard the earlier conversation, he'd headed for the lab where he knew medics delivered samples and collected results.

Now all he had to do was wait.

All he could do was hope that she would come along soon. Or that she was already inside the lab. It was unfamiliar territory for him. With no good reason to enter, he had been forced to try and look busy outside, all the while watching for a pair of black loafers with mismatched laces to appear.

So far, he'd had no luck. And time was running out. With less than half an hour until Danforth's speech began, he still didn't have the means to access the ward.

He pictured Robyn's team arriving at the fire door with no way in. Sophia languishing in the Fertility Ward. The expression on Faith's face when she realised he had failed.

He swallowed hard. There was another possibility. One which he did not want to face. It was quite plausible that Susie wasn't inside the lab at all. What if she had already come and gone by the time he had arrived? Or been directed elsewhere by her superior on a more pressing matter?

His palms were sweating. Even when he located her, he had no idea how he was going to make the switch. While he knew where her keycard was, he couldn't approach her directly. Even bumping into her accidentally seemed like it was asking for trouble.

He needed to find a spot where he could pass her when she was distracted. Slip his hand into her pocket without being noticed.

It was easier said than done.

The door to the lab opened. He took an involuntary step back, knowing he looked suspicious. A burst of music blared from inside, followed by the blare of an announcer. In twenty minutes, Chancellor Danforth will make her address, until then… The noise faded as the door closed.

Noah found himself staring at a pair of cream-coloured heels. The woman didn't notice him. But as she clattered down the hallway, his heart sank. Definitely not the person he was looking for.

Only twenty-five minutes left. He had to do something. And he had to do it soon.

The rattle of a trolley from further down the hall made him turn. Remembering at the last minute not to look up, he flattened himself against the wall so that the drudge pushing it could pass. But the trolley came to stop beside him. Hands began sorting through the items on the top shelf.

"Need a hand?" The voice was muttered, low. But, unmistakably, Liam.

Noah marvelled at how the drudge managed to speak without attracting attention. The mask covered his mouth, disguising its movement, but he also made sure that neither his body nor his face altered. The words were barely a whisper, but Noah had heard them.

He didn't dare risk a reply. But Liam seemed to have a plan. He gestured to the trolley. To Noah's surprise, it did not contain the usual collection of cleaning products. Instead, it had been converted to a kind of merchandise stall. Brightly-coloured ribbons and sashes, commemorative pin badges and pens with the Bellator motto were laid out on the top shelf, all in glorious Liberation Day colours.

Noah remembered seeing similar trolleys about the hospital earlier in the day. Some of the drudges had been assigned to supervise them, so the busy staff could help themselves to the celebratory merchandise in between their shifts.

His heart began to beat faster as he understood Liam's plan. If Susie came out soon and stopped to browse what was on the trolley, switching the keycards would be far easier.

He felt a surge of gratitude. Liam didn't know him. But, with the knowledge that his friend was safe, and that Noah was part of a movement which intended to make things better for drudges, he was willing to help.

All they needed now was Susie.

The door opened again. Inside, the announcer continued to speak.

As you can see, the stage is set for Chancellor Danforth's arrival, which should be any minute now. Viewers have been speculating about her outfit. Last year, you will remember, she wore…"

As a medic exited the lab, both drudges tensed. But the shoes which emerged were simple black pumps with no laces. Before Noah could lose hope, the woman stopped dead.

"Hey, Suse!" She caught the door with her foot. "Did you get yourself kitted out for the celebrations? You know the boss likes us to be matriotic."

There was a movement from inside the lab. When the right pair of shoes stepped into view, Noah thought his heart might explode.

"Not yet, no." Susie stepped out into the hallway. "I'm going to be stuck here for at least an hour. Might as well have a look while I'm waiting."

She came closer, her fingers rummaging through the items on the trolley. "Let's see… the badges are cute, but… oh! Look at this scarf!"

"It's pretty!" her friend cooed. "Try it on! I'll bet it…"

Noah tuned the voices out, inching closer to the medics. Susie draped the scarf around her neck and posed. As the other woman began admiring it, Liam nudged him.

The women were distracted. Noah listened closely, checking that the hallway was clear. Then he took his chance. Slipping his hand into his pocket, he retrieved the dummy keycard. He leaned closer to Susie. As she arranged and rearranged the scarf, he repeated the move.

One card out. The other card in.

"I think we should have one each." The sensibly-shoed medic giggled. "Twins!"

Edging backwards, Noah stationed himself at the side of the trolley again. Neither woman appeared to have noticed anything amiss. He waited while they selected a number of items each, exclaiming over each one in turn. Eventually, the first woman turned to go.

"I'd better be off. Promised I'd get back so we could all watch the speech together on the ward."

"I think I'll be watching it right here." Susie's tone was gloomy.

Inside, Noah was celebrating. The ward would be empty. Maybe things were finally going his way.

"I'll see you later." Susie opened the lab door as the other medic walked away. "Have a good one."

Inside, the announcer's voice had reached feverpitch.

As Chancellor Abigail Danforth takes the stage, the crowd in the square bursts into applause. She looks as self-assured as always. Rumour has it, she has a big announcement to make, this year. We can only wait and see what…

The door swished shut, muting the voice. Beside Noah, Liam let out a long breath. Checking there was no one near, Noah gave a tiny nod of thanks. He hoped Liam understood the intention.

Danforth was about to begin. Which meant Faith's own speech would follow. He had to get back to Sophia before that happened.

As he set off along the hallway, his hand closed around the keycard in his pocket.