Chapter 5

I jogged the four flights of stairs up to the lobby level and raced around the corner, past the unmanned security desk. Gee, I felt so secure. Immediately I saw the problem. A delivery guy was flat on his back on the floor in front of the nearest elevator, lying in a pool of clear liquid, the tattered remains of its packaging all around him. He was trying to sit up, but was having a little difficulty. Two members of my staff had cordoned off the area, for which I was thankful. Another member had already retrieved a mop and bucket and begun the cleanup.

Liz motioned me over. “The box he was carrying burst open and down he went.”

I went to check on the man. “Sir, are you hurt? Do we need to get you to a hospital?” I asked, stepping carefully on the wet surface and crouching beside him.

“No, I’m okay,” he wheezed. “Just knocked the breath out of me. Help me up?”