There was no point in dancing around the idea. If she was compromised then it was time to go.
Ardith ran for the leather bound double door at the front of the room. She considered the windows but they were on the observation level and too high to be reached so quickly.
Her flats sshhhhusshed on the tile. Echoing footsteps pounded behind her like a mouse’s heartbeat. She tweaked the lock, pushed with all her strength and dove through the sliver of open space between the doors.
The shock of the cold sudsy flood on the other side brought her to the surface with a yelp. She had hoped to use the rotunda cleaning as a way to cover her tracks but not exactly like this.
The grey liquid swirled through the balconies and walkways that surround the tower space. Ardith was swept along with the dirt and trash the cleaning winkled from cracks and corners.
She tried to snag several corners as they went past. If she wasn’t careful she’d end up full circle, back at the libary doors.