Page 119 of Sinner's Salvation

He followed her along with one, two, three...six FBI agents. Not bad. That should be enough for what was going on in the hospital room where all the noise was coming from.

The doorway to that room was blocked by a couple of people wearing Homeland Security jackets. Not everyone had gotten the memo about Ledger being persona non grata.

Anna didn’t wait for introductions or to even give the door guards any warning. She grabbed the one on the left by her shoulder and arm and yanked her out of the doorway and into the arms of the FBI agents.

Then she repeated the move with the other agent in the doorway, a man, who looked shocked that a woman as small as Anna could move him around with ease. As she thrust him into the FBI agents, she said to the entire group, “I always knew that black belt in Judo would come in handy.”

Nice cover.

Evan stepped into the room and found Ledger with his gun out and pointed at Baz.

Baz stood in front of a typical hospital bed with one of the NYPD detectives standing next to him. The detective had his gun out and pointed at Ledger.

So, that’s why Ledger hadn’t fired yet. He knew that if he took another shot at Baz, the detective would shoot him, and he had no handy healing ability.

Gunn pulled his own weapon out and pointed it at Ledger as well. “Mr. Ledger,” he said, in a flat tone. “There are some people from the FBI who want to talk to you.”

“What?” Ledger asked. He glanced around and his eyes got rounder as he realized he couldn’t see his people. “Where are my agents?”

“In the hallway,” Evan said. “Put your weapon down and join them please.”

Ledger’s upper lip curled up in a sneer. “You’re a traitor.”

“No, Mr. Ledger, I’m not.” Evan sighed. “Put your weapon away and discuss this rather complicated situation with the FBI agents.”

For a moment, Ledger’s face was blank, but a second later that expression was wiped off his face. “You’re trying to manage me. Trying to get me to do what you want.” He was so angry his voice vibrated with it. “Don’t you know who I am? I’m the Counterterrorism Coordinator for Homeland Security.” His voice rose in volume until he was shouting as loud as he could. “I give people orders,not you.”

“For the love of God,” a sleep-slurred male voice said, from behind Baz and Williams. “Will you pleaseshut that asshole up.”

It was such a surprise to hear, everyone was distracted for a long moment.

Then, from behind Evan, Anna spoke up. “I think I know where Brian is.”

Ledger’s face turned the pasty color of a corpse. “You brought that creature here? To a hospital? What if she goes on a rampage?”

“Unlike yourself, Mr. Ledger, I don’t go around randomly assaulting people.” She paused, then continued with, “I don’tplanto assault people very often either. It’s more work than I care to take on.”

“I don’t believe you,” Ledger said, his voice and hands shaking. “And I’m going to prove it.” He swung his gun over to point it at her.

“Put the gun down,” Evan ordered, rapidly running out of patience with the idiot. He tried to get in front of Anna, but she moved first.

“No, you—”

She slammed into Ledger, shoving his hands, and the gun, down so the bullet Ledger fired went into the floor rather than any of the people in the room. Then she tore the gun out of Ledger’s hands and set it on the floor, all without letting the Homeland Security agent go.

“Williams, have you got any handcuffs?” Baz asked walking up to restrain Ledger from behind.

“Yup,” the other man said, holstering his weapon and coming closer with the cuffs. He efficiently handcuffed the man, then Baz dragged Ledger to the doorway. “Okay, who wants this stupid fucker? I’m sick and tired of getting shot.”

“You got shot?” Anna asked, alarm making her voice sound much too tight. “Again?”

“In the back,” Baz said, giving Ledger a shake. “Like the cock-sucking bastard that he is.”

“You should buy stock in your body armor’s manufacturer,” Evan said, with a shake of his head.

“You’re wearing armor?” one of the FBI agents who came forward to take Ledger asked.

“Yeah, always do when I’m working. After today, I might wear it while I’m eating, sleeping, and shitting too,” Baz answered absently, as he looked over all the FBI agents. “What are you guys here for?”

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