Page 66 of Sinner's Salvation

He didn’t look happy.

“What I mean to say is, you have a strong moral code and nothing will make you break it.”

His eyebrows rose, as if he wasn’t sure if he believed her.

“We wouldn’t be here if that weren’t the case,” she added.

Someone’s cell phone rang. One of the FBI agents pulled his out and answered it. He murmured a couple of single word replies, then ended the call.

“Homeland is coming up in the elevator,” the agent said. “The NYPD have every exit blocked, and a bunch of military vehicles just double parked in front of the hotel.”

The lead FBI agent rubbed his face with both hands. “Shit.”

“Moments like these are why I put on a ballistic vest every morning,” Baz said to Nika, loud enough for everyone to hear. He pulled his shirt down to show her the edge of his vest.

“Of course you do, Baz, you drive a yellow cab in New York City. The average New Yorker is a lot more dangerous than anyone in the FBI, Homeland Security, or military.”

Everyone in the room looked at her.

Baz asked the question on everyone’s face. “Why is that?”

She smiled. “They’re not in uniform and their guns aren’t worn openly.”

He nodded. “My point exactly.”

The elevator chimed.

“This should be interesting,” Evan said. “I kind of wish I had popcorn.”

“This is going to be a poop performance,” Anna said.

Evan laughed. “Shitshow. We sayshitshow.”

“This entire country is too preoccupied with shit.”

The elevator door opened and a half-dozen men in suits strode out like they were certain they were in enemy territory, with their hands on their guns.

Ledger was in the lead.

He saw Brian and headed right for him, but the lead FBI agent stepped in front of him.

“Get out of my way,” Ledger snarled, with an oddly shrill edge to his voice.

“No, I don’t think I will,” the FBI agent said. “Agent Stettler has provided more context to the situation. And frankly, his account of events makes a hell of a lot more sense than yours.”

Ledger bared his teeth. “He’s lying.”

“He’s got a gunshot wound to his arm,” the agent pointed at Brian. “And he says you shot him.”

Ledger stepped into the agent’s personal space until he was nose to nose with the other man. “That man is a material witness in a terrorism case, and he’s coming with me.”

The FBI agent put his hand on his sidearm. “Thereisn’tan open case like you’ve described, I checked.”

“I’ll say if there’s a case or not,Agent,” Ledger made the man’s title sound like an insult. “Just because your security clearance isn’t high enough to know the details, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.”

“Ooh,” Evan hissed. “That’s a low blow.”

Anna rolled her eyes. Men were so weird. “They look like they’re going to shoot each other.”

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