Page 37 of Special Agent Isabella

“I want all the nasty details.”

“There were none. He was a perfect gentleman.”

“What? Okay, dump the son of a bitch. How dare he!”

Demi laughed now, a true bellow of joy and Bella’s instant delight swooped over her from hearing her friend’s happiness. “I’ll try and get there soon. Be good and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Don’t needthatmuch leeway. Soon. Bye.”

Bella again checked her phone’s apps and saw there had been no new calls made by Leslie either. Satisfied, she went to the French doors, making sure she stood behind the nearby plant.

Outside, the protesters had filled the ranks and today they were vocal about all their grievances… ones that had been put in place by the previous governor. Most of them made no sense. Why wouldn’t they give Stacy a chance? Let her hold a town council meeting? Right now, the police refused to let her do so as they didn’t feel they could keep her safe, let alone have her able to shut off the hecklers long enough for her to speak.

What a terrible situation! Having first-hand knowledge about a lot of these rallies, being briefed before taking the position, Bella felt real fear for her country. Folks had to stop making so much noise and start listening, hold genial debates, and then get their representatives to work for their needs.

Jesus, the devil called money sure did a number on so many lawmakers. Before she could pull back, she noticed one woman who had somehow worked her way to the front of the group. Before she could turn away, she saw that same female grab for her chest and crumple.

Not stopping to worry about the repercussions, Bella grabbed her phone and dialed 911 as she headed out of the door. In seconds, she approached, only to be thrust aside by a few of the mouthier protesters who had no idea that someone in their ranks was in trouble.

“Get out of my way. There’s a woman down.”

No one listened. They just kept screaming stupid shit at her. Unable to take the time to make her point, Bella pulled her weapon from her holster, held it up high and let off a shot. In seconds, screaming pandemonium started and people close to her backed away. Now able to get to where the woman crouched, clutching at herself, her face ashen, Bella swooped in and held her from toppling over.

One younger person from the smaller group representing the governor moved forward to help. “She’s in pain. What can we do? Should I call 911?”

“Already did. Get the crowd back. Let the ambulance get close.” Bella started loosening the clothing from the woman’s body, unbuttoning her blouse.

Bravely, the slim helper stood tall and yelled to the others. “Please people… there’s a grandma here having heart troubles. Give her room. Make way for the ambulance.”

Within minutes the word had passed down from person to person that an old woman was in trouble, and like magic, they all began to back away.

A stranger stepped forward, putting her sign behind her. “I have baby aspirins. It’s something she should take. My husband has to have them available for just this reason.”

Having read this in training manuals, Bella kept the woman in her one arm and held out her other hand. “Thanks. They will help.”

“Ca-can I have some water?” Speaking with difficulty, the patient pleaded.

Seeing she had trouble moving her jaw, Bella wanted to keep her quiet with no stress to alarm her. “Sure, honey.” Bella took the bottle of water someone handed her but before she could administer it, the woman lost consciousness.

Laying her down, Bella began CPR and her prayers for help were answered by the sounds of a siren in the distance.

Once the EMTs were able to administer oxygen, they loaded her in the back of their vehicle. “Anyone here with this woman?” One attendant questioned the people standing closest to the scene.

No one stepped forward except the girl who had previously helped Bella. “I can go along to the hospital if you want to have someone with her. I don’t know the lady personally, but I’ve seen her here before.”

Waving her inside the back of the ambulance, they soon drove away, leaving behind a pall over the earlier robust crowd.

Bella stepped forward, taking this moment of quiet to make a demand. “How about y’all just calling it a day? It’s brutally hot, and we don’t want anyone else getting sick.”

Some of the folks closest to her nodded without saying anything. Disparaged, they took their signs now hanging from limp hands and began dispersing.

Happy to see this reaction, Bella began to move back to the house. Before she could, a police car squealed to an abrupt stop and an officer came toward her, his gun pointed directly at her. “Drop the weapon.”

Wanting to tell the young cop to go fuck himself, instead she did as he asked. Slowly, she took her gun from the holster, but as she did so, she pointed at the badge beside it. “I’m FBI.”

Looking as if he’d bypassed a coronary himself, he muttered, “Sorry, ma’am,” and took two tries to put his gun away. “Got a call for a shooter here.” Before they could get into it, more patrol cars raced into sight.

Seriously!Bella turned and walked back into the house, leaving the uniform to explain to the others what happened. If they wanted to speak with her, let them come to the door and she’d let them in. In the meantime, she needed more coffee.

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