Chapter 5 - The Wall of Steel at the Hospital Doors
At 4:45 p.m., Sheriff Thomas Brody pulled his cruiser into the parking lot of the Walter Reed Annex, accompanied by two patrol cars with their emergency lights flashing. He adjusted his Stetson hat, hitched his service weapon, and walked toward the private medical entrance with three of his deputies, looking like a man who believed the world belonged to him.
He pushed through the sliding glass doors of the lobby, chewing on his toothpick.
"I'm looking for Arthur Vance," Brody barked at the front desk nurse. "He's wanted for felony assault and domestic kidnapping. Step aside."
Before the nurse could answer, the door to the inner corridor swung open.
Six Federal Marshals in tactical body armor stepped into the lobby, their submachine guns held across their chests in a ready position. Standing in front of them was Special Agent David Vance, his FBI credentials displayed on his jacket.
"Hold it right there, Sheriff," David said, his voice flat and dangerous. "This is a restricted federal medical facility operating under Level-4 national security clearance. You and your deputies will place your hands on your heads and step backward immediately."
Brody’s face flushed purple with anger. "Are you out of your mind, boy? I am the elected Sheriff of Fulton County! You have no jurisdiction over a local domestic investigation! Step aside before I arrest you for obstruction!"
Brody reached his hand toward his holster.
He never touched leather.
In a fraction of a second, the lead Federal Marshal moved like a strike of lightning. He closed the distance, grabbed Brody’s wrist, twisted his arm into an excruciating joint-lock, and slammed the Sheriff’s face directly onto the marble check-in counter.
The sound of Brody's nose cracking echoed through the lobby.
"Deputies! Drop your weapons or you will be treated as hostile combatants!" the Marshal roared, as four red laser sights instantly painted the chests of the three stunned county deputies.
The deputies immediately unholstered their duty belts and threw their guns onto the floor, raising their hands in absolute terror.
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David knelt beside the groaning Sheriff, pinning his face to the bloody marble.
"Sheriff Thomas Brody," David whispered into his ear. "You are under arrest for federal conspiracy to violate civil rights, obstruction of a federal investigation, and felony racketeering. Your badge has just been revoked. Welcome to the federal system."
