“You could have just sent me a text or something. Jeez, man.” Wow. I really am stoned. “What’s the deal?”

“I got in here but you’re still alive. That should prove something. Call off your dogs. I’ve got work to do.” Franks opened the hospital room door, glanced quickly in each direction, and then stepped out without saying another word.

Stark reached for the Post-it but realized his right hand was in a gigantic cast when he smacked himself in the face with it. He finally got the note with the hand that didn’t have a bullet hole through it. He tried to read it through blurry eyes that didn’t want to focus. Franks had very small, very dense handwriting. Stark really didn’t know what to expect . . . Judging by Franks’ denial, probably not a confession, that was for sure. It took a minute for him to focus enough to make out the message.

“Oh hell . . . Nurse! Nurse!” It really hurt to yell, but even in his drug addled haze, Stark knew that things had just gotten even crazier. “Somebody! Help!”

Franks’ note was a declaration of war.

* * *

Infiltration was not his specialty. Franks was too big for stealth. He stuck out in crowds. His disguise consisted of some clothing that seemed too much like pajamas and a hat that was basically a colorful hairnet. He thought doctors dressed stupidly. However, he had learned over the years that if you acted like you belonged somewhere, then most people wouldn’t question your presence. Those that did question your presence, you simply rendered them unconscious and shoved them into a closet. He’d only had to do that to four people so far, so by Franks’ standards his visit to the hospital had been rather successful, but Stark would raise the alarm and the place would be swarming with MCB in a matter of minutes.

He would have made it out without further incident if he hadn’t heard a familiar voice down the hall. Slouching so he didn’t appear to be so tall, Franks moved up to the corner and peeked around. Grant Jefferson was having a heated conversation with a nurse. Archer was there as well. The two of them were some of Myers’ favorites, so they might be of use. The argument ended as the nurse stormed off, loudly cursing them.

“Yeah, well thanks for all the help, lady,” Jefferson snapped back. “Not.”

“The government appreciates your time, ma’am,” Archer added, far more politely.

They walked toward the elevator. Franks followed. He intercepted them just as the door was opening. Jefferson turned, surprised, and began to say something, but Franks just put a big hand on each of them and shoved them inside the elevator. “Keep going.”

“Shit!” Archer exclaimed as he realized what was happening. “Agent Franks!”