They moved past me toward the corner, and I went with them, because I was not going to let it happen without me between them and that chair.

Chapter 10 — The Code

Sterling walked up on Sarge, who watched him come with a flat, dead-level stare — the look, I thought, of a man who had faced down far worse things than a hospital administrator and was not going to be moved by this one.

“Mr. Ransom.” Sterling’s voice was cold. “Your shift ended seven hours ago. You are in violation of hospital policy. Stand up, hand the infant to the nurse, and leave the floor.”

Sarge did not blink. He did not raise his voice. When he spoke it was quiet, and it carried the calm, absolute authority of a man used to being obeyed in the dark. “She’s sleeping.”

“I don’t care if she’s sleeping.” Sterling reached out, as if to take the baby himself. “You are a liability. Hand her over.”

“Stand down, sir.” The words came out of Sarge like something with an edge.