by Ciana Stone
For the last hour, his sister had cursed, kicked, hit, scratched, and spit on him like a wild animal. He was tired of fending her off and nearly at the point he was ready to knock her ass out the old-fashioned way, but figured he could make it two more minutes because they were now descending and he could see his father's truck sitting in the parking area.
Jim set the bird down but didn't turn off the engines. Riggs opened the door, got out, and extended his hand to Delaney, but she slapped at it. "Fuck you, I'm not getting out."
"Oh, hell yes, you are."
"Don't you touch me!" She screamed and started fighting him as he grabbed her wrist. Riggs' patience ran out. He got her in a sleeper hold and hung on until she passed out. Then he scooped her up in his arms and marched over to meet his father, who was walking toward the helicopter.
"Delaney! Dear God, you brought her home. Is she–"
"Pissed off, irrational and mean. She'll be okay, I just had to–nevermind, let me put her in the truck."
Once he had, he pulled the case with the syringes from his pocket and gave them to Russell. "One shot now and then no more unless you can't handle her. She didn't want to leave that bastard, and Dad?"
Russell turned his attention from Delaney passed out on the backseat to Riggs. "She and that fucker were into some nasty stuff. I think something's wrong with her. You need to get a psychiatrist here and fast. She may need to be put somewhere."
"You think she's that bad off?"
"Yes, sir. I do."
"Petrov?"
"Things are going to be uncomfortable for him quite soon, and soon after, will get worse."
"Meaning what?"
"Watch the news. You'll know it when you see it. I have to go. Okay to borrow your pilot and bird again?"
"Where are you going and why was it you bringing her home? How did you get involved in this? Is Naomie–"
"Naomie's okay. Hurt, but okay. You were wrong to pull that shit on her, Dad. But that's your and her business. Right now, I have to go, and the less you know, the better. Take care of Delaney."
Riggs turned away, but Russell grabbed his arm. "Riggs, wait."
"What?"
"Do you have to leave?"
"I do."
"But you'll be back?"
"Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise," Riggs quoted his grandfather then gave Russell a hug. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you, son. Be safe."
Russell watched Riggs head back to the helicopter, then got in his truck, pulled out his phone and called his mother. "Delaney's home. I need your help."
"I'm getting up. I'll have coffee ready."
"It's already done. Just turn down her bed, Mama, and see if you can find those old handcuffs Dad used to tease the kids with."
He heard her sharp intake of breath before she responded. "Do you think that's necessary?"
"I'm afraid it might be. I'll be there shortly."
He ended the call and started the truck, hoping that when his daughter woke, it wasn't going to be as bad as Riggs indicated. Her and that fucker were into some nasty stuff. Riggs words replayed in his mind, and he looked over his shoulder at Delaney. "What the hell have you gotten yourself into girl?"
At this point, he wasn't sure he wanted to know.
*****
Naomie snatched up her phone on the first ring. "Where are you?"
"Outside the garage door."
"I'm coming!" She left the phone on the desk and ran to the garage to open the door. Riggs walked in, and for a moment they just stared at one another. Finally, she summoned enough courage to ask. "She's home?"
"Yep."
"And–nevermind." She wanted to ask about Russell but wasn't about to put Riggs in the middle of things. "Thank you for coming back. Do you want coffee? I think there are some eggs if you're hungry."
"Coffee yes and eggs sound good."
They went to the kitchen, and Riggs poured himself a cup of coffee as Naomie took a carton of eggs from the refrigerator, along with butter. She put a frying pan on the stove and cut off a wedge of butter to put into the pan.
"You want coffee?" Riggs asked.
"Sure. Scrambled okay?
"That's fine. What's up, girl? You seem awfully tense for someone who just executed a flawless operation."
She pulled a bowl from the cabinet and turned to look at him. "I just got back about ten minutes ago. After everyone left, I went over to Amber's."
"My cousin, Amber?"
"Yes. I waited for her until an hour ago then came back here. I've called, but the calls go straight to voicemail. I don't know where she is. "
"Well, what does she have to do with–oh shit, Amber's who you've been working with to take down Petrov?"
"That and more." Naomie started cracking eggs and dumping them into the bowl.
"Okay before we dive into that, look at me."
She cut a look over her shoulder. "I'm looking."
"No," he walked over to her, took the egg from her hand, and nudged her aside. "Ask me. Otherwise, it'll eat you up."
"No." She leaned back against the counter.
"Fine." Riggs cooked the eggs and carried the skillet to the table, along with a fork and a dishtowel. He put the skillet on the towel and sat. "He asked about you." He said and then shoveled a forkful of hot egg into his mouth.
"And?" She followed with her coffee and sat across from him.
"I told him you were okay. I'm not getting in the middle of this thing."
"There's nothing to get in the middle of anymore."
"Isn't there?"
"No. He made that decision. Now we live with it."
"Really?" He continued to eat as they talked. "So, you just move on with life?"
"The only other choice is to have no life, so yes, I guess so."
"You can't do it."
"Bullshit. I can, too."
"Oh, okay, then when we're done here, how 'bout me and you just take off somewhere that has sand and water, good liquor and a soft bed."
"Fine." She knew he was testing her, and she wasn't going to break down and cry, tell him how she felt like her heart had been ripped out and how she was sure she'd never have another truly happy day in her life without Russell. She wasn't about to be the woman who couldn't stand on her own because some man had cast her aside, even if it was the love of her damn life.
Riggs laughed. "Yeah, that won't happen."
"Yes, it will."
"Fine. Thanks for the eggs. Want me to clean up?"
"No, just put it in the sink and run water in it. We'll take care of it later. Right now, I want to get back to the computer. When you showed up, I was about to set up a search."
Riggs put his fork in the skillet, filled the skillet with water and left it as instructed then they made their way to the command center, and Naomie took a seat at the main console.
"How exactly do you plan on finding her?" Riggs asked as he pulled up a chair and sat beside her.
Naomie's fingers flew over the keyboard as she responded, and her eyes scanned the various windows that opened on the bank of monitors. "First, I'll look for her phone. I have tracking software installed on it that has its own power source so powering off the device won't stop it from broadcasting a location."
"That's impressive. How long does the battery last? Can it be recharged?"
"Non-rechargeable and it lasts about six months. I installed a new one on her phone a few months ago so it should be fine. If not, then I have a backup tracker. "
"What kind?"
"The kind you can't find unless you know to look."
"You chipped her?"
"Yep," Naomie answered and then frowned at a display. "Okay, this is odd. Her phone registers as being in her apartment." She accessed the security feed in Amber's apartment and watched as the images from the cameras appeared on a monitor. "Very strange. She's not there, and Amber doesn't go anywhere without her phone so…"
She then activated the tracking software for Amb
er's implant. "Fuck." The location displayed on the screen made her stomach clench, and fear rise hot and bitter like bile. "Shit, shit. Shit."
"What?"
"She's at Maddox's house."
"Maddox?"
"Winfred Maddox, aka the Surgeon. Shit! She's been dating one of the FBI agents responsible for his capture and conviction. Not long ago, Maddox was released – something about a break in the chain of custody of evidence. He hates this agent and–" she stopped and looked at Riggs. "How the fuck did he get to her? I didn't think she and John had done much more than go out a couple of times. How the hell did Maddox find out? Damn. Riggs, we have to save her."
"Then let's go."
"Just like that?"
"Yep."
"You really are a superhero, aren't you?"
"No, ma'am. Just your run of the mill Navy SEAL."
"Like I said…". She grinned and stood. "All I have is a bike."
"As in Schwinn?"
"As in Harley."
"My kinda woman. How far is it to this guy's place?"
"According to the map, an hour and ten minutes."
"Okay, I'm driving."
"Works for me."
They headed back to the garage and within minutes were racing through the ever-crowded streets of morning rush hour.
Chapter Sixteen
Washington, D.C
Sharon Redmond Walker took the first sip of her morning coffee and sighed appreciatively. This was the first morning since their niece vanished that she'd felt anything other than anxiety upon awakening.
Her first reaction, when Russell called before four am, was one of annoyance. Once she realized he was letting them know Delaney was safe and back at Heritage, her irritation vanished, along with a good measure of anxiety. Maybe this awful chapter in their life was finally over. If only they could figure a way to get Petrov deported.
She sat, opened her laptop, and logged onto the remote email system owned and protected by the Department of Justice. The first email on the list had her eyebrows raising. She quickly clicked on a provided link. Ten seconds later, she was out of her seat.
"Rich!" Sharon ran to the base of the stairs and yelled. "Get down here! Hurry!"
She raced back to the kitchen and paused the video on her laptop as she waited for Richard. He ran in with no socks, an undershirt and boxers and his hair still wet. "What's wrong, what's happened?"
"Look!" Sharon started the video again, and after a moment he reached for a chair at the table, sliding it out with his eyes still glued to the video playing on the laptop.
"Sweet Jesus," he breathed as he sat. "Would you look at that? It's already been viewed over six million times."
"According to the email I received, it was uploaded last night, but no one knows who is responsible. But apparently every news and media source in the world received notification, and it's gone viral."
"Serves the bastard right," Richard barked a harsh laugh. "Whoever did this needs a medal."
"Petrov will be apoplectic."
"Yeah, I bet. Nothing like the world seeing you trussed up like a prized pig with a giant dildo up your ass." He laughed again. "Serves the bastard right. Now maybe we can put all this nastiness behind us and focus on more important things."
He gave her a kiss. "How about I take you to breakfast to celebrate?"
"I won't pass that up."
"Great. I'll be down in ten minutes."
Sharon freshened her coffee and turned her attention to the morning news online. There were quite a few articles devoted to the video of Petrov and speculation on why someone would release it or how someone got their hands on it. There were those who'd already figured out that it was videoed in the Ambassador's home and the media was clamoring to get a statement from the Ambassador or Petrov.
The doorbell rang, and Sharon got up to answer. When she looked through the viewer in the door, she didn't see anyone outside. Thinking that odd, she opened the door. A manila envelope lay on the front welcome mat.
She knelt to pick it up by one corner and took it into the kitchen. Using a napkin to hold it, she took a knife from the knife block, sliced it open and held it upside down. A sheet of paper slid out. On it was printed:
Fuck you assholes for stealing my life. How does it feel to have something taken from you? Do you even know why? Ask Special Agent John Rushing, one of the men who fucked up my life. If you hope to see your daughter alive, Agent Rushing better do what he's told.
Sharon had to grab hold of the countertop to keep from falling. Her legs felt like rubber, and her heart was pounding so hard, she thought she was about to have a heart attack. "Rich–" her voice came out a low croak the first time, the next sound was a scream. No words, just a sound that came from a place of terror.
Richard ran into the room and grabbed hold of Sharon. "Stop, stop, stop. Honey, stop. Talk to me."
She pointed to the paper on the countertop, and he looked down at it. She saw the way his brow furrowed, and his eyes narrowed. Richard marched over to the landline, snatched it from its cradle and dialed. "This is Senator Richard Walker. I want to report a kidnapping. Yes, my daughter, Amber Walker. Thank you."
"The police will be here shortly," he told Sharon then placed another call. "I want Special Agent John Rushing escorted to my house, and I mean now."
He didn't wait for a response, he just slammed the phone down on the counter and gathered Sharon up in his arms. "She'll be okay, honey. We'll get her back."
She nodded and clung to him, for the first in a very long time, feeling powerless and afraid.
*****
John had just gotten out of the shower when his phone rang. It was his partner, Tom. "Get your ass here asap. Shit has hit the fan, brother."
"What're you talking about?"
"An envelope hit the Director's desk this morning with a piece of paper that said, Fuck you assholes for stealing my life. How does it feel John to have something taken from you? Ten minutes later, the Director received a call from Senator Walker. His daughter has been kidnapped, and he's pissed to the gills that you were named."
"Amber's been kidnapped?" That's all John really heard before fear for her filled him and left him deaf to everything else.
"Are you not listening to me? Walker is gunning for you because you were named. They're– "
"Hold on," John said as his doorbell rang. "Tom, hold on, I'll be right back." He ran to the door. There was no one there, but there was a package lying on the floor outside his door.
John forgot protocol, snatched it up and went back to his bathroom where he'd left the phone. Inside was a phone, one of the kind you see on the prepaid racks at discount stores. He turned it on and saw there was a voice message on it. John hit play, and a mechanical sounding voice spoke. "If you want to see the senator's daughter alive, come to this location and do it alone." The address listed was one he knew and just hearing it made him feel sick with worry for Amber.
He then remembered he'd left Tom hanging and snatched up his phone. "I'll be there as soon as I can, Tom. Thanks for the head's up."
Wasting no time, John dressed in jeans, and sneakers, but slid on a shoulder holster for his service weapon, then pulled on a hoodie, grabbed his keys and ran out of the apartment.
*****
When they were half a block from Maddox's home, Riggs pulled over and parked the bike at the curb. "Okay, here's what we'll do," he said as he climbed off and removed his helmet. "You go to the front door. If he answers, make up some story, just keep him there to give me time to get in the back."
"How will you get in?"
"Kick the door in if I have to."
"And you don't think he'll hear that?"
"Of course, he will. I'm trusting you to slow him down." Riggs grinned.
"Great plan," she groused.
"We don't have time to plan. You ready?"
"Yes."
"Okay give me five seconds from the time you get to the door before you ring the doorbell."
>
"All right."
"Then let's do this."
They walked to Maddox's house. Riggs headed through the side yard as Naomie walked up the sidewalk and the two steps to the front door landing. She counted five seconds, then rang the doorbell. There was no sound, so she knocked.
After a few seconds, she opened the screen door and knocked again. Still no response. She'd just raised her fist to pound on the door when it opened, and there stood Riggs.
"They're not here?"
"Oh, Amber's here," he led the way to the kitchen.
Naomie gasped when she saw Amber duct taped to the kitchen chair. She ran over, peeled the tape from Amber's mouth then knelt and started on the tape on her left arm. "Where's Maddox?"
"I don't know. The bastard drugged me, and I just woke up as Riggs walked in. What the hell's he doing here, anyway?"
"Saving your ass," Naomie retorted.
"I'm going to check the rest of the house," Riggs said. "Get her out of here as quick as you can."
Naomie got up and looked around the kitchen. "He's got to have a knife somewhere."
"Just unpeel this shit off me!"
"Fine!" Naomie returned to the task, lowering her voice to a harsh whisper. "This was one of the stupidest moves you've ever made. Whatever possessed you to do something so reckless and unthought out?"
"I wanted to help John. He originally was instrumental in putting Maddox away, and when Maddox was set free it made him feel like he'd failed, so I thought if he caught Maddox in a crime, then Maddox would go back to jail and John's star would rise in the department."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course, I am."
"You're that crazy about the man?"
"I am."
"Okay, but this? How the hell did this come about?"
"The Hood sought out Maddox and said Senator Walker's daughter stole her man and she wanted to get even. So, if Maddox took me and left John a challenge, then Maddox could not only do his thing on me but kill John as well."
"And just how were you supposed to survive this plan?"
"The Hood sent John a phone with instructions. In fact, he should be about half an hour behind you."