by Ciana Stone
"But no one can trace anything back to the Hood, correct?"
Amber looked away for a moment, which made Naomie feel suddenly nervous. "Shit. Amber? Come on, Amber, look at me. What are you not telling me?"
"Maybe we should have the rest of this conversation in private?" Amber cut a look at Riggs.
"Oh, hell no," Naomie argued. "You gave up that right when you pulled that dumb stunt with Maddox."
"It was not a dumb stunt!"
"No? Well, it nearly got you killed so you want to revise that answer?"
"Fine, I may have made a mistake, but I was just trying to help John."
"For crying out loud!" Naomie jumped up. "John didn't need your help. He'd managed just fine on his own before he knew you existed, or before you started your wet dream cat burglar act."
"I don't think you have any right–"
"Don't you even–" Naomie cut her off again. "I have every right, and you know it. Not only did I make your little charade possible to pay my debt, but I put my neck on the chopping block for you and your whole goddamn family, and you will not sit there and tell me you didn't fuck up. Not once, but twice. And that's why you started this whole argument, isn't it? You don't want to tell me what you did, but you better and I mean now."
"Fine!" Amber jumped up, fists clenched at her sides. “The last packet of information you sent from Russia…"
"What about it?"
"I released it."
"No. No, no," Naomie fell back on the couch. "Please tell me you didn't send it from here?"
"I covered my tracks."
"I gave you implicit instructions not to do anything with that. Who did you give it to?"
"My mother."
"Fuck."
"Why fuck?" Riggs asked.
"Who you do think exiled me to Russia to do all this?"
"My mother?" Amber asked.
"The Attorney General of the United States, Sharon Fucking Redmond Walker."
"Why?" Amber asked.
"Because she wanted your father to win and knew I could kill all chances of the President getting re-elected."
"But it really doesn't make sense. She'll lose her position. Dad's made that clear."
"Yes, but she'll be in the White House, and that was always the goal."
"Well, it's not like she forced you, Naomie. You didn't have to go."
"Didn't I?"
"Why did you go?" Riggs asked.
"Because I believe in Richard and think this country has been in a mess for a long time. Now, as I understand it, for the first in a long time, there's partisan cooperation. We're making steps to come together. To me, that spells hope."
"That's it? That's why you gave up your life?" Riggs rubbed his hands over his face. "Do you have any idea what your disappearance did to Dad? I love you, Naomie and would kill for you but you hurt him. Bad."
"How could I have hurt him?" Naomie was shocked by Riggs' words. "Sharon Walker told me I'd already lost him. I remember her exact words. She said, "I haven't wanted to say this to you because I didn't want you to be hurt, but think about who Russ is. When he wants something, nothing under the sun will stop him from getting it. If he loved you that much and wanted you back, don't you think he would have come for you? Or at least reached out? Has he done that, Naomie? Has Russ called or visited or in any way communicated that he wants you back?"
"It was like a kick to the teeth. He didn't come for me. He didn't call or send an email or text or even have someone else try to act as an intermediary. He just forgot about me."
"Or had help," Riggs said and looked at Amber. "No offense, Cuz, but your mom's one fucking piece of work. Every time she and Uncle Rich came to visit, she made a point of letting dad know that Naomie had skipped out on him without a second thought."
"Oh, my god," Amber put her hand to her mouth. "I had no idea. Naomie, I didn't–"
The sound of the door closing had her falling silent. A moment later, John entered the room. "Sorry, am I interrupting?"
"Of course not," Amber hurried to kiss him. "Naomie just got into town, and I told her she could crash here. And you remember my cousin Riggs Walker?"
"Yes, good to see you, Riggs."
Riggs stood and shook John's hand. "You too. I hear Uncle Richard asked you to switch boats and come on board with Secret Service to be part of his detail."
"He did. I was honored. Are you coming back in January for the inauguration?"
"Yeah, the whole family is coming," Riggs replied.
"How about you, Naomie?"
"Oh, I don't know if–" The ring of the phone had Amber jumping up and Naomie falling silent. Amber ran to the kitchen and picked up the cordless from its base. "Yes? Yes, of course."
She hung up the phone and returned to the seating area. "Some guys from the government. Probably more security stuff for the inauguration. It's crazy how many precautions have to be taken. They've been here twice, and it’s usually quick."
"Why would they need to come again if you've already been briefed?" John asked.
Naomie looked at Riggs to find him looking at her. "Didn't you say something about needing to pick up a few things?" he asked.
"Yes, would you mind going with me?"
"Not at all." He rose. "We shouldn't be long."
They made it as far as the foyer before the doorbell rang. Riggs grabbed her arm and steered her down the hall and into the guest room. Amber ran to the door and opened it. "Hello, if this is about–"
"Amber Walker?" One of the agents asked as he displayed his identification.
"Yes?"
"Ms. Walker, I'm Agent Fowler, and this is my partner, Agent Renfro. We're here to take you into custody for questioning regarding crimes committed by an individual known as the Hood that has led to you. If you'll–"
"But I didn't do anything!" Amber backed up, then screamed. "John!"
John walked into the hallway and stopped. "Might I ask what's going on?"
"Sir, we're with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cybercrimes division and we have a warrant for Amber Walker."
"But I didn't do anything." Amber insisted.
Inside the guest room, Naomie whispered to Riggs, who stood in front of the door. "I have to go out there."
"And do what?"
"Stop them from taking her in. We can't let this happen. Richard hasn't even been sworn in yet. We can't let his term start with a scandal."
"You can't throw yourself on your sword for her, Naomie. She's not worth it."
"But he is, and you know it. I have to do it. For Robert."
"For Gramps?"
"I loved him, Riggs. He'd want me to save Richard."
Riggs sighed and stepped out of the way. "Fine."
Naomie walked out into the hallway. "Hello, gentlemen. I believe I'm the person you're looking for. Naomie Taylor, aka the Robin Hood. Ms. Walker is innocent and unfortunately, an unwitting dupe in all this. I played upon our friendship to provide cover for my actions. I'll be happy to go with you and tell you exactly how I accomplished everything."
The agents looked at one another, then stepped out into the hall. When they reentered the apartment, one of them pulled Naomie's arms behind her back and wrapped restraints around her wrists. "Dr. Taylor, at this time, we will be taking you into custody where you will remain until such time as you are cleared or sentenced for your involvement in this matter."
"Of course. Can my boyfriend come with me?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
"Fine, then let's go."
Riggs and John watched the agents escort Naomie and Amber from the apartment. "Why did Naomie do that?" John asked. "I know she's as much to blame as Amber, but why did she take it all on herself?"
"Amber told you?" Riggs was surprised.
"Yeah."
"And what are you going to do with that knowledge?"
"Make sure all that's behind her and hope we can move forward."
"Fair enough, I guess."
"But I'm not comfortab
le with Naomie taking the fall."
"I don't think you have a vote in the matter, buddy. The question is, what're you going to do if Amber lets her take the fall."
The look that came on John's face made Riggs realize that John and Amber weren't a good fit at all. Amber would let Naomie take the fall, and she'd go on with her life, feeling like she'd nabbed the man of her dreams and all would be right in her world.
In that respect, she was very much her mother's daughter. As long as she got what she wanted, it really didn't matter who got hurt or who paid the price. Riggs hoped John would see Amber for who she really was. Amber had never really wanted to right the wrongs of the world, or be someone who fought for truth and justice. She just wanted to be a hot-shot, an infamous femme fatal who got away with the biggest crimes in history.
All at the expense of a woman who was merely trying to pay a debt she felt she owed because Amber had gotten Naomie out of Russia after the Petrov catastrophe.
Riggs felt sick. His father's life and Naomie's had been ruined by two women who thought nothing of the harm they did to others and who assigned no value to anyone but themselves.
Now, he wondered, what would happen to Naomie. Moreover, when the time came that he was faced with telling his father what he knew, would he tell the truth and knock the lock right off a Pandora's box that could tear his family apart, or would he let Naomie be the villain in this sordid play?
Chapter Twenty
Washington, D.C
Amber opened the door to find John standing with his hands jammed into the pocket of his zip-up hoodie, sweaty and looking thoroughly out of sorts.
"Good morning," she leaned in to kiss him, but he moved out of her way.
"We need to talk."
"Sure," she held the door and watched as he walked past her. Something had obviously licked the red off his candy, but she had no clue what.
"Water, coffee?" She asked as she followed him to the living area.
He stopped in front of the window, beside the telescope. Amber wondered if that made him think of all the times she's watched him as the Hood, taunting him with what she wrote. As much as she cared about him today and as grateful as she was that he'd not revealed the truth about her and Naomie, she sometimes wondered if he missed those days. Naomie had once told her that sometimes the wanting is better than the having.
Was that happening with them? She hoped not.
"Nothing," he said without looking at her.
"Fine. I'm having coffee."
"Wait," he barked as she turned away.
"Okay, fine," Amber took a seat.
John finally turned to face her. "First, I want you to know that I care about you."
"And I care–"
"No, let me finish. Please. I care about you, and I will never betray your confidence or sell you out, but I can't keep doing this."
"Doing what?"
"Pretending that what we did is right."
Amber had wondered if there would come a day when John's conscience started to gnaw at him. He was an honest, decent man. Not that she considered herself to the contrary, but John had a code of honor, and she suspected that code had started to prick at him.
"Do you want to be more specific?"
"Do I have to be? Amber, we let her take the fall."
"Well, it wasn't like she wasn't involved, you know. I mean I couldn't have done all that hacking if someone held a gun to my head."
"And she wouldn't if you hadn't held one to hers."
"I never-"
"No, you never came right out and demanded, but I've learned enough from the talks we've had to understand how you operate, and I'd bet everything I have that you coerced her, made her feel indebted to you for what you did for her in Russia.
"And because you were, lovers, at least for a short time and she genuinely cares about you. Hell, her actions tell that story pretty goddamn clear."
"And your point?"
"That you allowed her to take the fall. Alone."
"Well, what would you have me do, John? Tell my father and the Department of Justice that the Hood was my idea and I basically manipulated Naomie into helping me?"
"Yes."
Amber jumped to her feet. "You can't be serious? Do you have any idea what that would do to my father? He'd never step foot in the White House. Do you really want to be the cause of that? It won't save Naomie, and it will make what she did a wasted gesture. At least this way, Dad will occupy that office and our country will be better for it."
"I don't doubt your father's honor for a moment. In fact, yesterday he offered me a place on his security detail, heading it up."
"Did you say yes?"
"I did."
"Oh John, that's fantastic," she ran over to him, intending to throw her arms around him but he held out both hands to stop her.
"No. This isn't a celebration."
"Well, it could be," she gave him a look she knew he understood and one that typically had him ending up in her bed.
"No, it can't. That's what I'm trying to tell you, Amber. I can't do this." He gestured to her and then himself. "Every moment I'm with you is a reminder of what I've been a party to, and I can't do it. Hell, I don't know if I can do it alone."
"And if you can't?"
"Then, I'll go to your father and tell him the truth."
"You asshole." Suddenly, she was infuriated. To think that he'd rat her out made her furious. He was supposed to want her more than anything else in the world. "You go ahead. I'll tell him it's all a fucking lie. I'll tell him about you and the Hood."
"You won't have to. I'll do it myself."
"You wouldn't."
"I don't know. Maybe I would. The question is, why wouldn't you? You know your parents would probably never let it get out, but at least you could go to bat for Naomie. So why wouldn't you at least try."
"That would drive a wedge between my father and me, possibly destroy our relationship."
"And not your mother?"
Amber tossed her hair. "My mother understands that sometimes we have to make hard choices. She'd protect me. You can take that to the bank."
John nodded. "Indeed. Well, whatever the case, we're done."
"And you'll tell my father?"
He shrugged, looking as miserable and alone as she'd ever see a person be. "I don't know. I wish I did. I – I wish a lot of things. That I didn't know any of this. That I hadn't kept that fucking diary of yours a secret and that we hadn't thrown Naomie Taylor to the wolves. I wish I had the courage to go to your father right now and make things right."
"Are you saying you don't?"
John shrugged again. "As I said, I wish I knew. Goodbye, Amber. Good luck."
He walked around her and down the hall, leaving her standing in the living room, stunned and at a loss on what to do. When he didn't intervene and allowed Naomie to take the fall, she assumed it was because he was in love with her and couldn't stand the idea of losing her.
She'd believed that every day since.
Wow, talk about being blind. She turned to look in the direction he'd gone, in time to hear the door close. She needed to think about this. She couldn't take a chance on John going to her father.
The problem was, how was she going to ensure that even if he did, her father wouldn't believe him. Acting on impulse, she picked up the phone and called her mother. "Mom? Hi. Could we have lunch? My place? I really need to talk to you. Okay, one is great. See you then."
Amber set the phone aside and walked over to the window, already mentally preparing what she'd say to her mother. If she could get Sharon on her side, her father wouldn't act against her even if John did admit the truth.
*****
Naomie looked around as an agent escorted her into a conference room. He stopped just inside the door. "Have a seat, ma'am."
She did as instructed, wondering who was visiting her today. Not that it mattered. No one who came here was interested in her, only in what new information she'd uncovered for them
.
It was just as well. She was only there because she'd been foolish enough to trust someone who'd proved unworthy of trust. Naomie blamed herself. In retrospect, she understood her mistake and why she'd made it.
Amber Walker started as a casual fling. They were both in between lovers, and neither was opposed to having a female lover. Naomie cared for Amber, but she was not sad when the relationship changed to friend status. She still loved Amber.
And Amber had been there at the lowest point of Naomie's life when she was too broken to care for herself. Had Amber not helped her, Naomie wasn't sure she would've made it out of Russia or would have recovered.
She'd never forget that kindness and the need to repay that debt made her blind to things about Amber she didn't know. Naomie had allowed herself to be used, wanting to believe that Amber was truthful about the reasons she wanted to take on the persona of the Hood.
Looking back, it was easy to see how foolish she'd been. But then hindsight was aways so much better in focus.
"Dr. Taylor, good morning."
Naomie bolted to her feet the moment she heard his voice. "Mr. President-elect. Sir, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to right a wrong if I can," Richard said as he walked over to the table, followed by John Rushing and Sharon Walker. "I believe you know Agent Rushing?"
"Yes, sir."
"And of course, my wife."
"Yes, sir."
"Please, sit everyone." Richard took a seat at the head of the table, and Sharon sat beside him.
John chose a seat on the same side of the table as Sharon but at the end. Naomie sat again, across from John and focused her attention on Richard Walker.
"John came to me some weeks ago with information about your involvement in the activities under the guise of the Hood."
Naomie cut a look at John, who nodded at her then turned his attention back to Richard, who continued. "John told me the entire story, including his involvement with my daughter and her role in all this."
Richard looked at his wife. "Imagine my surprise when I discovered that my wife already knew. Nevertheless, I set about putting the pieces together with the somewhat reluctant help of my loving spouse and now feel I have the entire story. But to be certain, I needed to speak to you. I'd like to ask you some questions if I may."