“Derek Steele! Get your hands in the air!”
“Ma’am! Put the gun down!”
“Not on your life,” Sam said with a murmur.
FBI agents were filling my office, their guns trained on Sam. She had her gun leveled at the agents, bouncing between them as her eyes took in every single one of them. She was outnumbered. Sorely outgunned and at a disadvantage with her leg. I saw some of the agents had itching trigger fingers, their eyes darting around, waiting for someone to make the first move.
“Drop the weapon,” an agent said.
“Sam,” I said. “Do it now.”
“Derek—”
“Miss Williams, you will drop your weapon,” I said.
Her eyes slowly panned over to me, taking in my hands over my head. My office was filled with federal agents waiting for the moment to gun her down. Her eyes were filled with worry and confusion, and I could see the doubt in herself rolling over her face. She hung her gun from her finger, allowing it to fall to the floor.
Then, she put her hands above her head and surrendered.
“Agents, what is all this about?” I asked. “What did you do with my personal assistant?”
The agents rushed me, pulling my hands down behind my back as cuffs were slapped onto my wrists.
“What the hell is going on?” Sam asked.
“Where is Emma?” I asked.
“Derek!”
I whipped my head up and saw Emma running to the door as agents stepped in her way.
“Derek! Don’t say anything. Just hush,” Emma said.
“What are you talking about? Sam, what’s going on?” I asked.
Her wide eyes were vacant. She was just as blindsided as I was. What the hell was going on? What was I being arrested for?
“You have the right to remain silent,” the agent began. “Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”
“Why am I being arrested?”
“Answer the question, Derek.”
Sam’s voice ripped me from my confused and angered state. The agent ripped me upright, my hands bound so tightly, I could barely feel them. Even with her body shaking with adrenaline, her eyes were unwavering.
She was accepting the position, and now I needed to listen to her guidance.
“Yes,” I said. “I understand.”
“With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?” the agent asked.
“Not until you tell us what Mr. Steele’s being arrested for,” Sam said.
“Mr. Steele here is under arrest for conspiracy, espionage, and violating US government sanctions against North Korea, to name a few,” the agent said.
“To name a few?” I asked. “Where the hell are you getting this information from?”
“Interesting you would want to know that and not decry your innocence,” the agent said. “Come on. You’re coming with us.”