Disclaimer: I do not own Madam Secretary or any of the characters in the TV series.
This is a work of fiction and offers no spoilers to the series.
Elizabeth McCord was fuming. She was more than used to Russell Jackson storming in her office, demanding whatever and ranting about who knows what but once, just once the man had set an appointment with her and now he was late. Very late. Actually, so late that if the little terrier wouldn't show up in the next five minutes, she would have to just leave. Make that four minutes, McCord thought, checking her watch.
"Ma'am, the meeting will start in four minutes," Blake reminded her. Elizabeth McCord gave a deep sigh, took her jacket and purse and walked out.
After a meeting with the Canadian ambassador at his office where they had enjoyed a tasty lunch Madam Secretary decided to turn the tables on Russell Jackson. It was a high time and Blake kept on prompting her to do it: just storm into Jackson's office and let him feel how it tasted to be interrupted without any warning or politeness. She asked her motorcade to drive her to the White House where she very effectively stormed into Jackson's office – only to find it totally empty. Puzzled Elizabeth stepped into the outer office. Adele looked at her surprised.
"Ma'am?"
"Um… I'm looking for Russell," Bess said. Adele's look went from surprise to stunned.
"Ma'am, did you forget something?" she asked.
"When?" McCord asked.
"I mean he just had a meeting with you and…" Adele started.
"When's the last time you saw him?" McCord interrupted.
"This morning. Early this morning. He has meetings all day and he already had cancelled the brunch," Adele told her.
"Cancelled or just not shown up?" Elizabeth pushed on. Now the assistant started to realize that something was horribly wrong.
"I don't know, ma'am. I will check," she said. Elizabeth took her phone and called the head of her DS detail.
"Matt, do you have a way to contact Russell Jackson's driver?" she asked. When the man said yes, she asked him to do so and then let her know where Jackson's car was. Very shortly the bodyguard called her back.
"Ma'am, I can't reach him," he said. Bess looked at Adele. The woman's face was ashen.
"Ma'am, the brunch meeting this Morning. He just didn't show up," she said.