"Please, Zoey, get in the car. I have to secure you and to do that we have to get you back to the hotel immediately. Scotland Yard has been called to take over the investigation here. I'll be kept up to date, so please get in the car."
Zoey heard the pleading in his voice. "Okay. But keep me informed. I'm not a child. I can handle any news." Zoey turned and got in the car followed by her agent. Marks jumped in the front seat and motioned for the driver to get on the road immediately. He had arranged for a police escort back to the Hilton so instead of a thirty-minute drive, they would arrive back at the hotel in fifteen minutes.
On the way back, the idea that her mother was missing and the fact that nobody knew where she was, finally hit Zoey. She couldn't hold her tears back any longer. She looked across the seat to her agent. "Maria, does this mean my mother is possibly dead?"
"Oh God, Zoey. We just don't know. In fact, we don't know anything right now except she went to the Ladies room and disappeared from there. Dan?" Maria tried to interrupt the head agent in the front seat for more news, but he was whispering into the phone and waved her off.
She turned back to Zoey. "You just have to have faith that she will be found soon. I am sure the best people in England are already looking for her. And they will find her. And once your father knows, the full power of the United States government will start looking for her as well. It's only been a short time so whoever took her couldn't have gotten very far."
Zoey nodded her head and wiped her eyes with the tissue Maria provided. But all she really wanted was to talk with her mother, or if she couldn't, was to talk to her father.
Scotland Yard had put a cordon around the hotel, only allowing registered guests into the hotel, but only after confirming their identity and registration at the hotel.
The Land Rover whisked Zoey into the basement and she was escorted up the service elevator surrounded by uniformed Bobbies as well as the three agents who had accompanied the pair to Wimbledon. Nobody knew if whomever had taken Abbey would come after her daughter as well, so no chances would be taken on giving them any opportunity.
After arrival in the suite, Zoey turned to Marks. "I want to talk to my father. Now!"
"You can't just yet," Marks replied. "He hasn't been told yet. I'm waiting on Agent Butterfield to confirm that and when he does, then I can allow you to talk with your father."
"Oh my God! Daddy is going to flip out!"
All Marks could do was nod his head. The President and First Lady's intensely close relationship was well known around the Secret Service and this potential abduction was not going to be received very well. For once, Marks was glad that there was a wide ocean separating him and his boss. He knew that his boss was going to face the wrath of a man known for his temper under lesser circumstances. And this was one of the worst possible circumstances Ron Butterfield could ever imagine bringing to Jed Bartlet's attention. Yes, Dan Marks was really glad he was on this side of the Atlantic.
Meanwhile, in Washington, Ron was headed to the Chief of Staff's office. Protocol was that when something happened to a member of the First Family, the Head of Presidential Security would notify the Chief of Staff first, and then they together would inform the President or First Lady, depending on who was the affected party.
"Margaret, I have to see Leo right away. It's an emergency."
"Ron, he's in a meeting with the President in the Oval."
"Shit."
Margaret stared at him. Something big was up for the Head of Presidential Security to issue a cuss word.
"Can you get him out without letting the President know it's me that wants to see Leo? It's really important that it's handled that way."
Margaret stood as she nodded her head. She hadn't been Leo assistant for fifteen years without knowing how to alert him secretly to something that needed his attention right way. "Give me a minute."
She went through Leo's office and knocked on the door to Oval Office. When she heard "Come in," she opened the door and stepped in about three steps. "Sorry to disturb the meeting, Mr. President. Leo, you have an emergency phone call and I think you should take it."
Leo immediately stood. "Is it Mallory? Is she okay?"
"Leo, it's complicated. But I really think you should take the call in your office."
Leo looked at the President, who waved him away. "Of course. Go. And if I can do anything, please let me know."
"Thank you, Mr. President. We'll finish this discussion later." He gathered up his papers and followed Margaret to his office. Margaret stood aside as he entered and made sure the doors between the Oval and his office were closed. Then she walked across the office, opened her door and motioned Ron in.
"Margaret, I don't have any lights on my phone…". He looked up as he saw Ron enter the office. "Ron, what are you doing here?"
That's all Margaret heard before she closed the door between her outer office and Leo's.