Leo finally got his emotions under control. He pushed Margaret away and straightened his shoulders.
"Thanks. You helped, but please don't let anybody know about this," motioning to the two photographs, "or what you did for me. It's all very sensitive and I don't want it getting back to the President. I want to handle this on my own until I can confirm it. Okay?" He looked into her green eyes, begging her to agree to his requests.
"I understand, Leo. Mum's the word. For everything. But please don't think you have to handle this on your own. I'm always here for you."
"I know. And I appreciate it more than you will ever know. Now, if CJ and Toby are still out there, please tell them I'll talk to them later. And let me know when they have left. Call Ron and ask him to meet me and Nancy downstairs in the Sit Room as soon as he can. We have to resolve this as fast as we can. For everyone's mental health."
"Sure. Anything you need." Margaret walked out and shut the door. Leo looked back at the photos, still unable to believe that they were real. And the last thing he wanted to do was further upset the President until he could definitively prove it. And the only definitive proof he could offer was to find her body and bring it back.
He heard the intercom buzz and picked it up. "Yes?"
"Ron is on his way downstairs and so is Nancy."
"Thanks, Margaret. You're the best." He hung up. He gathered the photos and made his way downstairs. This was the final effort. And he was going to give it everything he had. He had to. His best friend's future was riding on it.
After scanning himself in the room, he sat in his usual spot and motioned for Ron and Nancy to move closer. It was only going to be the three of them to come up with plans to do this. If they failed, then the President would only have these three close advisors to blame. If they succeeded, well, Leo would not cross that bridge yet. There were too many things that had to fall into place first in order for any plan to succeed. Too many puzzle pieces that had to be fitted together, and a foreign country that had to agree to work with them before they could even think of success.
"Ron, have you seen the video Lord John received?"
"Yes. Nancy made sure I had a copy. It was ugly and I heard the President didn't respond too well."
"That's an understatement. But he's in the Residence resting. We just received these two photos. Brace yourself. They're even uglier."
Leo passed the copies to Ron and waited for his response. It didn't take long for Ron's face to turn red with anger.
He turned the National Security Director. "Have these been confirmed? I hope not."
Nancy shook her head. "There's no body, but MI6 has confirmed the face is that of the First Lady and our CIA has since confirmed it hasn't been altered in any way. It is what it is."
"Leo, have you told the President?"
"No. And I don't intend to until we know for sure, one way or the other. That's why you both are here. I have a plan that includes you two. I certainly can't leave the President at this time, but you two have a little more flexibility. Are you willing to help?"
Ron answered swiftly. "Hell, yeah."
Nancy answered immediately after. "Absolutely, Leo. I greatly respect President Bartlet and I know he's hurting really bad right now. Whatever I can do to help him heal, I will. I want to bring him some closure and bring Mrs. Bartlet back, whether she's alive or dead. I think right now he just needs closure."
Leo nodded. "My thoughts exactly, Nancy. Now, this is what I want you two to do."
The meeting dragged on for three hours. Several international phone calls later and the plan was in place.
"Ron, Nancy, how can I explain your absence to the President?"
"Well, for me, I'm on assignment for the NSC. That's normal," Nancy said. "I do this all the time. But Ron, you don't just fly off to the great unknown on the spur of the moment. What's going to be your cover?"
"I have the perfect excuse. Scotland Yard has called on me to help with the investigation of Mrs. Bartlet's abduction. And in a real sense, that's true. Of course, that's only part of the story. The President doesn't have to know the complete story, does he Leo?"
"Hell, no. The only problem is that Dan Marks is usually your second in command and he's still on report due to the circumstances surrounding the First Lady's disappearance. It would look odd if he came back to work so soon."
"I've got that covered. His replacement, Agent Thompkins, is just as good and she needs some supervisory experience so I will appoint her as Acting Director while I'm gone. I am hoping you can keep things calm here and there will be no need for her to see any real action."
Leo laughed. "From your mouth to God's ear. I've had plenty of action in the past few days to last a lifetime."
The other two nodded.
"Now, if you're going to get to Lord John's plane on time, you two had better get moving. I guess I'm going to have to start liking the man after this. What with him loaning us the plane twice now and all that he's going to do to help us when you both get over there, I'm really going to owe him big."
"Let's just hope all of his help has the ending we all pray for," Nancy replied.
"Amen," the two men replied at the same time.