Thanks for the feedback :)
The beach house that Yusuf pulled the car up to was located in Malibu. A mile down the PCH from the famous Gladstones
seafood restaurant.
Michelle looked at the house with concern. It was clearly under construction. All the walls were up along with the
roof but most of the windows hadn't been put in and insulation was visible where wall siding should be.

"Let's go."Yusuf ordered as he motioned with the gun for Michelle to open the door. He climbed over to the passenger
seat and followed her out.

As Yusuf was about to place his foot on the ground after stepping out of the van Michelle took the opportunity. She whirled
around and tried to grab for the gun. Unfortunately her hand slipped and only brushed against the gun barrel. Angered
Auda grabbed the wrist of her bad arm and twisted in painfully slamming her back against the door.

"I don't want to hurt you but I will if you interfere."Yusuf stated grimly as he pushed himself away from Michelle
and shoved her forward.

********

President David Palmer sat in his office on Air Force One as it rested on the tarmac of LAX. He stared unseeingly out the
window his chin resting on one hand. Part of him couldn't believe he had just witnessed a nuclear bomb detonating on U.S.
soil.
It was certainly a scary world now. And at the moment he didn't know how to make it better for his childern....for all
of their children.
But there had to be a way.

Shifting position the President reached for the intercom.

"Yes, Mr. President?"

"Place a call to Los Angeles CTU. I need to speak to Jack Bauer."

"Right away, Sir."

********

"Well now we know who."Tony commented tersely as he watched one of the security tapes Carrie had found. Standing on
either side of his desk were Jack and Carrie.

Jack shook his head. "Auda's record is clean. Not even a traffic ticket. I don't understand why he'd do this."

Tony couldn't take his eyes away from Michelle's terrified face. "I was told not to let him into the investigation. Guess
he got tired of waiting."

"Tony, this isn't your fault."Jack replied his voice tight.

"Yeah it is."Tony stated simply as he walked back around his desk and sat down. "Are the LAPD looking for his car?"

Carrie nodded. "It's a rental. Shouldn't be too hard to find."

Tony's intercom beeped and Almedia hit the button. "Almedia."

"There's a call coming in for Jack. It's the President."

"I'll take it downstairs."Jack acknowledged as he left

"He's on his way."Tony replied into the intercom before hitting the disconnect button.

A moment later Tony looked over at Carrie. "Any luck tracing Michelle's cell phone?"

Carrie shook her head. "I've been calling, hoping to get a lock on it and nothing. Maybe it was damaged during
the kidnapping."

"Keep trying."Tony ordered softly as he looked back at the paused image of the garage on the tv. "Right now it's our
best shot of finding her."

Carrie nodded. "I'll call the LAPD again and see if they have an update."

"Thanks."Tony replied.

Carrie turned and left the office.

After Carrie left Tony ran a hand over his forehead wondering what the President's phone call was about. Hopefully it
wasn't more bad news. Tony didn't think the country could take that right now.

*********

Michelle stepped into the unfinished beach house and was immediately assaulted by the cold air from the ocean beyond. It
whistled through the thin walls like they weren't there.
There was no power so Yusuf clicked on a flashlight he had stashed in the van.

"Keep moving."Auda ordered pressing the gun into the small of Michelle's back.

Michelle started walking again and stumbled over an extension cord left by the construction crew. As she struggled to
regain her balance Michelle nearly dropped the cloth that had been covering the gash on her shoulder. When she placed
it back on the cut Michelle realized her hand was sticky with fresh blood. The gash had begun bleeding again and she
was starting to feel the pain from it.

Michelle slid down into a sitting position by the closest wall since there was no furniture to sit on. She didn't care if
Yusuf shot her. At the moment Michelle was so tired she couldn't stand any longer if she wanted to.

"Let me see your shoulder."Yusuf ordered gently as he knelt next to her. He was holding a first aide kit he had
retrieved from somewhere.

Michelle removed the cloth and rolled up the sleeve of her shirt as she asked. "Who's house is this?"

"Friend of my family's. They changed their mind on the design and are consulting other architects. The construction
crew won't return for a couple of days."Auda replied as he applied antisepect to Michelle's wound.

"Why are you doing this?"Michelle asked wearily as she leaned her head back against the wall.

Yusuf met her gaze as he pressed fresh gauze against the cut. "A war is coming. Your people are looking for
someone to blame. I'm trying to protect my country."

"President Palmer will do the right thing."Michelle replied hoping her voice was reassuring.

Auda took a bandage and tape out of the first aide kit. "Politicians seldom do the right thing."