Chapter Five
The announcement of the Statement of Aims was to be at a luncheon for Colombian and American VIPs. What would have been a low-key affair with high level evening news coverage had now become a TV event as news stations decided that the reading of the statement written by Sam Seaborn was worthy of a live broadcast.
Charlie walked through the Bullpen on his way to the Oval Office. He couldn't work out what was causing the strange atmosphere until he noticed that nearly all of the doors, that were usually open, were shut. Toby, CJ and Josh were in their offices, televisions on, sound muted. The other staffers were aware of the atmosphere. They had an idea that the statement was important but they were not sure if it was linked to Sam's kidnap. Any suspicions they may have had were fast being confirmed by the behaviour of the senior staff.
Half an hour before the statement was due to be read, Ron called Leo to tell him a couple of properties that they had checked out had been empty and clearly had been for some time. Leo knew it was a long shot but he had somehow managed to convince himself that Ron would find Sam, and like some TV movie he would do it seconds before the statement was due to be read.
It was a quarter to two. Leo went next door and sat down next to Bartlet. The two men didn't speak, but they were both glad the other was there.
Toby had closed the blinds of his office. He had turned the sound up on the television but stood staring out of the window.
"I think…yes, I need to stop you there Gemma, as the Statement of Aims is about to be read out now," the reporter's words made Toby turn around. He sat on the edge of his desk and watched as Marcus Ottero started to read.
Sam stood by the door of the bedroom. He could hear the sound of the television coming from the kitchen. He couldn't make out what was being said but he could tell by the shouted curses coming from Incul and Mael that the luncheon had gone ahead. Sam walked over to the sink and splashed cold water on his face. When the first demand had not been met he had received a beating worse than any he'd had during one of Incul's night time visits. He leant against the sink and tried to prepare himself for another one.
The door swung open and Mael came over to Sam and led him out of the room. He was seated at the kitchen table. Sam had been brought here once before to talk to Javier but he was not in the room this time.
"Which hand do you write with?" Incul asked.
Sam couldn't make sense of the question but started to answer when Incul pointed to the television and shouted impatiently, "What hand did you use to write that fucking shit with?"
"My right hand. I'm right handed."
Incul swiped his arm across the table, sending plates, cigarette packets and a couple of coffee cups flying across the room. Mael grabbed Sam's right arm and slammed it onto the table. If Sam had been confused by Incul's question earlier, its significance was chillingly clear to him now.
He tried to pull his arm out of Mael's grasp, standing up and knocking the chair to the floor in the process. Mael reacted by pushing Sam against the table and shoving his gun against Sam's head. Incul now had hold of Sam's arm and he pulled it towards him pulling Sam closer against the table. Sam watched as Incul pulled his gun from his holster. He placed it on the table and then, still holding Sam's arm, he picked up a can of soup and placed it under Sam's wrist. He picked the gun up by its barrel and lifted it above his head.
"Oh God, please," Sam cried, not caring that he had broken his vow that he wouldn't beg. He managed to pull his arm out of Incul's grasp but Mael stood behind him and simply pushed him forward again. "No, no, por favor, por favor."
Incul didn't respond. He simply placed Sam's wrist over the can and held his forearm firmly in his grasp. Sam closed his eyes when Incul lifted the gun again, if he had looked behind him he would have seen that Mael was doing the same.
"You fucking bastards!" was all Sam could say before Incul brought the butt down and slammed it against Sam's hand. He cried out in pain twice before Mael covered his mouth. He felt the gun slamming against his hand and fingers four more times before he passed out.
When he woke, he was back on the bed. He lay still, staring at the ceiling, the shock of what had happened registering throughout his body. Javier stood in the doorway and watched Sam. He wanted no part of the violence; that is why Incul and Mael were here. His job was to talk, to negotiate, to persuade. He walked over to the bed and leant over Sam. "Your President is not going to negotiate, but you never thought he would, did you. They have until midnight tomorrow but it won't make any difference. They value their principles over the fate of one of their own. It's coming to an end now." Javier walked out of the room and Sam rolled onto his side. He curled into a ball and tried not to think about principles and negotiating and why they hadn't tried to save him.
Leo replaced the receiver and walked straight into the Oval Office. Bartlet watched as he walked back and forth between the chairs. He was happy to wait for Leo to speak. He knew it wasn't good news. Ron appeared in the doorway. Javier's call had been unexpected and Ron hadn't arrived in time to listen to it. Eventually Leo stopped pacing and turned to face them.
"They broke his hand!"
"Oh God," Bartlet whispered.
"They broke his hand." Leo repeated and slumped onto the sofa. Bartlet remained perched on his desk.
Ron waited for a few seconds before speaking. He had intended to ask Leo what else Javier had said but decided that it would be wiser to go and listen to the tape.
Ron went back to his office. His admiration for Leo grew as he listened to Javier telling him how his refusal to cancel the luncheon had resulted in Sam having his hand broken. Ron shook his head as he listened to Javier explain the symbolism of the sickening violence. Leo had remained calm and resolute throughout the conversation. He had repeated that the Colombian Dinner would not be cancelled. Javier had ended the call by telling Leo that if that was still his position then he must tell the President that he would not see Sam again.
Ron leant back in his chair and muttered under hands that rubbed wearily at his face. He walked out of his office and over to the board that was covered with maps of Washington, photos of known Colombian drug dealers, and other documents. They surrounded a picture of Sam. Ron stared at it for a moment before delivering a verbal onslaught that everyone in the room had been expecting the moment they had seen his face when he appeared from his office. When he was finished, there was silence, followed by an increased flurry of activity. Ron walked back into his office and slammed the door behind him.
Toby knew that Leo would want to see them but he waited until Ginger knocked and told him before he left his office. Josh and CJ were waiting for Carol and Donna to do the same. By the time they arrived in Leo's office, Leo had calmed down sufficiently to deal with their reactions.
Toby peered through the open door to the Oval and saw the empty desk.
Leo caught his curious gaze, "The President has gone up to the Residence for a little while." He walked over and shut the door. "A while ago I had another call from Javier. He told me that because we had not cancelled the luncheon they had broken Sam's hand." Leo could see the shock he had felt when he had heard Javier's words, reflected in the three faces before him. Leo looked down at the floor and paused before continuing. "The Colombian Dinner is on Wednesday. Their final demand is that we cancel it. We are not going to do that. We have to begin to-" Leo was halted by Josh who suddenly sprung from his chair and walked over to the door. He placed his hand on the handle but didn't make a move to open it. "We have to begin to prepare for the fact that Sam-" Leo found he couldn't finish that sentence. "They don't intend on releasing Sam. They never have. They gave us until midnight tomorrow to change our minds about the dinner. Ron is confident that might be enough time to locate Sam."
Toby was the first to speak. "Which hand?"
"His right," Leo answered quietly. He looked at Toby and CJ and felt for them as they struggled to cope with the news that Sam returning to them was looking less likely than either of them had feared.
Josh turned away from the door and faced Leo. "Do you need me?"
Leo was taken aback at Josh's words. He had expected him to react emotionally to the news. Leo told him that he didn't need him, and suggested that they all go home. Toby insisted on going with Josh and he sat and smoked cigars and made his Bourbon last while Josh drank himself into a state of blissful oblivion.
A ray of morning sunlight sneaked into Sam's room through the gap in the door. Sam was unaware of it though as he lay on his bed and gingerly cradled his hand against his chest. He walked over to the sink and rinsed cold water over his face. His hand hadn't hurt at first but now it was throbbing and was so swollen that he was unable to even bend his wrist. He placed his left hand on the wall and concentrated on taking deep breaths to unsuccessfully quell the nausea that he was struck with. As usual, attempting to breathe more calmly led to a fit of coughing that resulted in him throwing up. He sank to the floor, holding onto the sink with his left hand.
From this level, the ray of light that crept through the side of the door caught Sam's eye. Some mornings the crack in the window had caused sunlight to enter the room but he had never seen it here before and he crawled towards it to see where it was coming from. He peeped through the crack in the doorframe and looked out into the corridor. He could see the front door. A thick curtain had been pulled back allowing the sun to stream in. A couple of bags were placed by the door. Sam realised that they must be getting ready to leave. He looked at the sunshine through the frosted glass and could make out the faint sound of traffic. There was something calming about the innocuous sounds of everyday life drifting through the door.
Sam knew there was no way to escape. The windows were boarded, his door was locked and Mael or Incul sat outside his room all night. Even if he made it out of the room he wouldn't be able to get out of the actual house. He squinted at the front door through his narrow vista and thought about how close he was to freedom, how close he had been to Mrs Delaney when she had come calling on her new neighbours.
The sound of raised voices disrupted his thoughts. Javier and Incul were arguing. Sam thought that Javier sounded as if he was losing the cool façade that he had displayed until now. Incul was shouting at Javier and telling him that they should do it now. Javier shouted back that they should wait until the deadline. Sam's stomach turned as he listened to Javier shouting that it had always been the plan to dump the body away from the house. Sam hoisted himself to his feet. Killing him was the 'it' that Incul wanted to do now and Sam had no doubt that Incul would get his way.
Josh had been in the bathroom for twenty minutes when Toby knocked on the door.
"I've made some coffee." He grimaced at the sound of Josh retching in reply.
When Josh finally surfaced, he looked awful. "Maybe water," Toby decided and put a glass in front of Josh.
"Why did you let me get so drunk?"
"Well, when you took a clumsy swing at me and told me to back off or fuck off, I decided backing off and making sure you didn't end up in jail might be the wisest move."
Josh started to reply but ended up gulping and then swallowing hard. Toby waited until the current spell of nausea passed before continuing, "You could stay home today."
Josh became more alert, "No! That's not…I want to…I need to be there."
"Okay, well eat something then." Toby looked in the empty cupboards. "We'll eat at work." Josh nodded and went back to the bathroom.
At the same time that Toby was knocking on Josh's bathroom door, Leo was knocking on the President's bedroom door. A bleary eyed President opened it and finished tying the belt to his robe.
"What?"
"Ron thinks they might have found Sam. A woman called the police last night and complained of-" Leo checked the note, 'strange comings and goings in the house next door'. She said that the property had been empty for some time but people are there now. And get this- she says the man she spoke to had a Spanish accent. It's in the right area and a van was sighted in the road on the day Sam was taken."
"And don't tell me, it's a house with a basement," Bartlet smiled. Leo nodded and returned the smile.
"Do you think this is it?" Bartlet asked.
"Ron thinks it could be."
"Okay, I'll be straight down."
Leo walked back to his office. For the first time in days, hope was an emotion that he allowed himself to feel.
Mrs Delaney leaned over and placed another cookie on her son's plate. "I would rather you didn't keep laughing while I'm telling you this, John."
"Oh jeez, I'm sorry Mom but you're making it sound like you've got international terrorists living next door."
"There's something going on!" Mrs Delaney protested. "He said he works nights, but I've never seen him leave that house." She folded her arms and leant back in her chair.
"Well if he works nights you wouldn't! Not unless you've sat up waiting for him to come home," John's smile faded, "Please tell me you haven't sat up waiting for him to come home."
"I have not, but I haven't seen him in the day and people who work nights don't sleep all day. And anyway, he was very rude to me."
"He wasn't rude he just didn't have time to chat."
Mrs Delaney replaced the lid on the cookie jar and sighed. "Well, I don't think I like my new neighbours very much. And you'll be sorry when they're arrested for…"
"Being rude?" John asked and burst into laughter again.
"Shouldn't you be getting back to Michelle?" his mother asked.
"Yes Mom," he leaned over and kissed her. "Let me just look at that light switch before I go."
Javier and Incul were still arguing. Sam hadn't heard Mael's voice at all. His field of vision suddenly darkened as a shape passed between the crack he was peering though and the front door. Sam could see that it was Mael. He had a bag in his hand and was fiddling with a set of keys. Sam could see him clearly as he reached up and unlocked the bolt and then bent down and pulled back the bolt at the bottom of the door. He got as far as placing the keys in the lock when a loud crash came from down the corridor. Javier shouted something which was followed by another crash. Mael dropped the bag and disappeared. Sam stood staring at the keys that remained in the door.
It was quiet enough in the Bullpen for Toby to hear the clock ticking in his office. He seldom heard it above the chaos of the day but now he could concentrate on nothing else. He could see Ginger outside. She had walked over to the door twice but hadn't come in. He was glad. He didn't want to have to be strong for anyone. He was finding it hard enough to muster enough strength for him. He watched CJ's briefing on the television and marvelled at her strength, at how she managed to talk dispassionately about the 'continuing efforts' of the secret service and law enforcement officers. He listened to her deny that the administration was aware of any final demands of the kidnappers' and the consequences of not complying with them.
He saw a flash of movement in the Bullpen followed by the appearance of Donna. "Josh won't let me in his office."
"Just leave him alone, Donna. He probably just needs some time on-"
"No, there's something wrong." Donna's face and tone made Toby jump up from his chair and follow her back to Josh's office. When he got there he knocked on the door and waited. When there was no reply he banged on the door.
"Josh, open the door or in a few seconds there will agents opening it for me!"
A short silence was followed by the sound of a key being turned. Josh stepped back to let Toby enter. Toby scanned the office and took in the files and books that were scattered across the floor. Josh was pale and he stood staring at Toby one hand on his hip, the other rubbing furiously at his forehead.
"We have to go in there now and tell him to cancel the dinner. CJ should make an announcement and then appeal to them or…something….I don't know, tell them that we will listen to more demands if they release Sam."
"The White House Press Secretary should make an announcement on National television that President Bartlet is inviting Colombian terrorists to let him know their demands?"
"That's not what I-"
"No, this is good Josh, we could make it a weekly event. He could invite a different terrorist organization each week. Maybe we should put out a poll and see which groups people would like to see have their turn."
"I can't do this. I can't stand by and do nothing."
Toby cleared some papers off Josh's chair. "You need to sit down and listen to me." He walked over to Josh and started to guide him to the chair.
Josh spun away from him, his pale face now bright red. "We have to do something!"
Toby remembered Josh screaming at him to do something as they watched Sam being taken. He had the same response as he'd had then- he didn't know what to do.
Josh stood waiting for him to reply. When it became clear that Josh wasn't going to use the proffered chair, Toby took it for himself. When it became clear that Toby wasn't going to answer him, Josh sat down on the floor and leant against the wall.
They sat in silence. Later, Donna came in with a tray of sandwiches and drinks and left without saying a word. Toby watched the steam rising from the cups and spiralling into the air. He removed a sandwich and a cup from the tray and then put it on the floor and pushed it over to Josh. CJ knocked and entered with her own tray. Donna had made sure everyone had something to eat so the three of them sat in silence and tried to.
Leo, once again, was waiting for the phone to ring. This time, Ron wasn't standing next to him. Ron was standing at the end of a road that had been cordoned off, giving final instructions to a group of agents. He watched as his men took their positions around the house, joining the ones who were already there. Three marksmen crouched below the window of the house and waited for the signal. The group who were going to enter first stood behind a van. Ron could see the canisters of teargas in their hands. Ron walked over to another van that was parked nearer to the house but still out of sight. He knew everything was ready but he wanted a final check from the various teams before he gave the final word.
Sam listened to the raised voices and the sounds coming from down the corridor. He waited until the noises stopped and he could hear muted conversation again. He walked over to the sink and splashed cold water over his face, taking a few mouthfuls from the tap as well. His injuries had joined forces and become one constant ache that he couldn't pinpoint anymore. He could barely see out of one eye and his breathing had become painful, the ever-present cough had turned into a constant wheeze. He knew that time was running out, had run out. The dinner was tonight and there was no doubt in Sam's mind that it wouldn't be cancelled now. If they were going to do something they would have done it long before this. Incul and Javier's words and the packed bags by the door made it clear that they had little hope of a last minute change of mind either. He would die today, and if his friends weren't going to help him he would have to do it himself. He walked back to the door, banged on it and called Mael's name.
Bartlet had joined Leo and was sitting opposite his desk. He stood when the phone rang and walked over to him. Leo looked at his friend as he listened to Ron speak.
"He wasn't there. It was the wrong house. There was no sign of anyone being there for sometime apart from one room that was scattered with needles and…I'm sorry Leo, he wasn't there."
Bartlet knew by the look on Leo's face that it wasn't good news. "It was the wrong house, wasn't it?"
"Yeah." Leo walked over to Bartlet and sat next to him. "I don't think they're going to find him now."
"No, I don't think they are."
Just before Mael opened the door, Sam peeped again through the crack and saw that the keys were still in the front door.
"What?" Mael asked.
"I need the bathroom," Sam explained. Mael sighed and followed Sam out of the room. Sam was pleased to see that Mael was clearly rattled about Javier and Incul's fight; he needed Mael to be distracted. Sam went into the bathroom and leant against the sink. He took a few deep breaths and then flushed the toilet. He let cool water run over his broken hand as he studied his face in the mirror. One eye was nearly swollen closed and he was slightly startled by just how bad the rest of his face looked. Being beaten and feeling the pain was one thing, looking at the effects was quite another. He turned the tap off and rummaged quickly through the contents on the sink. He lifted a can but put it down when he saw it was shaving cream. Just as Mael shouted for him to hurry up, Sam saw what he was looking for and quickly picked the can of deodorant up and held it by his side.
Mael walked slightly behind him. In his absence, Incul and Javier had started to fight again. Their voices echoed through the unfurnished corridor. Sam walked slowly, partly because he couldn't walk any faster and partly because he was trying to psych himself up. He took one last look at the door to make sure the key was still there, then, just as he neared the bedroom he turned round and sprayed the deodorant in Mael's face. Sam moved quickly towards the door, he could only use one hand and that was shaking so badly that he found it hard to get hold of the key at first. Mael was gasping for air. The spray had gone into his eyes and the pain was excruciating, he had also breathed it in and couldn't get his breath to call for help.
The key turned and Sam pulled frantically at the door. When it opened he was blinded by the sunlight but carried on down the path using the hedge along the side to guide him. Mael had got to his feet and tried to make it down the corridor but only managed to stumble into the bedroom. Sam reached the end of the hedge and suddenly the ground dipped beneath him. His eyes became accustomed to the light and he realised he was standing in the road. He glanced behind him but nobody had followed him from the house. The sound of a car gave Sam the strength to walk a few more steps and start waving his arms. The car screeched to a halt and Sam as good as collapsed against the passenger side. "Please…help me…I've been…"
The driver looked at Sam's frightened and battered face. He quickly leant over to the passenger door, clicked the lock down and sped off. Sam called helplessly after it. On the other side of the street a child came out of a house followed by her mother. The woman took one look at Sam, grabbed the girl's wrist and pulled her back into the house.
A sudden rage propelled Sam forwards to the middle of the road. Why would no one help him? Why couldn't they see that he needed them to help him? He staggered as far from the house as he could. He didn't want to die. Why could no one see that? He couldn't understand how someone could drive away from someone who so obviously needed help. He couldn't understand why his friends hadn't helped him. He didn't want to die because of a stupid dinner. He didn't want to die because his friends had principles. He didn't want to die.
Sam looked behind him. Mael had appeared from the bedroom and was making slow progress down the corridor to where Javier and Incul were. The street was empty. The surrounding houses started to spin. Somehow Sam made it to the other side of the road. He couldn't run, he could hardly walk. He tried to look at the house but his vision was darkening. He had tried, at least he had tried. He slumped against the wall comforted by the knowledge that at least he had tried.