Chapter 3 Current time
"Mrs. Bartlet, Ms. Bartlet, you need to come with me right now to the bunker. A Code Red has been issued for Washington and the White House could be under attack."
"Well, I can't walk. How are you going to get me down there?" Abbey was frustrated. All these false alarms were driving her crazy. 'Why couldn't someone do a better job with the intelligence?'
"I'll carry you if I have too." The agents meant business.
"Okay, but when this is another false alarm, I'm going to be really pissed."
"Yes, ma'am."
Her agent rolled the wheelchair to the elevator and pushed it inside.
Seeing how tight a fit it was going to be, Zoey and her agent decided to go down the stairs to leave more room for the First Lady.
The elevators doors closed and they were moving slowly downward. It jerked to an abrupt halt.
"What happened to the lights? And we're not moving."
"Yes, ma'am, I'm aware of that. Apparently there's been a power failure. The emergency generator should come on at any time."
Mid-way down the stairs, the lights went out on Zoey. Her agent grabbed Zoey's hand and encouraged her to proceed.
"Come on, now, Zoey."
"I can't see anything."
They stopped to wait on the emergency generator. In a matter of seconds, the emergency lights came on.
"Now, let's go. We really don't have any time to waste."
As Zoey and her agent made it to the basement, they both realized that the First Lady was not there waiting on them.
Looking around, Zoey noted that her mother had yet to arrive. "Where's my mother?"
"I'm sure she's on her way. Come on."
"I need to know where my mother is."
The agent spoke briefly to her superiors.
Looking at her protectee she gave an answer that would not sit well.
"She's still in the elevator. They're working to get her down now. Come on. I'm sure she'll be here shortly. We'll wait for her in the bunker."
Reluctantly, Zoey nodded her head. If this was real, she wanted her mother by her side but right now she had no choice but to proceed to the bunker.
"Zoey, where's your mother?" Leo was waiting on them both in the bunker. The Senior Staff that normally would be there were all on the plane returning from Europe.
"She's stuck in the elevator, Uncle Leo. She'll be down here shortly."
Leo looked to Zoey's agent for confirmation and received a quick nod.
"Okay, you'll be fine with me. Nothing to worry about kid."