Chapter 5
"Leo! Leo! Turn up the TV!" Josh was shouting as he ran to the Chief of Staff's office.
Leo turned up the volume and looked in horror at what he was seeing and hearing.
"I repeat, a 7.3 earthquake has been reported along the western coast of Mexico. Indications are that it was centered near Mazatlan and was felt as far north as San Diego and south to the Guatemalan border. Please stay tuned on this breaking story."
The initial pictures were from a plane circling the hardest hit area around Mazatlan, right where the President and his family were vacationing.
"Oh my God!" Those words escaped from CJ as she and Toby hurried into Leo's office and viewed the scenes being shown on TV. They had heard Josh shouting and had come running.
Leo knew that the Secret Service was always in touch and dialed them. "This is McGarry!" he shouted into the phone. "What's the situation with the President?"
The group in his office strained to hear the response.
They watched Leo's face turn from worry to anger. "What do you mean you have no contact with them? You always stay in touch with the agents. I understand that conditions have drastically changed, but surely you have some way of getting in contact with them!"
Apparently the answer was more of the same. "Well find him! And call me back the minute you have any news!" Leo slammed the phone down and looked up at the assembled group.
"Initial reports are not from the agents with the President, but those at the military base with Air Force One. They report serious damage to the area around the military base. Some agents are trying to get to the resort where the President and his family were staying, but mudslides are making the road impassible. They have requested a helicopter from the Mexican authorities and will try to reach the resort that way. Margaret! Get me the Mexican Ambassador right now. And I don't care how busy he is!"
Leo finally took a breath and sat down. "Now all we can do is wait. I'll ask the Ambassador to offer his country's assistance and I'm sure he will."
Each member of the Senior Staff silently said a prayer for the safety of the President and his family. It had been such a perfect week and now it had come to an end. Hopefully not a tragic end.