Chapter 9

Leo walked quickly to the Press Secretary's office. Along the way, curious glances told Leo that the recent confrontation in the Oval Office had been overheard and repeated many times. The West Wing could be an incredible gossip pool when the story was right.

He knocked once on the door, but didn't wait for a response. He walked in and shut the door.

"Leo, I promise you…" as CJ looked up from her desk.

"Shh, CJ. I believe you. But you had better find out who's behind this or I can't promise you'll be working here at sunset. Any luck?"

"I have Dan Thomas on his way from New York. Or at least I think I do. He said he had paperwork showing the filing at the Manchester courthouse yesterday of a request for legal separation of one Josiah Bartlet from Abigail Bartlet after a marriage of thirty-seven years. Whoever did this certainly has his ducks in a row for the paperwork. But when I demanded to know from Dan who his source was, all he did was cry journalistic integrity and say that he couldn't or wouldn't tell me."

By this time, Leo had sat down in the chair facing her desk. "Why is he coming here?"

"I thought maybe a session with the President might unhinge him a little and he would slip and tell us his source."

Leo smiled that famous crooked grin.

"Well, a session with the President will certainly not be a pleasant experience. But if he's a good journalist, then even that will not unhinge him. But I agree we have to try something."

Leo paused and then continued. "By the way, Abbey is cutting her trip short and will be back here sometime during the early morning. She called the President shortly after you left and, as you can imagine, was very upset. He had to reassure her several times that he had not filed the papers. I think at the end she believed him. I just want them back together. This story has gotten way out of hand, and it'll do the story good to see them together. Can you arrange some sort of photo-op tomorrow and I'll confirm it with the President later today?"

"Sure. Now that I can do. Willingly."

They both stared at each for a few seconds.

"Leo, I promise you I'll get to the bottom of this. I promise you I will find out who had the audacity to do this."

Leo stood up. "CJ, you had better move fast. Otherwise, I can't and won't protect you from the President's wrath. You had better get to the bottom of this as soon as you can."

"Yeah, Leo. I know. I know."