Chapter 5
During the next ten minutes, six men and two women dressed in lab coats and scrub clothes entered the room. These were all people who had been previously cleared by the Service so no questions were asked.
The two agents guarding the door noted that a substantial number of medical personnel were entering the President's hospital room but they didn't seem to be leaving.
Although unusual, both agents accepted the fact that something medical was occurring. Their non-medical background prevented them from questioning the activity.
Finally, Agent Thompson, usually assigned to the First Lady, decided to check the room and determine if something critical was happening to one of their charges. He knocked on the door but received no answer. He pushed the door, but it would not open. He tried again, but with the same results. Something was wrong.
"Code Red! Code Red!" was yelled into their hand mics. "We need Chief here!" Immediately, ten agents appeared from everywhere, guns drawn. Ron ran off the elevator, followed on his heels by Leo.
"Okay, what's going on? Tell me all the details."
A brief summary of the previous ten minutes' actions followed, with each sentence increasingly causing Ron greater and greater concern.
"Okay, let's see what's going on. It may be a stuck door." Even Ron didn't believe that excuse.
He walked quickly to the door and pushed. It would not give. He motioned two more agents to come up next to him, but had the same result.
Knocking on the door, Ron yelled. "Mr. President, are you okay? Answer me."
There was no reply.
"WHOEVER'S IN THERE, ANSWER ME!"
Pounding on the door, Ron heard nothing inside.
The phone on the desk began to ring. It kept on ringing until Ron motioned for someone to pick it up.
"Ron, it's for you."
"Damn it! I don't have time to talk with anyone."
"RON! I think you need to talk with this person. They have President and Mrs. Bartlet inside and they're threatening to kill them."