Charlie and Debbie had been enjoying the sight of various senior staff members being chased around by the First Lady. She was a woman who knew what she wanted, and even more, she knew exactly how to get it. Just moments before the president entered the room, they had watched Abbey Bartlet interrogate Josh.
"Yes, sir."
Charlie and Debbie both stood immediately.
"Sit down, guys," Jed said.
They did as they were told.
"What can I do for you, sir?" Charlie asked.
"I want your opinion, Officer Young."
"Sir?"
"Who did it?"
"I don't know, Mr. President."
Debbie smirked.
"You know, Officer Young," she said.
"Debbie," Charlie hissed.
"Oh? Do tell," Jed said.
"Deb…er, Officer Fiderer is just trying to give me a hard time, sir. I don't know who the murderer is."
"He think it's you," Debbie said.
Charlie glared at her.
"Thank you for that."
Jed laughed.
"You do, huh? You've always been loyal to me, Officer Young. Why turn on me now?"
"Due respect, sir, but…you don't seem to be taking this quite as seriously as everyone else," Charlie said.
"Ok. I'm gonna tell you two something. But keep in mind, I'm doing so in confidence."
"Yes, sir," Debbie and Charlie replied at once.
"The crash is over."
"Sir?"
"The crash is over. We're all free to go."
Charlie stood.
"Well, in that case…"
"Not so fast, Officer Young. Just because the crash is over doesn't mean the game's over too."
"Oh."
Charlie returned to his seat on the couch. Debbie chuckled.
"Am I to assume we're not to tell the staff?" Debbie asked.
Jed nodded.
"Nor are you to tell my wife. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Still think I'm the murderer?"
"No, sir," Charlie replied.
"Good boy. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go interrogate Miss Scarlett."
"Again, sir?"
Jed narrowed his eyes at the young man.
"I came up with a few more questions for her."
"I'm sure you did, sir," Debbie said, grinning.
"Mr. President, may I give you a piece of advice?" Charlie questioned.
Jed sighed.
"You may."
"If you keep interrogating Miss Scarlett, and no one else, I won't be the only one who thinks you're the murderer."
"Oh, Mrs. White!" Abbey called, in a sing-song voice.
Her Chief of Staff stopped in her tracks and whipped around.
"Miss Scarlett."
"May I have a moment of your time?"
She slung her arm through Amy's as they walked slowly through the Residence.
"What do you think of this game?" Abbey asked.
"I'm enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would."
"Have you figured out who done it yet?"
"No, ma'am. Have you?"
"Oh, I know who did it."
Amy stopped and looked at her.
"You do?"
"Naturally," Abbey replied, coyly.
"Who?"
"Loverboy."
Amy frowned, confused.
"Yours or mine?"
Abbey laughed.
"Yours, honey."
"You think Josh did it?"
"Oh, I know the butler did it."
"That's a bit cliché of you, Miss Scarlett," Amy replied.
"You think he did it too, admit it."
"Well, he said he was in the Oval Office…"
"What? No, he was in the War Room."
Abbey smirked.
"Really."
Amy sighed and looked at the floor, cursing herself. Abbey grinned.
"You're good, Mrs. B," Amy admitted, finally looking up.
Abbey shrugged.
"I'm all right…"
"You gain a person's trust and then you screw 'em over. Classic. I should have seen it coming."
"Yes, you should have. At least I know you didn't do it. Since you were in the Roosevelt room and everything…"
Amy laughed.
"Uh, yeah, if the Roosevelt room looks anything like the green room."
Abbey's face lit up. Amy's eyes widened in horror.
"I can't believe I just said that."
"This game just gets more and more fun by the minute," Abbey commented.
"You intimidated me!"
"What else is new?"
On her way out of the Residence kitchen, C.J. Cregg ran right into to a very glum-looking Amelia Gardner.
"Watch where you're going, Whitey."
"Don't talk to me. I've just been duped by my boss."
"Miss Scarlett?"
"She's wicked."
"Did she Spanish Inquisition you?" C.J. asked.
"No. I'd be grateful if that's how she'd done it. She outsmarted me."
"It's that Harvard education, I bet. Always trying to outsmart the Yalies."
"Bite me."
"Ouch. I'm gonna go now."
"Do that."
"One question."
"What?" Amy asked, reluctantly.
"Did you do it?"
"Did you?"
"No."
"Then neither did I."
"Good. See ya."
