A Late Meeting

Hi everyone, here's another chapter. Note to Miss Jasadin--I used an idea you offered me a whilee ago in this chapter. Hope you like it (I'm positive you will).


"Donna! So glad you made it!"

"Hi CJ…a lot has happened today…for one, we just—"

"Tell me in a minute, Donna. Let's get settled down with some hot chocolate or something."

In a few minutes, the two were sipping the warm liquid in CJ's living room. CJ's analog clock on the mantelpiece over the hearth, which was warm with a fire, read 11:23 PM.

"It's late Donna. So let's make this quick."

"OK, CJ…well first let me tell you this…we got Toby back."

"Really? How so?"

"We raided his house, all of us."

"Really? And he gave in to that?"

"No, not really…at first he insisted that he wouldn't return to the White House but…the President got a call about that suspect you told me about, Pedro Palachino, and that he was indicted…suddenly Toby seemed fine with returning to work…odd isn't it."

"Almost as if Pedro's indictment made him feel better about something…"

"Maybe. We ought to have a meeting to figure it out later. But anyway…oh, and did I tell you about the First Lady and her wild plot?"

"No. What did she do this time?"

"She plotted her own kidnapping. And I was to be involved."

"What did you say?"

"Well I never talked to her face to face about it. She dropped off a package on my desk…said she would've put Josh in charge of it but because he's in surgery I could do it…"

"How is Josh?"

"Last I heard of him he's doing well and should be back at work by tomorrow."

"I wish I could say the same for myself…"

"Look, CJ…don't worry…"

"I do worry!" said CJ, sitting up suddenly. "You saw what Leo did to Toby to get him back…what might he do for me?"

"I don't know…but everyone knows you didn't say any of that stuff on TV. We reported that reporter…no pun intended…we reported her to the police. Actually, remember that package from the First Lady? It blew out my window…"

"Oh God."

"Yeah, but the Secret Service helped me find it in the courtyard. There were reporters there covering a tour of the gardens, including Laura. That's when she got arrested. Well she technically never got arrested…"

"Why on earth not?"

"She tried to run. Slipped and cracked her skull, poor thing."

"Oh…what a pity…is she alright?"

"She's in the hospital now, but things aren't looking good for her."

"Hmm."

"Yeah, it's been pretty hectic these past few days."

"I can tell."

"But CJ, we need to return to the point of our meetings. I brought these to help…"

Donna opened her knapsack and pulled out a notepad, six pencils, and a tape recorder.

"I'm just going to get some details of what happened on tape and paper."

"Six pencils?"

"One of them could break."

"And you'd still have five more?"

"Well five of them could break."

"You plan ahead to much Donna. You could have used a pen anyway."

"Pens are permanent. What if I made a mistake?"

"Well you could always cross it out."

"CJ…can I ask you the questions now?"

"Oh yeah, sure."

"OK then…so…describe the state of your office when you entered."

"OK…let's see. The window was broken…outwards, mind you. There was a small trace of blood on the broken glass…and my doorknob had been toyed with."

"Weird…" Donna all but grunted as she fervently scribbled down notes.

"Um…Donna…hate to burst your bubble of thoughts…but the tape recorder is off."

Donna said nothing, but continued to scribble, and without looking up, sent her left hand to press the record button on the tape recorder.

"Continue," she muttered.

"That's all there is to it…"

"Was your office like this in any way when you first arrived in the morning? Like, for example, was the doorknob already toyed with when you first arrived?"

"Oh, you don't understand, Donna. I had a meeting that morning and I was late on my way over, so I didn't get a chance to get into my office until after the morning briefing. The first time I went into my office that day was when I discovered the mess."

"So…it could've happened any time between the night before when you left and the day you found it?"

"Right."

"Hmm, this could mean a lot of different things…I'll need to check up on some stuff but we might be onto something."

"We? You maybe. I'm still lost."

"Don't worry, CJ…I have some thoughts on this…Good night for now."

"Donna forcefully put down her mug of hot chocolate, shattering it. But she was already out the door.

"Donna! Wait!"

There was no stopping her.