Chapter Four – Pass the Buck
The room remained dead silent after that announcement, and then everyone started talking at once. Elizabeth didn't even try to pay attention to all of the conversations. Her ears were still roaring, making it impossible to even think. She couldn't process more information at the moment. It was hard enough accepting what she'd just learned without adding other people's opinions to it. It was something Matt said that finally snapped her out of her shocked stupor.
"What do you mean your daughter is one of the hostages? Since when is she in Nigeria? And what the hell is she even doing there?"
"I'd like to know the answer to that question myself, Matt," Elizabeth replied. She rubbed at her temples and tried to force her fear for Stevie aside. The only way she could help her daughter was if she focused. There had to be some way out of this mess. She lifted her gaze again and addressed everyone. "Right now that's not important. What is, is getting her and the rest of the hostages home."
Before anyone could start considering a plan Jay put a stop to the whole thing.
"Ma'am, forgive me, but if your daughter is one of the hostages you shouldn't be the one handling the situation. We should pass this along to DoD or someone else. You're too close to it."
Nadine knew full well how the Secretary was going to take that, but Jay was right. She would be too emotionally involved. Saying something would turn Elizabeth's ire toward her, but Nadine knew she had to speak up anyway. It was best for everyone involved.
"Jay has a point, Ma'am."
Elizabeth nearly laughed. Nobody on her staff had struck her as being completely stupid, but Jay and Nadine seemed to be proving her wrong. They couldn't possibly believe she would turn away if her child was involved. This was her family, and they all knew how close she was to her family. Either Jay or Nadine had forgotten that or they had lost their minds. She wasn't going to pass the buck on this one. No chance.
"Are you really trying to convince me to let someone else handle this? Really?"
"Ma'am," Nadine began.
"No," Elizabeth snapped. "This was brought to my office, and that's exactly where it's staying. There isn't anyone more determined than me to get those people home, especially since my daughter's life is in danger. This situation is not being kicked over to anyone else. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Ma'am," they all chorused.
There would be no changing Elizabeth McCord's mind once she'd decided something. The truth of the matter was that even emotionally involved Secretary McCord was probably the best person for the job. She had resources few other people had and came up with ideas nobody else would even consider. Given what they were looking at, both of those things could come in rather handy.
"Good. Let's get to work then. Jay, does anyone else have access to this video? Was it sent to anyone besides the consul?"
"Not that I know of, Ma'am, but I will call to confirm that."
"Do that. And make sure that video doesn't get out to anyone. Daisy, the media can't get a hold of it, and I'd prefer they didn't find out about this at all. We all know the first thing they'll do if they find out is search for the names of the hostages."
"You do know how difficult it's going to be to keep them from finding out about a hostage situation involving US citizens and airing everything they can get their hands on, right?" Daisy asked.
"I realize that, but it's absolutely necessary. Stevie's identity as one of the hostages has to remain completely under wraps. If the rebels find out her identity she could be targeted or killed. Understood? Do whatever you have to do to keep my daughter's name and the names of the other hostages out of the press."
"Of course, Ma'am."
"Okay, now… We need more information to work with," Elizabeth mused.
She fell silent for a moment, considering. What tools did they need to find a solution to this? Almost everything really. They didn't have much information at all.
"Nadine," she began. "I need all of the information you can get me on this rebel group. If there's nothing on this group specifically then I need whatever you can find on typical Nigerian rebel groups. I need everything on the compound or where ever it is that they're camped out also. The surrounding area too."
"Of course, Madam Secretary. I'll pull together everything I can find," Nadine promised.
"Everyone else, eat your Wheaties, put your thinking caps on, and do whatever else you have to do because we have to come up with a solution fast. One with the least risk of getting any of those hostages killed."
How the hell they were going to do that Elizabeth had no idea.
O . o . O . o . O
Hours later darkness was starting to fall and Elizabeth McCord felt no closer to getting the eleven missionaries and one microloans intern home. It was so much easier to think of them that way and not actually mention Stevie's name. Locking her daughter away in the recesses of her mind was the only way she could stay focused. Not that focus was really helping. No rescue plan had even seemed feasible so far. If she was being fully honest then no plan had been even remotely feasible. They'd all been desperate shots in the dark that nobody had expected to work.
She set her glasses aside and rubbed at her burning eyes. Dinner had passed a long time ago. While her staff had taken a break, she'd worked non-stop. There was no way she could do anything else. At this point though, she was starting to lose hope. She didn't have any ideas. Not even wild ones. When Blake and Nadine stepped into her office she had a feeling she knew what they wanted, but she didn't see how it was even possible.
"Ma'am, you need to go home," Blake told her. "I've already called a car for you."
It was as she'd expected, and she shook her head at both of them.
"How can I go home when I haven't figured out how to save them yet?"
It would be like abandoning Stevie. The thought nearly closed her throat, and for a moment she couldn't breathe. Thankfully neither Blake nor Nadine seemed to notice. They were too worried about getting her out the door.
"Because you won't do her any good like this. You need to go home, get some rest, and get back at it again tomorrow when you're fresh," Nadine answered.
"She's right, Ma'am," Blake added. "Give your brain a break. You're more likely to think of something that way then you are if you keep pushing non-stop."
"Besides Ma'am, we're all going to make sure we don't have to go to any more funerals. I think we've been to more than enough in the last year."
As ridiculous as it was, that actually calmed Elizabeth. Her entire staff was going to work as hard as they could until they found a solution. That solution simply wasn't going to come tonight. They were right; she needed a break. She was already feeling fuzzy and nearly numb. But…
"I have to figure out how to tell Henry."
How was she even supposed to bring this up to her husband? It would break him just like it was breaking her. She didn't want to bring that kind of pain to him, but this also wasn't something she could hide. They could lose their oldest child. He needed to know.
"I think you have to just come right out and say it, Ma'am," Nadine offered.
Elizabeth laughed.
"Oh sure. "Hi, Henry. I'm home, oh, and our daughter is currently being held hostage in Africa by a group of rebels." That would go over really well."
"I'm sure you'll come up with something."
"Perhaps something a little more delicate," Blake suggested.
"Thanks, Blake," Elizabeth replied dryly.
"You're welcome. Now the car, Ma'am?"
"Right. Just give me a few minutes to grab my things."
"Of course, Ma'am."
Author's Note: I'd tried so hard to keep the main plot of this story a secret with where Stevie was going and all of that. I'm so glad so many of you seemed surprised by the reveal of that plot! I was worried it would be so obvious.