Chapter 9
"Jed, wake up honey. Wake up."
"Jed, open those baby blues. Please." Abbey's voice cracked under the strain of the past 24 hours. She was still reeling from the horrible call from Leo telling her of the fire in the hotel and Jed's critical condition.
"Abbey, it's Leo."
"Hi. What's going on?" As she spoke, she realized that it had to be really early in the morning in Asia. Something had gone wrong. "Why are you calling instead of Jed?"
"I have some bad news. There was a fire…"
"A fire?! Leo, please don't tell me my husband is dead." Abbey's voice cracked with a dreaded realization. "Oh God! Not Jed!"
"Calm down. He's not dead. But he is critical. He took in a lot of smoke." Leo went on to describe what had happened. How the fire had started below the Presidential bedroom and quickly spread to the ventilation system, filling the top floor where Jed had been sleeping with thick black smoke. Leo told her of Ron's attempt to get the President out but they had been driven back to the suite by the smoke. And how the Malaysia national police had arrived with breathing masks and had been able to get everybody out just in time.
"I'm on my way. Let me call the girls before you release the information." Abbey shivered as she thought about how close she had come to being a widow. But it hadn't happened.
"Sorry. It's already all over the news. You can't keep something like this quiet."
"Okay. Okay." Her thoughts were already racing as to what she needed to do first. 'Calm down Abbey. You have to get to Jed.'
"Of course the Service knows and they're making arrangements to get you out here."
"Thanks." Abbey paused, trying to gather her thoughts. "Leo," she whispered, "You are telling me the truth, aren't you? Jed's still alive?"
"Abbey, I promise you. He's alive. He's on a ventilator and unconscious but he's alive."
"Okay. I trust you. Call me back if there are any changes. I mean any changes. I'll be out there as soon as I can."
"Good. He needs you."
"I need him, Leo. I need him too."
Within an hour she was on the plane heading west when the phone rang onboard. She was hesitant to pick it up because it could be Leo calling her with changes. Changes she didn't want to hear. Reluctantly, she put the receiver to her ear. "Yes?"
"It's me, Abbey. No changes. Jed's still unconscious. But we're moving him on an Australian medical military jet to Sydney. They will be better able to take care of him there. Better equipment, better personnel."
"Leo, you had better be telling me the truth." Abbey was desperate to believe that Jed was still alive.
"I wouldn't lie to you, Abbey. I promise I've told you the truth. The Service will update the pilot. Now try and get some rest. It's a twelve hour flight and Jed will need you when you get here."
"I will try. Leo, please tell Jed I'm on my way and to fight. Tell him I love him. Will you do that for me?" Her voice cracked again, fighting with all her being not to break down into sobs.
"Of course. I'll meet you at the airport."
"Bye."
"Bye."