The Photograph – sequel to Who Da Man
Disclaimers etc are in part 1
Four Days before the Election:
Josh's POV
I stayed in the car, I didn't want to but I was good. I did as I was told. Then next thing I know something comes through the car window and smashes me on the side of the head. Boy did that hurt. I heard voices and the car door suddenly opened. I would have fallen if I hadn't been grabbed and pulled out. I tried to shout but this guy had a gloved hand over my mouth. I struggled as much as I could; I think I even managed to get some kicks in, before they held me down. I was hogtied and gagged and carried to a car. Here I am in the trunk heading who knows where. So much for doing as I'm told!
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"Where's Josh?" Donna asked for the second time now aware of the awkward silence.
"Donna sit down and we'll explain." Leo tried to guide Donna to the sofa. She moved a little towards it.
"No, tell me where Josh is. What's wrong, CJ?" Donna looked at the older woman. CJ walked to Donna taking her in her arms.
"We don't know where he is. We think he's been taken by the same people who have Danny." CJ guided Donna to sit with her on the sofa as her knees buckled with the shock.
"They took him from Mike's?" Donna asked the room in general.
"No we had intel on Danny's whereabouts. There was an operation earlier this morning. Josh went with Mike. He was told to remain in the car, which unfortunately he did. They took him from the vehicle when it was out of sight of the agents present." Ron filled her in. He continued more gently, "Donna we believe the intel was a ruse to get Josh out in the open."
"Idiot! He picks now to do as he's told! Idiot! Stupid idiot!" Donna's outburst stunned the rest of the room.
Ron listened to the communication in his earpiece. "They've found tire tracks and footprints. The footprints indicate three people, probably men, carrying something heavy."
"You mean carrying Josh?" The President asked.
"Probably Sir."
The room's occupants lapsed into silence except for Donna who sobbed quietly into CJ's shoulder.
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Danny was blinded as light flooded into the space he occupied. His prison as he thought of it. He realised in that moment that it was bigger than he had imagined. The door that was opened must be really solid to block out the light so effectively. He saw two people shaped shadows coming towards him they appeared to have an awkward and moving load between them.
"We should have knocked the bastard out, he would have been easier to transport." One shape said to another.
"Let's just dump him here next to the other one for now."
Danny watched as 'the bastard' was dropped onto the floor near him. He heard a muffled grunt as the load landed. His eyes became more accustomed to the light and he could see the outline of a man on the floor near him. He appeared to be hogtied and was struggling against his bonds.
As his vision cleared more he recognised the mop of unruly hair. "Josh." He whispered to himself. He looked at the two men but they wore balaclavas.
Josh was untied and his captors attempted to retie him in the same manner as Danny's restraints. Unlike Danny who was drugged when he was brought here Josh fought with gusto.
"Sit on him; we've got to get him tied up." Josh got a kick in.
"You bastard!" Danny watched in horror as the man rained blows down on Josh until he no longer moved.
"Better check he's still breathing."
"Yeah he is. I just knocked him out is all."
"Okay let's get him tied up and get out of here." They restrained Josh's unresponsive body, removed the gag and checked his breathing one final time.
"I'll get him some water."
"Fuck that, let him die of thirst for all I care. Bastard kicked me in the balls!"
"Boss won't like it if he dies that way. He's going to be pissed you beat him like that."
"Okay give the little shit some water. I'll be in the car."
Danny tried to engage the other man in conversation while he put a bottle of water within reach of Josh. "Hey I really need the bathroom. Can you help me?"
"No bathroom here, you'll just have to pee in your pants." He laughed.
"Perhaps you could leave an empty bottle for me to pee in, please?" The man paused and thought.
"Oh okay I can do that." He left for a moment returning with an empty water bottle. "Here."
Danny took the bottle, "Thanks. I don't suppose you know how long we'll be here do you?"
"I ain't talking to you. You got your water and your pee bottle. Think yourself lucky." He turned and left closing the door, once again plunging the room into darkness.
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Donna woke feeling disorientated, she didn't recognise the room. She lifted her head to look around feeling somewhat groggy. Her eyes fell on the sleeping figure on the next bed, CJ. CJ must have sensed the movement as her eyes sprang open. She sat up swinging her legs round to sit on the side of the bed facing Donna.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to fall asleep. Are you okay?"
"Where are we? Last thing I remember we were in the Oval."
"Mrs Bartlet decided you needed some sleep. You couldn't stop crying so she gave you a sedative. We're in the residence."
"Any news?"
"No nothing. They have no idea where they are or why Josh was taken. They are looking into the Ritchie campaign, but it just doesn't make sense. The photo would discredit the Administration. Danny may have been close to finding the source so they might want to keep him out of the way until after the election. Josh had lost his job and his credibility. Taking him doesn't make sense. There must be something else, maybe nothing to do with the election." CJ sighed.
"Josh makes enemies all the time. It comes with the job, but he also has lots of friends on both sides. I agree I'm not sure this is entirely political. If not politics then it must be personal." Donna yawned, "I really need to wash my face, I can't think straight."
"There's stuff in there for a shower and a change of clothes. You go ahead."
"Thanks." Donna smiled at CJ as she made her way to the en-suite CJ had indicated."
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The only people in the Oval besides the President were Leo, Ron and an embarrassed and distraught Mike Casper.
"I can't believe I let him come. If I'd stuck to my guns he would have stayed at my place. I put him in danger. Oh my god. How's Donna?" Mike stopped pacing and slumped in a chair.
"Donna's in the residence Mrs Bartlet had her sedated she was very upset." Leo's words did nothing to console Mike.
"Mike I believe that they had contingency plans for wherever Josh was. If he remained at your place or went with you they would know and respond accordingly. They wanted Josh. The only place it was difficult was at his apartment because of all the reporters. I think they took Danny to get him out of there, as bait. They knew he wouldn't be able to sit idly by once Danny was taken." Ron spoke quietly but with confidence.
"How would they know he would do that? Do you think it's someone that actually knows him? Knows about this guilt thing he has?" Mike demanded of Ron.
"I believe that this was planned well in advance and whoever it is has made it their business to get to know Josh either through his friends, family or personally."
"So you really believe this isn't political?" Leo asked.
"No Leo this is personal. The political ramifications of the photograph hurt this Administration, but they hurt Josh even more. He lost his job, his girlfriend was embarrassed nationally, and he's a political pariah. Politics is his life. What would he do now? Teach?" Ron explained to men before him.
"But we know the photograph is a fake." The President confirmed.
"No we think it's a fake because you trust Josh and Donna. We have no proof, not yet."
"Eventually trusted them." Leo muttered to himself still ashamed he hadn't spoken to Josh when he'd called back that morning. He had been so angry and so disappointed. Josh was a son to him and he had reacted as an angry parent not as a boss. Unfortunately it had taken Danny's disappearance to make him see sense and understand the root of his reaction. By then of course Josh had been abducted and it was too late.
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Danny sat in the darkness listening to the slightly erratic breathing of his unconscious room-mate, silently praying for Josh to come round.
TBC
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