Hello! I didn't mean to disappear for a month, it's just the Holidays! But do not fear I will never abandon this story!
White House, Henry, 2014
Allison looks nervous as we are escorted into the White House by two Secret Service agents. The way she's gripping her cell phone in her hand a dead giveaway of her anxiety. I want nothing more than to take it away from her. To be able to reassure her that everything is okay. But she's not a little kid anymore, and she was blessed or cursed rather with Elizabeth's suspicious nature.
I look over at Jason to see him admiring the hallowed halls that he finds himself in. Jason has always been obsessed with the Federal Government. I think it's his own special way of trying to connect with his mother. Elizabeth is also the reason he's an anarchist. He hates that his mother was killed in war that she shouldn't have been in.
Each of the older two are holding one of the twin's hands. Bobby and Drew are so confused but just excited to be doing something that breaks up the mundanity that is being a kid in the wintertime.
"Dr. McCord." We're greeted by a short balding man that reeks of politician. "I'm Russell Jackson, Chief of Staff to the President. The President has asked that you join us in the Oval Office. And this is Adelle." He points to a woman behind him who waves a warm smile adorning her face. "She's going to take the kids on a tour to the East Wing. We have a whole selection of Disney Movies ready to go in the Theater."
Allison looks at me, apprehension on her face. I give her a slight smile.
"Go with your brothers. Take care of the little ones. It okay."
"Yes, and Stevie is in there." Adelle adds to the conversation. And I wonder how much these two people know about what has been done to my family.
Charleston, Elizabeth, 2014
Isobel looks up at me after staring at the computer dumbfounded for two minutes. She looks the same way I'm sure I did when George showed me the first time. It's hard when you find out that someone wasn't who you thought they were, especially when your whole job is to read people.
"Wow." She settles on.
"Yeah." I reply.
"Ya'know, George was always suspicious as to why we didn't get to see your body. They told us it was because you were unrecognizable. Henry took that hard, so did your brother." I nod, not quite sure what to say. I'm sure Will did take it hard. He had to see both of our parents die. I'm not sure how I would feel if someone told me he was blown up in an IED and was mangled beyond all recognition.
"It's like George was always looking for you. And I mean, from the minute we heard about the IED, he just didn't completely buy it. I chalked it up to grief at the time, but now, that you're defiantly alive, I'm wondering how long he knew all of this about Conrad."
"I wish he was here, he'd know what to do." She nods, a strong silence for our friend entering the room.
White House, Henry, 2014
Jessica is sitting on the blue couch facing the door when I follow Russell in.
"Good Evening, Henry." Conrad stands extending his hand, his tone much too light for this occasion.
"Conrad." I reluctantly follow his lead and meet his handshake.
"Have a seat." I sit on the blue couch opposite of Jessica. I take a deep breath trying to remain calm.
"Russell, we need the room." Conrad says it forcefully, but Russell looks unsure. Though he nods and exits.
"We need to find her, Henry."
"Why?" I try to come across as genuinely confused. Maybe I can trick them into thinking that I don't know anything about Conrad's extra-curricular activities.
"Henry, you spent two days with her. Do you really expect me to believe that she didn't tell you anything?"
"She didn't. We were too busy fighting. I wanted her to tell me where she had been and why she left, and she wouldn't."
"This doesn't look like fighting." Jessica spits as she throws photos on the table between us. They are from LAX, us holding hands, and our hug.
"I don't want you Henry, the kids either. I just want Bess." I find myself shaking my head. He can't have her.
"You can take your wife and kids home to Pittsburgh as soon as I have sights on her." He points to Jessica when he says wife and my stomach twists itself into an even tighter knot. That woman is not my wife. My wife is in the middle of another fight for her life. And I will do everything in my power to help her win.
The tension is broken when my phone rings.
"Answer it, on speaker" The order is clear and riding on the edge of a threat. With a shaking hand I reach into my pocket and retrieve my phone. My heart sinks when I see the blocked number.
"Hey." I answer trying not to sound tense. I don't want her to freak out, or worse sacrifice herself for me and the kids.
"Hey, did you get Stevie?"
"Bess, we need to talk."
Charleston, Elizabeth, 2014
My heart doesn't skip a beat when I hear Conrad's voice. I was expecting this. Conrad knows my weakness is my family. But he doesn't know that I was ready for this, and the upper hand is mine.
"What do we need to talk about sir?" this phrase peaks Isobel's attention as her head snaps in my direction and her eyes narrow. I remove the phone from my ear and place it on speaker.
"Bess, we're in quite the predicament here. God, this would've been much easier for everyone if I would've just killed you sooner." I flinch at the comment and think about Henry. My sweet and loving Henry. All of this has done nothing but hurt him. And I'm going to have to hurt him again. But at least I know this will be a temporary hurt. Time to take the calculated risk.
"Come and get me. But leave my family out of it." I hang up the phone before the trace can be finished and then I remove the SIM card and rush to run the phone under water in the bathroom sink.
"Guess we're ago?" I nod back at her. She is setting up another phone to make the call. As I press send on my email to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN. Now we wait for 5 hours.