Chapter 1

"Hey Babe," Henry said, smiling as he answered the phone. He placed his book down onto the bed, the topic he was reading suddenly forgotten as soon as he saw that she was calling.

Silence greeted him on the other line.

"Elizabeth? Are you there?" he asked, worry starting to creep into his thoughts.

"Henry…"

"Babe? Are you on your way back? You sound kind of funny…"

The silence returned for another ten seconds before she spoke again, softly, as if she couldn't catch her breath. "I love you. So much. More than anything. You and the kids—"

Henry stood from the bed, panic now rising in his chest. "Elizabeth? Are you okay? What's wrong?"

It was unlike her to profess her love for him and the kids at the start of a phone call. Sure, they said they loved each other every day and he felt it in his bones. There was no denying that. But he also knew his wife, and something was wrong. Henry paced as the silence stretched on.

"Elizabeth can't come to the phone right now."

Henry stopped in his tracks at the male voice on the other end of his wife's cell phone.

"Who is this? Where is my wife?" he demanded. His grip on the phone tightened as he tried to listen for anything that might help him hear Elizabeth and give him a clue as to what was happening.

"She's….otherwise engaged," the voice responded, chuckling to himself.

Henry's heart sank as thoughts raced in his head. What did that mean? Was she hurt? Dying? Oh God, what if that was the last time I got to talk to her? I didn't even say "I love you" back. How did this even happen? Where are John and Matt and the other members of her detail?

"I swear to God if you hurt her, I will make sure you and your family never see the light of day again," Henry threatened.

He heard a loud smack on the other end of the phone.

"Elizabeth!" he yelled.

"Scream all you want, but it's not going to save her."

Henry took a deep breath and attempted to keep his tears at bay. There was no telling what the man was doing to her. She could be bleeding out, bruised, or dying. She was supposed to be home later tonight from a quick work trip to Geneva. She had assured him that it was very lowkey and that's why she only needed to take three Diplomatic Security agents and Blake. She was only talking to the Foreign Minister of some country that he couldn't remember the name of right now but none of that mattered when his wife was currently being held hostage by some lunatic. She was only supposed to be gone for two days.

I can't lose her.

A moment of clarity broke through Henry's thoughts as he tried to regain control of the situation. His wife was counting on him to save her. He needed to keep the guy talking and get information so that he could help bring her home.

"What do you want?" Henry asked the voice on the phone.

"Simple. I want President Dalton and Vice President Hurst to resign effective immediately."

Henry scoffed. So this was political. "And why would they do that?"

"Because if they don't, I'm going to shoot the Secretary of State for all the internet to see in three hours."

Henry froze. No. This cannot be happening. Elizabeth doesn't deserve this. Deep down, Henry knew how this would end. The United States doesn't negotiate with terrorists. Time and time again, he had argued with President Dalton about the negotiation tactics of The United States and how they needed to be revised when lives were at stake.

"You can't do this," Henry choked out. "She didn't do anything wrong. Please." He wasn't above begging. Elizabeth had to be okay.

"As touching as this conversation is, you should probably contact President Dalton and let him know what is happening. We told her that she could make one phone call and you're who she chose. Lucky you." There was silence on the other end of the line followed by a whimper.

Elizabeth. God, Baby. What did they do to you?

"She doesn't look so hot. You might want to hurry."

"What did you do to her?!" Henry shouted.

There was another loud smack following by more whimpering. He couldn't stand hearing Elizabeth in pain, but he held tight to the phone because it was his only connection to her at the moment.

"Nothing compared to what we are going to do to her if your president doesn't do as we ask."

I'm gonna be sick. She can't die.

"I don't even know who you are. What am I supposed to tell my president?"

"Tell him that Iran will always get what they want."

Iran again? What is with that country and their hatred of America?

Henry knew that he needed to keep this guy on the line to gather as much Intel as possible until someone else could help. He also knew that the clock was ticking and time was running out. He had to help Elizabeth, no matter the cost. "Somehow I don't think he will resign without some questions. What is your goal?"

"That is none of your business. Just have the President and Vice President resign. That's all you need to make happen. Can you handle that?" the voice demanded.

"Are you sure there is nothing else we can offer you?" Henry asked, desperate for another way out of this. Another way that would ensure his wife lived and came home to him.

I'm never letting her out of my sight again.

The voice laughed derisively. "I don't want money, I have plenty. Your wife is a pretty great trophy. I either get the President of the United States to resign or I get to kill the Secretary of State. That's a win-win situation."

"She's not a prize!" Henry shouted into the phone, utterly disgusted. "Just leave her alone. I'll make sure President Dalton and Vice President Hurst resign."

"That's more like it. Remember you only have two hours and forty-five minutes left. Tick tock."

Click.

Henry stared at the phone for several seconds before realizing that there was no one on the other line anymore.

God, how did this happen? She has to be okay.

Henry had so many questions and no answers. He was also very aware of the fact that he was running out of time.

He ran out of the bedroom and down the stairs, phone still clutched in his hand.