Sorry it's been a little longer. This is a busy time of year. There is a trigger warning for this chapter as a suicide is depicted.
Thank you to those of you still reading and reviewing this story! It means a lot!
"Do I need to remind you that I am the President of the United States, Henry?" Conrad demanded.
Henry paused and looked from Elizabeth to President Dalton. Her eyes were wide and pleading with him to drop the accusation he just made.
I can't, Babe. He did fail you.
Henry walked farther into the room and stood face to face with President Dalton. "You did fail her. You failed her in Iran the first time too. Do I need to remind you what I said then?" Henry asked.
President Dalton cast his eyes downward momentarily before looking at Henry again. "No, I remember that quite well."
Elizabeth approached Henry and put her hand on his arm to get his attention. "Babe, just hang on."
Conrad held his hand up, silencing Elizabeth and Henry. "It's okay, Bess. Henry is right. I did fail you. I own that."
"Sir, it's not your fault—"
He shook his head. "I know that ultimately Teresa Hurst hired the people that hurt you, but she was on my ticket when I ran for re-election. I have to own that I brought her into my administration."
Henry crossed his arms. "So are you admitting that you knew?"
Conrad sighed deeply. "No. I'm admitting that I should have known something was amiss. I had no knowledge of Teresa Hurst's plot to kill Elizabeth."
Henry's lips were pressed into a thin line. I still don't believe him. How am I supposed to trust anyone in this administration with Elizabeth's life?
Elizabeth's eyes softened as she slowly approached President Dalton. "Sir, I really need to take a look at those files. There must be something in them that can help me understand what is coming next. There might be nothing else, but we don't know that for sure. I can't—" she said, her breath hitching. "I can't let this affect my kids any more than it already has. Or Henry. Please."
President Dalton closed his eyes, thinking. "I can't let you leave the bunker yet. You know that, right?" he asked.
Elizabeth nodded.
"I'll have the files brought up shortly."
"Thank you, Conrad," Elizabeth replied.
President Dalton nodded, his face conflicted.
Henry placed his hand gently on Elizabeth's shoulder, causing her to turn around to face him. She smiled.
"Come say goodnight to the kids," Henry said.
She followed him into the other room and couldn't help but laugh when she saw Jason punching a pillow and Alison trying to make a fort using one of the chairs and a blanket. "Our lives are weird," she said.
Henry chucked and linked his hand with hers, pulling her against his chest momentarily. She leaned into him.
She's limping again. Her leg must be hurting.
"How's the sleeping situation coming along?" Elizabeth asked.
"It sucks," Jason replied.
Ali poked her head out of the makeshift fort. "Usually I disagree with Jason on a fundamental level, but he's right, Mom. This sucks."
"Stevie isn't complaining," Elizabeth pointed out.
"She got the couch!" Ali replied.
Stevie sat up, gathering the blankets around her waist. "Well I am the oldest."
Elizabeth sighed. "I'm sorry, guys. Hopefully this is just for tonight."
"Noodle, why are you making a fort, anyway? Wouldn't you be better off stacking the blankets?" Henry asked.
"I was trying to create the illusion of privacy." She looked down at her lap. "It's stupid, I know."
"It's not stupid," Henry replied. "I wish we could go home. Believe me. Your mom and I appreciate it how good the three of you are being about this."
"We know it's not by choice, Dad," Stevie replied.
Elizabeth leaned into Henry more and he wrapped his arms more fully around her, supporting her weight.
"Anyway, I just came to say goodnight. Your dad and I have some things we have to go over with President Dalton for a little bit."
"Where are you going to sleep, Mom?" Jason asked.
"Don't worry about me, Jase. I'll be okay." Elizabeth walked out of Henry's arms carefully and said goodnight to each of the kids. "Love you guys," she said, reaching to turn out the light in the room.
"Love you too," all three of them replied in unison.
"Are you joining us in the other room?" Henry asked Lydia.
Lydia nodded and followed Elizabeth and Henry. The Secret Service agents filed out behind them pulling the door shut.
Henry guided Elizabeth to a chair and heard her wince as she sat down. "Is it your leg?" he whispered in her ear, and sat down next to her.
She nodded. "It's throbbing. I think it's because I was standing for too long."
He rubbed her back. "Do you want me to send someone to bring you medicine? Maybe they can fill your prescription."
"No, I'll be okay if I can sit for a while."
"Are you sure, Babe?"
I don't like seeing you in pain. I'm sure the stress of everything right now isn't helping.
"Yeah, I'm okay," she said, giving him a small smile.
President Dalton sat down in a chair at the far end of the table, and Lydia took a seat beside him.
"So, what were you and Lydia arguing about earlier?" Henry asked, trying to sound casual. Elizabeth looked at Henry like he had four eyes.
I know it's not really my place, but I would also bet money that they were arguing about Elizabeth.
"Family stuff," Conrad replied, shrugging.
Lydia looked stricken which told Henry that Conrad was lying.
Elizabeth shot Henry a look that said he was treading into dangerous territory.
He ignored her wishes, and decided to push President Dalton on the issue. "I happen to think you were arguing about something related to Elizabeth."
"Henry, stop," Elizabeth warned.
Silence fell over the room as the four of them avoided eye contact.
"Oh, just tell them Conrad," Lydia chimed in.
Tell us what?
President Dalton gave his wife a pointed look. "No. We agreed."
Lydia took her husband's hand, trying to win him over with her soft touch. "She deserves to see it."
"What do I deserve to see?" Elizabeth asked.
President Dalton looked over in Elizabeth and Henry's direction. "I don't know if it's helpful or stressful. That's what we were arguing about."
"Due respect, Mr. President, that's not your call to make. Now what is it? Information? Another suspect?"
Conrad sighed deeply, a resigned look on his face. "The video of Teresa Hurst's suicide was leaked to the press a few hours ago. They haven't gone public with it yet, but it's only a matter of time. She says something to Bess right before she hangs herself."
Oh my God.
Elizabeth gasped and reached for Henry's hand. "How did that video get leaked?" he asked, rubbing his thumb over the back of Elizabeth's hand.
"Ephraim and the FBI director are looking into it." Conrad folded his hands.
Are we sure that Ephraim Ware and the FBI director aren't sabotaging Elizabeth and Conrad?
"Can we see the video?" Elizabeth asked.
President Dalton leaned forward slightly. "It's gruesome. I would advise against it."
"I need to see it, Mr. President."
Henry squeezed her hand in comfort.
"Very well. I'll make sure we can access the video when we look at the files. Ephraim should be here shortly."
Elizabeth nodded and closed her eyes for a second.
"You okay, Babe?" Henry asked.
"Yeah. It's just a lot."
He hugged her as best he could while they were sitting in chairs. "I know. I wish things were different. But we'll deal with whatever it is, together."
There was a loud knock on the door to the bunker and Elizabeth jumped, startled.
We're all on edge.
One of the Secret Service agents walked toward the door, gun raised.
"It's Ephraim Ware," a voice on the other side of the door said. The Secret Service agent cracked the door open, gun pointed directly at the opening.
Ephraim's face came into view and the agent lowered his weapon a fraction of an inch. "We were expecting him. Let Ephraim in please," President Dalton said.
The agent stepped aside and ushered Ephraim into the room. "Good evening, everyone." Ephraim took a seat two chairs down from the president, opposite Elizabeth and Henry. "Madam Secretary, glad to see you made it back to the States," he said.
Thanks, Ephraim." Elizabeth smiled softly.
"What can you show us?" President Dalton asked.
Ephraim placed the slim laptop he was carrying on the desk and opened it. He typed a few things in quickly and then turned it around to show President Dalton.
"We decoded most of the files on Teresa Hurst's computer. It looks like the worst of her plans have already been carried out."
Well, that's somewhat comforting.
"I'm sensing a 'but' Ephraim," President Dalton said.
Ephraim Ware nodded. "There are two folders we can't decode. The encryption is like nothing we've ever seen. We're still working on it, but it will take some time."
"Teresa Hurst wasn't exactly a computer whiz. She had to have help," Elizabeth said.
"I agree. We are looking into her bank records, but she could have paid someone cash or used an untraceable account. There are several unknowns right now, Madam Secretary."
Henry threw his hands in the air, frustrated. "Well that's not acceptable."
"I assure you, we are doing everything we can," Ephraim said.
Elizabeth looked down at her hands, fidgeting with them. She took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I need to see the files on that computer, Ephraim."
Ephraim looked to President Dalton and he nodded, granting permission.
The CIA director stood up from his chair and walked the laptop over to Elizabeth. He opened a folder and pointed to an email that was the first in a chain of many. "This was all encrypted, so Teresa Hurst is speaking candidly here," Ephraim said.
Elizabeth nodded, and then focused on what she could see on the screen. "May I?" she asked, taking control of the laptop from Ephraim.
Several minutes passed in silence as she read the emails and other files on the computer. Henry read over her shoulder and the more he read, the more his stomach sank. The details about how Teresa Hurst planned to sabotage Elizabeth's work trip to Geneva, have her kidnapped, tortured, and killed if necessary were horrendous. Farhad Azimi's responses were disgusting. He was one-hundred percent on board with Teresa's plan and had even been doing his own 'research' with photos of Elizabeth he was sent. It took everything in Henry to not reach over and close the laptop to protect his wife.
She shouldn't have to see this.
Henry continued to read over Elizabeth's shoulder, taking in all the information he could. Rogers and Valdez were chosen to be the replacement Diplomatic Security agents as far back as four months ago. Teresa Hurst made sure their records were clean and that their names were at the top of the stack given to Russell Jackson. Both of them agreed to take Elizabeth to Iran should she survive the kidnapping. A healthy amount of money was promised to each of them in return.
Elizabeth shifted in her seat as she continued reading through the files.
I can see how tense her shoulders are. Not that I blame her.
Henry knew deep down that combing through the files was her way of working through the emotions surrounding the situation. Pattern recognition was what she did best. It's what made Conrad hire Elizabeth as an analyst for the CIA. He had no doubt she was good at her job. But watching her look through awful things written about her was not quite the same thing as analyzing information about a suspect or person of interest. He heard her small intake of breath when she got to the part about hiring a sniper to shoot her at the house, regardless of whether or not the kids were home.
I can't look at this. The lack of regard for our kids is too much.
"Come on, Babe. Let's take a break," he said gently, placing his hand over hers on the track pad.
"No, I need to see if there is more," she whispered, pushing his hand off.
Henry turned her chin gently in his direction, so she was obligated to look at him. "The information isn't going anywhere. Please, let's just take a second."
Silent tears rolled down her cheeks. "I need to see if she is planning to come after the kids. I can't—"
He reached forward to pull Elizabeth into a hug. "I know, Baby. I know," he said, wrapping his arms around her tightly. She sobbed into his chest quietly and he did his best to hide her from everyone else in the room. "It's okay."
Why her? What did she do to deserve this?
President Dalton cleared his throat. "Elizabeth, we can step out of the room if you need us to," he said, voice full of compassion.
She pushed away from Henry and reached up to wipe her tears. "No, it's okay. I'm fine."
Henry kept one of his arms around her shoulder, showing her silent support.
Conrad shot her a look that said 'in no way are you fine, but I'll leave it for now.'
Ephraim stepped forward and locked eyes with Elizabeth. "Ma'am. I want to make sure you noticed that the email chain stops shortly after the one about the sniper. We are pretty sure that's the last of her plans to harm you."
"Pretty sure?" Henry asked.
"Like I said, there are a few folders still encrypted, so we want to keep the Secretary here for now until we are completely sure."
Henry shook his head. "We can't live down here. There has to be a way to decode those files."
"We have the best people working on it around the clock. I'm hoping to have some answers early tomorrow morning," Ephraim said.
Elizabeth nodded, understanding that these things take time. Henry was less accepting. "I thought the point of having the CIA and FBI at your fingertips was that things happened quickly. Or is that only for when it involves the president?"
"Henry, it's not Ephraim's fault," Elizabeth reminded him.
He ran his hands through his hair, frustrated. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—" Henry apologized.
Ephraim nodded. "I understand, Dr. McCord. No offense taken."
President Dalton chimed in. "I want to know everything inside the files just as much as you do, Henry. The title of one of the encrypted folders includes my name."
Oh, I'm sorry, were you kidnapped and beaten and violated and almost killed?
"I still don't understand how all of this was planned right under all of our noses," Elizabeth said.
"You and me both, Bess."
Elizabeth stared off into space, lost in thought.
I can only imagine how she must feel right now. This is worse than the stalker who tried to get her to quit. This is personal.
Henry rubbed her shoulder, and she gave him a sad smile. "Do you want to try to get some rest?" he suggested.
She shook her head and stifled a yawn. "I want to see the video." Elizabeth pointed to the laptop. "Can we pull that up on here?" she asked Ephraim.
"Are you sure, Babe? It's getting late and I know this was a lot to take in."
"I'm fine, Henry."
I know she's not fine, but I don't want to argue in front of President Dalton right now. I'm ready for this nightmare to end.
"Let me bring up the video," Ephraim said. After some typing and a few clicks, the video appeared on the screen.
Henry looked at Elizabeth. "I'm right here, Babe. No matter what."
She beamed at him and took a deep breath before pressing play.
Teresa Hurst came into view on the screen. She sat in a metal chair, legs crossed, picking at her fingernails. Every few minutes, she glanced toward the camera, as if checking something.
She had to know she was being recorded. But what is she checking for?
A guard entered the room and brought a tray of food along with a glass of water.
"Do we know who this guard is?" Elizabeth asked.
Ephraim nodded. "He was questioned and cleared. Nothing seemed suspicious. It is customary to bring food while the suspect waits."
Like Teresa Hurst was cleared after her psych evaluation? It took everything in Henry not to roll his eyes at Ephraim.
The video continued. Teresa smiled at the guard as he set the try down and walked away. The sound of a door closing could be heard on the video and she glanced toward the camera again before getting up and walking over to the corner of the room to remove her belt.
"She kept her belt?" Elizabeth asked, pressing pause on the video.
"The psychologist said she wasn't a danger to herself, so no one thought twice about her wearing a belt in that room. Besides, there was someone assigned to watch her," President Dalton responded.
"Well, that worked out great, didn't it?" mocked Henry.
President Dalton stood his ground. "I'm well aware of the numerous mistakes made regarding Vice President Hurst."
"You two can fight later. I want to see the rest of this," Elizabeth said, pressing play again.
After she finished taking off her belt, Teresa Hurst walked closer, and looked directly at the camera. She nodded.
"Who is she nodding to? Is that a signal?" Elizabeth pondered aloud.
"We suspect the guards on the other side of the glass," Ephraim said.
Teresa Hurst calmly pushed the metal chair under the light on the ceiling and wrapped the belt around her neck after fashioning it into a noose. She climbed up on the chair and looked right into the camera.
Henry was tempted to look away because he wasn't in the habit of watching videos of people killing themselves. He instinctively reached for Elizabeth's hand, needing to make sure that she was alright. She linked their fingers together, and squeezed.
The video continued as Teresa Hurst stood on the chair with her belt wrapped around her neck and the other end attached to the light in the center of the room. "This message is for Secretary McCord: It's not over yet." She smiled and then kicked the chair out from under her feet. There were several seconds of her struggling to breathe, before the video cut to black.