A Secret Service agent picked Stone up at his hotel, smuggled him into the White House through a back entrance, and ushered him into the Oval Office.
Kate rose to meet him.
“What’s happened?” Stone said.
“The Speaker was just here. I sent him home so I could talk to you alone, and because I couldn’t take it anymore.”
“What happened?”
“He got a phone call from the kidnappers.”
“Did he demand proof of life?”
“He never got a chance. They cut him off, said he wasn’t cooperating. They demanded he go on TV and declare his support of the veterans aid bill. He said he couldn’t do that, and they hung up.”
“Did they call back?”
“No.” Kate picked up the bubble-wrap envelope. “This morning this came by messenger.”
“What is it?”
“Take a look.”
Stone took the envelope, slid the bloody fingertip out onto the table.
“It’s got to be his daughter’s,” Kate said. “That was why they sent him the copy of her rap sheet. So he’d have her fingerprints to compare it against.”
“Good God! The poor man. It’s a wonder he’s holding it together.”
“I don’t think he will for long.”
“What’s he going to do?”
“I don’t know, but I think he’s going on TV.”
“Aw, hell.”
“Yes. I figure that when the kidnappers get what they want, they’ll kill the girl.”
“Probably right.”
“I’m hoping they wait until the bill’s passed.”
“When is that?”
“The vote takes place at the end of the week.”
“So what do you want to do?”
“It’s hard to say when I don’t know what the score is.” Kate pointed to the bubble-wrap envelope. “Can you handle this?”
Stone nodded. “I’ll verify it’s the girl.”
“I’ll try to calm the Speaker down. That may not work. If someone hurt my child, I don’t know what I’d do.”
“When’s he going on TV?”
“I think as soon as his nerves are steady enough, he’s going to do it. I’ll try to talk him out of it if he gives me a chance, but I don’t think he will. Can you help me?”
Stone nodded. “Let me see what I can do.”