Domino Effect (2019 Edition)

said. She stopped and faced him. “The glove? What’s the significance?”
“I’m not sure yet, but I’ll guarantee you, Lancaster does. I’ll figure it out.”
“Send me what you showed me,” Frank said, as she swung her leg over the saddle.
“Already did. I sent it to your wife’s email.”
Frank smirked. “Call me when you get to the Keys.”
She nodded, jumped on the starter, and rode the bike up into the belly of the transport.

9
By the time Lancaster made it back to the White House, Pia’s parents were waiting for him in the Oval Office.
“I apologize for my tardiness,” Lancaster said as he entered. “Unfortunately, the world keeps spinning, even during times such as these.”
Pia’s father stood, shook Lancaster’s hand, and introduced himself. “Dominic Russo. This is Pia’s mother, Aria LaBarbara.”
Lancaster looked down at the woman sitting on the couch, a tissue fisted in her left hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. The girls have been roommates for two years, I’m sorry it took so long and under such circumstances.”
Aria LaBarbara was a mess. Lancaster had seen photos of the woman. Like her daughter, she was an Italian beauty, but now she was just a shell. From what his security team had told him, she was a woman who normally controlled a room with her presence, but she looked like a wounded animal, melting into the fabric. Pia’s father, Dominic Russo, remained stoic. His Roman nose, straight; his jaw line, sharp.
Lost for words, the president sat across from them, his tongue feeling as leaden as his stomach. Lancaster wished he had good news for the couple, some way to soften the blow that the greatest security force in the world had zilch. Luckily, before he could utter the words, his assistant, Betty, entered the office with a tray of coffee and pastries. Her presence helped break the tension.
Coffee served, President Lancaster reviewed what he knew. The three compared texts and video footage sent by the kidnappers. All identical, except the video clips sent to Dominic and Aria were of Pia. All the information seemed too much for Aria to bear. At one point, Dominic had to help steady her hand as she held out her cell phone for the others to see. Lancaster witnessed her tears begin to flow anew as she heard Pia’s muffled cries.
“Who would do such a thing?” her Italian accent heavy, her English stunted. “Why?”
“We don’t know,” Lancaster answered, “but I have my best people in Key West working on finding our daughters and bringing them home safely.”
Dominic squeezed his ex-wife’s hand, trying to calm her. She pulled away.
Lancaster witnessed the exchange and turned to his assistant. “Betty, why don’t you take Ms. LaBarbara into the powder room and help her freshen up.” Once the women were gone, he looked at Dominic Russo. “Come, let’s take a walk. The fresh air will do us both some good.” They stood and headed towards the Rose Garden, the Secret Service in tow. Lancaster waved them off. “Give us some space.”
Once they were away from the White House, deep in the garden, Dominic Russo stopped and grabbed the president by the lapel. “You lying bastard. You swore my daughter would be safe.”
“How the hell could I know this would happen,” President Lancaster said, tugging on his suit coat, pulling it from Russo’s grasp. “For two years, she was safe, watched closely by my people.”
“And now?”
“Don’t forget, my daughter was also kidnapped. I’m doing everything I can to find them and bring them home.”
Dominic ran his hands through his thick salt and pepper hair. “Do we know who took them? Was it—” He let the words hang, as if afraid to finish the sentence.
“I don’t know.” Lancaster shook his head. “It might have nothing to do with your people, but the black glove is pretty incriminating.”
Russo’s nostrils flared, dark brown eyes appeared to morph to black as his pupils dilated. “They’re not my people,” he sneered. “You know I have had nothing to do with the organization since we made our agreement.”
“I’m not accusing you,” Lancaster said, “but who else would have the power to take the daughter of the President of the United States?”
Dominic poked a finger into Lancaster’s chest. “That’s for you to find out, and soon. I swear, if your people don’t find my daughter, I’ll use my resources to find her.” He glared at the president. “And that will not end well for anyone.”
Lancaster held up his arms, a gesture to try and quell Russo’s threat. “I’ve sent my best person to find them, and trust me, no one you could send would be anymore ruthless than her.”
“Her? Who is this person?”
“An FBI agent by the name of Sinclair O’Malley, but she’s no ordinary agent.” Lancaster kicked a stone with the toe of his shoe.
“I want her contact information.”
“Not advisable.”
“After all I’ve done for you, it’s the least you can do in return.”
Lancaster huffed, nodded, and wrote a phone number on a piece of paper, handing it to Russo. “I’m doing this as a show of trust. It’s against my better judgment.”
Russo pocketed the paper. “You’re sure she’s your best resource?”
“I am. Tru—”
“My trust is growing thin,” Russo interjected.
“Understood. Just give me a little more time. Like you, my daughter is all I have. I’m doing everything possible to find them.”
“Time is not on our side.”
Lancaster grunted his agreement. “I know.” The president looked back toward the Oval Office and the Secret Service agents who were stationed right where he left them at the entrance to the Rose Garden. “We need to make our way back inside before anyone wonders why you’ve left your wife for so long.”
Russo waved him off. “Ex-wife. The only time I ever hear from her is when she needs money. I already pay her a small fortune in alimony, but I pay whatever she wants. It’s less painful than listening to her squawk.”
“She’s pretty devastated, she must be close to your daughter.”
“That’s the odd thing. They haven’t spoken since Pia turned