FADE IN:

INT. CTU - HOLDING ROOM

JACK

Audrey, what’s going on?

AUDREY

Jack, I didn’t have anything to do with this.

JACK

Damn it, Audrey!

He moves the table out of the way and shoves her against the wall.

JACK

(screaming)

WHY DID YOU SELL HER THAT DIAGRAM?

AUDREY

(trembling)

I didn’t. I swear.

Jack places his hand under her neck not tightly enough to choke her but tight enough to make her scared.

AUDREY

(pleading)

Jack, you have to believe me. Why would I do something like this? Jack, you know me.

Jack tightens his grip on her neck and sighs disgustedly.

JACK

I thought I did.

AUDREY

(gasping for air)

Jack…

She looks into his eyes and silently pleads with him to believe her.

AUDREY

Please, Jack, think about this. Do you really think I would do something like this?

He stares at her for a minute, looking deep into her eyes as he studies her expression. Eventually, he sighs and looses his grip, taking a step back.

JACK

No.

He backs away, suddenly shocked and disturbed by the fact that he was prepared to hurt her if necessary. He picks up the table and puts it back in place, then escorts her back to the chair. She sits down, looking really shaken up. He sits down opposite her and speaks firmly but not threateningly.

JACK

Audrey, listen to me very carefully. I don’t think you would deliberately sell government secrets to terrorists but if there is anything at all that you know that might help us find the nerve gas you have got to tell me right now.

She shakes her head, still trembling and fighting back tears.

JACK

I need you to think really hard about anything that’s happened that you think could be related. Did anyone have access to your DOD logon?

AUDREY

No, I never shared my password with anyone.

JACK

What about your laptop?

She shakes her head. Jack sighs.

JACK

I’m sorry to have to bring this up, but are you seeing anyone?

AUDREY

(defensively)

That’s none of your business.

JACK

(irritated)

Damn it, Audrey. Millions of lives are at stake! I know you don’t think you know anything but you probably know more than you think and I
can help figure that out. So I know it’s awkward but you have to answer my questions, alright?

She nods slowly.

AUDREY

I’m not seeing anyone right now, no.

JACK

But you were?

She nods, looking away.

AUDREY

Yeah, kind of. There’s this guy at Homeland Security, Matt Bryant…he’s a liaison to the White House. He does there what I do at DOD so we work together a lot and he kept flirting with me. At first I blew him off…I told him I wasn’t ready to start dating again but he persisted. Finally he bought tickets to Les Mis when it came to DC and I figured if he was that thoughtful and eager to go out with me maybe I should give him a try. So we went to the show and then we went back to my place…

She looks away, embarrassed and awkward.

JACK

(softly)

Go on.

AUDREY

We had a pretty good time but the next day I felt funny…something just didn’t feel right…so I told him that I needed more time, that I was still dealing with everything and wasn’t quite ready to get involved with anyone yet. I expected a fight considering how persistent he had been before we went out, but he didn’t resist at all…he just shrugged it off and said he hoped he hadn’t pushed too much. Then after that he kind of avoided me…

She suddenly stops talking, and her face becomes flushed. Jack can tell she just thought of something.

JACK

What?

AUDREY

The morning after we went out I couldn’t find my Blackberry…I could have sworn that I had left it on my dresser but it wasn’t there…then when I got out of the shower I found it on my desk…I had looked there but didn’t find it the first time…it was kind of buried under some papers. I didn’t give it much thought at the time but now that I think about it, I don’t think we ever went into the den after we got back, and I know I had my Blackberry when I left work because I was using it to look over some Homeland Security infrastructure risk assessments while I was waiting for him to pick me up.

JACK

So you think he could have used your Blackberry while you were in the shower?

AUDREY

Yeah, I guess…that’s the only thing I can think of.

JACK

(into intercom)

Chloe, see what you can find on Matt Bryant. He’s a DHS White House liaison.

CHLOE (O.S.)

Alright.

JACK

What about your cell phone? Was that ever out of your possession while you were with him?

AUDREY

Not that I can remember…I wasn’t really paying close attention…let me think for a minute.

CURTIS (O.S.)

Jack, come out here for a second.

TRACK WITH JACK as he walks out into the observing area.

JACK

What’s going on?

CURTIS

Jack, her story doesn’t add up.

JACK

(irritated)

What do you mean, it doesn’t add up?

CURTIS

Homeland Security just received a recording of a phone conversation between Audrey and Collette.

JACK

What? Why would they send that to Homeland Security instead of CTU?

CURTIS

Because Homeland Security has control over CTU right now.

JACK

And they’ve authenticated the recording?

CURTIS

It’s definitely her voice…you can listen for yourself.

He hands Jack a headset. We HEAR Audrey speaking through the headset.

AUDREY (O.S.)

I told you, I’m not negotiating. $3 million is my final offer.

COLLETTE (O.S.)

Fine. But I want to see it first.

AUDREY (O.S.)

Alright, I’ll show it to you tomorrow. I have to go right now…someone’s coming.

CLOSE ON Jack, wiping his forehead and leaning against the wall, a distraught look on his face. He glances in at the holding room where Audrey is being held, shaking his head in disbelief.

FADE OUT.

COMMERCIAL BREAK