Last week I rhetorically asked how many more silent clocks we'd have before the end of the season. Sadly, Monday night we got the answer that they're definitely not over.

Jack offers his apologies to President Taylor about failing to keep Omar Hassan alive, but she says there's no blame to bear. Unfortunately, she feels she does need to dissolve the peace accord, a decision Bauer urges her to reconsider.

There remains one lead to the forces trying to derail the agreement: Samir, who has sustained no life-threatening wounds. But in the midst of the commotion an EMT injects something into Samir's neck. Minutes later the EMT calls Russian Minister Novakovich to tell him there are no more links between them and the IRK terrorists. So now we've come full circle to the Russians, bad guys of Day Eight's opening hours.

Taylor is ready to address the assembled delegation when she's approached by Minister Jamot, who was earlier detained in Hassan's feverish efforts to quell his opposition. After he tells her there may be a way to salvage the talks, the two of them talk to Hassan's widow Dalia and ask her to take her husband's place. Understandably reluctant at first, she decides that this is the best way to honor what she and Omar had worked so hard for.

With the talks seemingly back on track, Tim Woods places a call to Chloe. Brian Hastings has to take the fall for today's events, and until he's replaced Chloe is to assume command, which simply formalizes what we viewers have always known. She expresses her regrets to Hastings but he's gracious and classy, accepting responsibility recruiting Dana and "bringing the snake into the garden".

With his end of the deal fulfilled, Jack takes Renee back to his apartment. As he looks for coffee she tells him she doesn't intend to hold him to any of the promises he made during this emotional day. Jack's response is to kiss her passionately and carry her to his bedroom. Finally! What they don't know is they're being watched by the Russian "EMT", who's stationed himself in an office across the way. He and Renee had earlier exchanged glimmers of recognition so he's keeping an eye on her. And this is where we start to get that sinking feeling in the pit of our stomachs.

Meanwhile, a curious Novakovich pays another visit to President Taylor. When he hears about Dalia Hassan signing in her husband's place he objects strenuously and tells her Russia is bowing out. Taylor asks Ethan Kanin if he has any ideas and he floats the one name she never expected to hear: Charles Logan. Apparently he's made several calls to Kanin offering his help since he's kept close ties with several Russian contacts. Could he be a little too anxious to get involved?

It doesn't take long for Chloe to face her first crisis when Samir suddenly goes into cardiac arrest and dies. Cole prepares to send the body out for an autopsy, but when the doctors continue to insist his injuries couldn't be the cause, Chloe orders an immediate tox workup.

A clearly hostile President Taylor meets with Logan. When Taylor asks what he proposes to do, Logan assures her no laws will be broken but the details are best kept to himself. Yeah, THAT'S reassuring. Taylor obviously feels desperate because she accepts his offer. Logan's first order of business is to meet with Minister Novakovich, adding with a sly smile, "Be sure to tell him he'll be meeting with me."

Jack and Renee take a breather from what must have been some polite sex, considering his bandages are still firmly in place. Renee answers his cell phone and it turns out to be Chloe, who wants to let Jack know Samir was murdered. The shoe finally drops as Renee connects this info with the Russian she spotted earlier. The same one who at this moment is firing several bullets into her. Jack grabs Renee and manages to get her into a cab before the sniper can get off any insurance shots.

During the ride to the hospital Jack tries to keep Renee alert, but the look in her eyes doesn't bode well. She's rushed into surgery, but after a few minutes the doctors emerge one by one as Jack is somberly informed she didn't make it. He grieves over the body of yet another lost loved one as we get our second silent clock in as many episodes. If you missed Dana, looks like she's back in a big way next week, and it appears the Charles Logan that's returned bears more resemblance to the one from Day Five than the one from Day Six.