Page 104 of State of the Union (First Family 3)

“To HQ please.”

“You got it.” When he was in the car, he glanced at her in the mirror. “Is this one related to the other?”

“We won’t know for certain until we get DNA, but it looks to be.”

“Damn it.”

“You said it.” Sam called Malone. “We’ve got another sexual assault-murder.”

“Shit. Where?”

“South end of the park this time, by Adams Morgan. We need to put out yet another alert to the community, and I want to talk to you and the chief about using FDS to try to track this guy down.”

“That’s gonna be a tough sell, Sam. The mayor is adamantly opposed to it.”

“And for good reason. I agree there’s a disproportionate number of minorities in the system, but if there’s something we can do to catch this guy before he rapes and kills another woman, why wouldn’t we at least try?”

“You’re preaching to the choir. She’s the one you have to convince, along with the U.S. Attorney.”

“I’ll work on that.”

“Word on the street is that the FBI report is coming tomorrow. Avery asked if he could have a few minutes with us at the end of the day today. Can you be there?”

“Yeah, I’ll be back soon,” she said, even as worries about what would be in that report had her anxiety spiking.

Nick had called the meeting of his closest advisers—Terry, Derek, Christina, Trevor and George, his speechwriter—to reveal the first cut on the State of the Union speech he wanted to give. He’d kept his cards close to the vest on the speech, intending to write most of it himself so he could give it the tenor and tone he wanted. He handed out the copies he’d asked one of the administrative assistants to make for him.

“This is what I’d like to do,” he said, sitting back while the others reviewed the draft.

At one point, Terry looked over at him, brow raised in surprise.

“I love this thing about the airplane,” Christina said.

“I do, too,” Derek said. “That’s genius.”

“Thanks,” Nick said, appreciative of their feedback. While his family had slept, he’d labored for hours every night for the last few weeks to hammer out the speech that would define his first year in office.

“I think this is…” Trevor shuffled the pages. “It’s remarkable, Mr. President. I wouldn’t change a word of it.”

“I have to agree,” George said. “There’s nothing I could do to this to make it better than it already is.”

“Terry?”

“I love it,” he said. “Of course I do. It’s just that I worry it might be a little too honest, if you know what I mean.”

“That’s the beauty of it,” Derek said. “The things he shares here could only have come from him, from his heart, and it’s important that the American people hear those things so they can know who he really is. That’s how we beat back this drumbeat of people saying he’s too young, too inexperienced, not elected by anyone, illegitimate. If he gives them this insider view of who he really is, it’ll help to overcome some of that.”

“It’s risky,” Terry said.

“I’m aware,” Nick replied, “but don’t forget, I’m not worried about my political future. I’m sitting in the catbird seat already. If all I ever have is these three years, then so be it. That’s more than I ever dared to dream possible.”

“I’d like to run it by Dad,” Terry said, referring to retired Senator Graham O’Connor.

“I’ve already sent it to him,” Nick said. “He loves it and approves of my plan.”

“Then I guess you have a consensus,” Christina said. “It’s beautifully done.”

“Thank you. I appreciate the feedback.”