DC By the Book

Excerpt: Steam rose off the streets of downtown D.C. as Lettie navigated her way through the crowds. The District was always busy, even after all the summer tourists had gone home. Lettie never did get why tourists flocked to the nation's capital during the worst of the heat... Sweat dripped down her back as she descended into the mouth of the Metro Center train station.

Excerpt: Most of the people with her were immigrants like her or yuppies who had gentrified her Mount Pleasant neighborhood. 'In some ways, Paz was right. But it wasn't about her friends. It was the whole place. D.C. is a bubble,' she thought as the bus bumped along before stopping at Lamont Street.

Excerpt: The noise of the dinner crowd at Good Stuff Eatery roared around them. Franklin had brought her here one night for dinner and Whitney'd loved it. It reminded her of the kitschy burger joints in L.A., but with better food.

Excerpt: But Jackie's job made a *difference*. Last week, Dr. Rosen asked if she'd like to accompany him to speak before a congressional committee... The front page of the Washington Post had a picture of Jackie, flanked by Dr. Rosen and Private Hazelton, walking up the steps of Congress to appear at yesterday's hearing.

Excerpt: "Then again, I saw this gorgeous McQueen at Barneys. It has gold applique over pale gold chiffon. It looks a little like a long flapper dress. Very 1920s." Laura Beth came up for air. "... are you even paying attention to me? This is important! It's Homecoming!"

Excerpt: Laura Beth soaked up the late afternoon sunshine as she and Jackie strolled down M Street. "Do you want to have dinner or just stop by Georgetown Cupcake?" "Is that really a question?" Jackie joked. "Today's Friday, which means..." "Lemon blossom!" they said in unison.

Excerpt: "The Lincoln Memorial, is that correct, Miss Whitman?" the driver asked. "Please." ... the car slowed and came to a stop in front of the mammoth granite-and-marble memorial. No matter how many times she saw it, or from what distance, its sheer size awed her. Now, late at night, it glowed in the darkness and was almost deserted.

Excerpt: Jackie stirred whipped cream into her hot chocolate and watched it turn from dark to mocha. She, Lettie, and Laura Beth were sitting in the corner of Seasons in the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown, one of their favorite haunts.