“Martin Luther King Jr. wanted us to believe that we could do better, be better, and in some ways, we have. In others, we have a very long way to go to achieve the goals he set for us with his stirring words and unflinching commitment to equality for all. We are a better nation because of Dr. King and his sacrifice, and we owe him a debt we can never fully repay. Every time we reach out a hand in friendship and compassion to someone whose life experiences are different from ours, I’d like to think we make him proud.”

Sam listened to him with so much pride for his stirring words and the passion with which he delivered them. The more she watched him embrace the presidency, the more she loved him—and she wouldn’t have thought that was possible.

After his remarks, they attended a reception for civil rights leaders and members of the King family in the East Room.

Later that afternoon, Sam was relieved to head for the elevator to get back upstairs, where she could get off her aching hip. How much longer would she be constrained by her stupid injury? “This is getting so old,” Sam said as she leaned against the wall of the elevator, relieved to take weight off the healing joint.

“You’re so much better than you were,” Nick replied. “Back to desk duty tomorrow. Are you excited?”

“Can’t wait to get back to normal, although I’ve kept up fairly well with everything these last few weeks. We’re at a complete standstill with the Olsen case, and I’m ready to start from scratch on that.” Detectives had continued to canvass the Rock Creek Park area every day at four o’clock, looking for people who might’ve seen Audrey on the day of her murder. Only one person had recognized her from the photos officers had shown them, but the woman hadn’t seen anything that could help them. “It’s so frustrating to have nothing to go on.”

“I’m sure you guys will figure it out.”

“The further we get from the day it happened, the less likely that becomes. I want to be able to tell Audrey’s mother what happened to her only child.”

Eli came out of his room, wearing a backpack and pulling a rolling suitcase. He was on his way back to Princeton for the spring semester. “You guys aren’t going to believe what happened.”

“What?” Sam said, almost afraid to ask.

“Remember when I told you about my former girlfriend, Candace?”

“Of course,” Nick said. “What about her?”