I also received inquiries from book publishers and movie producers about optioning the rights to my story. I didn’t respond to any of them. Nor did I accept offers from manufacturers of wheelchairs and other medical devices to act as a spokesperson or simply endorse their products. Y, however, was practically deluged by people wanting him to customize their chairs, which I encouraged him to accept.

Gradually Jenny and I got back on track, although sometimes it seemed like that track was running straight up the side of a mountain and we couldn’t pick up any speed. One night, as we ate pizza by candlelight, I watched with appreciation as she moved around the room, setting the table, pouring the wine, picking the music, unexpectedly kissing the top of my head. She was barefoot, wearing bell-bottomed jeans and a man-tailored white shirt that hugged her contours. Her hair was pulled back in a no-nonsense bun. As with everything else she did, she seemed completely confident and utterly at ease. I marveled at her ability to so easily make the transformation from powerful political insider to loving partner, but even at that moment, even as I felt overwhelmed with comfort, I couldn’t help wondering, what else isn’t she telling me?

No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t get rid of that feeling. Rather than slowly disappearing, it had taken root in my mind and was growing. And it caused damage.

As I feared, the National Secrets Act proved its value. The Wrightman people were able to contain and shape the story. Investigators told friendly media outlets they were tracing the complex relationship between Amram and his killer, Moncada. Moncada turned out to be an honorably discharged Marine who had several minor convictions, the worst being a road-rage incident during which he’d threatened another driver with a crowbar, but no clear ties to terrorism. “Informed sources leaked” to administration-friendly outlets that during Moncada’s military service he’d done tours in Afghanistan and Yemen and suggested he may have been radicalized at that time. There were casual mentions of time spent off the “civilized grid.” On Meet the Press, Homeland Security secretary Rocky Penceal stated that the government was successfully “rolling up Terror Inc. one body at a time,” predicting it would cease to exist within the next year. Asked about rumors that Amram may have been targeted by terrorists because he had extensive knowledge of future plans, Penceal said that “sadly, I’m not able to comment on that at this moment.”

Moderator Chuck Todd pressed him, asking, “So are we talking here about the man who knew too much?”

I would have fallen off the couch if I had been able to sit on the couch.

Penceal smiled noncommittally, repeating his answer that he was unable to comment on that. Although this time he added a knowing smile to that lie.

After six weeks, the only reminder that a brutal murder and an incredible chase had taken place in downtown D.C. were the hop-on, hop-off tour buses that stopped regularly outside the garage so tourists could take selfies in front of the early bird special sign.