Chapter 17 - ARRIVAL IN THE CAPITAL
The grey morning light broke over the monuments of Washington D.C., casting a pale glow across the marble pillars of Capitol Hill.
The Greyhound bus hissed to a stop at Union Station, discharging hundreds of weary passengers into the bustling terminal.
Chloe stepped out onto the rain-slicked pavement, breathing in the crisp, damp air of the nation's capital.
"We made it," Chloe breathed out in disbelief, adjusting the collar of her trench coat against the morning chill.
"Phase one is complete. Now comes the hard part," Ethan said, pulling out the burner phone to check his messages.
"Where are we meeting your reporter contact?" Chloe asked, looking around the crowded plaza nervously.
"A secure coffee shop three blocks away from the Washington Post headquarters," Ethan instructed, leading the way through the crowd.
They navigated the labyrinth of concrete sidewalks, dodging rushing government workers and politicians in tailored suits.
The tension in the air was palpable, filled with the quiet desperation of a city built on secrets and political survival.
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When they finally reached the cafe, a tall, middle-aged man with sharp gray hair was sitting at a corner booth waiting for them.
Ethan tapped the glass window twice, and the man immediately stood up to wave them inside.
