Morning in Washington D.C. was completely dominated by ubiquitous campaign billboards.
A black SUV drove steadily down Pennsylvania Avenue.
Leo Wallace sat in the back seat, his gaze sweeping over the familiar yet alien streetscape outside the window.
The lampposts on both sides of the street were covered in red and blue political banners. When the wind blew, the flags, printed with the faces of various politicians, rustled loudly.
The high-end restaurants and cafes near Capitol Hill were packed with lobbyists, campaign managers, and fundraisers of every stripe.
Everyone was talking about the general election, just a few months away.
It was a do-or-die battle that would determine the country's direction for the next four years, and possibly longer.
The two-party machines were running at full tilt, with all resources, funds, and personnel being unsparingly dispatched to the front lines.
