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Title: The Shadows Grow Long 18/18
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In the future, this foundation � the power of love, respect, and justice - would serve her well.
During her college internship at the Baltimore Sun her hard-working and professional nature served her in good stead, and she was offered a position at the paper upon graduating.
She may have begun as a �grunt� reporter at the Sun but she gained the editor�s attention quickly. Her information and her sources were always accurate, and her writing style found the difficult balance between un-biased and moving. She began to be described as an �award-winning journalist�.
This reputation garnered a much coveted position at the Washington Post when she was thirty-two. When she was offered the position, all she could think was, I�m being given the opportunity to write for the same organization for which both Carl Bernstein and Daniel Concannon have written.
In 2013, Steph was doing some undercover investigative reporting about the followers of a radical fundamentalist Minister in Delaware who were �praying for the souls of Muslims, that they might find Salvation�. While looking into a splinter group of the congregation who were organizing a boycott of businesses owned by people from the Middle East, she met an even smaller group � a white man and a woman, and a black man � who took her into their confidence, claiming to have started a recent fire at a local mosque. They wanted her to join their group, supporting their plans to roll out a modern-day crusade, targeting local Muslim leaders and mosques. They already had other members; they called themselves the KNA � the Knights of New Antioch.
The article that Stephanie wrote exposing these hate-filled people saved lives. It brought about a new understanding of the hate American Muslims were experiencing across the U.S. It opened lines of communication across religious boundaries that would develop into strong, healthy relationships. So by the time she was thirty-eight Steph had won her Pulitzer for Public Service.
A year later, May 2015, she received a letter in the mail. It was notification from the Federal Bureau of Prisons saying that Carl Leroy was up for parole. The Parole hearing would be held at the Federal Correctional Complex in Petersburg, Virginia. In 1999 Carl had been tried and found guilty of conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, and assault with a deadly weapon. His defense team reminded the federal court that Mr. Leroy had never killed anyone; in fact he had never intended to harm the President or any White House Official. They claimed that he was remorseful that he had been involved in any activity with this result. Of course, during his defense his lawyers avoided any mention of the kidnapping, or that Carl had shot her and left her for dead.
Steph had expected this parole letter for the past few years, ever since President Bartlet�s passing, but reading the letter had been a blow. Every day she remembered the events of that night. Seventeen years later her thigh still told her when bad weather should be expected.
After reading over the letter at home that night, she placed a call to the office of a friend who had probably received the same letter.
Two days later Steph stepped into the office of one of the Congressmen from Virginia. She was surprised to see who else was in the room.
�Congressman, it�s good to see you. Thank you for making time to meet,� turning, she added, �and Zoey, what a surprise!� Steph said.
Zoey Young just laughed, hugged her, and teased with her husband, �Charlie, we surprised her! I didn�t think Steph could be surprised anymore, at all,� then, �Steph, you look great!�
The three of them sat down in Charlie�s office, and caught up for a while before they got down to the real reason Steph had called to meet. �Charlie, Zoey, did you receive a letter from the Petersburg parole board?� Steph asked hesitantly.
Charlie took Zoey�s hand, as mention of Carl Leroy never failed to upset her. �Yes, we received a letter. Are you planning on going to the hearing?�
�Yes, I suppose I will. I don�t know what I will be able to add to the hearing that hasn�t already been said, or even included in Danny�s article, but I�m planning on going anyway,� answered Steph.
�And we�ll be there with you. I feel we have to tell them what we learned about Carl from that night,� Charlie said.
Zoey agreed, �Yes, we�ll be there,� she looked at Charlie and continued, �I�m just concerned that this attention will stir up a hornets nest. And now is not a good time.�
Charlie explained, �Steph, I�ve been talking with Sam and Josh. I�m going to continue representing Virginia for another term, but they tell me it�s time and they�re ready to go�� he rubbed Zoey�s hand as he shared, ��I�m going to run for President Bartlet�s old job in 2018.�
The news was wonderful. �Charlie, oh, that�s great! Oh, I can�t wait to vote for you,� Steph encouraged.
Then she looked at Zoey�s worried face, and knew what the Congressman�s wife was anxious about. �Zoey, you love Charlie. You know he won�t let fear stop him, right? And the Secret Service will take good care of you, Charlie, and the kids,� she reminded. �Charlie will be an incredible President. He could have so much influence in bringing this nation together; both of you could. You have a wisdom that comes from first-hand experience.�
Zoey sighed, and rubbed her husband�s hand, agreeing, �Yes. I know that he will be an exceptional President; one my dad would�ve been so excited to see. And I�ll support him through it all. I just worry,� she trailed off looking at Charlie, and he leaned over to kiss her.
Changing the direction of the conversation, Charlie went on, �Hey, Steph, I know that Josh and Sam are already making plans, but I need to say ask: if I do this, I want you to be there, too. Would you be willing to join me, in a Communications role?�
Steph was surprised, flattered, and not a little bit intimidated by the offer. She thought about her parents and a love that was so powerful they were willing to fight against the odds. She reflected on the outcome from that horrible night in Rosslyn. Then she reminded herself of the goals she had laid out for herself in her career as a reporter and how her life had unfolded�
�and she answered him the only way she could: �Yes, sir. I�ll serve at the pleasure of the President.� Steph smiled at her future President and First Lady - two of her best friends - knowing that this was where her future lay; eager to embark on this next great adventure.
Thanks for reading... please let me know what your think of my first FF.
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