What is the importance of The National Mall in the novel, Mistress?

The National Mall is the setting for several significant scenes in this novel. It is on the National Mall that Ben meets the second time with Craig Carney. It is from here that Ben calls Carney to tell him that he has a copy of the video. It is also on the National Mall, near the statue of Abraham Lincoln, that Ben has his final confrontation with Kutuzov.