by Lisa Grace
“Did I catch you in the middle of something? Is now a good time?”
“I have time. I was just deciding on what cuts to put on the new gaming disc. What’s up?” he said as he offered her a seat.
“The music, what I heard, sounds catchy,” Keiko said as she sat down.
“Well I have to pick out loops of repeating music for all the different levels and parts of the game. The chants and dance parts are easy, but picking music for the hatchet throws, trail blazing, and shooting arrows is challenging,” he said, “Not to mention hunting or spirit quests.”
“Wow, I had no idea. Your project is really involved,” Keiko said.
“I just have to get into my inner teenager,” he said, “I was never a gamer. Out on the reservation I was much more of a doer, not a player.”
“You grew up on a reservation?” Julian nodded, “From birth through high school. My brother and I were adopted by a teacher on the reservation. He, my Dad, insisted we go to college. I owe where I’m at today, to him. If he hadn’t taken my brother and me under his wing, I’d still be there. We’ll talk about my past some other day, it’s a long story.”
Keiko nodded, “Here,” she handed over the envelope and a cloth, “I thought you might like to see this.”
“Grace Wisher?” He said as he picked up the envelope.
“Yeah, the last of the letters. Maybe the Flag House will have something when we check it out tomorrow.”
Keiko sat quietly and gave Julian a chance to read the letter. “Well I think it makes it pretty clear that Louisa sent Grace the missing star.” Julian looked at her, “Keiko, this is huge.”
“Yeah,” Keiko said, “Are you as excited as I am?”
“In more ways than one,” Julian smiled, “I have a long night ahead of me at the recording studio, but how about if I pick you up tomorrow at your place?”
“Sure,” Keiko took a pen off Julian’s desk and wrote down her address, “I can work on the clues in Grace’s cryptic letter. I have to put myself in her shoes. An indentured servant, familiar with what she could see, the folklore, and oral history common to the slaves of the time. No book knowledge. It gives me a starting point and lets me know not to make the clues too…complicated. It’s simple, if I can just see it with her eyes. Information she shared with Louisa. I have a lot of research and thinking to do tonight.”
Julian stood up and offered his hand to help Keiko up. He pulled her up so they were standing close, too close, constricted by the walls of his tiny office. Keiko’s heart skipped a beat just standing close enough to feel his heat.
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” he said as he stepped back to let her out.
“Okay,” Keiko said as she smiled up at him. He put the letters back in the envelope and handed it back to her. She walked out, aware that he was watching her walk all the way back to her office.
***
That evening Cecilia Robinson got ready for her date with Congressman Rivers. She knew he was married but Cecilia felt this could be her ticket into a better job. She hated working at the Flag House and had only taken it because it got her one step closer to a cushy government job at the capital. When Congressman Rivers had approached her, her first week on the job, she was smart enough to know this could be important. Cecelia was bold and had told him if she came across people asking questions about the archives especially with an interest in Grace Wisher—well it didn’t take a rocket scientist to put two and two together. Every politician had family secrets they prefer remain in the closet. Cecilia herself could not care less what the secret was. And she thought frankly the American public wouldn’t either. But these blue-bloods and their hoity-toity family histories wanted to keep the family skeletons buried forever. But really, who cares? Would it help the economy? Foreign relations? Imports? Exports? National defense? These politicians couldn’t see the forest for all the family trees that stood in their way. Cecilia laughed out loud at her joke.
Tonight, she would have dinner with the Senator, pick up the ten thousand he would pay her, and see if she could wrangle a job. He must have something for her, somewhere. Maybe he would even want more. She was still pretty. A relationship. Lots of Congressmen had girlfriends on the side, right? Who knows?
***
As Cecelia waited at the corner, she wondered which restaurant Congressman Rivers would take her to. She hoped it was a place that had seafood. On her salary she couldn’t afford to eat out much. Her apartment rent alone was costing her an arm and a leg. Cecilia didn’t pay any attention to the nondescript older car with the tinted windows that drove past her from behind. She was busy looking the other way, looking for the kind of car the Congressman would be driving. She felt the first bullet knock the wind out of her as her lung deflated, and the second tore through her heart. As she fell forward her brain finally registered the blood. Cecilia realized she’d been shot as her head hit the ground. Luckily, the blow knocked her out before her body had time to register the pain. She died a minute later.
***
The next morning, Julian knocked on Keiko’s door right at nine, early enough to give them plenty of time to get to the Flag House for their appointment.
When Keiko opened the door, she saw Julian’s look, one so intense, it made her flustered.
“Come on in,” She took a step back purposely avoiding his personal space. Not sure of herself and how much longer she could keep her feelings in check.
“About the letter,” and motioned him to follow her into the kitchen. Julian smiled as she ushered him in, “Right down to business, huh?” he laughed and answered, “Well I’d say you have enough provenance for it to be the Star, now all we have to do is find it.”
“Yes, I really think we’re going to find it. I think it wants to be found.”
“You think it’s been waiting for you?” Julian asked.
“Yes. I do,” Keiko was serious.
Keiko picked up her satchel containing her laptop and the envelope with the letters. “Let’s go.”
As she turned to lock the door, she hesitated for a moment, then quickly opened it, “Bye Mom, Bye Dad, I love you.”
Julian just looked at her, “I thought…”
Keiko interrupted, “They are. They’re—gone. But I can’t let go, just yet. I feel them, I need them. They’re not part of my history. I keep them in my now. They’re too important to just let go. I know I should probably see someone and talk about it, but I’m not ready for that either.”
“It’s okay. I’m not judging,” Julian said. “We all react differently to loss. When my parents died, a direct result of their alcoholism, I got angry at them. Later, as an adult I felt guilt for that anger. Maybe your way is better.”
“Here let me get that,” Julian grabbed Keiko’s laptop from her. Her need for those she loved only made her more desirable to him. It was going to be hard for him to keep his hands off her, with her so close. He didn’t know what was so different about Keiko from all the other attractive women he’d known through the years. The logical part of his brain told him it must be pheromones, but the animal part of him could not care less. All he knew was that he wanted her and no one else. And not just for a night, but forever. In the past he’d scoffed at the idea of one woman for every man, but now he was living it. He could deny the way he was feeling but what good would that do? He would only be half-living and that is not how he lived his life. Julian went for what he wanted and didn’t give up. That was how he made it through the war. And that was how he earned his doctorate when no one else thought he could.
They walked to his car which he had to park around the block in a small public lot.
“I hope we don’t get pulled over,” he said.
“Why?”
“Well I’ve got a pick axe, shovel, and other assorted tools in the back suggesting nefarious thoughts.”
“Of course I can vouch for your honor,” Keiko said as she sat in the jeep while Julian held open the door.
“How’d the reco
rding go last night?” Keiko asked honestly interested.
“It was rough, the digital thing-a-ma-jiggy,”
“That must be a technical term,” Keiko joked.
“Just for that you can call me Doctor.”
“Technical term, Doctor Julian,” Keiko said playing along.
“Before I was so rudely interrupted, the thingy wouldn’t line up the sound correctly and all the other studios were booked up so it was a frustrating night. How about you? Were you able to figure out any of the clues in the letter?”
“I think I have figured a couple of the clues out, but I won’t have time to get into them right now, Doctor Julian, because I think we have arrived at our destination.”
“Your powers of observation, my dear Zorben, are coming along nicely. Learn from the master,” Julian joked back.
When they got to the Flag House they went in the door where a harried looking woman was manning the front desk.
“We are closed for tours today. Call tomorrow for our hours, please,” she said without looking up from her desk behind the counter.
“We’re not here for a tour,” Keiko reached into her purse to pull out her Smithsonian employee card.
“Then how can I help you?” she asked without bothering to look at either one of them. She was busy rifling through drawers, looking for things.
“I—We have an appointment to view the archived letters of Mary, and Caroline Pickersgill, and Grace Wisher.”
“Oh, um, let me see if I can find—” she picked up a notebook and flipped through the pages.
“Alright, those are going to be in the basement the first opening on the right, take another right, and you’ll see document cabinets. Did you bring gloves?”
Keiko nodded. She’d brought spares in her purse just in case.
“Alright then.” The lady started tearing up. She wiped at her eyes with a tissue.
“Are you okay?” Keiko asked.
“I’m sorry. I’m not much help. The police called this morning and Cecilia, our regular docent, was shot and killed last night.” Another tear formed in her eye, “You just never think these things are going to happen, you know?”
“I’m sorry,” both Keiko and Julian answer at the same time.
“It happened right on the corner of Lexington and twenty-fifth. Outside her apartment building. That’s a nice part of town, you know?” She said like it mattered, “The police seem to think it was a drive-by shooting, just one of those random acts of violence,” She sniffled and dabbed at her eyes again.
“Anyway, they’re going to be here in a few minutes. I know I’ve only known her about a year, but still, it’s too close to home. If you need anything, I’ll be right here.” She gave them a weak smile.
“Thank you, and again we’re so sorry,” Keiko said.
Keiko and Julian went to the back of the house and down the narrow ladder-like staircase. Old buildings didn’t meet modern codes. Julian ducked to avoid bumping his head on the last stair.
The basement smelled musty and held the cold echo feeling of a place where voices spoke, which could not be heard. It reminded Keiko of when you leave a loud concert and your ears are still ringing. It gave Keiko the creeps. Some old buildings felt old and empty. Not this one. Ghosts were screaming.
Keiko whispered to Julian, “Do you feel it?”
“Yes, in Cherokee we call it spirit-walking.” Julian said.
“What do you think it is?” Keiko asked.
“Honestly? I respect the old ways, but years of attending a school run by missionaries has convinced me it’s something evil. Let’s get this done and get out of here.”
“Okay,” Keiko pulled on the top drawer in the document case but it didn’t budge.
“It’s locked.”
Julian looked at the wall, spotted the file cabinet keys hanging from a few hooks on the wall, and handed them to Keiko.
“See? You would be lost without me,” Julian said.
“Doctor Julian uses his incredible powers of deduction and cracks the code to the Flag House’s incredible security system,” Keiko joked as she looked at Julian and smiled.
He smiled back and reached out to brush the hair from her face, “I know this place is giving you the creeps but would you be okay down here for a few minutes alone? I saw some chairs upstairs. We might as well make ourselves comfortable. We might be here awhile.”
“Okay,” Keiko smiled. She knew it was irrational to feel fear down here, but she did. The past could not hurt her. She put on her gloves, opened the first file drawer, and rifled through the contents. As she was working, she heard footsteps on the staircase.
“That was quick,” Keiko said. When she looked up no one was there even though she’d distinctly felt a presence and even thought she’d caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Keiko put down the paper she’d been working on and walked around the first corner, nothing. She went around the second to face the staircase, nothing. Keiko started down the hall to the first room off the left, put her hand on the knob to turn it, when the door at the top of the stair opened with a loud squeak. Keiko jumped. Julian had the two chairs as promised and proceeded down the stairs half hunched over trying to spare his head from bumping the low ceiling.
“Exploring?” Julian asked.
“I thought I heard someone down here. I guess this place is making me a little jumpy. Usually I love old buildings. But not this one, not today. Maybe it has something to do with finding out that the poor lady I spoke to yesterday is dead.”
Julian put down the chairs, “Let’s get this done quick. There are two of us and only four drawers of papers. We can do it.”
“Thank you. Thanks for coming with me today.”
“There isn’t any place I’d rather be,” Julian said.
Julian picked up the chairs and carried them to the back room.
“Okay, what are we looking for?”
“Letters to Mary, Caroline, or Grace from Louisa or any male. I’m looking for any mention of the 1812 flag, Fort McHenry, the star from the flag, or anyone who was at the fort. Also any mention of anyone’s son. Probably the time period of 1812 to say, 1830.”
Julian smiled at Keiko, “Could you be just a little more specific?”
Keiko playfully bumped him with her hip, “Stop stalling and get to work, I want to get out of here. I don’t want to be here after dark.”
“Maybe we can take a crack at deciphering the letter after we are done here.”
“That’s the plan.”
An hour and a half later, Julian handed Keiko a letter, “This is the one I think you’re looking for. Here, check it out.”
July 19th, 1813
Dear Mrs. Pickersgill,
It is with a heavy heart I write this letter. A grievous wrong has been done to Miss Wisher while under our care and protection at Fort McHenry. Not all men of war are honorable and it was Miss Wisher’s unfortunate fate to have been taken advantage of in the most distressing way. As a woman I am sure you will understand I am not exaggerating the circumstances. Please treat Miss Wisher with extra Christian love and care. She did nothing to place herself purposely in harm’s way. She was trying to save my chaperone Miss Maggie who had crippled her back, from a chore of carrying when she became lost in the maze of the fort. Even though those of us from the North pride ourselves on seeing all of God’s creatures as equal and worthy of basic human rights, not all men agree, and unfortunately, the law is on the side of these dishonorable miscreants. I am so sorry I failed Miss Wisher as I find her a meek and merciful soul.
Sincerely,
Louisa Armistead
“This settles it. Grace was raped by someone at the Fort. This is why Louisa gave her the star! This letter is an independent verification of the correspondence between Louisa and Grace Wisher. The date is around the same day the incident would have occurred. Let me take a photo of the letter and email it to my account.”
Keiko tried to get her phone and laptop online. “I’m n
ot getting a signal. We’ll have to take it upstairs.”
Keiko carefully put the letter in the envelope while Julian locked the cabinets back up.
“Are we coming back down to keep searching?” he asked.
“No, this letter is enough. I don’t think she would have mentioned such a subject again. Let’s get a copy, and a req form to take it back, then let’s work on where the star is. I have a feeling if we find the star, we can find the letter that names who raped Grace. It might be important to the historical record, especially if we can track down whom her baby was given to.”
Julian and Keiko climbed the stairs, ready for the next step in their adventure.
The man hiding in the back room, waited five minutes then climbed up the stairs. He walked past Keiko and Julian as they were filling out the paperwork requisition form to lend the letter to the Smithsonian. Julian gave him a nod as he walked past. Outside, the man placed a quick call in view of the building. His orders were clear, make it look like an accident. He sat in a silver car stolen earlier that morning from one of the many local street parking spots. With any luck, he would return it near or in the same spot he lifted it from before the owner even knew it was missing. With the engine running, he waited for them to exit the building.
***
As Keiko and Julian exited the Flag House, she breathed a sigh of relief. The building had an air of things left undone. A heaviness lingering within its walls, making it hard to breathe. She was glad to be leaving. Outside the sun was out, even though the day was cold and breezy.
As they crossed the street, a car turned onto the road heading to the left of the car approaching them. It was clear the oncoming car was going to hit the one that had the right of way. In slow motion, Keiko saw the innocent driver veer out of the way and head directly toward her and Julian. Julian grabbed her arm and jerked her out of the way as the car that almost caused the accident pulled away.