by Lisa Grace
This was it! This was the thing that could make her career. She quickly copied the letters and went back to searching in the box for more. She knew she would be here all night. She would finish this box and then go look down in the storeroom for more. Tomorrow she would pack a spare bag. If this was what she thought it was, she would live here until she read every letter in the trunk and then go to the Flag House. That star was there probably to this day. No one had known the secret except Grace Wisher and her close friend Louisa Armistead. The Flag House like many of the early American homes was still preserved and on the national historical register. It was also the home and business place of Mary Pickersgill and her indentured servant, Grace Wisher. Keiko was going to find that star. She was going to solve the mystery. Right now only the three of them knew. Grace, Louisa, and now her.
But Keiko was wrong.
***
Keiko looked through the rest of the box. Nothing else seemed to be from Grace.
It took her past closing and through the evening into the wee hours. She also managed to drink a full pot of coffee.
Around eleven p.m. she noticed her cup was empty. Time to make another pot to carry her through until morning. She walked over to Doc’s office enjoying the stillness and sense of ownership that seems to come when you are entrusted to roaming the halls alone in a big empty building. Keiko yawned. She was tired but the adrenaline and caffeine pumping through her system would make sleep impossible. She was too excited to stop and planned on working through most of the night. After all, she had nothing to go home to. If tonight was one of her new normal nights, (and it wasn’t—because of the letters), she’d curl up on her parent’s bed with the pillow draped with something that still smelled like Mom and Dad. It was the only way she could go to sleep. Keiko knew she needed counseling. But she wasn’t ready to let go. Being adopted, they were the only family she’d ever had. Her forever family. Keiko was going to hold onto forever as long as she could.
When Keiko got to Doc’s office to make the coffee, she was surprised to see his light on. Unlike her, he was not one to stay late. He had a life outside these walls.
She walked in and was startled to see Julian Lone Wolf sitting in Doc’s chair drinking a Coke.
“How,” he said.
“How yourself.” Keiko laughed.
“So how are you doing, Keiko?” Julian asked as he sat back rocking in Doc’s chair.
“Excited, great.” Keiko kept talking while she washed out the pot, threw out the old grounds, and put a new one on. Julian made her so nervous it felt good to have something to occupy her hands although she’d much rather be running them over his broad chest.
“Excited huh?” Julian said as he took a sip of his Coke. She felt his eyes burning a hole into her back and she was aware of how he was watching her every move.
Keiko was excited about the possibility of what she had found. She thought she might be able to explain her nervousness of being alone with Julian on her discovery and what it might mean. It felt good to have something she cared so passionately about to discuss with him, since she was incapable of making small talk around Julian.
She turned to him and explained, “I found some old letters that might lead to something big. I’m going to get a fresh cup and then head down to the basement to see if I can find another box of the letters.” Then Keiko blurted out noticing the time, “What are you doing here so late?”
“I just finished picking up a recording at the sound studio. Those recording studio guys keep some late hours. I came in to listen to it. I stopped in here to grab a Coke. I like to sit in Doc’s office. It’s peaceful, homey. I don’t think he minds.” Julian took a sip from his can.
“Are you a night owl too?” he asked.
“Yeah, always have been. I can’t go home now. I could be onto something that could help solve a history-mystery and get me hired on permanently.”
Julian motioned for Keiko to sit in one of the chairs across from Doc’s desk. She did. It gave her a chance to look into his eyes without staring. The coffeepot behind her started hissing and popping.
“A history-mystery, huh? How long have you been here now? Three weeks?” Julian asked.
Keiko nodded, “Yes, I’d love to stay on of course, but they only hired me for a year’s internship. I’ve got to prove myself if I have any chance of staying.”
He nodded. “I remember being in that position. It’s not comfortable.”
“How long have you been working here?” Keiko asked.
“I finished my master’s when I was twenty-three and then went into the Army.”
“I’m sorry,” Keiko said.
Julian raised his eyebrows.
“About your leg,” She clarified as she felt the blush rising in her face.
He shrugged, “It could have been worse. Did they put it in the newsletter again or is it the most fascinating thing people can think of to talk about around here?”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.” Keiko bit her lip and got up. She felt her face grow hot and knew she was blushing. She’d said something jerky and had brought up a painful memory. How stupid could she be? Keiko went to stand by the coffeepot. It wasn’t even half-full, but she pulled it out and poured the extra strong stuff into her cup. Downstairs she could pour half of it into her to-go cup and add tap water so she could stand to drink it.
“Keiko, I’m sorry. Please sit back down.”
Keiko sneaked a look back at him. He was smiling and gesturing for her to sit back down. Keiko sat back down. There really was no graceful way to walk out of the room at this point.
Julian continued his explanation of his past as if nothing had interrupted his train of thought. “After I was sent back to the states, I went to work on getting my doctorate. I finished and got the job here when I was twenty-eight. I’ve been here three years now. How about you? What are your plans for the future?”
He looked interested and not mad or embarrassed at all. Keiko took this as a good sign. She sat back down and gave him a small smile.
“I’d love to continue on, even after I finish my masters. My internship is through Georgetown. Working here permanently would be a dream job for me.” Keiko continued, “My parents…they’re gone now—a car accident.” She waved off his murmured sounds of apology and went on because if she stopped, she might cry, “would be proud of me. They loved the Smithsonian museums and took me here almost every weekend. I feel close to them when I’m here. These letters I’ve found, they would be so excited for me…” Keiko stopped. She needed a minute to compose herself. She was embarrassed at how weak she must seem to Julian. She was not projecting the professional sophisticated image of herself she had envisioned. She was disappointed in herself. Her first real conversation with Julian was nothing like she’d imagined.
“I’ve finished with my project for today. If you don’t mind, I’d like to see the letters and what you’re working on. I can lift a box or two if you need the help,” Julian said.
Keiko smiled. Julian probably felt sorry for her. She must have come off as needy. Well, she would enjoy hanging out with him. Maybe they could be friends. After all they both loved history and where they were working. It was a start.
“I’d love to show you. It would be nice to have some company. I do get tired being all alone while I do my research.” Keiko tried to keep the excitement in her voice toned down. She reminded herself that he was just a coworker being helpful. They’d barely spoken to each other since she had started working here. Tonight’s conversation had been the longest of any since she’d been in the department.
Keiko dumped the strong stuff and got her refill as Julian stood up and gestured for her to lead the way.
She threw a smile back at him as she passed out of the doorway but he was too busy looking at her that he didn’t notice she had caught him staring.
Keiko smiled to herself. He was attracted to her. He had noticed she was a woman and not just a coworker.
***
“Here, look at these,” Keiko said when they got back to her office.
Keiko slipped on her gloves and showed him the first letter and then the second with the mention of the star and the slip of paper that could be a code to its secret whereabouts.
He let out a whistle as she explained what she thought.
“Keiko, you really could be onto something.”
Keiko showed him the storage box and trunk and how it had been mislabeled.
“I can see why you’re excited. Let’s get going,” Julian said, looking as energized as she felt.
They went in three different rooms and spent almost an hour in each, opening and closing boxes. Nothing from the right time period. In the fourth room they came to, the piles of boxes were packed in so tightly and high it made little passageways between the boxes. It made sense to start at the back and work their way forward.
“Wow, the hoarding room of the Smithsonian,” Keiko laughed. “I’ve only seen one this bad on television.”
“Hopefully, there aren’t a hundred more rooms like this down here,” Julian said as he started working his way back into the stack.
Julian threaded his way deeper into the room, at times having to turn sideways to make it through some of the narrow passages. Keiko wound her way following him to the back corner. Dust motes floated in the still air as they stopped to look to decide where would be a good starting point in this disaster of disintegrating organization.
They both saw it at the same time. A single blue textured file box similar to the ones holding the letters in Keiko’s office. As Keiko stepped out of the way to give Julian room to reach up, she backed into a loose wall of boxes. As they fell, Julian instinctively pulled her to him and spun her around so they would glance off his back. They both stood there for a minute hearts pounding. She put her hands on his chest just like she wanted to from the first moment she saw him. Keiko couldn’t help herself. She may never get an excuse to be this close to him again. Keiko looked up into his eyes and he looked down into hers. He did not let go. They stood that way as the dust settled, and then he bent down as she sneezed.
“God bless you,” Julian answered.
Keiko sneezed again. “I’m sorry. It’s all the dust!”
He laughed and so did she, the tension broken. They were surrounded by toppled boxes and the powdery remnant of slowly deteriorating paper and boxes.
Julian reached up and brought down the box they had both eyeballed when the stack fell. He placed it on the only square of free space as they worked together piling the boxes back out of their way so they could leave the room.
Once back in Keiko’s office, Keiko stood close as Julian put the box down.
“I’ve got to get going or I’ll never get back here tomorrow morning. I have a meeting at eight a.m. that I can’t miss,” Julian said. “Are you staying?” he asked, “or can I give you a ride home?”
Keiko shook her head and smiled, “I can’t leave now. I wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing there are more letters to go through. I’ll get as much done as I can now and then head home.”
Julian nodded. He picked up a pen off her desk and wrote his phone number down. “I know. I would stay if I could. If you need anything, give me a call, otherwise I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He lingered in the doorway taking a long look at her, “Goodnight, Keiko.”
Keiko nodded then smiled, “Goodnight, Julian.” And then he was gone.
Keiko looked at the clock. It was about two-thirty in the morning. She happily went to work, putting the gloves on, reading the letters, looking for clues. She felt such an attraction to Julian it was hard to be in his presence without it showing. Now was not the time to let her feelings interfere with her goals. She had to prove herself. If she was to have any chance of sticking around, she had to find the missing star. It was out there somewhere, waiting for her. This was it. Her whole future was hanging on this star. No one knew much about Grace Wisher. Maybe Keiko could add something to the historical record. When she found the star it would be reunited with the banner. Her parents would be—would have been so proud of her.
Keiko fell asleep at her desk while reading a letter. She woke a couple of hours later, groggy, with a deep line sunk in across her face from lying on the pad on her desk. After waking, Keiko slipped a disk in her laptop and backed up an extra copy.
She made her way back to Julian’s office. The door was locked. She slipped a note under it explaining she was heading home for a nap. She put her number at the bottom as she couldn’t think of any reason to justify calling him.
With his meetings in the morning, and her almost finished with the letters, she might not see him tomorrow. She didn’t want him to think she was avoiding him. There was a good chance she’d be heading over to the Flag House and checking their records. Then she would need to find out where the Louisa Armistead letters were being archived. There might be more information and further communications between Louisa and Grace, or even Mary and Caroline Pickersgill, Grace’s employers. More clues that would help paint a complete picture of what had happened and who all the players were.
Why was Grace apart from some male she didn’t want to be parted from? Was it the war or slavery? Could he have been sold, or forced to work on an American merchant ship, or worse, conscripted into the British navy? What would any of that have to do with the star? Why would a lady have been murdered, and why did Grace think she would be next? Why would Grace hide the star? And from whom? If it was hidden in the Flag House, why hadn’t it already been found? So many questions and so far only two letters worth of clues. Grace did mention another letter being hidden with the star. Finding the star and the letter would complete another chapter of history. Finding the letter and the star would seal her importance to the Smithsonian. Of course, she had an additional reason for wanting to stay on, but that tall dark handsome reason had nothing to do with history and everything to do with the future.
Keiko hastily wrote a note to Doc that she was researching out of the office and would check in the next morning.
On her way upstairs she took a detour to the exhibit, the one that might change her life. She swiped her card to get in the public room.
Keiko entered the room with a feeling of reverence. Her footsteps quietly echoing in the vast emptiness of the national mall rotunda. She looked at the flag encased in the great glass fort built just for it. The flag looked weak, old, like a frail worn-out blanket. It had used all of its energy in its youth, and now resembled an old man spending the last of his days in a glassed-in hospital room. The hallways leading into the rotunda were designed to let in minimal light to prevent the flag from deteriorating any further. Keiko looked at the hole where the missing star should be. The reconstruction was so cleverly done that few who looked at it realized a star was missing unless they read the plaque. For years it had been too frail and large to hang in the rotunda. It took years to reconstruct a new backing to ensure it would be around for future generations to see. It had been kept folded behind a glass frame with only a part of it on display at any one time.
Real women, Mary Pickersgill, her daughter Caroline, Grace Wisher the indentured servant, and two nieces, Eliza and Jane Young, had worked round the clock for six weeks to make this flag. It was huge. The stripes were two feet wide by forty-two feet. The stars, all fifteen, were two feet by two feet. In all, it stretched thirty feet tall. It proudly flew above Fort McHenry during most of the War of 1812. George Armistead wanted the biggest flag ever made to fly over the fort to let the British know we were here to stay. A flag to give his men courage and the enemy fear. When Francis Scott Key, a lawyer, was being held captive on The Royal Navy ship that he’d boarded to bail a friend out from the British, he had been so moved that he penned the Star Spangled Banner lyrics while on the deck during the battle. The British were so demoralized after a night of bombing to see the flag so large still waving the next morning, that they called off the assault. The Patapsco River was to sha
llow to get their ships any closer. Most of the ammo shot that night was defective and burst midair making way for a spectacular fireworks show instead of a devastating air assault. The cannonballs never reached the fort, leaving the Americans unscathed.
“Just perfect,” Keiko said quietly. Except it wasn’t. It was missing the fifteenth star. The flag had been missing the star for over two hundred years and Keiko now held the key to finding it. She imagined a plaque at the base of the display mentioning her name as the finder of the missing piece. Keiko knew she could do it. She had accomplished everything academically in her life she set out to do. Why should this be any different?
This was different because the stakes didn’t include just her, but the history of a people who formed the nation.
History however, does not take kindly to being rewritten once it has applied the makeup of its myths to its beautiful face. Keiko couldn’t know that this piece of history was jealous to keep its secrets and would murder anyone willing to uncover the ugly face behind its pretty coloration.
***
Keiko entered the main lobby to leave. It was empty except for Jacks, the nighttime security guard, who was at the station by the entrance. His eyes perked up as he clumsily pushed back his wheeled chair, which banged against the far side of the counter as he jogged over to meet her.
“Hey Keiko need some help?”
“Thanks Jacks, I’m okay.”
Jacks had a crush on her. Keiko kept heading for the door, not wanting to stop to chat. Jacks took every friendly gesture as encouragement that she was falling for his charm. He walked as fast as he could, looking like an odd parody of a speed walker, the gun at his side added an allusion of his being slightly unbalanced. Keiko smiled politely as he raced over to take her satchel from her which contained her laptop.
“Here hold this instead,” She held out her coffee cup. She knew from experience it would take several minutes of awkward chatter to get the bag away from him. She’d get stuck turning down one invitation after another as Jacks escorted her out the building. He was always on the verge of asking her out on a date, and Keiko didn’t want to have to turn him down and make their friendship anymore awkward than it already was.
