by Lisa Grace
Your friend Louisa
Grace took the letter and reread it many times. Yes, her friend had understood the clue. Her letter confirmed it without stating it boldly. Grace knew she would not keep the letter, in case Mr. Rivers killed her, searched, and found it. She would not want to endanger Louisa or her children. When Grace was sure she knew the letter by heart, she put it in the fire and watched as the edges curled, turned black, and seemed to dance in the waves of heat. Finally, it turned gray and disintegrated into ash like twilight snow on a darkening day.
A few days later, another letter arrived in the post for Grace.
Bethany laid the letter in front of Grace as she sat sewing in the parlor by Mrs. Mary. Grace kept her chair out of the line of site from the window. Mrs. Mary thought it a little strange, but decided not to mention it. Grace was afraid of Major Rivers shooting her through the window and blaming it on a misfired gun. She’d also asked Mrs. Bethany to keep the kitchen door shut and bolted day and night. Grace was afraid of Major Rivers sneaking up on her and catching her unawares. She had not spent one minute alone for the last few days and even managed to convince Mrs. Bethany to let her sleep on the floor next to her bed, well away from the door.
Grace knew Major Rivers must have received her letter by now, but she had no way of knowing for sure if he would leave her alone. She was afraid of him because she knew he had no soul. No man could and do all the things he’d done.
So on the day she received the letter, she was shocked. Even though there was no name on the outside of the envelope, Grace knew it was from him. Her hands were shaking as she opened it.
Miss Wisher,
Thank you kindly for your concern for my family’s health. It was kind of you to notice that the Mrs. was under the weather and offer her your home remedy. Thankfully, our son Stanton has a strong constitution and has not been afflicted with his mother’s malady.
We wish you a long and peaceful life and Mrs. Rivers says she will remember you in her prayers for your gracious kindness.
The honorable,
Major Rivers
Grace was shaking as she read the letter. She had to sit back and think about it. Was he trying to lull her so she wouldn’t tell? No. Because if he killed her the truth would come out. Was he really trying to tell her that he was going to leave her alone, he was going to let her live? Grace read the letter over and over.
Each time she read it. Grace felt a little better. Grace did not know exactly how his world worked, but this letter calmed her nerves. Major Rivers loved her son and his own heritage. Stanton was his only child. Major Rivers would not risk his son. Grace was safe. A peace settled on her heart. Today she could truly plan for the future. It would be a better place for her and her son. The secret of the good and the evil was safe for now, and though Grace didn’t know it, for over another two hundred years.
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Chapter 14 - Congressman Benton Rivers
He sat back in his office chair watching the news and waiting for his phone to ring. Keiko’s timing was terrible. Why did she have to find the letters now? Why not two years in the future when he was safely ensconced in the White House? He didn’t want to do anything drastic, but if he needed to—it was for the best. No one else was as qualified to run the country. He had proved himself. He had devoted his life, given his life to serving his country. She had no right to take this away from him.
His preliminary report on Keiko showed her parents were dead and she was adopted, imported, from Japan. No close relatives. Not many social connections. Really, who would miss her? No one. Kind of like a modern day Grace Wisher. Once Keiko was taken care of, and her death recorded on the back-page byline of the news—no one would miss her. It was for the best.
Benton’s phone rang. “Yes,”
“She’s been spotted at Claggett’s with some help—and there is a complication…”
“What is it? I’m on my way.” Benton got up, left his office, and motioned for his two bodyguards to follow.
“A Jackman Sanders ran a trace on our trace. He’s a security guard at the Smith. We’re on our way to take care of him now.”
“Good.”
“Home invasion.”
“Sounds like you have it handled. As for the rest, make sure they don’t leave. I’ll be there in five.”
“Gottcha.”
*
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Chapter 15 - Claggett’s Brewery
When they pulled up to Claggett’s the road was lit up from the front, but darker along a narrow brick access road. Most likely the original brick road. When they went around the back, they found a cellar with an old rotting door. Coal would have been used to fuel the hoppers back in the eighteen hundreds. Ray exited the car carrying a black bag. He took out a bolt cutter and snapped the rusty lock from the chain holding it closed. Not many thieves were interested in breaking into an old empty brewery where anything of value, like copper tubing, was removed long ago. Julian grabbed a flashlight out of the bag, took a visual measure of how far it was to the bottom, and lowered himself in. The opening was almost six feet down, Julian held out his arms and Keiko sat down on the ledge where he could help her down as she jumped. Julian put his hands firmly on her waist and held on a moment longer than he had to, once she was in the room. Ray handed his bag down to Julian, grabbed the heavy door with one hand, lowering himself in while Julian again held up his arms to help lower the door gently back into place.
Inside they looked around. It was hard to see anything in the dark with the two flashlights. The room smelled unused. A faint odor of old metal hung in the air. A fragrance that reminded Keiko of the basement in her old dorm hall from college. As they moved around, the echoes of every small movement sounded large and looming. They gathered instinctively into a huddle staring out at the surrounding darkness. The next thing Keiko saw was a bright flash that almost blinded her as Ray pulled out some kind of high tech lantern. It lit up the room as light as daylight.
“Let’s get our bearings and find a way down to the main room.”
Keiko was happy to let Ray lead the way. He went towards the middle of the building. They followed a couple of narrow hallways and Keiko lost any idea of where she was in these narrow halls that even daylight wouldn’t penetrate.
Just when Keiko thought the hallway would never end, it opened into a large room.
“This might be where they sewed the flag. It’s definitely big enough to have laid the flag out. Now we just have to figure out where the fort is in relation to the walls.”
Julian pulled a compass out of his pocket, “Just give me a minute.”
“North is that way,” Julian pointed to the far wall, “and the fort is that way, so it must be over here,” Julian said as he walked to the wall on his right.
From the far corner of the room, another flashlight appeared in the dark, “Thank you, I’ve been wondering for years where it could be.” Keiko and Julian looked toward the voice in the darkness. They were blinded by the light but could hear the approaching strangers’ footsteps.
“Breaking and entering is illegal you know. You are on my property,” Benton dangled his keys. You are not the only ones who are students of history. Mary and yes, Grace, spent much of their six weeks in this area. I’ve had surveillance on several sites in the old parts of the city. Not to mention you tripped an alarm on your way in. I have been looking for the star almost my whole life. And not for glory, like you.” The stranger walked along and two others followed close behind him. They had guns drawn.
“Keiko? Is that your name?”
Keiko nodded, “Yes.” she didn’t see any use in denying it. “And who’s the big guy with you? Hired muscle?” The stranger asked.
“No, I’m Doctor Julian Lone Wolf, a colleague of Keiko’s, and you are Benton Rivers,” Julian answered.
“Congressman Rivers, soon to be Presidential candidate Rivers,” he said.
“How can we h
elp you, Congressman?” Julian said as he gestured with his hands taking a step closer to Benton Rivers. “We were wondering who would have such a compelling reason to keep the star hidden. What is it we can do to help you gentlemen?”
“Just stay where you are.” Benton motioned to his guys who walked over to Julian.
The men frisked Julian and found two of his guns, but not the third. They came over and frisked Keiko and unbelievably did not feel the small gun she had stuck in the middle of her back under the vest secure in her belt. The odd location of the gun, the material of the vest, and the obstruction of her belt, all worked in her favor. Keiko being so small and feminine, working as a historian, did not present the image of someone who would carry a gun. Keiko looked over at Julian and realized that Ray was nowhere in sight. Somehow, these men had missed him. Ray must have been surprised and not had time to warn them. Maybe he had gone for help or was watching. If he were hiding, maybe he would be able to get help or surprise them.
“If you kill us,” Julian said, “you are only going to create a bigger problem for yourself. We have people on the outside that know about the star and the letter. We have someone across the street who took pictures of you entering the building. Killing the lady at the Flag House was a big mistake, and trying to have us killed, was a bigger one.”
“Oh, a conspiracy theory! Trying to dethrone the presidential candidate. How—scary.” He walked confidently up to them, his staff keeping a safe blockade between them. We don’t want to harm you. That’s not how I work. All I want- is the letters. You can even keep the star. It should be returned to its rightful place, with the flag in the Smithsonian. You will be heroes and so will I. My—staff and I will sit here and wait while you finish what you came to do. Now get on with it.”
“What is in the letter that you would kill people for?” Keiko asked pretending ignorance.
“I told you I haven’t killed anyone. Accidents happen. People fall in bathtubs everyday, drive by shootings, pedestrians hit by cars…happens everyday. Accidents are a part of life.”
“That letter was written over two hundred years ago why would you care what’s in it?” Keiko said.
“You can’t possibly comprehend the importance of the interpretation of history.” Benton answered.
“Before you destroy the letter and the truth is gone forever, may I please read it? Out of professional curiosity?” Keiko asked.
Benton said, “So you want to know the dirty secrets of the past.”
“Grace must have written old Major Rivers a letter, and he must have kept it, or you wouldn’t have known to put out surveillance for those who might look for the letter. If you have that letter, I would like to read it also,” Keiko said. She was trying her best to stall and give Ray time to get them out of this mess. Keiko felt calm. The gun hidden and pressed against the middle of her back gave her a confidence she wouldn’t have had with out it. She didn’t believe God would let her come this far to discovering the truth and then end her life.
Her purpose in asking the question was two-fold. If Congressman Rivers let her read it, Keiko knew that Benton did not intend to let her or Julian live. She knew she and Julian wouldn’t be leaving this room without a fight for their lives. Also as a historian, she was curious to see what Grace had said to Major Rivers.
“Maybe I will. I understand your curiosity. Really I do. With the clues in the other letters, I can see you have figured part of the mystery out. While you two start digging, why don’t you fill me in on what you do know and maybe I’ll fill in the blanks. Now where would you like to start? I don’t want to be stuck here all night and I prefer not to call for reinforcements.”
Julian walked to the bottom of the staircase and counted off thirteen steps.
Congressman Rivers spoke, “I prefer Keiko does it. She’s much closer in size to Grace. Her pacing is bound to be better.”
Keiko paced off thirteen steps from the bottom of the staircase when Benton said, “Take two more, is it to the right or left? There were fifteen stars, don’t try and fool me.” Keiko did as he said and took two more steps. “Here, it should be here,” she said to Benton as she pointed at the floor. Rivers nodded and took a seat on the stairs. Keiko was excited. He hadn’t figured out the clues in the letter! Digging in the wrong place was a way to stall for time. He wasn’t going to kill her or Julian until he had the letter that was with the star.
Julian went to walk over to the black bag, but one of the guys stopped him.
Julian gestured to the guy, “We need our equipment.”
The guy picked up the bag and shook it, reaching in and looking at the contents. He pulled out a sledgehammer and pick, and dropped them on the ground.
Julian took his sledgehammer and banged it against the cement floor, which was newly poured within the last one hundred years. The thudding of the sledge didn’t do much more than then send a chip up once every few hits. There was no way he was going to break through anytime soon. Keiko was hopeful. If Congressman Rivers didn’t know where the star was, they had a chance. Now they were armed with tools and guns. If the opportunity came up, they might be able to drag this thing out, buy time. And where was Ray? What would happen when they didn’t find the star?
Keiko decided to voice her question, “What if we don’t find it by morning. Don’t you have a day job to go to?”
Benton smiled, “I live to serve the people. This is a service, finding the star. Aren’t you excited Keiko, Dr. Wolf? A chance to contribute something great to the history of America? Your names could go down in history too. Isn’t that enough for you? I think once I have the letters, we may all have a step up in our careers. You know how Washington works.”
“Even if I can’t prove it, I want to know the truth, not just the heroic spin you are going to put on the past. You already have the letters and I’m sure my data storage too. I have no way to prove the letters even existed. What harm is there in letting me know? You know I can’t go to anyone without the letters. It would ruin my career. So what was so important in that two-hundred year-old letter? I want to know as a curious bystander to Grace’s life.”
Julian stopped chipping and wiped at his forehead, “This isn’t going to work. We need a jackhammer.”
Benton motioned to his guys, “You found a room?”
“Yeah.”
“Lock them up. Get a jackhammer for tomorrow. We’ll finish our search then. Send an email out on their behalf that they are tied up, hot on the trail looking for an historical artifact and will not be in the office until they find it. Make sure they are secured.”
The two guys pointed them in the opposite direction of where they’d come from. They took Julian and Keiko to an old storage room about the size of a cell. The door was metal so vermin wouldn’t eat through it to the barley and hops stored inside. Nothing in the way of holes. When the door shut behind them and locked, Keiko and Julian were in total darkness with nothing to do but think and wait for the time being.
Julian reached out and put his arm around Keiko.
“What now?” she asked.
“Don’t worry. We wait,” he said.
“I think Benton’s planning on getting rid of us,” Keiko leaned into him.
“He could, but he really doesn’t know who he’s dealing with,” Julian said, “Let’s sit down and make ourselves comfortable. I’m sure we won’t be in here more than an hour. As soon as Ray rounds up some of his associates we’ll be out in no time.”
“You’re sure?” Keiko said feeling the cold damp starting to seep into her clothes.
“If I weren’t sure would I do this?” Julian took her face in his hands kissed her gently. Even though they were in great danger, now was all that mattered.
Julian slowly let her go. Keiko couldn’t see a thing in the dark but she could hear Julian moving.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
She heard him grunt.
‘It’s okay, phantom leg pain. I need to adjust my leg.”
“Oh.”
Keiko reached out until she could touch him. Her hand landed on his bicep.
“Is it painful?”
“Occasionally. I know we have a spirit body because even though the flesh is gone, my leg is still there. I can wiggle the toes. I get itches I can’t scratch. I even get cramps. When I get in the water, my missing toes can feel whether the water is cold or hot. In a way, I still have my leg. You just can’t see it.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Sure. You could massage it.” Julian paused, “Keiko, I’m kidding.”
Keiko punched the arm she so recently had been holding onto.
“How can you joke like that when we’re stuck in here with our lives possibly at risk?”
“Look, we’ve got our guns and you’ve got me so we really have the upper hand. But I’m sure Ray is going to get to have all the fun and take care of things while I‘m sitting here protecting you.”
