The 15th Star (A Lisa Grace History - Mystery)

by Lisa Grace

  “Good idea,” Benton said nodding his head in agreement.

  Julian started unwrapping the flag lifting the points up. Julian was speaking slow and mellifluously, but Keiko could see his hand was moving furiously behind the star point. He was painting a picture with his voice lulling Benton into a trance just like the Indian chants around the fires of old. “You can be up on that podium with us today. Just think what that would do for your run for the presidency. All the network news coverage. You congratulating Keiko on her discovery. You unfolding the star with the President. You holding the star. Running on every channel twenty-four-seven. You, Benton Rivers, involved in the discovery of a true American treasure. Just imagine. People will see you as the next President.” As Julian spoke, a letter slipped out of the flag and onto the floor, Julian glanced at the letter, slowly bent to pick it up while talking, “That image burned into their brains. Just ima-” Julian lunged at Benton mid-sentence. With one arm pulling Keiko away.

  She heard Julian shouting, “No!” flying at her. Her breath knocked out as her ribs hit the desk chair, then she fell to the floor. She felt the pain and saw the blood. Her blood. Julian was twisting Benton’s knife hand with the other as the door behind Benton burst open knocking Benton and Julian to the floor. She gasped and realized the wind had been knocked out of her. Keiko tried to speak, “Julian!” as Julian and Benton wrestled on the floor. A pool of blood spreading out.

  Julian got up as the men surrounded Benton still on the floor.

  “Julian!” It hurt to breathe.

  He came towards her, “I’m fine. It’s his blood.”

  The look on his face one of concern. “You’re hurt!” His voice filled with anguish.

  Everything covered in blood. She looked down at her side and saw blood on her shirt and was afraid to look any closer at her mid-section. It hurt. She couldn’t breathe. She felt tears running down her face. If this was the end, she would be joining history and there would be no future with Julian.

  Julian gently lifted her as the men turned Benton over. She watched Julian’s horror as he gently pulled up her shirt. She saw blood on her shirt, sliced. The edges stitched in blood. She could see the fear in his eyes as he looked at her side, “Keiko, you’re okay. You’ll be okay. You’re bleeding, but the knife just grazed you.”

  He turned his head to the door and yelled, “Medic!” He took the tail of her shirt and pressed it against her wound to slow the bleeding.

  As she breathed, she felt a sharp pain in her side and let out a yelp. Now that the shock of being knocked out of breath had worn off, Keiko felt the pain in her side.

  “I think I cracked a rib, too.”

  Julian helped her to stand, “Can you breathe? Is it getting harder to breathe?” he asked in concern, “I just want to make sure you haven’t punctured a lung.”

  Keiko shook her head, “No, it’s not getting worse. I just think it’s my rib.” Julian helped her to her feet.

  “Where’s the star?” Keiko asked.

  Keiko looked by the bed The star lay crumpled on the floor, a bit of blood splatter on a point. Julian bent over to pick it up along with the letters. “Here,” Julian carefully placed the letters back in the center, folded it in the leather wrapping, and gave it to Keiko.

  The Secret Service men turned Benton on his back. Keiko could see the knife impaled in his stomach. As the door hit him in the back, the force of landing had twisted the knife doing further damage.

  A Secret Service man kneeling to check on Benton, stood up, “Room secure. Medic!” He motioned out the door as two paramedics came through the door, carrying a backboard.

  Benton groaned on the floor obviously in a tremendous amount of pain.

  They had pulled back what was left of his shirt up. One paramedic was busy putting an I.V. into his arm. “On three. One, two, three.” They gently lifted him and put him on the backboard.

  Benton groaned the whole time.

  Julian asked, “How bad is it?”

  “We’ll take good care of him,” the one paramedic said.

  They rushed him out as fast as they could. Another medic came in and treated Keiko’s wound. He cleaned it and put a sterile bandage on the wound. He wrapped an ace lightly around her ribcage to support the cracked rib. “We’ll get a doctor down with a portable X-ray machine in a few minutes.”

  “Do you think he’ll live?” Keiko asked Julian.

  Julian shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know. If the knife didn’t hit a major artery or anything critical, he might.”

  Keiko looked at the blood. The metallic smell of it turned her stomach, “Can we leave here, before I get sick?”

  Julian held her shoulders and walked her slowly towards the door.

  “Come on,” He took her back to his room where he helped her stretch out flat on the bed. Keiko laid the flag next to her on the bed.

  Julian pulled over a chair.

  “Today isn’t going the way I imagined,” Keiko said.

  “You know, I knew they were listening. I’m sorry I didn’t get to you sooner. I was waiting for the right moment. Keiko I am so sorry…I didn’t mean for you to get hurt. I’ve never felt so…” Julian buried his head in her hair.

  She put her good arm on the back of his head, stroking his hair, “I’m okay… It’s okay…Julian, we’re fine.” She held him, “Julian, you kept your cool. You helped me stay calm.” She waited for him, for his strength to return.

  “Do you really think he was buying it? That we would give him the letters and credit him for helping us find the flag?” Keiko asked.

  Julian sat back next to her on the bed. He couldn’t let go of her hand.

  “What were his options? He was desperate. As a politician, he thought he had a winnable solution. His ego couldn’t grasp the fact that he had made decisions he couldn’t escape the consequences of. Now he has bigger problems than running for President. He might not live.”

  Keiko nodded her head. Breathing hurt. Any movement caused pain in her cracked rib. The scrape from the knife wound was throbbing. Sharp pain followed by throbbing, dictated by her breathing.

  Julian noticed her wincing, “Let me take a look.” He gently lifted her shirt. The bleeding under the bandage had stopped and was surrounded by a purple bruise. Julian let her shirt back down then he picked up the phone, “Hi, can we get some pain medication and someone up here? Is there a doctor in the house?”

  Keiko winced and let out a snort, “Please do not make jokes right now. Laughing could kill me.”

  “I’m sorry,” he looked contrite, “It just slipped out.”

  Ray came running into the room, “I’m sorry, I was with Matt, giving him the low down on what happened at Claggett’s. I can’t believe I missed out on the action. They don’t tell the President these things until they’re over. Stupid protocol. Keiko, are you okay?”

  “Cracked rib,” Julian answered.

  Agent Sumner knocked on the opened door and entered without waiting for a reply. “A-Okay. News of the attack has been leaked to the press. The President has cancelled all morning meetings. You can eat your breakfast and then we will be having a press conference on the White House lawn to address the stabbing of Congressman Rivers and your historical find.”

  Another knock was followed by the opening of the door “I’m Special Agent Doctor Della Sparks. So you think you have a cracked rib?” announced an attractive woman who looked more like a model than a doctor. She pulled up a chair next to Keiko’s bed. A technician followed her in pushing a portable X-ray machine on wheels. “Gentlemen? Can we have some privacy please?” The men all looked at each other and excused themselves. Julian look worried. He gently squeezed Keiko’s hand. “I’ll be right outside the door.”

  The technician took the X-ray and left the room with the machine. The doctor took out a stethoscope and listened to Keiko’s breathing. “Good, let’s get you a tetanus shot and then wrapped back up.” After, Doctor Sparks opened her case and gave her some pain
medication. “These are Naproxen. Take two for a total of eight hundred milligrams. They’ll take the edge off the pain. Take it every six to eight hours as needed. No drinking, no laughing, and no physical activity more strenuous than walking. Any questions?”

  “No. Thank you for the pills, Doctor.”

  She smiled, “Okay then. I’ll send your fan club back in.”

  Julian, Ray, and Agent Sumner walked back in followed by a waiter pushing a cart full of sandwiches, salads, and drinks.

  Ray said, “Excuse me. I think I’ll have the doctor check me out too,” he followed her out the door.

  Julian groaned, “He is going through his twenties all over again.”

  “You think he’s going to ask her out?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  “Good for him,” Keiko said.

  They ate and then Keiko laid back to close her eyes. The pain medication was kicking in and breathing didn’t hurt if she did it slow and shallow.

  Knocking followed by, “Housekeeping.”

  Agent Sumner opened the door. The maid handed him a new shirt for Keiko. A plain white button down. Not exactly her style.

  She got up easing herself to the edge of the bed with Julian’s help.

  When she went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, she groaned.

  Keiko looked as awful as she felt. Her hair had dried leaving odd ripples that would not lie flat. Dark circles from lack of sleep accentuated her pale skin. The stark white of the clean shirt emphasized how wrinkled and dirty her pants and shoes were.

  She couldn’t believe she was about to appear on national television looking this hideous.

  There was a knock at the door. Agent Sumner said, “It’s time Keiko.”

  As she entered the room, Julian looked at her with such admiration and care it made her want to shout, Can’t you see what I look like? I’m a mess, inside and out. I pretend my parents are alive. I’m not normal and I’m not sure I ever can be. Can’t you see that?

  Instead, she reached for him.

  Julian was already holding the oiled leather wrapping. He took her hand and gently put his arm under hers to help her walk. She could never say those things to him because she knew her words wouldn’t change his mind.

  Agent Sumner put his hand up to his earpiece, listening, and then spoke, “Alright is everyone ready for the dog and pony show? The President will meet us on the White House lawn in ten minutes. Let’s go.”

  ***

  Jacks was sitting at the café where he refilled his cup with a quarter cup of cream and six sugars. He broke down and spent three dollars on a chocolate cookie bar.

  Joe, the bartender from the Palace of Wonders, should be walking in the door at any minute. While he was sitting there watching the TV mounted on the wall a breaking news report came on. A stylish young anchor woman was standing in front of the White House. A rolling banner at the bottom of the screen said: Stabbing in the White House, Congressman Benton Rivers is in critical condition.

  Some of the other patrons at the café asked the girl behind the counter to turn up the sound.

  “Congressman Benton Rivers has just been rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital outside Washington D.C. where he is being operated on as I bring you this report. Inside sources reveal that Congressman Benton Rivers accidentally stabbed himself. Congressman Benton is in critical condition from a stab wound he received while at the White House. Sources say the President was never in any danger. The incident happened in a branch reserved for overnight guests. Congressman Rivers has been widely talked about as a contender to run for his party’s nomination in the upcoming Presidential race. His family roots can be traced back to one of the first founding families of colonial America. The Rivers family has been involved in the political scene of our nation for generations. At this point, the White House is in a lock-down mode while security makes sure this was an isolated incident not connected with any terrorist activity.”

  Jacks watched the report with interest and knew this development had something to do with what he had found out last night. He got up and went over to the pretty barista since the cashier was busy ringing someone up.

  “Can I please borrow your phone?”

  “As long as it’s not long distance.” she smiled.

  “No, it’s local, but I’ll have to call information to get the number.”

  The girl frowned at him, “Okay, but only because you asked so nicely.”

  Jacks gave her a smile, “Thanks,” he said as she handed him the phone.

  Jacks punched in the number for information,

  “Washington D.C., the White House please,” he said to the operator. After he was put through he continued, “I have some information regarding Congressman Benton Rivers that I’d like to report.” Jacks waited for the White House operator to pass him up to the right person.

  The barista, who had overheard his request, slipped him a piece of paper with her name and phone number on it. “If you’re not busy tonight, maybe you could tell me all about it,” she said.

  He smiled at her, “Sure, I’d love to.”

  “This is Agent Sumner. You have information regarding Congressman Benton Rivers?”

  “Yes I do,” Jacks said.

  “You’re at the Spy City Café on F Street Northwest?”

  “Yes I am.”

  “And your name?”

  “Jackman—”

  “Sanders,” they both said at the same time.

  “Hang tight. We’ll be there in ten minutes to pick you up. We’ve been looking for you.”

  “Okay,” Jacks said, now a little worried that charges might be brought for the hacking. Although it really wasn’t hacking because he’d been asked to trace files that had been hacked into by somebody else. Jacks wondered briefly if he was going to need a lawyer. The pretty barista winked at him and he decided to think positively. So far, today wasn’t shaping up so badly. Maybe that trend would continue.

  *

  ***

  *

  Chapter 20 - The Star

  The President was waiting for them in a room with doors that led to the outside podium.

  “Miss?” A Secret Service Agent held out his hand for the star. Keiko looked at Julian and the President.

  “Hello Keiko,” the President said as he held out his hand to shake hers, “Hello Julian, nice to see you again. This piece of cloth has caused quite a national security problem for us. This is the first time since the burning of the White House that we have had so much violence take place on the grounds.”

  Agent Sumner came back in the room, “Mr. President, this is Dr. Thomas Writer, the head of the American History Colonial department of the Smithsonian. He is the ranking official on verification of colonial artifacts.”

  “Mr. President, what a pleasure to meet you.” Dr. Writer shook the President’s hand in both of his own.

  “Thank you for coming on such short notice,” the President said.

  “Keiko, Julian, I hear you have quite a story to tell. But first, where is the star and the letters?” Dr. Writer asked.

  The secret service men unfolded the star and laid it out on a round table in the center of the room. They set the two letters next to it. Doc went over and studied the star. He flipped it over and inspected every inch using a magnifying glass. “The age, thread, and stitching are correct for the time period.” He bent over and read the two letters. “Again, the ink and paper appear to be authentic to the time. I would say it is very likely they are what they appear to be. Of course, further testing in the lab will need to be done and we will have to examine the flag and compare it to this piece on a microscopic level to assure the star is a match.”

  “Thank you, Sir,” The President said. “We have enough verification to go on with the press briefing.”

  At that moment, another secret service agent escorted Jacks into the room.

  “Jacks!” Keiko said, relieved to see he was unharmed.

  “As you can see, we have located Jackman
Sanders. We have secured his cooperation regarding the incident in exchange for all charges related to his ‘hacking’ to be dropped.” Agent Sumner said.

  “Hey Keiko, Doctors,” Jacks said as he nodded to all three. “You weren’t kidding when you said it was serious. I’d really like to know what you got me into.”

  “Keiko, Julian, and Jackm—,” Agent Sumner was interrupted, “Call me Jacks,”

  Agent Sumner nodded, “Jacks, we do have the matter of Congressman Benton Rivers to address. With your cooperation, it is in everyone’s best interest if we announce Benton accidentally injured himself. If he recovers from his injuries, he will be admitted to a secure hospital environment where he can be evaluated and eventually this tragic incident will fade from the public’s memory. After we address the Benton incident, we will segue into your recovery of the star. We will say that the two events are not related and only a coincidence.”

  The President waited for their response.

  Keiko knew that the ‘facts’ were not always the truth. She looked at Julian.

  “Why can’t we just tell the truth?” she asked.

  The President answered, “Do you really want to destroy Benton completely? We would have to open a congressional hearing into how Benton acquired certain information. It puts many operations at risk if the general public knows how things work. Rivers possibly used federal resources to hack into Keiko’s and the Smithsonian’s secure data backups. We can’t disclose our systems as that could leave the United States vulnerable to terrorist threats. We consider it a matter of national security and won’t be allowing all the facts, at this time, to come out.”

  “So we don’t have a choice do we?” Julian asked.

  “Mr. President? We are ready for you, Sir,” the Press Secretary interrupted.

  The President smiled at Julian and Keiko, “Not really. Now let’s go make history.” The President walked out to address the American people.

  The Press Secretary joined Keiko and Julian, “First, the President is showing the American people he is fine. After he reads his speech, I will take the floor to field questions. Then I will read an introduction announcing your discovery and a run down on some of the facts regarding Grace Wisher. You may show the star and then pass it to the secret service agent. We will end with you waving to the people. Got it?”