The 15th Star (A Lisa Grace History - Mystery) (26 page)

“
Two? How hungry are you?” Keiko asked.

“
Leftovers, for Ray and the gang.”

Julian reached out his hands when the waiter walked off to put their order in.

“Take it out—now,” Keiko repeated, “before I come over and rip it out of your shirt,” she smiled sweetly.

Julian held onto her hands,
“Why would I want to pass up that deal? Ripping off my shirt, tell me more.”

Keiko tried to pull her hands away but Julian held on and smiled at her sweetly.
“Tell me more,” he smiled.

“
I promise I’ll rip your shirt off, sometime in the future, if you show me the star,
now
,” Keiko smiled sweetly back.

Julian reached into his shirt and gave her the bundle, an old oiled piece of leather, stiff with age. Julian reached across the table and moved their glasses of soda to the next table as Keiko carefully untied the twine.
“What about your gloves?” Julian asked.

Keiko kept carefully working at the knot.

“I won’t hurt the twine,” she said.

She reverently unwrapped the leather from around the package. She carefully unfolded the star. The first thing she noticed was the hand sewn stitching around the edges to keep it from fraying. Were these stitches Grace
’s or Mary’s? No way to know. The star was still amazingly white and as she unfolded it, the voices of the past echoed in her heart.

Grace
’s secret, her life, was laid before her. Now she would know for sure the meaning behind the star. Why Louisa had considered Grace the perfect symbol of sacrifice. After all, Louisa only gave away bits of the flag to those who were heroes. How much more had she considered Grace to give her the only star? She wiped at a tear with the back of her hand, afraid it would fall on the star. As she unfolded the last point, Keiko revealed the letter.

The stationary was wonderfully preserved. A fine light beige linen. Typical for the time period.

At last, Keiko reached in her pocket and put on her gloves. Keiko was afraid to speak, not wanting to look at Julian because tears were on the verge of spilling. A true historic moment, shared between her and Julian. She looked up into his eyes, “Thank you. Thank you for helping me, for risking your life. You don’t know how much…”

“
You’re welcome,” he reached out and caressed the back of her gloved hands.

Keiko took the letters out of the envelope and began to read.

May 3, 1819

Dearest Grace,

I, Louisa Armistead, send you this star as a token of your service to our country. As has been my custom since the death of my beloved husband, George Armistead, I would like to honor you as a hero. You gave your honor in the service to our country and to this flag. I witnessed Major Stanton Rivers take advantage and abuse you in the most unhonourable way a man can to a woman. I was not in time to stop his advances, but I witnessed as he left you in a most grievous state after dishonoring you. Unfortunately, his dalliance ended in the birth of the son you bore him, the one he now raises. I give this letter and this star as a pledge on mine and God
’s honor that what I speak of is the truth. I have written this letter as well I know how short a life can be. In case my dear Grace has need of claiming her son or her honor, it is my intention that this star bears the truth. Grace this secret is yours to keep or not. I will always stand behind you, my dear friend and hero.

With love and appreciation,

Mrs. George Armistead

Keiko placed the first letter down and read the second.

June 13
th
, 1819

If you be finding this I
’s be dead. Mrs. Louisa Armistead my dear friend from the day I delivered the flag at Fort McHenry for Mrs. Mary Pickersgill may bear witness to the date. July 19, 1813. Major Stanton Rivers used me most awful against my will. I gave birth to his son, Stanton the Second. who he rightly named. I’s could not raise the boy as he comes out white as has been known to happens in the south. I gaves the baby to the birthin woman Mrs. Tommie Lynn to gives him. This last week I seen him walk out her house in the night. I knows he the one who kilt her. I’m afeared Mrs. Tommie Lynn must a said she tell his secret. I hide this letter sos I safe. He took my boy, hads to. No one let me raise a white boy. If I dies natural, Mrs. Louisa Armistead kep the secret. They good Christian folk. The best I ever knowd.

Grace Wisher

If he kilt me an the truths come out, please tell my son I loved him with all my heart an pray for his peace an happiness every day.

Keiko turned the letters so Julian could read them.

Just as he finished reading, their food arrived. Keiko silently put the letters away and refolded the star around them. She took the oiled cloth and wrapped it around the star.

“It happened at Fort McHenry when she went to deliver the flag. That’s why Louisa considered her a hero. Is it a secret really worth killing for now?” Keiko asked.

“
Sense of family honor is a strong emotion even if misplaced,” Julian said.

“
Why would Benton kill for this?”

In his social world, maybe he feels it isn
’t acceptable to change his heritage from respectable to that of a family line that includes a rapist and a murderer. His family’s disgrace would always be brought up whenever the flag is mentioned. His personal pride in his heritage can’t handle it. He’s part of a dying breed.”

“
Do you think what his relative did over two hundred years ago would sway our opinion of him today?”

Julian shrugged,
“The man has grown his whole world based on a myth of history. Not the truth. His esteemed relative a rapist and a murderer. He’s appalled by his history. He wants to keep the myth alive and for that he killed.”

“
Let’s not talk about him anymore while we eat.” Keiko put the bundle on the seat next to her. “Julian, could you say a prayer? I think we need one right about now.”

Julian reached across the table and took her hands in his,
“Lord, if we ever needed your help, it’s now. Thanks for the food and keeping Keiko and Dad safe. Amen.”

“
How do you know he’s safe?” Keiko asked.

“
Because there he is,” Julian motioned to the front door, “You better dig in, because once he gets here, he eats a lot and he eats fast.”

Keiko got up and gave Ray a hug as he approached the table.
“Thank God you’re safe. Is everyone else okay?” she asked.

“
My guys are fine,” he said as he nodded towards the window where Keiko could see five guys outside the window talking to each other. All fit, looking like retired servicemen.

Ray lifted the lid of the box, saw it contained one pie, then asked as he pointed at theirs,
“Are you done with this? The guys are hungry and the kitchen’s closed,” Ray said as he sat and helped himself to a slice.

Keiko and Julian both said,
“Sure.” Ray just looked from one to other and shook his head.

“
Unbelievable,” Ray said with his mouth full. The waiter came over with a box and Ray slid the rest of their pizza in.

“
I’ll see you guys at the shack in a little bit. We’ll talk then.”

“
What about the guys who were chasing us?” Keiko asked.

“
Well, you can pray for them, but it’s a little too late for them to be turning a new leaf. Gotta go.”

Ray walked up to the counter grabbed a six-pack of Coke the waiter had put out for him. Ray threw a bill on the counter for the sodas, then he was out the door to his crew.

“You’re right. He loves the danger,” Keiko said.

“
Yep, grownup real-life spy games. He’s always been an adrenaline junkie. I think that was why he was willing to take on two Indian smart-ass teenagers. We went bungee jumping, rock climbing, camping, hunting. Ray taught us survival skills along with lots of physical activity. To keep us out of trouble. Then when I started college, they called him back up for a few years. He’s only been out six. I think he’s going to re-up again.”

“
Will they take him?”

Julian shrugged,
“Sure, he’s good. The thing about spies, they try and pick people who don’t look like they could be one. Now that he’s older they can probably use him on more covert operations.”

Julian finished the one slice he managed to snag and took a drink of Coke.
“The thing is my brother and I will miss him if he goes undercover. I might not get to speak to him for a few years. I think that’s the only thing holding him back from that kind of assignment. I think you made his year, Keiko. He can see you make me happy and the extra bonus is a good adrenaline rush and a shoot-out. An excuse to call in his old buddies for some action.”

The waiter came over looking impatient. Julian threw some bills on the table picked up the package for Keiko and walked her to the door.

“Where are we going now?” she asked as he headed around the block to the parking in back.

“
Well we get in the car Dad left us, and we go to the shack.”

“
What’s ‘the shack?’”

“
Oh, you’re gonna love this.”

*

***

*

Chapter 19 - The Shack

Lone Wolf scanned the small lot. He walked towards the back to a small Toyota, felt under the back bumper and came back up with a key. He unlocked Keiko
’s door, held it open for her, encircled her in his arms, and kissed her. Keiko put her arms around him loving the warmth, feeling the beating of his heart. With that, he pushed Keiko gently into her seat and shut the door. Julian went to his door, slid in the driver’s seat, and started the car.

“
We could have kissed a little longer,” Keiko said.

Julian looked at her,
“No, we couldn’t have. I wouldn’t be able to stop. You are overestimating my willpower and underestimating my attraction.”

“
It’s the adrenaline. You should be coming down to earth soon.”

“
We’ll see,” he said as he backed the car up and drove out of the lot.

Keiko sat back and held the star.
“Should we go to the news outlets now, or wait until morning?”

“
I think Dad’s already made those arrangements.”

“
He’s got news connections too? He really gets around doesn’t he?”

“
You said it.”

Julian drove into the heart of D.C. and Keiko wondered where on earth they were going.

“Where exactly are we going? This is the city. I thought we were leaving. There isn’t anything in the city resembling a shack,” Keiko said, confused.

“
If you want to be safe, and you want the star and the letter safe, trust me, this is the place to be,” Julian said.

“
Is it a hideout for one of Ray's cloak and dagger friends?” Keiko joked.

“
I guess you could look at it that way.”

They drove down the street, past the buildings of the Smithsonian. Keiko instinctively slid down in her seat.

“I really don’t feel safe being this close to Benton’s stomping grounds,” Keiko said as they continued driving toward the governmental center of town.

“
Sometimes the best action you can take is to hide in plain view.” He whipped his head around as they heard a car peal out, “And sometimes not, hold on.”

“
Oh great.” Keiko looked over her shoulder. A dark car was speeding closer catching up quickly. The back window blew out and Keiko ducked down.

“
This is only supposed to happen in the movies!” She screamed at Julian.

“
Well, tell that to them! Stay down!”

Keiko kept her head down afraid to look. A tire blew out and Julian fought to keep the car on the road. He made a fast turn and the car went up on the two good wheels left on that side. When the car came down, Keiko was jolted and landed hard. She could hear the metal rim of the tire screeching against the pavement, knowing it was cutting a grove into the roadway she would be able to see the next day, if she lived to see the next day.

“We’re almost there, they should drop off our tail any minute,” Julian called out sounding calm.

“
Don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine,” Julian said reaching out quickly and squeezing her hand. “See? They’re dropping back already.”

They sped down the mall. Keiko dared to look out the window. The other car had indeed dropped back and was turning to speed away in the opposite direction.

Keiko looked out the window and realized where they were.

Julian turned onto the main road running alongside the White House. He drove to the back entry security gate, the car wobbling lopsided, sending up a stream of sparks from the ruined rim. The guard looked at what was left of the car and their license plate,
“Rough night, Sir?”