Chapter 02

Velma stared at him for a few seconds, waiting for more information. It wasn't coming. "And who is Douglas Chandler?"

La Gorce let out the breath. "He's a figure from American history and, on behalf of both the National Geographic Society and my family, thank you for not knowing that. We have worked very hard to place that gentleman firmly into his rightful spot in historical oblivion and want to keep him there."

"And when you say that he is harassing tour groups, you mean that he is advertising to them who he is and giving them enough information to study the name and the story that you wish to remain in historical oblivion?"

"Precisely."

"And what is it about Douglas Chandler that you want to be kept outside of the public eye?"

"There are two things that you must understand about Douglas Chandler. First and foremost, he never worked for the National Geographic Society. We bought some articles from him, but he was operating on a purely freelance basis. Second, in 1929, he financially lost everything and had a nervous breakdown. His sanity was in question from that point forward."

"Sanity can be a very subjective term, especially with the difference in psychiatric diagnosis over the last nearly one hundred years."

"Granted, but it is the simplest explanation."

Velma began to get impatient. "The simplest explanation for what?"

"On June 28th 1947, Douglas Chandler—an American citizen from Chicago-was convicted of treason against the United States of America for working with the Nazis as a radio propagandist. His broadcasts were targeted into the United States and had the deliberate intent to persuade citizens and residents of the United States to decline to support the United States war effort."

The statement seemed stilted and rehearsed but it answered Velma's first question. She had others. "Other than buying some of his articles, how is the National Geographic Society involved in all of this?"

La Gorce spoke in a sarcastic tone. "Mr. Chandler was kind enough to very publicly identify himself on his Nazi propaganda broadcasts as a former employee of the Society and then he made the same claim at his trial in Massachusetts."

It was coming together. "And your great great grandfather was the editor that bought his work."

"Slightly worse. In 1936, my great great grandfather actually commissioned him to do a piece on Berlin before the war and to keep the article 'of a kindly nature' and apolitical. The article was published as "Changing Berlin" in February 1937. While there was nothing in particular wrong with the article, it later caused the Society much grief over the positive viewpoint he gave to daily life in Nazi Germany without mentioning any of the social and political atrocities occurring behind the scenes. The whole episode has been a keen embarrassment to the Society and my family."

A dark figure from American history that Velma had never previously heard of. An opportunity to see the inside of the National Geographic Society headquarters and have access to over a century's worth of information from all over the world. And a mystery. Velma was hooked.

"We need to talk details and I'll need to check the availability of my friends."

"Will that be a problem?"

"Daphne is at drama camp with her Danforth friends. Fred and Shaggy are nearby. Let me make some phone calls."

"I'll browse your charming museum while you make the necessary arrangements." Velma was pretty sure his reference to her parent's shop as 'charming' was said tongue-in-cheek but her lack of ability in reading such things made her unsure. 'Charming' was not the word she would use but familiarity breeds contempt.

Although Velma felt like he was rushing her, she could see no reason to delay and started with the person she thought would be the hardest sell. Daphne spoke glowingly of her summers in the drama camp and getting her to cut one short was probably a non-starter. But going on a mystery without her just didn't feel right.

The phone rang just once before Daphne answered, "Hi Velma! How are things back in Crystal Cove?"

"Well, pretty awful really. People are coming in here and asking for autographs and selfies. Everyone thinks they have a right to put there arms around me and stuff. I'm not loving it."

Daphne laughed, "That's the life of a superstar."

"We haven't even hit a million subscribers. I'm not exactly a superstar."

"How many did we start out with?"

"Zero, I guess."

"Zero to over 900,000 in nine months. We're internet stars. Now, I know you well enough to know that you wouldn't call me unless you wanted to talk about something specific. Dish."

The fact that Daphne knew her as well as she did was one of the many things involved in friendship that was simultaneously heartwarming and disconcerting but Velma was getting used to those dichotomies. "There's a man here from the National Geographic Society who wants us to come to Washington DC and deal with a ghost that has been bothering their tour groups."

"Does it sound interesting?"

"To me, it does."

"I can be there in three hours."

"Uhhhhh."

"Uh, what?"

"Well, you're at drama camp and I didn't expect you to jump on this one."

"Yeah, I know. But after the year we've had, drama camp is boring and the people here are so… superficial. Which, I guess, describes me, too."

"If you're making that statement, it doesn't. Kind of by definition."

There was a brief silence on the line and then Daphne finished off. "I'll be there by six o'clock. Schedule this guy for dinner or something. He can pick up the tab."

"What do you want…" The line went dead. "…for dinner?" Velma looked at her phone. "I guess I get to choose."

Her next call went to Shaggy. "Hey Velma? What's up?"

"Are you high?"

"No, my uncle got me a summer job working at his factory. I've got to stay straight all day. Megabummer. Why?"

"I need you to stay sober until after we have a meeting with a guy from the National Geographic Society at six. We're meeting him at the Burger Binge.

"The Binge! Excellent! I just got paid and, if I can't score some weed, at least I can OD on good old-fashioned cholesterol."

So far, so good. Her last call was to Fred. When he answered, there seemed to be loud music in the background. Velma couldn't make out what he was saying. "Fred, is that you!" She yelled into the phone.

Suddenly, on the other end, the music died back and Fred's voice came in clear. "I stepped outside. Is this better"

With Velma, curiosity always came first. "Where are you?"

"Me? I'm uhhhh just at a little party at the house of one of the guy's from the football team. We were hitting the weights all morning and my dad didn't have anything for me today, so the… guys… and I decided to blow off some steam. No big deal, really."

That was when Velma heard a voice that did not belong to any member of the football team. There were no female members. "Freddeee! Come back to the parteeee! I'm getting loneleeee."

Fred's voice got tense. "I'll be back in a minute!"

That was when Velma said the most womanly thing of her life. "Is this a bad time?" She couldn't put the full sarcasm into it but he got the message.

"No! Not at all. That was… Joey's little sister. We're watching her until his parents get back."

"I'm sure it was. Can you take a break from your babysitting duties and meet us at the Burger Binge at six?" She really worked on the sarcasm on that one. "We have a meeting with a guy from the National Geographic Society. They have a ghost."

"Yeah… no problem… Ummm… Have you called Daphne yet?"

"Yes. She'll be there."

"Ummm… maybe…"

"Your and Daphne's relationship is your business. I know nothing but unsubstantiated conjecture regarding this phone call. I wouldn't share that until its verified."

"Nothing will be verified."

"I'll see you at six." Velma looked again at the phone. Something told her that she should share her suspicions with Daphne. That was what friends did, right? She played out potential scenarios in her head and they all ended badly. She decided to keep it to herself.