In fact, one could argue—as Adrian often did—that the entire Revolutionary War was the result of a smuggler’s attempt to derail his competition. But Adrian’s role at the museum had been decidedly limited. He had nothing to do with the main exhibits, or the paintings on the walls of Hancock and others, or what was in the glass case that dominated the center of the exhibit space, which contained an actual crate from the Tea Party itself, rotating under elegant spotlights. The crate, one of only two that remained, had been scooped up out of the water the morning after the event by a fifteen-year-old kid named John Robinson, and had been handed down from generation to generation until it had been offered to the curators of the museum in 2004. Adrian wasn’t interested in crates thrown into the water in an act of corporate competition; no, his only contribution to the museum was a second, much smaller, and often ignored display case, right up against the far wall.

Adrian made short work of the distance, followed closely by his two charges. This display case was waist high and only a few feet across, ending right by a door marked “Staff Only” that Adrian knew led to the museum’s control center—which itself told you everything you needed to know about the place. What sort of true historical site needs a control center? What sort of academic institution needs special effects?

As he reached the case, he pulled a set of keys out from his bag, which was still hanging from his shoulder. He wasn’t sure what had made him make copies of the keys when he’d first been brought in by the trustees to curate this addition to their exhibit room. Probably, it had simply been spite. He hadn’t been the trustees’ first choice. But Charles had been too busy to help out—busy with what Adrian now knew was his insane, secret project.

When the trustees had first informed Adrian that they’d wanted to add a case of Revere artifacts to their collection, he’d actually been in the process of helping to restore a batch of items taken from the basement of the Revere House in the North End. Of course, the Tea Party Museum had wanted Adrian to bring over dramatic memorabilia, maybe something to do with Revere’s midnight ride, or maybe a Revere-owned musket or a Revere-made cannonball.