diff --git a/src/ripple/shamap/SHAMap.h b/src/ripple/shamap/SHAMap.h
index dd7e26e39d..555ba5660b 100644
--- a/src/ripple/shamap/SHAMap.h
+++ b/src/ripple/shamap/SHAMap.h
@@ -127,6 +127,19 @@ public:
     bool updateGiveItem (std::shared_ptr<SHAMapItem> const&, bool isTransaction, bool hasMeta);
     bool addGiveItem (std::shared_ptr<SHAMapItem> const&, bool isTransaction, bool hasMeta);
 
+    /** Fetch an item given its key.
+        This retrieves the item whose key matches.
+        If the item does not exist, an empty pointer is returned.
+        Exceptions:
+            Can throw SHAMapMissingNode
+        @note This can cause NodeStore reads
+    */
+    // VFALCO NOTE This should return `const&` when SHAMapTreeNode
+    //             stores std::shared_ptr<SHAMapItem const>
+    std::shared_ptr<SHAMapItem const>
+    fetch (uint256 const& key) const;
+
+    // VFALCO NOTE Is "save a copy" the in imperative or indicative mood?
     // save a copy if you only need a temporary
     std::shared_ptr<SHAMapItem> peekItem (uint256 const& id) const;
     std::shared_ptr<SHAMapItem> peekItem (uint256 const& id, uint256 & hash) const;
diff --git a/src/ripple/shamap/impl/SHAMap.cpp b/src/ripple/shamap/impl/SHAMap.cpp
index 88755b0d4b..11fc30a1af 100644
--- a/src/ripple/shamap/impl/SHAMap.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/shamap/impl/SHAMap.cpp
@@ -507,6 +507,19 @@ SHAMap::onlyBelow (SHAMapTreeNode* node) const
     return node->peekItem ();
 }
 
+static std::shared_ptr<
+    SHAMapItem const> const nullConstSHAMapItem;
+
+std::shared_ptr<SHAMapItem const>
+SHAMap::fetch (uint256 const& key) const
+{
+    SHAMapTreeNode const* const leaf =
+        walkToPointer(key);
+    if (! leaf)
+        return nullConstSHAMapItem;
+    return leaf->peekItem();
+}
+
 static const std::shared_ptr<SHAMapItem> no_item;
 
 std::shared_ptr<SHAMapItem> SHAMap::peekFirstItem () const