The Butterfly Conspiracy

by James Nelson

  Paulie’s face darkened. He stomped over to Moon.

  “Sorry, buddy. That ain’t happening. I came up here to do a job and I’m sure as hell going to do it.”

  Moon looked up at Paulie.

  “Here’s how I see it. Think about this for a minute. Probably where you’re from, kidnappings and mysterious deaths go on all the time. It ain’t like that here.

  The cops know Stephen was already grabbed and got away. Now some dumb blond is dead at the same place Stephen is staying. This doesn’t sound much like a coincidence to me. The cops are going to be all over this area. I already spent my time in lockup. I don’t want to go back. So if I was you, I’d grab your suitcase and hit the road while you can.”

  Paulie reached down and jerked Moon up by his pajama top. Moon’s feet were swinging in the air. One slipper fell to the floor with a plop.

  “Well, that ain’t quite like I got it figured, you little weasel. You said you had a plan and you better carry it out. I need that kid, and guess what? I’m not leaving without him. I’ll be a nice guy and kick in some extra dough. I’ll give you six hundred but you need a plan to get me out of here with what I came for. If you don’t, the cops will be wondering what happened to you, too. You got that, Moonie?”

  Moon’s feet were flailing in the air and his face was turning red. His pajama top was knotted so tight against his chest he could only nod in agreement. Paulie let go and Moon hit the floor with a thud. He lay on the floor gasping for breath.

  Chapter 29

  Phillip caught a red eye to Chicago and then got a small commuter plane to Green Bay, where he rented a car and drove back to Grand View. While in Los Angeles, he had contacted Britt’s family in Sweden and together, they made the necessary arrangements.

  Detective Drew had commandeered the trophy room as his working area. He had questioned Cora, Bobby, Stephen, and Jeanette several times, each time asking slightly different questions. He still wasn’t giving out any meaningful information. Jeanette was surprised when the police marched several picketers into the trophy room to meet with the Detectives.

  Jeanette was trying to get some things accomplished in her office, but it just wasn’t happening. She could not concentrate and whenever she thought about Britt or Phillip, she would break down in tears. The mansion had always been a respite from the real world. It was a safe place where good things always seemed to happen. Oh, there were arguments and hurt feelings now and then, but they never seemed to last.

  Detective Drew stuck his head in her door.

  “Jeanette, could I please have a moment of your time?”

  “Certainly.” Jeanette dabbed her red eyes with a tissue.

  The detective entered her office, closed the door behind him and pulled up a chair next to Jeanette’s desk.

  “As you know, I’ve been talking to everyone who either was around or could have been around at the time of Ms. Adolfson death. I understand there was a small party the night before Ms. Adolfson died and towards the end, she and Mr. Kahle had words. He wanted her to leave the gathering and she didn’t want to. Is that correct?”

  “I wouldn’t call it ‘words’. I know Mr. Kahle wanted to leave because he had to get up early for his trip to California and he asked Britt to leave with him, but she wanted to stay with the party. That’s really all that happened.”

  Detective Drew scribbled a few notes. “I understand Mr. Kahle’s nephew was also at the gathering.”

  “Yes, he was, and so was I.”

  “Did it seem to you that Ms. Adolfson had an interest in staying at the party to be with Mr. Kahle’s nephew?”

  “Britt was a flirt. What more can I say. She loved to flirt and she seemed to enjoy being the center of attention, especially in front of Mr. Kahle. But, as far as I know, that’s as far as it went. It was a game for her. She’s been a flirt for all the years I’ve known her. This was certainly not an isolated incident the night of the party. And I’ve seen no signs that Stephen was romantically interested in Ms. Adolfson.”

  “I see.” Detective Drew scribbled some more. “But it can be said that when Mr. Kahle left the party, he was angry with Ms. Adolfson, is that right?”

  “Well, yes, probably a little perturbed. She knew how to push his buttons, if you will. But certainly not angry enough to do anything, if that’s what you’re implying.”

  Detective Drew did not comment. He just continued writing in his notepad.

  As he drove down Pine Ridge Road to the main gate, Phillip noticed there were no picketers around. When he pulled into the circular driveway, he saw several strange cars parked along the drive, along with one police car. Phillip was lifting his suitcases from the trunk of the rental car as Detective Drew approached him.

  “Mr. Kahle, I’m Detective Drew. I’m so sorry to hear about your tragic news. When you get settled in, I would like to ask you a few questions. If you don’t mind, I’ve set myself up in your trophy room.”

  “Thank you for your kind words. No, I don’t mind a bit. Please give me a few minutes to put my things away.”

  Twenty minutes later, Phillip sat down next to Detective Drew.

  Chapter 30

  Moon was crumpled on the floor in a heap. After several minutes, he caught his breath. He got up on one knee and grabbed the table for support before pulling himself to a shaky standing position.

  “Okay, Paulie. I get six hundred and you get out of Grand View with that damn kid. You go back to New York and this whole business is over. It’s a deal, but this has to happen fast. You stay here and I’ll get this thing started. With what’s just happened at Kahle’s we don’t have time to argue or screw around.”

  Paulie didn’t say a word. He just stood and stared at Moon. Paulie was used to being in charge. He didn’t like being talked to like this but he was smart enough to know he probably did need some help at this stage of the game, at least for now.

  “I need to get out of here and find out what happened over there. I’m gonna talk to some of the guys who were picketing when all this shit happened. Then I can figure out how we can grab the kid. Believe me, I want this to work more than you do.”

  Paulie smiled, “You better get it right, is all. I’m going to say.”

  Moon grabbed a jacket and headed out. Paulie heard him scramble down the stairs and slam the front door. He sat in Moon’s overstuffed chair and stared out the window for about twenty minutes, enjoying his time alone. His head hurt a little from all those cheap beers the night before.

  A TV game show was playing from a room down the hall. He heard the next door neighbor walk out and close the door. Paulie could hear the sound of fumbling keys, the door locking and what appeared to be manly footsteps echo down the hallway and start down the steps.

  Paulie watched out the window as an elderly, bald man exited the building. The man was old, but big. He had on a flannel shirt, jeans and some tan boots. He was dressed like everyone else in this God-forsaken part of the country. Paulie glanced down at his suit.

  Shit! He thought said to himself. No wonder I’m standing out like a sore thumb.

  Paulie walked over to Moon’s closet. He shrugged off his suit coat and grabbed one of Moon’s flannel shirts. He put one arm through the sleeve. The shirt was way too small. Paulie tossed it back into the closet and walked over to the door. He inched the door open and looked down the hallway. The game show was sounding louder, but he didn’t see any activity.

  Paulie walked over to the old man’s room and tried the door. It was locked. He reached into his pants and removed a credit card from his wallet. In a few seconds the door swung open. Paulie stepped inside and closed the door.

  The old man kept a neat apartment. No dirty dishes in the sink, no piles of clothes in the corners, and no bird carcasses lying on tables. Too bad I’m not hiding out over here, Paulie thought.

  Paulie walked into the bedroom. He picked up a photograph on the nightstand next to the bed. It was a picture of the old man, looking about twenty years younger
. He was standing with a woman who must have been his wife. Two little girls were standing in front of them. Paulie set the picture down and checked the nightstand drawer for a gun. The drawer contained a bible, a deck of cards and some loose change.

  He walked over and opened the closet. He picked out two flannel shirts and a pair of pants. He looked around to see what else he may need. Shoes. Paulie reached down and grabbed a pair of work boots.

  He noticed a rifle standing in the far corner of the closet. Paulie picked it up. It was a beauty. It was a lever action Winchester 30-30. Paulie thought it may come in handy. Especially if he had to be out in the woods again. This was a rifle that could take out a bear. He grabbed the rifle and rearranged some hangers to make sure the closet looked exactly like it did before he came in. He walked back and stopped at the door to listen.

  Paulie slipped open the door and peaked out. He put one foot out and halted. Someone was coming up the stairs. Paulie darted back into the apartment and softly closed the door. His heart was racing. He stood in back of the door, ready to smash anyone entering the room with the rifle butt. The steps got closer. Paulie’s muscles tightened as footsteps approached the door. He heard a key go into the lock. Paulie readied the rifle. The door swung open. Paulie held his breath and brought the rifle back to swing.

  “Mr. Durand?” a woman’s voice called from the bottom of the stairs. “Would you be kind enough to come down and look at my kitchen drain? It seems to be backing up again, and I know how good you fixed it last time.”

  “Certainly, Bea. Let’s give it a look.” The door swung shut and the old man descended the stairs. Paulie relaxed. He waited a minute and then ducked back into Moon’s apartment, locking the door behind him.

  Paulie tried on his new wardrobe. He slid into the shirt just fine but he had trouble zipping up the pants. Just a little too small. He pushed his feet into the boots. They were very tight. He winced and hoped they would loosen up with a little wear. He walked over to a mirror Moon had in the kitchen. Much better, Paulie thought.

  Chapter 31

  Moon sat in a Café in Munising with Jerry and Karen, two fellow picketers. The café was at the end of Maple Street, perched on the edge of a bluff overlooking the harbor. They were all drinking black coffee and smoking cigarettes.

  “There goes another one,” Jerry said, pointing to a ferry just leaving the harbor.

  “That’s the business we should be in,” Karen replied. “We’ve only been here for about half an hour and that’s the third boat we’ve seen headed towards Pictured Rocks.”

  “It’s the season,” Moon chimed in. “You better do it while you can. Once October hits, it’s all over.”

  Jerry said, “Speaking of ‘it’s all over’, I guess our picketing days are done for good. That was a good gig while it lasted. It’s so damn hard to make any money around here.”

  Moon sighed and took a sip of coffee. “So, you were both at the mansion when the cops came. What happened to Mr. Kahle’s girlfriend?”

  Jerry was the first to respond. “We’re not sure. All of a sudden, two police cars raced up, then an ambulance. The guard had opened up the gate a few minutes before and they all tore into the driveway. We tried to sneak in, but one cop was guarding the entrance, so we could only listen from the gate.”

  “I think she killed herself,” Karen said.

  Moon looked puzzled, “Why would she do that? She lived in a mansion, had all the money she needed, and she didn’t have to work. She had a great situation!”

  “I don’t think so either, Karen.” Jerry said.

  Karen thought for a moment. “You know, money isn’t everything. Who knows what demons she had running around in her head? If she didn’t kill herself, she either died of natural causes or she was murdered. I’m not exactly sure how old she was, but I don’t think it’s likely she died of natural causes.”

  Jerry added, “Maybe it was drugs?”

  Moon said, “Yeah, maybe. But I thought she was some kind of health nut. From what they say, she didn’t even eat meat.”

  Jerry asked, “Do you really think she could have been murdered?”

  “Who could have done it? Moon asked. “Mr. Kahle? The nephew?” He paused, “An intruder?”

  Jerry replied “I heard that someone was after Mr. Kahle’s nephew. Maybe it was them?”

  Moon set down his cup of coffee. He wanted to steady his shaking hand.

  “Yeah, maybe.” Moon whispered.

  “Come on, Jerry, let’s go.” Karen stood up. “We’re headed over to the movies to see ‘The Stepford Wives’. Want to come with us?”

  Moon threw a dollar on the table. “No, I got to go. If you find out anything more about what happened, let me know.”

  During the drive back to Grand View from Munising, Moon wondered if Stephen was thinking about the same thing he was. Who killed Kahle’s girlfriend? Was it related to Stephen’s kidnapping?

  A smile broke out on Moon’s face. This was the answer to his problem. Now he had a plan to get Stephen back into the clutches of Paulie and to get both of them out of his life and make some damn good money for himself on top of it.

  Chapter 32

  Jeanette had retreated to her room. She was exhausted. The shock of Britt’s death together with the relentless questions from the police had worn her out. It was so sad to watch Phillip deal with his grief. She got the feeling that the authorities seemed to think one of them was responsible for Britt’s death. It was all too much to deal with. She knew Stephen and Phillip were feeling overwhelmed as well. The serenity of Cliffside Manor was shattered. She wondered if it would ever return.

  There was a soft knock on her door. She opened it and saw Stephen standing there with a forlorn look on his face.

  Stephen said, “Hi, sorry to bother you. I just needed someone to talk to.”

  “I’m glad you came by, I was just sitting here being miserable by myself. Let’s grab a cup of coffee and head up to the library.”

  Once in the library, Stephen stood at the window and gazed down at the pounding surf.

  “My mind’s been racing and I just wanted to see what you thought about some questions I have,” Stephen started. “We know Britt’s dead, but I can’t figure out why the police won’t tell us anything. Was it a suicide? Was it something else?”

  “I’ve been wondering the same thing,” Jeanette replied. “But think about it, Stephen. If it was a suicide, there would be no questions. Wouldn’t they just come out and tell us that Britt had killed herself and ask us why we thought it happened?”

  “Yes, unfortunately, that’s what I’ve been thinking too. And that’s why it seems at times like they think one of us did it!”

  Jeanette said, “Well, if it was murder, someone had to do it.”

  Stephen nodded. “That’s the scary part. I know you didn’t do it, I didn’t do it, and Uncle Phillip didn’t do it. So who’s left?”

  Jeanette thought. “You’re forgetting one very important thing. You were kidnapped just days ago. It seems to me these two things must be related.”

  “But I was being held as an insurance policy on a gambling debt my father owed. Britt and Uncle Philip didn’t have anything to do with that. Why would someone take my father’s problems out on them?”

  “Stephen, you’re attempting to apply logic to criminal thinking. Who knows how those people think?”

  Stephen turned from the window.

  “Let’s try and think of another angle. What about those protesters at the gate every day. That’s not a normal thing. We know Britt was hated by all of the hunting organizations around here.”

  “They never caused trouble before.” Jeanette said.

  “But they hated Britt. Maybe one of the picketers broke in and killed her?”

  “At first they seemed to be local people, people I knew. Lately, some strangers were picketing too.”

  “We also know she was a flirt.” Stephen said. “Maybe one of her old boyfriends came back for revenge?
We don’t really know her past, do we? What went on in Hollywood? Maybe that’s why she never wanted to go back?”

  Jeanette took a sip of her coffee. “Hmm, I never thought of that. Maybe Britt was really just hiding out up here in the north woods.”

  Stephen got up from the chair. “My head’s aching from constantly thinking about this. I’d like to go to the theater and get lost in a movie, what do you think?”

  “That’s a great idea!” Jeanette responded.

  They walked out of the library down the hall to the theater room. Built-in shelves from floor to ceiling held hundreds of movie reels. Stephen read the titles as he went from shelf to shelf.

  Stephen said, “I think it would be fitting to watch one of Uncle Philip’s movies.”

  “How about ‘Attack of the Piltdown Man’?” Jeanette asked. “The movie that built this house.”

  “Perfect, let me see if I can find it.”

  After a few minutes of searching, Stephen opened the first canister and threaded the film into the projector. They settled into two red velvet theater seats and started watching the movie.

  As the opening credits appeared on the screen, Stephen whispered to Jeanette, “Look, the creepy old mansion in the movie looks just like this house.”

  “I know. Remember, I told you, your uncle built this house as a tribute to this movie.”

  In the darkness, Stephen wanted to reach over and take Jeanette’s hand.

  After the movie, Stephen returned the reels to their metal cases and put them back on the shelf. He and Jeanette returned to the library.

  “How did you like it?” Jeanette asked.

  “I thought it was great. A little campy, for sure, but I felt the whole movie took place right here, not on some movie lot. The front of the house looked the same. The foyer was identical. The big stairway leading to the second floor was the same. Even the library where the scientist gets killed looked exactly like this room.”