by James Nelson
“I’ve seen the movie a few times myself,” Jeanette said. “It’s hard to believe that they made it on a set and not here at Cliffside Manor.”
Stephen got up and walked over to a large world globe sitting on an antique wrought iron stand.
“This has to be the same one used in the movie,” Stephen said, spinning the dark brown globe. “And look, this lions head on the wall. It looks just like the one that the mad scientist turned to open the secret passageway to his laboratory.”
Stephen grabbed the lion head and twisted it. He heard a soft click as the bookcase in front of him silently swung open.
Jeanette jumped up, “What did you do?”
“Nothing! I just turned this sculpture, just like in the movie and it made the bookcase swing open!”
Stephen and Jeanette peered into the pitch black opening behind the bookcase.
Chapter 33
Moon drummed his fingers on the bar at the Freighter View. A half full glass of beer was in front of him. He felt nervous. He knew six hundred bucks was riding on his next move and he didn’t want to blow it. He picked up his glass and thought to himself, I’ll make the call after one more beer. Moon waved to the bartender.
“Frankie, get me another draft, will you?”
“Okay, Moonie. Here you are. Something bothering you today?”
“No, why?”
“You seem kind of quiet. You know, most of the time when you’re in here, I can’t shut you up. But today, not a word.”
Moon sipped the foam off his beer.
“I just got a few things on my mind, that’s all.”
“Okay, just checking.” The bartender said, turning to attend to another customer at the end of the bar.
Moon walked over to the public phone. The booth was constructed to look like an antique phone booth from a London pub. Moon entered the booth, a light switched on as the door closed.
Moon cleared his throat a few times and said a few practice words using a disguised voice, which sounded much lower. He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and dialed. The phone rang four times and then switched over to an answering machine. Moon heard Jeanette’s voice on the recorded message, “Thank you for calling the office of Phillip Kahle Productions. Mr. Kahle is not available to take your call. At the sound of the tone, please leave your name, number and the nature of your call.”
Moon heard the beep. In his disguised voice, Moon said “This message is for Jeanette. I got some news you may want to know about who grabbed Kahle’s nephew. I also got some info about what happened to Kahle’s girlfriend, there. You need to bring five hundred bucks to Devil’s Kitchen Cave at nine tomorrow night. Only you and that nephew, no one else. I get the money, you get names.”
Moon stuffed his paper back into his pocket and hung up the phone. He walked back over to the bar. He was drenched with sweat.
Frankie was bent over washing bar glasses and glanced up as Moon climbed back onto his bar stool.
“You look like shit, Moon. You got the flu?”
Chapter 34
Stephen was staring into the dark entrance of the passageway. He turned to Jeanette, “Is this another part of the movie? Does this go anywhere or is it just a joke Uncle Phillip had installed?”
Jeanette peered into the opening. “I don’t know, Stephen. I never knew this was here. Your Uncle never mentioned it and I never saw anyone use it.”
“Come on, let’s see where it goes,” Stephen said.
“Let me get a flashlight.” Jeanette said. “I’m not walking into that darkness without any light.”
“There must be lights somewhere.” Stephen said, feeling around the edge of the door. “Yes, here’s a switch.”
Stephen flipped the switch and a string of dim, dusty bulbs turned on, illuminating the passageway.
Slowly Stephen and Jeanette entered the opening. The air was cool and smelled musty. As they inched along, they could see the corridor had been used as a storage place for hundreds of props from Phillip’s many movies.
They passed a suit of arms, a guillotine, and a huge stack of bundled movie posters leaning in the corner. Stephen ducked under a giant model airplane hanging from the ceiling.
Stephen turned to Jeanette, “I wonder if this goes anywhere, or is it just an elaborate storage area for old movie junk?”
They turned a corner and Jeanette let out a scream. Just ahead of them in the gloom was an enormous stuffed bear, its arms thrust upwards in a menacing way.
Jeanette started laughing, “I feel like I’m in one of Phillip’s old horror movies myself. I forgot all about this bear. Phillip used to place it out on the patio when we had parties for his Hollywood friends. It opens in the back and that’s were your uncle kept bottles of expensive whisky.”
“I never hear of a bear bar.” Stephen laughed.
“Britt hated that bear. She thought it was cruel to use a dead animal as a party prop. She made him get rid of it, but I see it’s still around.”
Twenty feet past the bear the corridor ended and they looked down a narrow set of stairs.
“I guess this answers your question, Stephen. It must go somewhere.”
They followed the staircase down to a landing and continued walking along a tunnel that ended in front of a large wooden door.
“So where do you think this goes?” Stephen asked.
“I can’t imagine. I’m so turned around down here, I’m not sure what direction we’re headed. I guess we need to open it and find out.”
Stephen twisted the door knob. The heavy door slowly swung open with a loud creak.
“Those hinges need some oil.” Jeanette exclaimed, holding her ears.
“It looks like we’re in a basement.” Stephen muttered, with a hint of disappointment in his voice. “Are we under the garage?”
“I don’t think so. I never saw a basement in the garage, but then again, I never knew there was a secret passageway from the library either!” Jeanette said.
The basement was also used as a storage area, but the items seemed to be more like household things, not movie props. At the end of the cellar was another stairway, this time leading up.
Stephen turned to Jeanette, “I guess we’ll find out where this goes now.”
They climbed the stairway. Stephen turned the door handle and pushed. Part of a wall swung open and they entered into a living room area. Stephen turned around to see the opening was once again, part of a floor to ceiling bookcase.
Jeanette gasped. “I don’t believe this! We’re in Britt’s house!”
“We probably shouldn’t be over here,” Stephen said. “It’s still closed off and considered a crime scene.”
“I know,” Jeanette replied. “But I want to see something.”
She walked over to the bedroom and glanced in. Jeanette covered her face and shuttered.
“Oh, Stephen, this is terrible. We have to leave.”
Stephen followed her and looked in. The room looked the same as when they had peeked through the window and found Britt. Except now they could see a lot more of the surroundings. Lamps were broken on the floor and bedding was tossed around. There was a large stain of blood on the bed. It looked like a terrible struggle had taken place.
“I think this answers our questions, Jeanette. This was no suicide. Let’s get out of here.”
They headed back to the basement and climbed the stairs back to the passageway in silence. Stephen quietly took Jeanette’s hand in his as they walked down the corridor. They were both thinking what the ramifications of this discovery could mean. They reached the turn in the corridor and walked towards the stuffed bear when Stephen suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Jeanette asked.
“Look!” Stephen said, pointing to the floor behind the bear.
“What is it? Jeanette asked.
Stephen bent down, pulled a handkerchief out of his back pocket and slowly picked up a bloody knife by the tip.
“It’s my knife. It’s the knife Unc
le Phillip gave me.”
Jeanette stared. “Stephen, it’s the murder weapon.”
“I know.”
Chapter 35
Paulie was sitting on a chair looking outside the front window. It was five in the afternoon and he was getting stir crazy sitting around Moon’s filthy room. Every now and then a car would drive by. Paulie stretched, got up and grabbed a beer from the fridge. As he walked by the card table, he tried not to look at the disgusting bird, turned inside out. Paulie returned to the chair and glanced at his watch. He spotted some movement out the window and observed a car pulling up to the curb.
A man, who appeared to be in his early forties got out, walked over to the passenger side and held the door open as a bleached blonde got out. She was carrying a six pack. Paulie stood up. Paulie thought the blonde was a little big, but he had to admit, she was built. Her blouse was half unbuttoned and pulled out of her jeans on one side.
Paulie watched as they entered the building. He could hear them climb the stairs. They walked passed Moon’s room and stopped next door. The woman was laughing as the man fumbled for his keys.
“Come on Lester, I don’t have all day. My old man’s going to be home in a few.”
The door opened and slammed close. A few minutes later, Paulie heard the deep thump of bass reverberating through the wall from a stereo next door. He could hear muffled laughter coming from the other room and then sounds like furniture being moved. After several more minutes the pounding bass was replaced by another noise, the unmistakable sound of a couple making love.
Paulie paced the floor and finished his beer. The moans and thumps from next door were driving him crazy. He started thinking about Annette from Queens. He had met her at an Italian bakery where he was shaking down the owner for protection money. Annette was built similar to the blonde next door. She was about the same height but not so big in the hips. They had been seeing each other for about eight months.
Paulie slammed down his empty beer bottle. He had to get out of Moon’s disgusting room. He couldn’t sit and listen to what was going on next door for another moment.
Paulie rummaged through his suitcase and pulled out his traveling butterfly net. He walked down the stairs and headed to the back of the rooming house. The backyard backed up to a wooded area. He peeked around the building to make sure nobody could spot him from the road.
Paulie walked to the edge of the forest. He peered into the woods searching for butterflies. After a few minutes, he spotted a beautiful dark blue skipper. Paulie ran after the specimen, his net swooping in the air. Back and forth he went, always inches from his quarry.
Paulie stumbled and fell to his knees. Those damn boots he had stolen were pinching his feet. He watched as the blue butterfly disappeared back into the woods.
Paulie got up and walked back and forth along the edge of the forest for twenty more minutes, searching for more butterflies. He gave a half-hearted chase after a big, bright yellow one, only to have it flitter back into the woods. That was enough. He gave up in disgust. His feet were hurting. He returned to Moon’s room and stashed his net away.
Paulie thought about The Freighter View Tavern. A cold beer and some company sounded very inviting. It was a much better idea than sitting around this stinking room.
The rooming house was on 10th street. He figured it should only be about a few blocks to the bar. Paulie slipped out of the room and closed the door softly behind him, making sure the lock was not set.
As he walked down the sidewalk to the bar, he watched to make sure no one was following him. After walking three blocks, the work boots started hurting his feet. He reached down and untied the laces, hoping that would give him some relief. By the time Paulie made it to the bar, he was limping badly from blisters on both feet.
A tour bus was parked in front. ‘Grand Rapids Lake Circle Tours’ was painted in big white letters on the side. Paulie had never seen the Freighter so crowded. The place was packed. Quite a few tourists were sitting at tables having lunch. Other people were standing at the bar having drinks.
Paulie scanned the room. He saw a lot of older people, probably from the bus. There were a few guys who looked like locals and then his gaze stopped at a table in the corner where two younger women were sitting. They weren’t dressed like tourists. One girl, the blonde, was wearing a mini-skirt. The other girl, a red head, was wearing a tight sweater with a plunging neckline. Paulie limped over to their table, pulled out a chair and sat down.
The girls stopped talking and turned towards their intruder.
“Sorry, mister, this table’s taken,” the blonde said.
“Yeah, I noticed.” Paulie said. It’s packed in here and my feet are killing me.”
A waitress walked by and Paulie tugged at her sleeve. “Get these ladies another drink and I’ll have a whiskey and water.”
The red head was about to tell Paulie to go find another seat, but the prospect of a free drink made her change her mind. Instead, she said, “Where you from, big guy? It don’t sound like you’re from around here?”
Not wanting to give out too much information, Paulie replied, “I’m from the east coast, up near Boston. What about you girls? You don’t exactly fit in with these tourists, either.”
“We’re dancers. Exotic dancers.” The blonde said.
“We were exotic dancers,” The red head corrected. “Now we’re just unemployed.”
“What happened?” Paulie asked.
The blonde said, “We were dancing for some creep who owns a club in Munising and, let’s just say, he was more interested in taking our money out in trade than in our dance routines, and that don’t fly with me, honey. I’m not a prude or nothing like that, but first you gotta show me some cash before we can discuss other matters, you know?”
The red head lit a cigarette. “We got expenses. Our costumes, our shoes, don’t even get me started. Roxanne, here,” she nodded at the blonde, “had this great idea to get us out of Grayling and thought we could make some money dancing. I wanted to go to Lansing, but no, she knew this guy in Munising.”
Roxanne interrupted, “I didn’t know he was such a jerk, Lisa. It’s not my fault.”
Lisa, the read head, continued, “Now we’re staying in a campground and we don’t even have enough money for gas to get us back home.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Paulie said. “If you girls want to do a little partying, I’ll make it worth your while.” He pulled a fifty dollar bill out of his wallet and slammed it on the table.
“Hey, Paulie. What’s going on?”
Paulie looked over to see Moon standing next to the table. Moon looked like he was about to fly into a rage.
“What the hell is this?” Moon yelled. His face was bright red. “You’re supposed to be laying low in the room, remember? Didn’t you see those two cops walk through here half an hour ago?”
“Shut up.” Paulie said as he jumped to his feet. He got up so quickly his chair flew over and hit the floor with a bang. Moon and Paulie stood glaring at each other. The whole place became quiet as everyone turned to watch.
Paulie turned to the girls, “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
Moon stood there. “What? Are you crazy? Where’re you taking them?”
“To your little love nest, Moon Pie. I think it’s about time you have a little fun, buddy. Looks like you’re about to explode.”
Moon picked up the fallen chair, slid it back under the table and followed Paulie and the girls out to their car. Paulie and Moon climbed in the back seat.
During the short drive back to his place, Moon quietly told Paulie about his call to Jeanette and how they were all set up to meet Stephen at a place called Devil’s Kitchen Cave.
When they got back to Moon’s place, they had a few beers. The girls earned their gas money, checked out of the campground and headed over the Mackinac Bridge back to Lower Michigan.
Chapter 36
Stephen looked at the stunned expression on Jeanette’s face
and knew exactly what she was thinking.
“Jeanette, I didn’t do this.”
“I know that, but how on earth did your knife get here?”
“I don’t know. It’s always been in my bedroom, in the top drawer of the bureau.”
“Stephen, we won’t be the only ones asking these questions.”
“I guess we need to find an answer. Since this is evidence, I’m going to put it back where we found it. We have to get the authorities. Jeanette, I hate to say this, but finding that knife makes me feel the person who did this is a lot closer to the house than some stranger from the outside, like one of those demonstrators.”
Jeanette did not respond. When they returned to the back of the hidden bookcase in the library, Stephen worked the mechanism and the bookcase quietly slid open. Jeanette felt relieved to be in the familiar and safe setting of the library again.
“Stephen, let’s go to my place and try and make some sense out of all this.”
“Good idea.”
As they passed his room, Stephen said, “My door is never locked. Anyone could come in and rummage around whenever they wanted to.”
Stephen sat down on the end of the couch in Jeanette’s room. Jeanette said, “Relax for a moment. I’ll go to the kitchen and get us both a glass of wine.”
While she was gone, Stephen stood up and looked at Jeanette’s book collection.
Jeanette returned with the drinks. She put the glasses on the coffee table in front of the couch and sat down next to Stephen. He reached over and hugged her. Their lips met. All the tension and doubt from the past few days disappeared as they held each other.
“It’s hard to feel happy about meeting you in the middle of this dreadful time,” Jeanette whispered.
“I know. You’ve said exactly what I’ve been thinking, but I didn’t know quite how to say it.” Stephen replied. “You know how bad this is looking for me, don’t you? I’m new to the area, Britt was coming on to me and she was causing problems for Uncle Phillip.”
