Stephen responded, “It doesn’t appear that anybody broke in. I don’t think Phillip or Allen did it. I’m hoping it wasn’t Barbara.” He smiled. “But when she starts drinking, all bets are off.”
“Which only leaves you,” Phillip said.
Stephen started to say, “Or our new—”
The phone on Phillip’s desk rang. He glanced over at it “Let Judith get it.”
Stephen reached for the receiver. “She’s gone. Remember?”
Phillip mumbled something under his breath as Stephen picked up the phone. “Good morning. Phillip Kahle’s residence. How can I help you?” Stephen listened for a minute. “Please hold for a moment while I get him.” He put his hand over the receiver’s mouthpiece. “It’s the police.”
Phillip sat back in his chair. “The police? What do they want with me?”
“That lady at the butterfly sanctuary’s causing another problem. They want to kick everybody out and lock the place up.”
“What? Impossible. Give me that.” Phillip reached for the receiver. “This is Mr. Kahle. Can I help you?” He listened as the policeman reviewed what was happening.
“No. Please don’t do that yet. Yes. I’ll get there as soon as possible.” He checked his watch. “I can be there in about two hours. You will? Thank you. See you soon.” He hung up. “That crazy woman’s causing problems again. Somebody in the crowd’s having a fit that she won’t stop standing in front of the memorial, and now the crowd’s divided into two groups. One group’s screaming to leave the crazy lady alone, and the other group’s screaming at her to leave. The cop wants to kick everyone out and lock the gate. Stephen, I want you to come with me.” He looked over at Irving. “You stay here with Allen. We’ll continue this conversation when we get back.” He stood. “I’ll go get Barbara. She’s dying to get out of here. She can come with us.”
Stephen looked surprised. “Barbara? Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Phillip waved his hand. “It will be fine. Maybe she can talk to the woman and find out what’s going on. Come on. Let’s get this over with once and for all.”
###
Paulie headed west on M-77. He wasn’t concentrating on his driving. What should he do about Kitty? It wouldn’t be right for her to just lay there. Somebody should find her. Maybe he’d call 911 and tip them off. But not now. Better to call them when he got to New York City. Maybe Al would make the call for him.
Distracted about thoughts of Kitty, he barreled right by the sign for Pine Ridge Road. He slammed on the brakes, pulled over on to the shoulder, and put the car into reverse. He looked into the rear view mirror. Wait a minute. What was that? A car was pulling out of Kahle’s road. It turned onto the highway and slowly drove right by him. What the hell? Was that who he thought it was sitting in the back seat? Who else had platinum blonde hair piled up on top of her head like that? He smiled. Good old Al. If it wasn’t for him, he would never have made an effort to stop at Kahle’s place again.
Paulie floored it and steered back onto the highway. Now he had to make sure he didn’t lose them. Not much of a problem with that. He had only seen two cars since he left the city limits. Paulie pounded on the steering wheel. It was about time his damn luck had changed.
He followed the car south for almost an hour until they reached the intersection of M-77 and US-2 in Blaney Park. Paulie slowed down as the car turned west. Where were they going? He tailed them onto US-2 for almost another hour making sure he kept his distance.
Brake lights lit up on Kahle’s car. It slowed down and made a quick left turn. Where were they going? Two signs were on the side of the road. One had an arrow pointing left that read, “The Garden Peninsula.” The other one said, “The Britt Adolfson Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary – fourteen miles.”
Paulie turned down the road. Monarch Sanctuary? Was that the place Kitty told him about a few months ago? The place where he kidded her about having her take him. He glanced at the empty seat next to him. Too bad. It would have been nice to have her sitting by his side. He tried to get her out of his mind.
He followed Kahle’s car as they sped by thick patches of woods interspersed by farm fields. Fifteen minutes later, Kahle’s car pulled into the sanctuary parking lot. Paulie took a spot three lanes away. He slouched down into the seat and waited to see what was going to happen.
Two men got out of the car. The driver opened the back door, as the good looking blonde stepped out. Wow. She had legs that wouldn’t quit. He was going to enjoy taking her to Chicago.
Paulie recognized the young man who had been sitting in the front passenger seat. It had to be that kid he’d followed from New York four years earlier. The kid looked older than Paulie remembered, but that was to be expected. Paulie glanced at his reflection in the rear view mirror. He probably looked older too.
Paulie stuck the revolver that had been lying next to him into his belt, got out of the car, and slowly followed them. They walked down a cobblestone path that wound beneath a canopy of green leaves. The taller man was limping. As they got to the end of the walkway, a large field opened up. Hundreds, no, thousands of Monarch butterflies were flitting everywhere.
Paulie stopped. His mouth fell open. Holy shit. Could this be real? It was amazing. Kitty was right. It was a sight to behold. He turned back. Where was that actress? What the hell. Where had she gone?
He ran a few feet and then stopped as Phillip approached a small crowd. Barbara and Stephen were close behind. What was going on? A huge granite stone rose above everyone’s head.
Paulie pulled his hat down and eased himself closer to the crowd. Phillip was staring at a woman standing in front of the stone. Her face was covered in a long veil. Paulie inched his way closer.
Phillip turned to Barbara. “Maybe you should try and talk to her. You know, woman to woman.”
Barbara stared at the dark figure. “Are you crazy? I’m not going near her. Look at her standing like a statue, dressed all in black. No, not me.”
Phillip shook his head and slowly approached the woman. “Excuse me, ma’am. My name is Phillip Kahle. I’m the person who donated this land for the monarch sanctuary. Can I ask you what you’re doing here?”
The woman turned slightly. From under her veil, she said, “You’re Mr. Kahle?” The crowd suddenly became silent.
“Yes, I am.”
She reached out, grabbed his arm, and pulled him close. Stephen ran up next to them, but Phillip motioned for him to step back.
The veiled woman leaned closer to Phillip. “You want to know what I’m doing here? I’m paying penance to Miss Adolphson for my brother’s sins.”
“Your brother?”
Her grip tightened. “Bobby Blankenship. He killed her.”
Paulie stepped back from the crowd. He noticed Barbara wasn’t paying attention to what was going on. She had wandered to the other side of the gathering and was standing next to a little girl. They were both in the middle of a flock of Monarchs with their arms outstretched. Several butterflies had landed on them.
Kimberly laughed. “Look, Daddy! I got butterflies on me.”
Walter was sitting on a bench reading a paperback. “That’s nice. Don’t hurt them.” Who was that woman next to his daughter? She was beautiful.
Paulie slowly walked up behind Barbara. He stuck his gun into her ribcage and covered her mouth with his hand. “You’re coming with me. If you make a sound, I’ll blow you apart. He shoved the barrel harder against her. “Walk slowly with me toward the woods.”
Walter dropped his book. What was going on? Did that man have a gun?
Barbara tried to pull back but Paulie’s grip was unwavering. “Stop fighting and everything will be okay. I’m not here to hurt you.”
Back at the crowd, Phillip asked, “What do you mean you’re paying penance for your brother?”
Stephen scanned the crowd for Barbara. He didn’t see her. He pushed his way past several people and searched the open field.
The woman in black respo
nded to Phillip, “It’s our way. I need to take responsibility for the sins of my family. I—”
Stephen yelled out, “Barbara!” and started running toward her. Phillip turned.
Walter ran over and tried to grab his daughter. As he reached for her, the man with the gun spun the woman around. She knocked into Kimberly and sent her flying to the ground.
Paulie wrapped his elbow around Barbara’s neck and swung the revolver toward Stephen. “Stand back or I’ll kill you both.”
Stephen stopped. “It’s you! DeLuca. What are you doing? Let her go.” Barbara’s face was turning red.
Paulie searched for where he had left the car. He was going to have to skirt around that huge granite monument and the crowd to get back to the parking lot. He jerked Barbara. “Pick it up. We’re getting the hell out of here.”
Someone yelled. “A gun! That man has a gun.”
The crowd turned from the dark figure. Questions filled the air. “Who is he? What’s he doing with her? Is that a real gun?”
Phillip looked around. Where the hell was that policeman he was supposed to meet?
As Paulie and Barbara made their way behind the monument, the woman in black stepped out from the crowd and threw herself at Paulie. He tried to push her off, but she clung to him. He struggled with her. “Get back, you idiot. This is no concern of yours.”
As he pointed his gun at her, Stephen dove toward him. Paulie squeezed the trigger. An explosion sounded as a bullet grazed Stephen’s ear. He grabbed for Paulie’s weapon with both hands. Barbara collapsed to the ground.
Paulie swung at Stephen. His fist connected with Stephen’s jaw. As Stephen fell backward, Paulie stepped back and fired once again. A woman screamed.
Walter grabbed Kimberly. He started running toward the parking lot.
Stephen scrambled to his knees, grabbed Paulie by the ankles, and jerked him to the ground. As he fell, Paulie fired off another round. The bullet ricocheted off the monument and smashed into Walter. He collapsed onto the ground.
“Daddy!” Kimberly tried to get up. She lost her balance and fell onto her father.
Phillip and several other men from the crowd, pounced on top of Paulie and held him down.
A state police officer ran up. “What’s going on here?” Everyone started yelling at once. The cop held up his hand. “Please! One at a time.” He looked down at Phillip. “Mr. Kahle, can you explain this?”
“It’s Paulie DeLuca. The prisoner who escaped from Marquette. He was trying to kidnap a friend of mine.”
The cop pulled a set of handcuffs from his belt. “Turn him over. I’ll cuff him.”
A voice from the crowd called out, “She’s bleeding! She’s been shot.”
Stephen rushed over to Barbara. “Are you all right?” She had been crying. Her eyes were dark from smudged mascara. She rubbed her neck. “All right? No, I’m not all right. Some giant lunatic tried to kidnap me.” Her hands were shaking. She was taking deep breaths. “Look at me. I…I need a valium.”
Stephen looked around. The woman in black lay on the grass. A growing pool of dark blood was forming underneath her. Stephen called out, “Is anyone a doctor? Does anyone have medical experience?”
A young man rushed up. “I was a medic in the army.”
The policeman said to Phillip, “Watch this guy. I’ll run to my car and call in an ambulance.”
Twenty minutes later, the monarch sanctuary parking lot was a hub of activity. Six police cars and two ambulances were parked near the entrance.
A paramedic was wrapping a bandage around Walter’s thigh. Kimberly was sitting next to him crying. The man turned to her. “Your daddy’s going to be okay. A quick trip to the hospital and he’ll be good as new.”
Kimberly wiped her face. “I don’t want him to die. My mother just died. I don’t want him to die too.”
The paramedic paused. “It’s going to be all right. I promise you.”
Paulie was handcuffed in the back seat of a police car. They had just finished reading him his Miranda rights. “Where is she?” A grizzled captain asked. “Where’s Kitty Sovey?”
“She’s lying on a bed in a shit-hole cabin just outside of Grand Marais.”
“Is she dead? Did you kill her?”
“No comment.” He thought for a moment. “Maybe I should take you to where she is.”
Another policeman jumped into the car. “This better not be a wild goose chase.”
“It’s not. You know where Grand Marais is?”
The cop behind the wheel said, “Yes.”
“That’s where she is. In a cabin you’ll never find without my help.”
Two and a half hours later, Paulie said, “Turn here.” They pulled up to the front of the cabin. “She’s in the bedroom.”
“You stay here with him,” the officer who was driving said to his partner. “I’ll go in.
“The backdoor’s open,” Paulie said.
The officer drew his weapon and slowly approached the cabin. He kicked the door open and stepped into the kitchen. “Kitty? Are you in here? Give yourself up.” He entered the living room. The place was nasty. A musty smell permeated the air. He glanced into the bedroom. “Oh, shit.”
Hearing a voice, Kitty slowly moved. She tried to turn her head. The officer ran over to her and undid the rope around her wrists. “Are you okay?”
“I’m thirsty.”
“How long have you been tied up here?”
“I don’t know.”
He untied the rope around her legs and then noticed a gun sitting on a dresser. I’m going to have to cuff you. Do you need medical attention?”
She shook her head. “No. He wanted to kill me, but he couldn’t do it. He shot at me but the bullet went a few inches over my head. He missed on purpose. I know he did.”
Twenty Three
Louise Applegate slowed as she drove by the Welcome to Springfield, Illinois sign. She had made good time. This was where Route 66 turned west. Finally. She yawned. After twelve hours of driving, it was time to find a motel.
She had plenty of money. Barbara Jenkins had seen to that and to some beautiful jewelry, too. She glanced up at the rearview mirror and tilted her head to admire the sparkly diamond earrings that glimmered from her ear lobes. She smiled. They looked so elegant. How long would it take for that conceited, washed up actress to realize they were gone? Forget San Diego. If Barbara Jenkins could make it in Hollywood, so could she. Did Barbara’s fans know she had crow’s feet around her big blue eyes? How old was she, anyway?
And what about Phillip’s nephew. Louise looked in the mirror again. She looked pretty. But Stephen, he hardly paid her any attention at all. What did she have to do, come right out and ask him to take her to bed? She frowned. What was in that bed? The knife had sliced through a pile of blankest into nothing. Where was he? It would have been fun to see him moan and bleed all over that mattress.
She glanced at the book next to her. Judith Collins. What a stupid name for the main character. But it was good enough for her to use to get hired. Louise Applegate was such a better name. She could just see it up in lights on Hollywood Boulevard. She wasn’t changing it. No way. They could beg her all they wanted. Nope.
A dimly lit motel sign loomed up the road. Time to pull over. Two more days of driving and she’d be sipping a tall drink under palm trees. She couldn’t wait. What a knockout she’d be in Nurse Stefano’s purple bikini.
A dark car pulled up close behind her. Blue flashing lights lit up the night. Another car maneuvered in front of her and forced her to stop. A policeman ran to the side of her door. He was pointing a gun at her.
“Put your hands in the air. Exit the vehicle.”
Louise looked down at the butcher knife next to her on the passenger’s seat. Why not? She grabbed the knife and threw the car door open.
“Drop the knife! Drop it! Don’t come any closer!”
A volley of shots rang through the warm Springfield air.
The next day,
a nurse wheeled Walter to Irene’s waiting car. Kimberly watched from the back seat. As Walter slowly climbed into the passenger seat, he turned to his daughter. “See. I told you I’d be fine.” He noticed she wasn’t wearing her braces.
“She says she doesn’t need them anymore,” Irene said, seeing the look of disapproval on Walter’s face.
“I guess that’s a good thing. We’ll have to see the doctor first thing when we get home. I hope he agrees.”
Irene pulled out of the driveway. “A gun battle right in the middle of the butterfly graveyard. Can you imagine? I moved up here from Detroit to get away from all the violence and you guys end up in the middle of a kidnapping and shootout. I can’t believe it.”
Phillip and Stephen waited in the hospital lobby for the elevator. Stephen pointed. “See that guy that they just wheeled by.”
Phillip turned.
“He’s the guy who got hit by a bullet that ricocheted off Britt’s stone. Barbara was talking to his daughter when Paulie grabbed her.”
“How do you know all that?” Phillip asked.
“When you were talking to the lady in black, I was trying to find Barbara. I spotted her playing with a young girl and then saw Paulie walk up and stick a gun in her side. That man grabbed his daughter and was trying to run out of harm’s way when he got hit with the bullet.”
A bell sounded and the elevator door opened. Phillip said, “Well, he’s leaving the hospital. That has to be a good sign.”
They took the elevator to the second floor. “What room did the receptionist say she was in?” Phillip asked.
“Two-twelve.” Stephen pointed. “It’s over there.”
They quietly entered the room. Bobbie Blankenship’s sister, Hilda, turned toward them. Her black hair fell onto a white pillowcase and made her complexion look almost transparent.
Stephen stayed back as his uncle moved closer to the bed. “Miss Blankenship, do you remember me? I’m Phillip Kahle. I was talking to you when…when things started happening. How are you doing?”
She gave him a weak smile. “Oh, Mr. Kahle. I can’t believe you took the time to come and see me. The doctor tells me I’m on the mend. I may be able to leave here at the end of the week.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “I hope he’s right. I’d like to get back home.”
The Monarch Graveyard Page 20