by E. Van Lowe
Chapter Ten
We arrived at Alan’s just after noon, weighted down by armloads of large, bulky cardboard boxes. If my plan succeeded, I’d be able to prove the existence of the creature in Alan’s pool to the guys without putting them, myself, or my family in any kind of danger.
We hit our first snag as soon as we arrived. Alan’s mother told us he wasn’t home. He was next door at the Duprees.
“Whoa! Him and Alexia are really a couple,” Conner said, shaking his head in near disbelief. “Our boy works fast.”
“We gotta go get him. This is important,” I said. “But let’s not mention anything about the surveillance equipment in front of Alexia.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not anxious to look like a nutjob in front of a hot chick.” He smiled at me.
We deposited our boxes on the deck by the sliding glass door. Conner and I glanced over at the pool we’d been swimming in since we were twelve. The surface of the water was placid. It seemed innocent enough, although neither of us was willing to approach the water’s edge.
We hit our second snag when we arrived next door. Mrs. Roxanne Dupree, Alexia’s mother, let us in, and led us silently into the living room. Roxanne Dupree was a dark haired beauty in her mid-thirties. Like every water nymph I’d seen so far, she was gorgeous.
When we arrived in the living room, we saw that the sliding glass door that led to the deck outside had been nearly shattered. Spider webs of jagged cracks were spread across the entire glass surface, rendering it impossible to see outside.
“What happened here?” I asked.
“Attempted break-in last night while they were out,” said Alan.
He was seated next to Alexia on the sofa. His arm was around her. I’d never seen Alan’s arm around a girl before. He seemed at ease, although I imagine being that close to a girl had to be nerve wracking for him.
Alexia appeared to be in a state of shock.
“In this neighborhood?” asked Conner. He faced Roxanne. “I know you’re new here, but don’t worry, Beverly Hills boasts one of the most vigilant police forces in the nation. What did the cops have to say about it?”
“We didn’t call the police. We’d rather not involve them,” said Mrs. Dupree.
Conner and I exchanged a quick glance.
“Why not?” I asked.
“We’re pretty sure we know who did it. A distant cousin, a disgruntled family member whom we’d rather shield from prosecution,” Mrs. Dupree replied. She was smooth.
I wasn’t buying it. From the look of Alexia, it was more than an angry relative that had shaken her so badly. I was guessing she was shaken up because the creature from Alan’s pool had nearly gotten to them during the night. What I didn’t understand was why Alexia’s mother was protecting the creature.
“Hey, Alan, we need to see you for a minute,” said Conner.
Alan gazed at Alexia who was trembling in his arms.
“Maybe later, guys.” He was enjoying playing the role of hero, protector. I wondered how much he’d enjoy it if he knew the danger he was in.
“It’s important,” I said.
“It’s okay,” said Alexia. “Anyway, you’ll be right next door.” She gave him a weak smile.
Alan peeled himself away from Alexia.
“Remember, let’s not alarm your mother, Alan,” said Roxanne Dupree. “This is a family matter.”
“You have my word,” Alan replied.
He gently kissed the fingertips of Alexia’s right hand. They shared a smile.
Most guys we know would have called kissing a girl’s hand in front of his friends a sucker move, one that would have gotten him teased mercilessly. I’m sure I would have teased Alan, at least I would have a few days ago, before I started falling hopelessly in love with a girl I hardly knew.
Alan seemed at ease being romantic in front of me and Conner. I was suspicious.
“What’s this?” Alan asked, peering at the boxes stacked up on his rear deck.
“Surveillance equipment,” Conner announced. “We need you to help us set it up.”
Alan’s eyes moved to me. “Please don’t tell me this about a creature living in my pool?”
“I know what I saw,” Conner blurted. “And Butters knows it, too.”
Wow! He actually called me by given last name. Go figure.
“You guys can’t stand it, can you? I beat you both out fair and square. It’s too late. Give it up, already,” Alan said. He started away in disgust.
“Alan, listen to us. This is not about Alexia Dupree,” I said, grabbing him by the arm. “We’re happy that you and Alexia found each other.”
“Bull!” he exclaimed, pulling free.
“It’s true. We’re the three musketeers. When one of us has a good day, we all have a good day,” I said.
Alan looked from Conner to me and back. He knew us well, and could see there was no jealousy in our eyes. “What am I doing here?” he asked.
“We want you to help us set up this surveillance equipment,” Conner said.
“So we can capture the creature on film?” he asked in an incredulous tone.
“Okay,” I said lowering my voice. “Suppose it wasn’t a disgruntled family member who tried to break-in the Duprees last night? Suppose it was someone who meant them some serious harm?”
“You heard Mrs. Dupree,” he said, in an attempt to dismiss my argument.
“Suppose she’s wrong? She didn’t see the person who shattered their glass door. We’ll set up one of the cameras facing their yard, just to be sure. If we catch the relative on video it will be more ammunition for them to make him stop.”
Alan again looked from me to Conner and eventually sighed. “You don’t believe it’s a disgruntled relative for one minute, do you?”
“We just need your help, bro,” Conner said, holding his gaze.
“You guys are dipsticks, you know that?”
“Takes one to know one,” I said. That got a smile out of him.
By the time we’d finished setting up the surveillance equipment, the sun was beginning to set. I was glad we finished when we did because I knew once the sun went down, Conner wanted to be nowhere near Alan’s pool. I couldn’t blame him.
We placed a motion detector on the deck between the house and the pool, and another aimed at the Duprees deck. We had a sensor set to go off and flood the area with infrared light if motion was detected.
Cameras faced the edge of the pool, the deck leading up the hedge, and another set high in a tree, faced the Duprees spider-webbed glass door. Working for my Dad two summers ago (for no pay, thank you very much) was finally paying off. We had the entire area surveilled. If anyone, or anything moved in Alan’s yard at night, the cameras would capture it.
I was proud of myself for not saying anything about the Nereid to Conner or Alan. I didn’t have to risk anyone’s lives any further, and yet we were still able to take a step toward ridding Alan’s pool of the creature.
While we were working, I thought I saw a few butterflies in the yard. I’d never paid much attention to butterflies before, now I was paranoid about them. Were they watching us?
It was dark by the time I completed the four block walk home. My stomach was rumbling loudly, and I realized I hadn’t eaten a thing since the bowl of Frosted Flakes this morning.
As I neared my house, I saw that the living room lights were on. That was unusual. Casa Butters was always dark in the evenings. My parents only used the living room for entertaining, and they hadn’t entertained in years.
As I got closer, I spotted a vintage Mercedes Benz convertible parked at the curb out front. The car appeared to have been from the thirties, and yet it was in mint condition, painted a beautiful pearl white. A chauffeur sat poised behind the wheel.
Dad has a new client, I thought. A new Hollywood client. Hooray! My father hadn’t done security for a movie star in years, not since he’d started his own security company. Perhaps things were taking a turn for the Butters… pun i
ntended.
When I reached the sidewalk in front of the house, I realized it wasn’t a chauffeur seated behind the wheel of the Mercedes convertible, it was Petros, the satyr, dressed as a chauffeur—at least the top half of him was. I didn’t want to know what was going on downstairs.
Seeing Petros, a knot formed in the pit of my stomach.
Is Eudora inside murdering my parents?
Petros looked up at me from behind the wheel of the fine car. He smiled and nodded. “Good evening, sir.” he said.
“I didn’t say anything to my family about last night,” I blurted. “I didn’t say anything to anyone.” The knot in my stomach began doubling and tripling.
Petros continued to smile. I didn’t like that smile. I didn’t like that smile one bit.
Without another word, I rushed forward up the walk, pushed open the front door, and went inside.