To Catch A Butterfly You Need A Net

by Gabriele Phillis

  “I’ll explain everything later. Let me get, cleaned up first. Don’t worry, everything is fine.”

  I saw Roman frown.

  “You haven’t been drinking, Allie?” he asked.

  “Of course I haven’t. By the way, I am old enough to spend a day by myself without telling you where I have been, aren’t I?”

  “Right, but since you’ve been behaving a bit strangely lately we have the right to worry. After all, I am your brother.” I bent over and put my arms around him.

  “Monika was waiting for you the whole day to call her.” “Did you get my messages?” Monika asked.

  “I didn’t check my phone all day.”

  “I hope you haven’t been chasing guys again,” Roman said. This time I gave him a disapproving look.

  “Roman!”

  “Chasing guys?” Monika asked.

  “Of course I didn't. Stop it, Roman.”

  “So where you have been, then?”

  “It doesn’t matter. Allie is here now,” said Monika. “I met an old friend and time flew by,” I lied.

  I felt like a child in the orphanage again, when I had to explain every move. I was not sure if I should be angry with Roman. He was only worried about me. I would have felt the same if I were him.

  I went straight to the bathroom, took a shower, changed into my black track pants, and threw on another top.

  I went back to the living room. The CD finished playing, and the television was on. I sat on the couch, ready for the interrogation.

  “Do you think that was fair to let Monika wait?” Roman started abruptly.

  I frowned. That was not the way to start it.

  “Roman, please. It does not matter. Allie said she forgot, so leave it at that. We all forget things every now and then.” “Yes, but you don’t know what she did the other day.” “I got carried away chatting with my friend who I haven’t seen for so long.”

  I tried a smile. Maybe that would work. I had Monika on my side, but on which side was Roman? He was harder to convince.

  “Do you understand that I was worried sick? That guy in the elevator…”

  I interrupted him. “I am starving. I think I’ll make myself a sandwich.”

  “Don’t change the subject, Allie,” Roman said, but I was already walking towards the kitchen.

  “You can’t be serious, Roman,” I said over my shoulder. “Do you really think I would make the same mistake twice, that I followed that person?” I hoped that sounded convincing. “What guy?” Monika asked. She insisted on hearing the whole story.

  My thoughts drifted off to Jules. Why had he not called yet? I wondered if I should call Woods to find out if they had heard from him, maybe Woods was back by now. Monika brought my mind back to reality.

  “I can’t believe that you followed a stranger, Allie,” she said surprised.

  “I can’t believe it either.”

  “You know some people have doppelgangers. I know a woman who looks exactly like Victoria Beckham. People stop on the road when they see her. Can you imagine how annoying that must be?”

  “We only had sandwiches for dinner,” Roman called out. “You didn’t let us know when you were coming home, so I didn’t prepare anything.”

  Once I could tell him what really happened he would understand. For now, I could not and had to continue with my lies.

  I made a chicken sandwich with beetroot, cheese, onions, pickles, eggs, and pineapple.

  “You must be hungry,” Monika said. Her eyes grew large when she saw my oversized sandwich.

  “Allie was too busy talking to her friend that she had no time to eat,” Roman said.

  I could hear a little sarcasm. He was still hurt that I had not called all day. Since when was he like that? Was it my imagination? I had to admit that since I became pregnant I was more sensitive.

  “Can you eat all that?” Monika asked.

  “You watch me,” I grinned. We walked back into the living room. Another big piece of the sandwich disappeared into my mouth.

  “I been writing invitation cards out,” she said. She showed me a card, with a silver rose in the corner.

  “I can’t find the right wording for it,” she sighed. “I have given myself a headache trying to find the right words.” “Have you looked yet on the Internet under wedding cards? That would give you an idea,”

  I suggested.

  Her eyes lit up.

  “Why didn’t I come up with that idea?” She went to the bedroom where the computer was.

  “So where have you really been?” Roman asked.

  “I told you, I met a friend.”

  I felt sick to my stomach that I could not tell him the truth. “You didn’t go to the police, did you, Al?”

  He had not called me Al since we were kids.

  “No, I mean… and if I did, what’s wrong with that?” Roman got up from his recliner chair and shook his head. “I knew it! I knew it!”

  “Why are you so paranoid? It's as if I’d done something wrong!”

  “I don’t want that you get involved in a murder case, I told you.”

  “I have to go back for more questioning.”

  “Great!”

  The lie came easy, too easy. Was I becoming one of the biggest liars ever?

  “What’s so bad about it? I do my duties as a good citizen.” “I don’t like that you lied to me and said you met a friend.” “I am only trying to help the police,” I said.

  “I know there is more to it.”

  “I promise it won’t spoil your wedding,” I said softly and took his hand, “if that’s what you’re worried about…”

  “No, that’s not the reason. My wedding is not important. You are my only sister and I don’t want you to get hurt.” “Please try to understand. I witnessed something important. The police need me.”

  I knew this would not be easy. Roman could be very stubborn sometimes.

  “I can’t help believing that there you are still not telling me the whole truth.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I was moving on dangerous ground. As hard as it was, I had to stop right now. Roman was clever and he would figure it out soon.

  Monika came back. “I found exactly what I was looking for,” she said, smiling all over her face.

  “How does this sound?” and then she read out a whole page that she had printed off the internet.

  Roman sat back in his recliner.

  “That’s great, honey,” he said, giving me a disapproving look. “I have invited Michael for the wedding. He asked me at work today, if we would come to his place for dinner on Saturday. He has a lovely apartment….”

  I was only half listening to what Monika said. My thoughts drifted off to Jules again. They must have heard from him by now, I thought and checked my cell phone, no message. All of a sudden, I got the feeling something was wrong. I could not explain it.

  “I’ve to take care of something. I need to go out for a while,” I said.

  Monika looked at me in surprise. “You didn’t say you have to go again, “she said.

  “I forgot to mention something at the police station.” “What Police station?” Monika asked confused.

  “Do what you have to do,” Roman said sultry.

  “It’s nearly ten,” Monika said.

  When I did not answer right away, she looked at Roman. “My sister thinks she has to help the police with a murder case.”

  “What murder case? Could somebody please fill me in what’s going on?”

  “Roman will explain later,” I said. “I really need to go.” I had made up my mind. I laced up my sneakers, grabbed my jacket and left, ignoring the cold air blowing into my face when I stepped outside.

  Chapter 39

  vv

  Something was wrong. I heard Woods’ voice echoing through the police station when I walked in. It was like a mad house. “Allie, you are my last hope! I was just going to call you.” He sounded hysterical.

  I looked at
his leg and asked, “What happened to your leg?” He was limping.

  “My leg is not important. Kevin is missing. We do not know where he is. He does not answer his damn phone.” I did not understand.

  “Isn’t he at the dock with Agent Smith?” I asked confused. He stared at me.

  “Agent Smith is dead. Tell me what you know.”

  I found myself in such a state of confusion and disbelief that it was hard to explain.

  “He is dead?”

  “Follow me into my office, Allie.”

  He slammed the door behind us. I gave him a fearful look and told him about the phone call.

  Then I threw my hands in front of my face and started to cry. “Allie,” he said, shaking me by my shoulders. “Think! What else did he tell you? Where did he go?”

  “He said Agent Smith was waiting for him on the ship wreck at the dock. He would leave the gate open for him.” “Are you one hundred percent sure?”

  I nodded.

  He was close to panic.

  “I don’t understand…” I began. Then it all made sense now. It was not Agent Smith Jules was talking to; it was the killer, who lured him into a trap. We both had fallen for it. “Agent Smith was killed; it seems like the killer took his phone and called Kevin, telling him to meet him at the dock. I hope it is not too late. What else did he say to Kevin?” Woods asked.

  “Only that he wasn’t allowed to mention it to anyone but he told me,” I whispered, fighting back tears.

  His face was as white as the painted wall when he grabbed his gun from the table and pulled the door open.

  “Keep praying, more than ever,” he yelled over his shoulder. He held his leg with one hand.

  “I know where Kevin is. Every agent in this damn city I order to the dock at once. The killer is with him in the old ship wreck.”

  Within a second, all hell broke loose.

  “How’d this happen? I will make the person who neglected his job responsible for this.”

  I sat there, unable to move, numb. I could not believe what happened. It could not be true. I had just found him. An inner voice told me go to the dock.

  All I could think of was that Jules was with the killer right now. Five years of hiding was for nothing!

  He needed me now, more than ever. I had to let him know I was there for him if it was not too late. I felt an unexpected calmness and walked past the chaos - police everywhere, phones ringing from every desk. It was as the whole place was on fire and everybody was trying to get out. The female officer who had brought us coffee earlier said something to me but I did not hear her.

  Juliet was next to me, putting her arms around my shoulders. She led me to a chair but I shook my head and brushed her off.

  “You are in no condition to be alone,” I heard her saying to me in a calming voice. “Come with me to a quieter room.” “I want to go the dock,” I said determined.

  We looked at each other and she understood.

  “I’ll take you,” she said.

  We walked outside to her car and drove off.

  “Are you all right?” she asked while she was driving. “Yes.”

  “This is going to be tough on you. We have to expect the worst. Let’s pray Kevin is still alive,” Juliet said.

  Police cars screeched around the corner, coming out of nowhere. We had to get to the dock quickly.

  “Hold on tight, Allie, brace yourself,” Juliet said. She pushed her foot down on the pedal.

  We arrived at the dock, Juliet jammed on the brakes, the car skidding to a halt, everywhere police cars, ambulances, sirens screeching. We jumped out of the car. Juliet showed her FBI badge. “I am from the FBI. Let us through,” she yelled at the top of her voice.

  I ran towards the shipwreck and tried to pass an officer, who told me to step back. I asked for Woods but did not get an answer. It seemed like most of them did not know what was going on. The FBI had kept it a secret. All they knew was there was a kidnapping.

  Sweat ran down my back. In the distance, I spotted Woods, holding a megaphone, but I could not hear what he was saying.

  Where was Jules? Was the killer on the shipwreck with him? My lungs were just about to explode.

  Then I saw the killer. I knew it was he, pacing up and down the deck. He reached for something on his belt. It looked like a spear gun. I stepped forward but one officer stopped me from going any further, “You can’t go past this point,” he said and pushed me away.

  I shouted at him, “My boyfriend is in the boat. I have to get to him.”

  His hand held radio screeched and he answered it. That was my chance. I passed him quickly and ran through the command center towards the deck.

  “This time I’ll get him.”

  Woods had lost his voice and could only whisper. After hours of yelling to his team, he had given up. He was close to a heart attack.

  Two teams of S.W.A.T and snipers armed to the teeth were at the dock. If they could not get him now, they would never get him. Snipers, waiting for a sign to attack, surrounded every spot at the dock. Helicopters hovered overhead; buses loaded with reinforcements arrived and personnel scattered to their positions.

  “In fact, you’d better not let him get away this time. We have never had him this close. We have armed people in a fourmile radius,” Woods said to Commander Mike Edwards, leader of the FBI hostage rescue team.

  “I hope you’re right and nothing goes wrong.”

  “I’ll make sure of that,” was Woods’ answer. “He is in there and the only way for him to get out is in a body bag.” He did not say that he was worried about Kevin who had become like a son to him in the past years. He felt personally responsible for him, hoping he was still alive.

  “It’s time to make contact,” Woods said and reached for the megaphone.

  On the wreck, the door to the cabin opened and The Say came out, holding something in his hand.

  “Freeze,” Woods’ voice crackled through the megaphone. The Say stopped, surprised. Everybody was looking at him. “Woods, I didn’t expect you here. I had an idea that that idiot could not keep his mouth shut, naughty, naughty.” He talked to somebody else. Was it Kevin? Was he still alive? “Now I have to punish you even more.”

  Woods did not understand what he was saying.

  “Freeze,” Commander Edwards screamed.

  “No, you freeze,” The Say called out. He pointed his finger at Woods. “See what I have here?”

  His other hand was holding a cigarette lighter, and a gasoline can. He was going to blow up the boat!

  “You are surrounded, give yourself up,” Commander Edwards called out again. “Two teams of armed snipers are ready to shoot on command. We are holding all the cards.” “I don’t think so,” The Say called back. “The cards are mine, always have been, always will be.”

  “I’ll make sure you get a fair trial, if you give yourself up,” Woods called.

  “I’ll never get out. You know that, you liar.”

  Everybody waited for Woods’ command to storm the boat, nobody had prepared for this. Not all of the hostage rescue team had fireproof suits on.

  “Let Kevin come out,” Woods called.

  “Why should I do that?” The killer called. “You tell me.” The Say walked to the other end of the wreck. He looked over the railing as if he were trying to check something out. He had a spear gun strapped to his belt and he was going to jump overboard once he had lit the boat.

  “You have no chance,” Woods screamed but his voice stuck in his throat. “He hasn’t done anything to you. Is this the only way to get even with me?”

  Woods knew talking logical sense to a killer never worked. They were sick individuals who did not care about other people. They killed for their own pleasure.

  For the first time he did not know what to do. He felt helpless. Everything he had learnt in his career went blank. All eyes were on him. He knew everything that happened from now on depended on what he would say next. “Lost for words?” The Say asked. “
I must have got you this time.”

  He started laughing, a bizarre and uncontrollable sound, that echoed through the night.

  “It’s too late, Woods. Just admit it. You lost; I won.” He was gloating with satisfaction. “You should see the look on your face.”

  His laughter grew louder. He was still holding the lighter and the can in his hands. He knew he had control of the situation and that made him stay calm and relaxed.

  “Do you have any last words for that idiot?”

  Kevin was alive.

  “What did you do to him?”

  He did not know if he heard him or not. All that mattered was to get more time. Woods gave the signal.

  “I think he just passed out, what a shame. After all, I have an appointment with a friend. Should I say his girl friend? I have to go.”

  Woods knew he was talking about Allie.

  “You won’t have any appointments, because as soon as the wreck goes up in flames you’ll be dead, too.”

  “I don’t think so, Woods. I have my ways to get out. You should know that by now.”

  “No, not this time, you scum. You cannot hide any more. As soon as you jump there will be divers everywhere to get you, unless you make yourself invisible, and I don’t think that you can do that, even with all your evil skills.”

  “You have seen nothing yet.” The Say grabbed the spear gun. “You won’t get away with it,” Woods croaked.

  The Say did not answer.

  Chapter 42

  vv

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Woods asked when he saw me. “Go back, Allie; this is no place for you.” I could only guess what was happening, staring at the scene. “Where is Jules?” I asked.

  “I don’t know if he is still alive.”

  I jerked the megaphone from his hand.

  “Stop,” I shouted into it, facing the killer. He stopped. I threw the megaphone at Woods and headed towards the railing. “That’s too dangerous, come back!”

  Woods tried to hold me back and grabbed my arm but I pulled myself away from him.

  “What do we have here?”

  The killer asked, looking at me, surprised. He took a step forward and pointed the gun at me. There was only a short distance between us. That voice sounded familiar. It could not be!