To Catch A Butterfly You Need A Net

by Gabriele Phillis

  “Hello Allie,” he said, “Do you remember me, Chris? You shouldn’t have got involved.”

  I was shocked and could not believe it what I saw. I hoped it was a dream. My voice cracked slightly and sounded as if it belonged to someone else.

  In front of me, only a few meters away stood my ex-husband, Chris, whom I hardly recognized.

  He looked completely different, but one thing had not changed- his voice. I recognized him now-his way of looking at me, those piercing eyes. His face was a mask, not one line, smooth as a baby’s skin. He tried a thin smile, but what came out was a grimace, his muscles ruined from too much facial surgery. I tried to steady my voice.

  “What are you doing here?” Only a whisper came out of my mouth.

  “Have a guess. You are a clever girl. You’ll work it out.” “You are The Say?” I stared into his eyes in disbelief. “You have guessed right. I am proud of all my

  accomplishments,” he said.

  I heard someone saying behind me, “Good, keep talking to him.”

  “What have you done with Jules?”

  “I've done nothing as yet. This is no place for you. Go back, Allie.”

  Chris was the serial killer! My heart stopped for a moment. “You need help. Let me help you, Chris,” I said. All eyes were on me.

  “Don’t worry about me. The only one who needs help is you right now. I said, step back!”

  I ignored him.

  “Are you down there, Jules? Can you hear me?”

  I heard Jules calling my name from inside of the cabin. Chris had a lighter in his hand. I saw the can of gasoline. “What are you doing, Chris?”

  “What does it look like? You should be thankful that I am saving the world.”

  “Keep talking to him,” I heard Woods’ voice. “You’re doing great.”

  “I can’t believe you are the killer. Why, Chris, why did you do it? What do you mean by saving the world?”

  He stopped.

  “I’ve never told you about the dungeon, have I? If I had, you would understand.”

  “What dungeon? Tell me about it.”

  I saw in the distance divers jumped into the water. Although it was dark, the fluoro lights gave enough light to see their shadows.

  “Before I met you, my mother did awful things to me. I swore if I ever got out of it I would kill her, that scum of a boyfriend, and all the rest.”

  “You never told me this. What did they do to you?” “They didn’t deserve to live.”

  “Why did you kill the boy in the elevator?”

  “It’s the voices in my head.”

  “Let me help you.”

  “I don’t need help; you do and everybody else.”

  I was hoping to gain more time, and Woods would find a way to save the situation. I did not know how much longer I could keep going like this.

  “You are asking too many questions, Allie.”

  He walked towards the water.

  “What are you doing, Chris?”

  He swept my words away in the air and put his gun down. He reached for his cigarette lighter, “Too late, step back.” “You always want to have the last word, don’t you?” “I am chosen, to rule the world. I’ll give you two seconds or you die with your precious Jules.”

  Woods was behind me, pulling me back.

  “No, Chris, nooo…”

  Chapter 43

  vv

  It was one o’clock in the morning and Roman was pacing up and down the apartment.

  “I wish you would sit down,” Monika said. “She’ll be here soon, I know. At least we know where she is.”

  “That’s not the point,” Roman said. He tried to be calm but Monika knew otherwise. He was worried sick about Allie. “She is old enough to look after herself. She knows what she is doing.”

  Roman interrupted her. “You don’t know Allie as I do, Moni. Since she has been here, she has not been herself. Trust me; this is not like my sister. Something is going on that she hasn’t told me about.”

  “Why don’t you call the police station?” Monika suggested. Roman frowned.

  “No, that looks stupid. I don’t want to give her the feeling that I watch every step she makes.”

  “I can call if you like,” Monika said. “At least she won’t hold it against you.”

  Monika reached for the cordless phone and dialed the number. After she hung up Roman asked what they said. “Nobody knows her. The person who is in charge is not there. They didn’t have a clue what I was taking about.”

  “I don’t like this,” Roman said.

  “Me neither.”

  “Let’s go to the police. I have a bad feeling.”

  “I’ll call her cell phone first,” Monika suggested.

  She dialed Allie’s number. Her phone rang in her room. “She left without it,” Monika said, disappointed. She opened the door to Allie’s room. The cell phone was on the bedside table. When Monika turned it off, her glance fell on a pregnancy magazine. Next to it was a calendar which had days crossed off. Monika’s jaw dropped.

  “Let’s go,” Roman called from the other room.

  Was Allie pregnant? If she was, why did she not say anything?

  “Roman, come here, look at this,” Monika said, pointing at the bed.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, looking at the magazine.

  “I had no idea that Allie is pregnant,” Monika said puzzled. “She is what?”

  “I wouldn’t have dragged her to every shop in town, if I had known she is pregnant. I should have guessed. She had all the signs, this huge craving for food. Then she did not want to show me the dress she bought for the wedding. She was probably ashamed I would notice it. I feel so bad.”

  “I don’t understand why didn’t she tell us?” Roman asked. “I don’t know, either. She must have had her reasons.” A thin smile broke across Roman’s lips. “I am going to become an uncle! I wonder who the father is,” he said.

  “Only Ally can answer that question.”

  “I hope she is okay.”

  “Everything will be fine,” Monika said. “At least that explains her strange behaviour. Women sometimes get like that when they are pregnant.”

  After a few moments Roman said, “Let’s go and find her before it is too late. She should be in bed by now, in her condition.”

  They grabbed their coats and left the apartment in a hurry. “It’s not far, let’s walk. Someone there has to know what is going on. I want to know why she lied to us the whole time,” Roman said.

  When they arrived at the police station, they described Allie to the officer at the front desk and asked if she had been there. He did not know and said that most of the police were on duty. There was a kidnapping at the dock.

  Roman and Monika looked at each other. Both had the same thought, but did not want to admit it.

  “Maybe we should go back to the apartment, and wait for her until she gets back.”

  He was not convinced that was a good idea.

  “I want to check out what’s happening at the dock,” he said. “Are you sure? It could be dangerous.”

  “I have the feeling my sister is somehow involved.” “Roman, be realistic. I don’t think so.”

  “I know. It seems pretty unlikely, doesn’t it?”

  “What would she do there, anyway?”

  “Don’t forget that the serial killer is still out there. Allie was in the Hercules building when he killed the boy. She spoke to him. Maybe it’s him on the boat.”

  “Now you are exaggerating.”

  “Nothing surprises me any more after what we’ve found out tonight. There is only one thing I can’t quite figure out,” Roman said while they were walking towards the dock. “What’s that?”

  “What’s that guy got to do with it?”

  “Which guy?”

  “It’s the guy who dumped her in Australia. She said she saw him here.”

  “Do you think he is the killer?” A shiver ran through Monika’s spine.
>
  “It’s possible. That would explain why she wanted to find out whether it was he. Allie always had a bit of a private detective in her blood. When we were kids, she used to hide my toys. I remember once she made up a treasure hunt and wrote notes to lead me to the right trail. The only difference now is she didn’t give me any clues.”

  “I don’t think that the man has anything to do with it. It was probably not even him.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  Monika pulled her jacket closer and tucked her arm in Romans. After fifteen minutes’ brisk walk, they arrived at the dock. They cordoned off the area.

  “I don’t think they will let us through,” Monika whispered. “To be honest, I don’t want to. I do not think Allie is here. Let us go back, Roman. I am cold. Allie might be home by now.” She pulled him back.

  “Wait. I’ll call home first,” Roman said. He took his phone and dialed the home line number, no answer. “She isn’t home.” “Maybe she is in the shower. That’s why she didn’t answer.” Something was happening at the dock. A woman stood in front of the wreck, a man pointed a gun at her. Roman and Monika stared at her. She looked like Allie.

  “There she is. What the hell is she doing up there?” Roman asked in disbelief.

  Allie jumped over the railing, said something to the man with the gun and nobody seem to stop her.

  vv

  Roman and Monika watched the scene in horror. Neither said a word. They held on to each other as if their lives depended on it.

  After the shipwreck exploded, chaos was all around. Roman tried to get through but the police held him back. Monika hung on to him tightly so that she would not lose him. Two ambulances parked on the road. More divers had jumped in the icy water. The HRT stormed the boat. The entire boat was on fire.

  Monika was crying. Roman pulled her along the dock, trying to find Allie, but they could not get through. An officer told them to step back. It was impossible to get past.

  “That’s my sister,” Roman shouted called out when he saw Allie wheeled on a gurney to the waiting ambulance. “Step back,” was the answer.

  “For heaven’s sake, didn’t you hear? I have to get through to her.”

  The officer pushed him back.

  “Where are they taking her?”

  “St. Vinzent’s, hospital” was the answer.

  “Let’s follow them,” Monika said.

  Roman hailed a taxi.

  “What was Allie doing there? I don’t get it,” Roman said when they arrived at the hospital. “What did she have to do with the kidnapping?”

  “She seemed to know the guy,” Monika said.

  “I hope she’s not hurt. She will have a lot of explaining to do. Promise never to do this kind of exercise when you’re pregnant.”

  Roman held her tightly.

  “That, I can promise.”

  “Let’s see if we can find Allie.”

  They both prayed that she and the baby were going to be all right.

  vv

  It was two o’clock in the morning. Dr. Tangi was in his late forties, dark-haired, with soft brown eyes. He was standing next to my hospital bed. Next to him stood Michael, dressed in white pants and white shirt, smiling at me.

  “What are you doing here, Michael?” I asked.

  “Remember, I work here.”

  “Are you in pain?” Dr. Tangi asked.

  “No, where is Jules?”

  He seemed to think for a moment.

  “Do you mean Kevin Roberts?”

  I thought for a moment before I nodded.

  “They brought him in surgery. We will keep you in for observation over night. You have been through quite an ordeal.”

  He was alive.

  I sat up straight.

  “How is he?” I asked in a fearful voice.

  “He’s badly burnt.”

  “Oh, no.”

  My heart stopped.

  “Mostly his legs are burnt. They got to him in time.” I tried to remember what happened. The last thing I recalled was that when Chris lit the fire, flames spread everywhere. Then I passed out.

  “You’ll experience some after shock symptoms,” Dr. Tangi said. “Here, take this.”

  He gave me a glass of water and two tablets.

  “Can I see him?”

  “Not today, maybe tomorrow.”

  “I need to see him.”

  “I understand, but you have to be patient.”

  He left the room. Michael sat next to me.

  “I am glad you are here,” I said.

  “I know how hard this must be for you. There is nothing you can do at the moment except wait.”

  “Have you seen him?”

  “No, but I’ll try to find out more as soon as he gets out of surgery.”

  “I hope he’ll be all right,” I sobbed.

  Michael gave me a box of tissues and I wiped my eyes. “Is he the one who left you in Australia?”

  I nodded.

  “Jules witnessed a murder five years ago and the FBI has had him under witness protection ever since. I only found out a couple of days ago,” I said.

  “Sounds like an unreal story.” He was trying to cheer me up. “I suppose Roman and Moni told you,” I said.

  “Not the whole story.”

  “It’s a long one. I don’t know if I have the strength for it now.” “Get some rest. It can wait.”

  “Can you call Roman and tell him what happened?” “No need for that. He and Monika are waiting outside for you.”

  “I don’t want to talk to anybody right now,” I said. Michael seemed to understand.

  “I want to be close to Jules when he wakes up.” Dr. Tangi entered the room.

  “I have to ask you a few questions,” he said.

  Michael left.

  “Are pregnant or allergic to anything?” he asked. “I need to know because of the medication I’ll prescribe you.”

  “I am pregnant,” I said.

  Now it was out. I took the first step and felt relieved. For the first time it was as if a ton of bricks fell from my shoulders. Dr Tangi did not look surprised. “When did you see your doctor last time?”

  I felt ashamed. “I haven’t seen a doctor since I found out.” “We have a nice female doctor here, Dr. Brown. She can see you in the morning if you like,” he said gently.

  “Thank you.”

  “We have to take more care of the baby from now on,” he said. I was glad he did not ask any more questions. “Michael is getting you a few things for the night. I will see you in the morning.”

  He left.

  Michael brought me a hospital gown and a toothbrush. “I told Roman and Monika that you have to stay in over night. They understand and will come back tomorrow. Be prepared. They have a lot of questions, so do I.”

  “You know, Michael,” I said, “Monika and Roman are right. You are a really nice guy.”

  “I know too nice, maybe.”

  “You’ll find a nice woman one day. You must believe in it.” “Kevin is a very lucky man. I knew there was someone else.” “Was it that obvious?”

  “Very.”

  All of a sudden, I felt tired. The medication Dr. Tangi gave me was starting to take effect.

  “Ring the buzzer, if you need anything. I am on duty all night.”

  “Thank you, Michael.”

  Jules was alive. That was all I could think of. Tomorrow I would see him.

  I wondered what happened to Woods, if he caught Chris. I should have asked Michael if he knew. He had left. I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

  Chapter 46

  vv

  Dr. Tangi had ordered a few tests on me earlier and everything was fine. I signed the release papers and was free to see Jules. He had come out of surgery and asked for me, Michael said.

  Jules had burns on his legs but his face and arms were untouched. My heart went out to him.

  I could hardly sit on my chair and waited until I could leave to
see him. It was important to check on the baby’s health, too. At ten o’clock next morning, I sat opposite Dr. Brown in her office at the hospital and had a long talk with her. I told her everything that happened in the last months and it felt good to talk to a woman. She listened and did not interrupt me. Then she preformed an ultrasound. I felt the cool gel rubbing on my stomach. When I looked in the monitor for the first time, I saw my baby and I was overwhelmed with joy. I could hardly express the emotions that went through me when I first saw it. Until now, my pregnancy had been something unreal for me. I could not cope with it, not until I saw those tiny legs and arms and heard its heart beat. I was speechless. Dr. Brown put her arms around me.

  “It’s a boy,” she said gently. “When will you tell the Kevin?” “The sooner the better,” I said. “I think it’s about time he found out. I hope he can handle the news.”

  “Why shouldn’t he? He loves you. So what are you still waiting for?”

  I was so happy that I forgot to thank her.

  “All the best,” she said. “And if you need me you know where I am.”

  On my way to Jules’ room, I wondered how bad his injuries really were. I still could not get over it that my ex-husband was the serial killer. Had they caught him or was he still on the loose? If that was the case, and the FBI wanted to keep Jules under witness protection, what would happen then? I felt panic rising. I did not want to go back without him. They surely would not do that.

  While I was walking through the long hospital hallway, I nearly ran into Michael, who carried a cup of coffee in one hand, a bag in the other. He was dressed in denim jeans and a brown sweater. He looked tired.

  “Hello Michael, have you finished your shift?” I asked. “Yes, it was a long night. How are you today?”

  I put my questions on hold, focused on the positive things that Jules was alive, and wanted to see me.

  “I feel great,” I said. “I am on my way to Jules.”

  “Have you seen Jules yet?”

  “I am on my way now.”

  We had developed a close friendship in the last twelve hours. That was surprising as I normally was not the kind of person, who made friendships easily.