Butterfly Palace (34 page)

“We’ll find what happened to the butterfly. That will lead us to the next clue. We’ll get to the bottom of what happened.”

Drew followed Nathan’s directions to the place of business, but
the area of town was a surprise. The houses along the street were small but neat, and there was no trash along the ditches. Children played in the yards, and the few shops appeared reputable.

Drew stopped the automobile where Nathan indicated, and the two men approached the bungalow. Two small boys in knickers played hoops in the side yard, and a young woman, the hem of her skirt muddy, knelt over a tomato patch. Drew glanced at Nathan with a brow lifted, and Nathan shrugged, then rapped on the door.

“Door’s open,” a male voice called through the screen door.

Nathan pushed open the door, and Drew followed him into a small hall that opened into a parlor. A man about thirty years old knelt among cases of insect and flower specimens. There was a peculiar odor in the air.

When he saw them, he stood and dusted his hands on his pants, then smiled. “I’m Fred. What can I do for you?”

Drew shook his hand and introduced himself and Nathan. “We’re looking for a butterfly specimen for a client.”

Fred waved his hand expansively. “Butterflies are my specialty. Look around and see what you think. I have a new shipment that just came in from Africa.” He grabbed a box from atop a cabinet in the corner. “Just look at these glorious creatures, especially this
Euphaedra janetta
. It’s a real beauty.”

For a second, Drew thought it was the one he sought, then he saw the yellow mixed in with the blue on the wings. He admired it, then turned to look at another case. “How’d you get into this business? I wouldn’t think there would be all that much interest in insects. Not in Austin.”

“Don’t you read the papers? The craze for butterflies is everywhere. I know men who have hired African explorers to bring back specimens.”

“We need a particular butterfly. A Blue Morpho.”

The man’s smile faded. “Why that specific one? It’s very rare. Found only in South America. I’m not sure I can get you one.”

“I’m willing to pay double the going rate.” Drew pulled out his wallet.

One of the boys banged into the house shouting for his father. Fred went to talk quietly with him a moment, then returned with a more confident air. “I’ll see what I can do. It might take a few days. I do have a lead on one.”

“A lead?”

Fred nodded. “It’s well known I deal in insects. A woman offered to sell me one a few days ago, but the amount of money she wanted seemed outrageous so I turned her down.”

“I don’t care what it costs. I want one.”

“Fine. I’ll get in touch with her.”

A woman
. Drew turned the knowledge over in his mind. Could it be someone who worked for Karr? He was nearly as obsessed with butterflies as Everett. “Do you have her name?”

The man laughed. “Do you take me for a fool? If I give you her name, you’ll contact her yourself and cut me out.”

Drew shrugged. “I was just curious. We have a deal. I wouldn’t back out on it. Butterfly collectors tend to be friends, and I thought I might know her.”

Fred looked cagey. “A man has to make a living, you know. Come back tomorrow, and I’ll have that butterfly for you. I’ll tell you her name then.”

“How much money should I bring?” Drew asked. The price Fred named made him gulp, but he nodded. “We’ll be here.”

“Make it around three. That should give me enough time.” He escorted them to the door.

When they stepped out into the yard, Drew could see Fred mentally calculating how he was going to spend the money.

Drew strode back to the automobile with Nathan. “How’d you know about this fellow?”

“Mr. Karr used him quite often. He sent me to pick up his specimens a few times. I think he’s honest.” Nathan climbed into the auto.

Drew started the car with the hand crank, then bounded up to the seat. “Why haven’t the police been here? It was clear Fred didn’t know a Blue Morpho was missing, or he might have been more suspicious.”

Nathan looked grim. “Because the police think the murderer is dead. I’m sure they still think Jane is guilty, even if they did release her.”

Drew stared back at the house. “A woman was selling it. That was a surprise. Fred has to go see her or meet her somewhere.”

“We shouldn’t leave.”

Drew steered the vehicle to the side of the road. “You take the automobile on home, and I’ll keep watch from across the street.”

“I’ll come back and spell you in a couple of hours.”

“Okay.” Drew climbed down and trotted back the way he’d come. Then he took up surveillance in a park area. He tugged his hat low on his head and took off his jacket to change his appearance a bit.

The sun beat hot on his hat, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead, so he moved to the shade of a live oak tree. His diligence was rewarded about an hour later when the man exited the house and went to his bicycle. Drew hadn’t thought about how he was going to follow if the man left, but he got lucky because Fred came his way and rode his bicycle down another side street to a general store.

The sign on the window announced the store contained a telephone that could be rented. Drew followed from a distance until
the man went inside. Through the big window out front, Drew watched him use the telephone. Fred came back out with a smile of satisfaction.

Now to watch and see who showed up with a Blue Morpho.

THIRTY-FIVE

E
lection Day hadn’t waited for Lily to be done grieving her friend. She pulled on her gray dress and went to the kitchen. Either they’d save Mr. Marshall, or the day would end in tragedy.

“Mr. Hawkes is in the parlor asking to speak with you,” Mrs. O’Reilly said. “Be quick about it. Miss Belle will be ringing for her breakfast. Emily will care for little Hannah today.”

Lily hurried to see what would have brought Drew out so early. She found him pacing by the fireplace. “What’s wrong?”

He turned, and his expression cleared when he saw her. “A woman tried to sell the butterfly to the dealer Nathan took me to see. We think she’ll be bringing it to him this morning. Nathan and I are taking turns staking out the house to discover her identity.”

She glanced at the clock on the mantel. “We only have a few hours. You saw Mr. Marshall’s reaction. He won’t avoid the party tonight, so we have to catch these people.”

He grasped her shoulders. “I know, honey. We’ll do the best we can.”

“What about Ian and his team? They have to see Mr. Marshall can’t be sacrificed.”

Drew shook his head. “No help there. His main goal is to protect the president. He doesn’t know Everett.”

She put her head on his chest, taking comfort from his warmth and strength. She listened to his heartbeat: strong and steady like the man himself. If only her mama were still alive. She had been convinced Drew would come back someday. She would have been so happy to know she was right.

The future was still murky though. Standing here in the shelter of his arms, it didn’t matter. They’d figure it out.

She pulled away and stared into his face. The firm lips, the fire in his brown eyes, the Roman nose all spoke of strength.

He smiled. “What are you thinking?”

“How strong you are. How blessed I am. I know you will save Mr. Marshall.”

He sobered at once. “I haven’t done such a great job, Lily. Like I said the other night, my confidence is shaken. Pray harder than you’ve ever prayed today.”

“I will. And what about this woman? Do you know anything about her?”

He shook his head. “Only that she has a Blue Morpho. They’re quite rare, so we hope it’s the missing one.”

“Even if it is, how will that lead you to the rest of the people who want Mr. Marshall dead?”

“It has to all be connected—Mrs. Karr’s death, the missing butterfly, the plot to kill Mr. Marshall.”

“But what if the butterfly has nothing to do with the plot?” She didn’t want to shake his confidence, but she didn’t see how they fit together.

“I think the butterfly was stolen to shake up Mr. Marshall. Have you noticed how distracted he’s been since it went missing?”

She nodded. “He can barely function. Last night he put salt in his coffee.”

“He’s obsessed with butterflies. Even more than with politics. I
don’t understand it, but someone else knows how this would affect him. I suspect the Karrs. I found out Mr. Karr ran for senator in the primaries. He has reason to dislike Mr. Marshall.”

“Do you think he wants to be appointed senator in his place? I thought Mr. Vesters believed he would be the appointee.”

“We don’t know if Vesters even told me the truth about why he plans to kill Everett. I caught him off guard when I found the evidence. He could have covered up the real plan with a lie.”

She wasn’t used to so much subterfuge and lies. “I suppose you’re right.” Her head hurt just thinking about it.

He hugged her again. “Have faith, Lily. And pray.”

“I have been, and I will. Is there anything I can do?”

“I wish there was a way to get into the Karr house. Do you know anyone who works there?”

She shook her head. “Not a soul. I could ask Emily and Mrs. O’Reilly. They’ve lived here longer than I have. Maybe they’ve worked with someone there.”

“See what you can find out.”

“What should they look for if we find someone?”

“A gun, any correspondence that shows what they’re up to. The butterfly.”

“It just feels like the butterfly must play a bigger role than we know.”

He stared at her. “Lily, you’re brilliant! I bet it’s a symbol for something. Can you get away this morning and go to the library? Maybe you can uncover some meaning behind it. I’m going to be watching to see who shows up with the insect this morning. Send Nathan for me if you find anything.”

“Perhaps Belle would help me look. Maybe we can even ask Mr. Marshall. He might know what the butterfly symbolizes.”

Drew smiled. “He probably does. He’d be better than an
encyclopedia. Start by asking him before he goes to campaign headquarters.”

“Wait a minute. I’ve heard of a political group called Novo. It uses the butterfly for its symbol. Nathan mentioned it, remember? And Emily told me about it too. Maybe that group is part of this. Could some of his own supporters be behind this?”

“It’s possible. I’ll see what I can find out.”

Lily’s gut clenched at the thought of Everett leaving the house. “He doesn’t seem to take the threat seriously.”

“I’ll be with him every second tonight, even if we think we’ve found all those involved.”

Would it be enough? Lily kissed Drew good-bye and went to start Belle’s breakfast. She found Mrs. O’Reilly and Emily huddled together talking at the worktable. They both wore somber expressions.

Lily frowned as she went to the stove to start Belle’s eggs. “Is something wrong?”

“We saw this morning’s newspaper,” Mrs. O’Reilly said. “You should try to keep it from Miss Belle.”

An egg still in her hand, Lily went to the table. “What is it?”

Mrs. O’Reilly held the paper out, headline up.

“Oh my word.” The egg fell from Lily’s hand and cracked on the floor.

There would be no hiding this from Belle.

Belle arranged her skirts around her at the round table in the breakfast room by the bay window and rang to let Lily know she was ready for her coddled eggs and toast. She felt unusually cheerful this morning, and it was probably because little Hannah chewed happily
on a cloth teether on a blanket by her feet. Was this what purpose felt like?

What must it be like to have a houseful of children? With the right man, of course. Being around the baby had shown her how important the father of her children was to her future. Stuart would not have made a good father, so it was a lucky escape for her.

But still a course she had to see through to the end. When he was behind bars and her uncle was safe, she’d be able to breathe again and look for a good man.

A spotless white apron covered Lily’s modest gray dress when she entered the room. She carried a silver tray of breakfast food. She placed the items on Belle’s plate. When Belle picked up her fork, Lily took the newspaper from the table and started out of the room.

“I haven’t read that yet, Lily. Leave it.”

Lily made a slow turn. “Yes, miss.” She placed it with obvious reluctance back onto the table.

“Whatever is wrong with you?” Belle reached for the newspaper and unfolded it. The headline blared out at her.

“I WAS STUART VESTERS’S MISTRESS,” SAID ACCUSED MURDERESS, NOW DEAD

This reporter has discovered a secret child stashed away in the Marshall household. Mr. Marshall is running for the senate in today’s election. According to Jane White, a white woman of twenty-three years accused of murdering her former employer, Mrs. Sarah Karr, she was the mistress of businessman Stuart Vesters. The arrangement was against Miss White’s wishes, and the deed was accomplished with the aid of Mrs. Karr. The accused had contemplated revenge for some time. The fact the child is
being cared for by Mr. Vesters’s fiancée gives credence to the accusation.