Free The Butterfly Conspiracy by James Nelson

good pet?”
    Scott laughed.   “No, sir. He’s a one man dog but not much of a pet. I would never bring him in here if it was crowded.   But this early, I knew the Freighter would be   almost empty.   Most people take a look at him and stay away.”
    “Hi, guys.   I’m Stephen.”  
    Scott was curious because Stephen didn’t have the typical tourist look.   He didn’t have the typical camper or backpacker look, either.
    “Are you checking out the sites or staying with someone in town?” He asked Stephen.
    Stephen explained that he was staying at his Uncle Phillip’s place for the summer.  
    “Oh, that’s a good one.” Scott laughed.   “You’re parked at the fancy Kahle place and I’m buying YOU a beer?”
    Scott smacked the bar with his hand, “Now ain’t that something. But you know what?   Your uncle’s done a bunch of good things for this area, so I’m happy to get you a beer.”   
    “What about you guys?” Stephen asked.   “Do you live around here?”
    “Yeah, my folks have a campground just out of town.” Scott said.   “Joe and I work there. We’re putting up a rec center right now. The rain put us out of business, at least for now.”   
    Stephen bought beers for Scott and Joe.
    “I need to ask you guys a question.   Have you seen a big guy with a dark complexion, nose looks like it was broken a time or two?   He usually dresses in a suit.   He looks like this.”   Stephen pulled out a sketch he had ripped out of his sketch pad.  
    Both Scott and Joe started laughing.   Joe said, “Scotty, that’s the big guy we saw talking with Moon last night, right here.”        
      Scott studied the picture.  
    “Yeah, that’s the guy.   Holy wah, anyone who would be drinking with Moon has to be from out of town!” Scott laughed. “Is this guy a friend of yours?”
    “Not quite. I have a pretty strong suspicion he followed me here from New York City , but I’m not sure. I need to find out what he’s doing here and see if any of his plans involve me.”
    “Well that’s easy,” Scott said.   “Joe, give Moon a call.   Tell him we’re sitting down at the Freighter.   Tell him we want to buy him a pitcher of beer.”
    Scott grinned at Stephen. “Believe me, that’ll get him down here.”
    The front door of the freighter swung open and two girls walked in.  
    “Scotty, them two are the babes that are in the tent on lot 18.”   Joe said.   “Remember how cute I told you they were.”
    Scott turned to see.   “They’re all cute to you, Joe.”
    Joe ignored Scott’s remark.   “I’m gonna walk over and talk to them after I give Moonie a call.”   Joe said, climbing off the bar stool.
    “Like, I’m surprised.” Scott responded.
    Twenty minutes later Moon walked in and sat down next to Scott.   Stephen ordered Moon a pitcher of beer.  
    “What’s going on? Why in hell’s name are you guy’s buying me free beer?   I dragged my ass down as fast as I could.   This better not be your idea of some kind of prank, eh.”
    “Calm down, Moonie.   We think you may know something that could help out our friend Stephen over here.”   
    Stephen reached over and shook Moon’s hand.   “Nice to meet you.”
    “Remember that big, ugly guy in the suit you was yapping to last night?” Scott asked.
    “Yea, you mean the guy from New York ?”
    “I guess.   We just need to know the guy’s story, that’s all.   Now, that’s worth a free pitcher, right?”
    “And just why is that any of his business?” Moon asked, looking over at Stephen.  
    “Cause it is,” Scott replied.   “You want that free pitcher or not?”
    “I suppose.   I didn’t come down here just to stare at you.” Moon poured a glass of beer, took a long swig and said, “Like I said, he ain’t from around here.   I don’t know much, just that he was looking for some business partners who had a bunch of dough and he wanted to know where Mr. Kahle lived. So I told