The Extinguished Guest (A Lexie Starr Mystery, Book 2) (17 page)

Chapter 13

I took my coffee and retreated to Stone's office. I booted up his computer and logged
on to the Internet. First I did a crosscheck on the phone number I'd transferred from
my wrist to my notebook before scrubbing it off with a bar of Lava soap. The number
belonged to someone named Mortimer Sharp, according to the online phone directory.
I jotted the name down in the notebook.

Next, I typed "kakapo" into the keyword box and clicked on the "search" button. Before
long I knew more about the critically endangered parrot species called the kakapo
than I'd ever expected to know. Kakapo meant "night parrot" in the Maori language,
and the remaining eighty-six kakapos in existence were located on the offshore islands
of New Zealand. So what could this possibly have to do with Boris? I wondered.

The kakapo was the only nocturnal parrot, as well as the largest, the longest living,
and the only flightless parrot. Strict vegetarians, they hopped like sparrows, and
they growled like dogs. They had strong, fruity scents, making them easy to detect
by their predators: cats, rats, ferrets, possums and stoats. This had been a contributing
factor to their decrease in numbers, I read on the computer screen.

I clicked on a link that took me to the home page of the New Zealand Department of
Conservation where I found a lot of information about the current program to protect
and increase the kakapo population. Each parrot was fitted with a radio transmitter
and a microchip for individual identification. They were constantly monitored by a
staff of six people, all of whom were dedicated to the preservation of the dwindling
parrot species. They'd actually managed to increase the kakapo population to eighty-six
from sixty-four the previous year, so the program was having some measured success
in its endeavors to bring the bird back from the brink of extinction. Now I was even
less convinced Boris was involved with one or more of the eighty-six kakapos in existence.
But I continued to read on.

The staff members gave the kakapos regular health checks, supplemental feedings, and
were involved in predator control and artificial incubation, and also in the hand-raising
of the newly hatched chicks. Although it sounded like a somewhat enviable job, the
DOC staff worked long, hard hours in less than ideal conditions.

I clicked on another link to take me to a page of recent media releases. I noticed
one release had just been posted earlier in the day.
Four Kakapos Abducted from Transfer Pen
was the headline.

According to the article, two pair of adult kakapos had been snatched in the dead
of night from a holding pen where they were awaiting a transfer back to Whenua Hou,
or Codfish Island, scheduled to occur in three days time.

Basil, Gunner, Bella, and Maggie were all part of the complicated breeding program
and had been undergoing examinations to ascertain that they were fit for mating. The
kakapos' main source of food was the rimu and kahikatea fruits, and during years such
as this, when the fruits were plentiful, mating and breeding was most successful.

When the designated staff members made their early morning rounds to check on the
welfare of the foursome, they were devastated to discover the four birds had been
covertly removed overnight from their holding pens.

Although Te Kakahu, or Chalky Island, where the parrots were being held in a transfer
pen, was only accessible by plane or helicopter and unauthorized landings were prohibited,
there was evidence that a small chopper had landed in a remote site on the island
during the night. Wire cutters and other tools had been utilized to gain access to
the rare, and therefore valuable, birds. The radio transmitters had been removed from
the parrots and left in a pile outside the enclosure, and somehow the microchips had
also been disabled.

The article stated the theft was apparently the work of professionals who had considerable
knowledge of the kakapo's anatomy and characteristics and that they had pulled off
the mission in an almost militarily precise manner. These were not run-of-the-mill
thieves the authorities were dealing with. A substantial supply of specially formulated
pellets used for supplemental feedings had also been filched by the parrot-nabbers.
The heist had been extremely well planned.

I began to piece all my bits of knowledge together and realized Boris Dack was apparently
a middleman in some kind of endangered parrot-trafficking ring. Shorty, the six o'clock
caller, must have been one of the men involved in the actual abduction of the kakapos,
and their destination was the personal zoo on the estate owned by Pablo Pikstone.

I printed off the media release and rushed downstairs to find Stone. I knew he'd be
as flabbergasted and confused as I was. Stone was in the parlor with Robert Fischer
discussing the snow, which was now coming down at a brisk rate and beginning to pile
up on the grass. It was still melting on the sidewalk from the heat of the day radiating
out of the concrete. As the temperature began to drop, the melted snow would quickly
turn to ice, Robert Fischer predicted. Stone agreed with the amicable gentleman.

To explain to Stone what I'd discovered, I joined in their conversation and waited
until after Robert Fischer had bidden us good night and retired to his room. Midway
through reading the news release I'd handed him, Stone asked, "Basil, Gunner, Bella
and Maggie? They all have names? Aren't they wild parrots? This sounds a little personal."

"Yes, but according to the web page, the DOC staff has named each of them for easier
identification. I'm sure the staff members are similar to doting mother hens, watching
over their brood. It would be natural for them to name the chicks as they're hatched.
From what I've read, every successful hatchling is a major feat. According to all
I read, the mortality rate among these birds is extremely high."

"This is a big deal, isn't it?" Stone was just beginning to understand the enormity
of the situation. "I guess it's not just your everyday case of bird-napping, as I'd
first thought. That is, if there is such a thing as an everyday bird-napping."

"I'm afraid it's not a typical occurrence. I think we need to alert the authorities
so they can set up a sting operation of some type. They'd only need to arrange a stake-out
on Boris, tail him to the transfer site tomorrow night, and catch him in the act of
turning over the kakapos to Mr. Pikstone."

"Okay. It's too late tonight, but I will go down to the police station in the morning,
or at least talk with someone there. They can determine who to contact, and what actions
to take. Good work, Lexie. I still believe hiding under Boris's bed was a foolish
and ill-advised act on your part, but I can't deny it may turn out to have been a
fortuitous one, at least for the four threatened birds. Please don't attempt something
that risky again. Okay?"

"Yes, well, I hope they can catch Mr. Pikstone, Boris, Shorty, and any other accomplices
red-handed. I can't even imagine why someone would go to all that trouble and expense
to steal endangered parrots."

"It's probably because of the novelty of owning something so rare, I'd guess," Stone
said. "Pablo Pikstone can buy anything he wants, which probably makes him crave things
that are more of a challenge to obtain. Something like four of the last eighty-six
kakapos on the planet would be a real addition to his rare and exotic wildlife collection.
You'd have to admit he'd probably be the first one on his block to own four—or even
just a pair—of the kakapos. He might be hoping to mate and raise more of them himself,
as a challenge of sorts. Stranger things have happened, I suppose."

"I suppose you're right, but it's a real shame to threaten the survival of the parrots
the way he has. I'm sure the trauma of the capture and the long trip to America has
not been easy on them."

"No, probably not," Stone said. "But hopefully, they'll all survive the ordeal and
be returned safely to the DOC staff on Chalky or Codfish Island. Parrots in general
have very long life spans, or so I've read. That probably indicates they are hardy
creatures. Why don't you go on up to my suite, take a nice long bath, and get ready
for bed, Lexie? I'll lock up down here and see that all of the guests are safely ensconced
in their rooms, and then I'll be up in a few minutes."

"Okay, Stone. A nice long bath does sound very inviting."

I was looking forward to that long, hot soak in the tub as I walked up the stairs
to the second floor. And I was looking forward to spending the night with Stone. There
was little else on my mind as I climbed to the top of the staircase. I noticed it
was pitch black in the hallway at the top of the landing. Hadn't I left the hall lights
on when I'd come downstairs? Perhaps a guest had flicked the light switch off out
of habit on the way to his room. I didn't give the matter any further thought.

As I approached the top step, I reached out to feel for the light switch. Instead
I felt the warm skin of someone else's arm, just as a forceful shove sent me tumbling
backwards down the stairs. My own arms were flailing about as my rear end bounced
off one step after another. Fortunately, my hands were free, and I was finally able
to grab the banister about halfway down, which kept me from tumbling all the way to
the bottom of the steps. My backside had suffered the brunt of the abuse. For once
I was thankful to have a little extra padding there.

As I began my descent down the stairs, I'd hollered out in surprise and alarm. Within
seconds of my body coming to a stop, sprawled out midway down the staircase, Stone
appeared at my side and began examining me for signs of injury. Before long, most
of the guests, in various stages of undress, were huddled around me, watching silently
as Stone felt for broken bones. Satisfied that I was still in one piece, he asked
me what had happened to cause my fall.

"Somebody pushed me!" I looked suspiciously at the crowd around me.

I heard a collective gasp among the guests, and I tried to determine who was not present
among the group. Only Rosalinda Swift and Boris Dack were missing, I concluded. Everyone
else was gathered around me, staring with stunned expressions, and waiting for me
to continue with my story.

"Just as I reached the top of the staircase and was searching for the light switch,
I felt the arm of someone standing there. Then I was shoved backwards. I tried to
grab hold of the arm I'd felt but failed. He stepped back as he shoved me, I believe."

"Who was it?" Harry Turner asked. "Couldn't you see the person at all?"

"No, I don't know who it was," I said, shrugging. I winced as a sharp pain shot from
my shoulder down to the tips of my fingers. "With the lights out, it was too dark
to see anything at the top of the stairs."

"Where are you hurting?" Stone asked. "I don't feel any broken bones, at least. Still,
it might be a good idea to take you to the ER and have you examined and x-rayed."

"I don't think that's necessary. They might get tired of seeing me at the ER if I
make a habit of going there every night. I banged my head pretty hard a couple times,
and my shoulder feels like it was pulled out of its socket when I grabbed the banister.
But other than that and a few nasty bruises, I should be okay. I was lucky, I guess."

"You were
very
lucky, little lady," Cornelius said, standing beside me in ridiculous-looking white
silk pajamas, dotted with small red hearts. He had a smug look on his face. He winked
at me as he slightly jutted his pelvis out. Good Lord, did he think he was the personification
of sex appeal?

"He's right," Stone said. "You could've been seriously injured. As it is, you're going
to be very sore for a few days. You are going to take it easy for awhile, even if
Crystal and I have to tie you to the bed."

Stone picked me up gingerly and carried me back up the stairs. One of the guests had
flipped on the light before coming down to see what the commotion was all about. Stone
turned slightly to his left to address the crowd, still huddled together on the lower
steps. It was obvious the events of the last two days were beginning to take a toll
on them. Suddenly they seemed unable to think for themselves. They stood still, as
if unable to move without permission from Stone, the man they were beginning to think
of as their leader.

"I think it'd be best if you all went back to your rooms now," Stone said. "Thanks
for your concern. I'll take care of Lexie now. Lock your doors, of course, but rest
assured no one is going to bother any of you overnight."