Flight of the Butterfly

The message came from Bellisimo Jeweller, a small boutique shop near home, "Come collect," it said. The owner, a long-time family friend Don Alessio, grinned widely when Spike came in. "Ciao, como stai Michaelangelo."

"Bene, grazie," he replied. "E tu?"

The older Italian said, "Buono, ma la mia schiena fa ancora male." Spike teased the jeweller, "You're getting old. You should stop chasing women so your back can stop hurting." Don Alessio punched him on the arm, "Ouch."

"O… sorry, what happened?," he asked with concern when he saw Spike's bandaged right hand and the blotchy facial and neck skin. "Long story," was the short answer. The jeweller didn't persist, if Officer Scarlatti did not want to say, then no one needed to know.

Don Alessio went to the back room where he kept the safe. He came back with a small box. He opened it. A ring with two coloured diamonds, one blue, one green, was revealed. Blue was his colour, the colour of sea and sky. Green was hers, the colour of nature. The two diamonds were pear shaped, and sat on a platinum ring with the tapered end kissing so the diamonds looked like the open wings of a butterfly. Spike designed it himself.

It symbolised metamorphosis, the becoming. From cocoon to a beautiful winged creation. To him, it was a representation of their journey and the colours represented where this journey would take them. The ring mesmerised him, it was beautifully done. Don Alessio studied his client's face, assessing whether he liked it. Spike smiled and thanked him, "It's beautiful."

"She'll like it," the jeweller said. "It's one of a kind." Spike exhaled, now he just has to find her. "I have to go." The jeweller himself was caught up in the excitement, "Finally, I never thought I'd see you here. I'll be sure to tell your Momma." Spike stopped, "Just kidding," said the jeweller, "not my business but be sure to tell her, ok?"

"Like she doesn't know," he said. "Ciao."

He pocketed the box, called Billy, "Where is she?"

Little Billy was surprised, "Ok, I must have said something right. But mate I honestly don't know." Scarlatti was exasperated, "Billy, I'm not kidding, where is she?"

"And I'm not kidding, I don't know. Oh, call Steph. They were together when I phoned."

Spike called Steph, "Hello, stranger," she answered. "Hi," he said, "Steph, can I speak with Win… please." Silence.

"Well, I don't think that's possible."

He was being made to pay, and he deserved it so he put up with what he thought was the girls' way of making him sweat. "Steph, I know I've been a jackass but please… can I please speak to her." Steph smiled to herself, well, that's a lot of pleases in one sentence.

"Spike, you can't. She's on a plane."

He didn't think he heard it correctly, "Did you say plane as in P. L. A. N. E.?" Steph chuckled, "Yes. As in Air Canada."

"To where?"

"Australia."

"Australia?" Spike went to his mental filing cabinet and opened the drawer called "Atlas". "That's just under 8,000 miles away (under 13,000 km), depending on where she's going. What's she going to do there?"

"Spike, she just said she has to get away."

"Get away? 8,000 miles away?"

"Well, she said Canada is too small for both of you. The way she explained it to me you cast a long shadow. I supposed what she means by that is there's nowhere she can go here without bumping into someone who knows you."

"Do you know where she's going?"

"I asked but she wouldn't tell. There's an Aussie in your circle, right? Why don't you ask her? She might know something."

"Ok," he said, "Steph, thank you and I'm sorry for all the troubles I caused."

"Don't worry about it. Just find her. Bring her back home. I'm missing her already."

He hanged up and called Billy again, "Did you find her?" she asked. "Billy, come on, don't play dumb with me. Where is she going?"

"What do you mean where is she going?"

Spike exhaled, "Billy, she's on a plane as in right now to Australia." Little Billy was rendered momentarily speechless, "Wow, she didn't tell me." He didn't want to waste any more time, the longer the distance she has on him, the less likely he'd find her so he switched off his phone and headed home.

He used logic, common sense. Billy spoke to Win around 2pm. Steph mentioned Air Canada. Which one travels to Australia? He used Google and found AC 7516 that left Toronto at 14:15 via Montreal and then Vancouver. It gets to Vancouver at 20:24. She must have been boarding when Billy was speaking to her on the phone.

He debated with himself, should I get a flight to Sydney or get a domestic flight to Vancouver ? Vancouver won. He searched online, there's a Canada Air leaving Toronto Airport at 18:00, arriving at 19:57. That gave him enough time, just cutting it. He booked it, saved the ticket in his iphone. Adrenaline was pumping out of his adrenaline glands. He threw some clothes in a sports bag. 16:00, he called a cab.

Spike got to the airport at 17:00, the peak hour traffic was a joy killer. He checked in, and called Binary, member of Geeks United who was in charge of Airport security. She was delighted to hear from him, "Binary, I need your help. Can you scan for a passenger in the name of Winnie Camden? I think she may have left Toronto for Sydney via Montreal and Vancouver, I just want to be 100% sure."

She searched the Airport database, "Yup, she's currently in Montreal, do you want me to have her detained at Vancouver Airport? I can arrange that," she said proudly. She was one of the truly powerful in the country. She could get anyone detained, lucky she's not one to exercise her power needlessly. "Nah," he said feeling a little better now, "thanks, girl. I'll catch up with you later I have a plane to catch. Just make sure mine departs on time."

"Well, if it's an engine problem there's nothing I can do. Take care."

Back at the hearing, all four had given their statements and answered questions to the Panel's satisfaction. The group were left to wonder what happened to Spike. They tried calling but it kept going to voice mail. Billy kept mum; she didn't want to be questioned when she didn't know the answers.

They decided there was no point wondering. Wordy went home to his girls, Ed went to watched Clark play hockey. Sgt Parker went to catch up with Marina and Dean. Sam and Jules went to see a movie. Raf and Billy went home to make love, not war.

Leslie and Joe went home to Momma's cooking.

DI James went to see someone special to hammer the last nail on Paul Bullard's coffin, Angelica Delaney fell into his magic spell. Or was it the other way around?

Spike boarded AC115, it lifted off on time at 18:00. He prayed he finds her before she boarded her connecting flight to Sydney. A diabolical thought crossed his mind, if she boarded before he could get to her, he'll arrange for Binary to detain the whole plane. Oh, it better not get to that!

By some twisted fate, the plane took off while the music played. The station he was listening to was playing, "Leaving on a Jet Plane." He turned off the radio when it got to "Don't know when I'll be back again."

He turned it off and muttered to himself, "Tomorrow. We'll be back tomorrow." If only he was feeling as hopeful as he tried to sound.

Will they meet in Vancouver? Or will they be sleepless in Sydney? Maybe not Sydney? Please read the next chapter.