by Grace York
Addison wandered down the main avenue where all the sideshow games were set up. She reached the laughing clown stand and watched as a couple of small children tried their luck pushing balls in the clowns' mouths. They each got a small prize, and were immediately offered the chance to play again and upgrade to a larger prize. Their father dipped into his pocket again, and they had another go. Addison watched as the mid-sized prize was then upgraded to something even larger, and before he knew it the man had spent well over twenty dollars. Addison exchanged a good-natured shake of the head with the father and moved on.
At the end of the line of trucks was the entrance to the staff area. A large sign on a chain advertised the area as restricted to staff access only, but there was no-one there to police the out-of-bounds section. Addison hovered nearby for a few moments but didn't see anything interesting. She was about to turn back and go find Holly when she overheard an argument.
"Back off," said a male voice. He sounded exasperated, rather than angry.
"I want my money," said another male voice. Addison peered as far as she could around the end of the last truck, but she couldn't see the owners of the voices.
"You'll get it. I just need a little more time."
"You're running out of time, pal."
Addison realised it was the end of the conversation, and she managed to turn away and start walking just in time to make herself less conspicuous. A man in a red uniform shirt and blue jeans rounded the corner and almost ran into her.
"Sorry, got a little lost," she said.
The man stormed off without speaking, unfortunately, so she had no idea whether he was the one who owed money or wanted it back. She recognised who he was from Isaac's photos on the white board, though.
Jake Hanley.
Addison followed Jake for a minute, down the main avenue of sideshow games and over to the area where the rides were operating. Then she ran into Holly.
"There you are," said Holly. "I thought you were going to come back and see me."
"I was just on my way," said Addison. "Sorry, I got a little lost."
"Yeah, that happens. It took me ages to get used to the set up. Plus, it's slightly different at every place." Holly linked her arm through Addison's. "Come on, I haven't got long on my break and I want you to meet some people."
Holly led Addison back to the staff area. They stepped over the low chain meant to keep patrons out, and Addison had a look around to see if the owner of the other voice was still there. She didn't see anyone, though, until they got to the trailers.
A circle of folding chairs was arranged in the centre of three trailers, all of which had a number of doors leading to individual bunks. There were two young men sitting in the circle, one of them smoking a cigarette, the other sipping on a can of cola.
"Hey, Holls," said the one with the cigarette. He was quite young, Addison thought, with spiked blond hair and a pale complexion. "Whatcha doin'?"
"I'm on break. This is Addison, she bakes all those awesome cakes and things we get from the cafe."
Both young men stood and held out a hand in turn. The first one introduced himself as Corey, and the other, who looked even younger, was Luc. "Great cakes," said Corey, as they both retook their seats.
"Thank you," said Addison.
"You were up in the Ferris wheel when it broke the other day," said Luc.
"Yes, I was. Were you there?"
"I got you a bottle of water once they brought you down," he said.
Addison thought for a moment, then remembered. "Ah, yes. You were half a clown."
Luc smiled. "I was in the middle of putting my makeup on when the call came in to help out at the rides. Probably shouldn't have gone, might have upset a few kids only being half done like that."
Addison waved a hand at him. "I'm sure it didn't matter. They were probably too busy staring at the silly old woman panicking because she got stuck on a ride for a few minutes."
"Don't be so hard on yourself," said Holly. She pointed to two of the folding chairs. Addison chose the more sturdy-looking of the two and lowered herself into it, relieved that it didn't give way. She'd never been a fan of chairs that had the ability to collapse without warning.
"I think you did pretty good," said Luc. "We've seen a lot worse, put it that way."
Addison smiled at the young man. "So are you both clowns?" she asked.
"Yeah," said Corey. "We've had a double act going for a couple of years now. It seems to go down all right with the kids."
"What's it like, working with a travelling carnival like this?" Addison asked. "Do you miss your homes?"
"No-one at home misses me," said Corey. He took a long drag of his cigarette, then stubbed it out and put the butt in an empty cola can. Addison couldn't get a read on him. His pale face and gaunt features gave him a serious air, but there was a cheekiness in his eyes that shone through when he spoke. Addison got the feeling Corey made an excellent clown when the makeup and costume went on, but underneath it all there was something sad about him.
"Where is home?" Addison asked him.
Corey shrugged. He picked up the empty can he'd used as an ashtray and started absently shaking it. "This is home, now." Addison stayed silent, as did Luc and Holly. Eventually Corey went on. "I'm from Sydney, originally. But I left home when I was fifteen. My parents aren't big fans of my lifestyle."
"You mean joining the carnival?"
"No. I mean being gay."
"Oh. I'm sorry," said Addison.
"That I'm gay?" Corey sat forward in his seat, eyes narrowed.
"No, of course not. I'm sorry that your family doesn't accept you as you are. No-one should have to go through that."
"Oh. Thanks." Corey waved a hand in the air. "It's okay. I'm not a big fan of their lifestyle, either. Each to their own."
"Do you enjoy the carnival life?" Addison asked.
Corey smiled. "I love it. I fit right in. We're all freaks, here."
"Speak for yourself," said Luc. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of juggling balls. Addison watched for a minute while he effortlessly juggled them with one hand.
"That's impressive," said Addison. She remembered being delighted at the clowns' performance when she'd seen the show last week. It felt so long ago now, with all that had happened.
"Thanks," said Luc. "So, forgive me for asking, but what are you doing here? We get the odd journalist asking us questions, but never a baker."
"Luc…" said Holly, her voice drawn out.
"No, it's okay," said Addison. "It's a fair question. I'm working with the police, actually. Just doing some background stuff to help them out with their investigation."
"Oh," said Luc. "You're here about Frankie."
"I am," Addison replied. "Do either of you know what might have happened to him?"
Corey stood, spat on the ground, and threw his makeshift ashtray into a nearby garbage bin. "He got what he deserved, that's what happened."
14
Addison spent another ten minutes talking to Luc about life at the carnival, and Frankie's murder. Corey had walked off after his little outburst.
"Don't mind him," Luc had said. "He never liked Frankie."
"I'm getting the impression he wasn't the only one," said Addison, hoping to get more information from the younger clown. But Luc had only smiled and nodded, then changed the subject, and Addison finally left when Holly was due to return to her post selling fairy floss.
"I wish they'd put me back in the food truck," said Holly. "I hate fairy floss. I just get all the sugar out of my hair and then I have to go back and it all cakes straight up again," said Holly, scratching her head. "You'd be surprised where this stuff ends up."
"No, I probably wouldn't," said Addison. "I can imagine all sorts of places spun sugar could find its way into."
Holly laughed, then her face dropped. "You didn't tell me you were working for the police."
"I'm sorry about that," said Addison as they walked side by side. "I
should have mentioned it. I hope it didn't seem like I was questioning your friends in any official sort of capacity."
Holly shrugged.
"I just want to try and understand what happened, that's all," Addison continued.
"You don't think Corey and Luc had anything to do with it, do you?"
Addison shook her head. They'd reached Holly's work station, and Addison stopped a couple of metres away so the girl currently spinning fairy floss couldn't hear them. "I don't think so. But I got the feeling Corey was hiding something, though. Do you know what that might be?"
"No. Luc was right when he said Corey didn't like Frankie, but that was true of half the people here. Including me, and I certainly didn't kill him."
"Do you know if there had been anything specific between Frankie and Corey? Or was it just a general dislike?"
"I'm not sure. Frankie was homophobic, I know that much. Corey is pretty open about his sexuality, which he has every right to be. Frankie was always making snide comments. I can't see it being enough to cause Corey to want to hurt him, though. Mostly Corey just ignored it. He's got pretty thick skin."
Addison was pleased to hear it. She couldn't imagine what life must be like for someone society still saw as 'different'. It upset her to know that even now, in a country that overwhelmingly voted to legalise same sex marriage, some people still felt ostracised because of who they loved.
"Does he have a boyfriend?" Addison asked.
Holly hesitated before answering. "I think so. I don't know who it is, but I get the feeling he isn't as open about it as Corey. So they're keeping it quiet. I respect that."
Addison figured Holly knew exactly who Corey was dating, but she wasn't going to push it. Her gut told her the young clown didn't have anything to do with Frankie's death.
"I'd better get back to work," said Holly, signalling to the other girl with a wave.
"Thanks for introducing me to your friends," said Addison. "They're very nice."
"They're clowns, it's their job," said Holly with a grin. "See you later."
Addison waved goodbye and set off home. The carnival was set up at the local sports field, which was about halfway between the township of Getaway Bay and the beach. As it was close to home, Addison had walked instead of bringing her car.
She went home via the beach, taking off her shoes and walking through the sand, letting the waves wash up over her feet and ankles. It was late afternoon, but the sun was still shining, the air was warm, and Addison was once again thankful that she got to live in such a beautiful part of the world.
Her thoughts turned to her late husband, and she allowed herself a moment of sorrow. Rob certainly would have liked Getaway Bay. In the two years since he passed away Addison had fought through the stages of grief in her own way. She'd eventually come to the realisation that it was okay to feel sad sometimes. When sadness threatened to overtake her, she allowed the feeling to instead pass through her. She let herself feel the pain of loss. But she didn't let it overtake her anymore. She pulled herself out with a happy thought, or a moment of reflection on what Rob would have done, and then she got on with her life.
Now, feeling the sand between her toes and the pull of the ocean, Addison decided Rob would have liked to holiday in Getaway Bay, but he couldn't have lived here. He'd have missed the hustle and bustle of the city too much.
With a smile and a nod to the blue sky, Addison turned and headed for home.
The beach house was a hive of activity when she arrived. Adam and Layla were in the great room, Layla setting the big dining table and Adam talking to her a mile a minute. By the sounds of it he'd finished his latest draft and was hyped up with excitement.
"Where are the kids?" Addison said when Adam took a breath. She'd taken to referring to Olivia, Justin, and Emily collectively as 'the kids'.
"In the kitchen," Layla replied. "But you're not allowed in there," she added just as Addison was about to open the connecting door.
"Why not?"
"They're cooking dinner," said Layla. She took Addison by the hand and led her into the lounge area of the great room. "They wanted to surprise you. I'm to make sure you don't go in there, under any circumstances. Sit."
Addison did as instructed, already mildly concerned as to the state of her kitchen. "What am I supposed to do then?" she asked.
"Relax," said Adam. "I'll get you a drink. Glass of wine? Or would you prefer a beer?"
"Um, I'll take a glass of wine, please."
"Coming right up." Adam paused at the door. "No peeking," he said, twirling his finger in a 'turn around' motion. Addison obeyed, and heard the door open and close before she turned back to face Layla.
"So he's allowed in the kitchen?" she asked.
"Of course. I am, too. They're not trying to surprise us." Addison's concern must have shown on her face. "They wanted to do something nice for you, Addison. Relax and enjoy it. And don't worry – we can put your kitchen back to normal tomorrow after they've gone home."
Addison took a deep breath and loosened her shoulders. She'd read a news article the other day about being mindful and appreciating the small moments in life, rather than rushing and trying to get everything done at once. It had sounded like good advice, and now she had an opportunity to use it. She'd had other people in her kitchen before, of course. She wasn't that precious. But she'd always been there as well. Being calm about letting the kids loose in there on their own – that was going to take a lot of deep breaths.
Adam returned and handed Addison a glass of wine. She sipped it and tried to relax, tuning out as Adam resumed his conversation with Layla about his latest draft. She was staring out the front window, just getting to a place of calm acceptance that her kitchen was going to look like a bomb hit it and that was okay, when a car pulled up outside.
It was Isaac.
"What's he doing here?" Addison asked.
Layla craned her neck to look out the window, then smiled when she recognised the detective. "Oh, that's their other surprise," she said. "Justin invited your boyfriend to dinner."
15
"He's not my boyfriend." Addison tried to wipe the scowl off her face as she went to answer the door.
"Yeah, whatever," said Layla, then disappeared into the kitchen. Addison looked around for Adam, but he'd slunk off somewhere quietly too.
Addison composed herself and opened the door. "Hello," she said, with what she hoped was a convincing smile. "How are you feeling?"
"A little better, thank you," said Isaac, wiping his feet on the mat. "The chicken soup must have done the trick." He thrust a bottle of white wine into Addison's hands and followed her into the great room.
"That's good to hear. Don't ask me what we're having tonight. I've just found out you'll be joining us for our mystery dinner."
"Mystery dinner?"
"Well it's a mystery to me," Addison said. "I've been banned from my own kitchen."
"Oh." Isaac looked nervous. "Is everything okay? Should I not have come?"
Addison pulled herself together. "No, it's fine. I'm just… I guess I'm not used to being told what's happening. I'm usually the one organising."
"Let me guess – they wanted to surprise you."
"Something like that."
"And I'm not a good surprise?"
Addison looked from Isaac to the bottle of wine in her hands, and then back up to him. "You'll do," she said with a smile. "But you'll have to take this into the kitchen for yourself," she added.
"Fair enough." He took the bottle back and went through to where the action was, leaving Addison feeling left out in her own home. So far this surprise dinner wasn't much fun.
It wasn't long before Isaac retuned, and Justin followed him clutching the open bottle of wine from the fridge.
"Hi Mum," he said, topping up her glass and filling Isaac's empty one. "I hope you haven't been peeking in the kitchen."
"And ruin the surprise? Of course not."
"Can I get you anything else? Some ch
ips or something?"
"That depends. I wouldn't want to spoil my dinner. What is it you said you were cooking?"
Justin laughed. "I didn't. Nice try, though. I think Emily is preparing a cheese platter. I'll bring it out shortly."
He disappeared before she could ask him anything else.
"Is it a total disaster in there?" Addison asked Isaac, sipping her wine.
He grinned. "This is really hard for you, isn't it? Staying out here while someone else is in charge in your kitchen."
"There's no need for you to laugh about it," said Addison. He was right, dammit. It was so hard not being in control in her favourite room of the house. But the kids were trying to do something special for her, and that made up for any control issues she was feeling. Sort of. She changed the subject.
"I met the two clowns at the carnival today," she said. Might as well take advantage of being alone with him. "Corey and Luc."
"Oh yes? Did you find anything out?"
"Not really. Corey seemed like he might be hiding something, but I'm not sure. He had problems with Frankie because he's gay, and Frankie was apparently homophobic. Gave Corey a hard time, but Holly says Corey mostly just ignored him. It's not really much of a motive for murder."
"No, it's not. We did a background check on both of them. Corey left home at fifteen, had a few minor run-ins with the law, but nothing to raise any red flags. Just your typical angry youth stuff. He joined the Hanleys four years ago, started on the rides, but studied at clown school in the off-season one year and he's been a clown for the last two years."
"Clown school? That's a thing?"
Isaac shrugged. "Apparently."
Addison smiled, a picture of a class full of clowns juggling and tumbling forming in her head. She shook it off and returned to the task at hand. "A clown for two years – that fits with what Corey told me."
"But you think there was something he wasn't telling you?"
"That's the feeling I got. I asked Holly if he had a boyfriend, and she said she thinks he does and is keeping it quiet. That's probably all it is. The boyfriend isn't as open about his sexuality yet, apparently."
