Circus of Nightmares: Death is the Ultimate Illusion (The Anglesey Mysteries Book 2)

by Conrad Jones

  ‘Is that all you think about?’ the inspector said, wiping rotting human soup from his cheek. His jacket was covered in decomposing goo.

  ‘Yes. We were under a completion clause. That’s my bonus up the swanny,’ Roy moaned.

  Chapter 5

  Kelly and Jack were walking along the beach at Rhosneiger. There were kite surfers whizzing across the bay at crazy speeds, jumping so high they looked like they would never come down, somersaulting and jiving until they splashed back down onto the waves. Ahead of them in the distance, Holyhead Mountain was outlined clearly against the blue horizon. The craggy rocks near the summit glowed silver grey against the heather. It was a crisp day; the sun was shining like summer but the snow-capped peaks of Snowdonia to their left, reminded them it was winter. Apart from the surfers, tourists were thin on the ground and most of the beachfront properties were empty for the winter months. It made little difference to the locals, who relished the peace and quite and traffic free roads. Kelly and Jack had been dating for a few months and things had become complicated. Kelly wasn’t as interested in Jack, as Jack was in her. He wasn’t the man she thought he was in the beginning. The cracks in his personality were starting to show. To make things worse, Kelly had a daughter, who was the most important person in her world and she didn’t like Jack. That was a massive problem. It wasn’t jealousy. She said she didn’t feel relaxed around him. He made her feel uncomfortable. When Kelly pushed her for more details, she used the word creepy. Creepy was not the word any mother wanted to hear to describe their partner. It wasn’t the starting point for a long-term relationship and Kelly had decided days ago that she was going to let him down gently as he was a decent enough guy and there was no need to part on bad terms. She was going to tell him earlier that day but he’d turned up at her flat in tears with flowers. He’d been to see his mum and dad and they’d told him his mum had terminal lung cancer. Her heart sank as she listened to him recount the conversation. Kelly felt so sad for him. He was close to his parents, especially his mum. There was no way she could add to his woes by finishing their relationship. Not today. It was too cruel. Kelly suggested they take a drive out and have a long walk on a beach. It didn’t matter which beach. Any would do. They ended up at Rhosneiger. Jack had been quiet, which was understandable but he seemed to be brooding on something.

  ‘What are you thinking about?’ Kelly asked.

  ‘Everything and nothing. I’m sorry I was upset earlier,’ Jack said, squeezing her hand. He stopped walking and faced her, pulling her closer to him. Kelly felt awkward. She felt her body stiffen. Her feelings for him had changed. He kissed her and she wanted to gag and run away but she couldn’t. She went through the motions but it didn’t feel the same. She knew it didn’t feel normal and he would pick up on her reluctance at some point. She didn’t want to be cruel but she couldn’t pretend to love him. It was an impossible situation. ‘I know you’ll help me get through this, Kelly,’ he said, staring into her eyes. ‘I feel so safe around you. It’s like we were meant to be together. You know what I mean, don’t you?’ he asked. His eyes studied hers and she felt sure he could read her mind. She looked away and nodded. ‘I want to be with you, Kelly.’

  ‘You are,’ she said, cringing inside.

  ‘I mean with you properly,’ Jack said, kissing her neck. It made her feel queasy. ‘I want to be with you and Elle and look after you both, like a proper family. I can see us being happy together and if things work out, we could look at getting married.’ Kelly died inside. She was going to speak but he put his finger on her lips. ‘I know it’s a bit soon to be talking about marriage but knowing my mum is going to die soon has made me think about life. We’re not here for long. I think we should make the most of every day we have together. Let’s think about living together and giving Elle a little brother or sister to play with,’ he said, smiling. His eyes searched hers again. She was frozen to the spot. Her mind was screaming at her to tell him she didn’t want to be with him. ‘A baby would be good. Maybe we could have one of each.’ Kelly wanted to cry. ‘Don’t say anything right now. I just want you to know how I feel, Kelly. I love you with all my heart. I’d do anything to be with you always,’ he said, kissing her again. This time she recoiled slightly. It wasn’t much but it was there. He sensed something. ‘What’s wrong?’ he asked. ‘Have I gone too far?’ he asked, shaking his head. ‘I didn’t mean to ambush you. It’s just finding out about my mum. It’s made me think about things.’ He looked at her. Kelly couldn’t find the words she wanted to say. ‘Say something for god’s sake.’

  ‘You’ve had a nasty shock, Jack,’ Kelly said. ‘Let’s take one day at a time. It’s been a lot for you to process.’ He looked like a wounded puppy. ‘It’s lovely you feel like you do about me and Elle but whatever decisions I make for our future cannot be spontaneous spur of the moment things.’

  ‘I understand that.’

  ‘Do you?’ Kelly asked. ‘Elle is the most important human on the planet to me. My decisions will shape her life. I can’t make them on the back of an emotional crisis in your life.’ His eyes filled with tears. ‘I don’t want to sound cold but I have to keep my feet on the ground no matter what is happening in your life.’ He didn’t speak. ‘I can’t act on impulse. I’m a mother.’

  ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to put pressure on you,’ he looked offended. ‘I didn’t mean to rush things. That was stupid. I’m upset. I shouldn’t have said what I said.’

  ‘What is said, can’t be unsaid.’ Kelly stepped back from him. Her attention was drawn to one of the beachfront houses behind Jack. ‘Look at that woman, there,’ she gasped, putting her hands to her mouth. ‘Oh my god!’

  Jack turned around reluctantly. He followed where Kelly was pointing. A dark-haired woman was banging on the glass. She was on the middle floor of a three-storey house. There was a balcony and patio doors and she was desperately trying to get out. Her fists pounded against the glass. Kelly could see blood on her face and hands and it was smeared on the glass. They saw movement behind her. She was pulled away from the doors violently. Kelly and Jack looked at each other, stunned into silence for a moment.

  ‘Call the police,’ Kelly said. Jack hesitated. ‘Call the police, now Jack!’ Kelly shouted, running towards the property. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her across the sand. It was like running through mud. Her feet sank deep into the dryer patches of sand, making it difficult to gain a rhythm. She made slow progress towards the house. The woman appeared at the door again, hysterical. She pounded on the glass with her fists and then lurched backwards again. A few seconds later, she reappeared. Her head hit the glass with force and the patio door shattered into a thousand pieces. The momentum carried her forward. She hurtled across the balcony and hit the handrail at hip height. It appeared to Kelly like slow motion as her lower body stopped and her head and upper body carried on. She tumbled headfirst over the balcony rail and hurtled towards the ground. Kelly heard her scream as she fell and then the scream stopped suddenly as she connected with the concrete below.

  ‘Did you see that?’ Kelly said. Kelly looked up at the balcony. A figure stood stoic, hands by its sides, its eyes fixed on Kelly. The stare stopped her dead in her tracks. She was transfixed by the gaze. Ice cold terror ran through her veins.

  ‘The police are on the way,’ Jack shouted, catching up. ‘Did you see her fall?’

  Kelly looked at him but couldn’t answer. When she looked back at the balcony, the figure was gone. There was no movement inside the house. Kelly ran towards the sand dunes, which were between the beach and the house. It was painfully slow. She reached the garden wall and looked over. The woman was lying on the concrete, bleeding from her ears and nose. Her eyes were open, staring lifeless at the sky. Kelly could tell she was dead. They couldn’t help her. She heard a door slam at the front of the house and she ran towards a narrow path which connected the beach with the main road. Sharp grasses grew on either side of the sandy strip of dirt. They stuck to her clothing
as she ran, like sandpaper on cotton.

  ‘Kelly. What are you doing?’ Jack shouted at her from the beach. He wasn’t following her. Spineless little man, she thought. Her chest was heaving as she reached the side of the house. She could see two men running down the drive. They climbed into a white van, one in the passenger side, the other in the driver’s side. The big man was the passenger, only half inside the van. His head was strange. Patches of hair dotted his scalp on one side. His scalp was red and angry. She stopped running. The big man turned and looked directly in her direction; his eyes burned into hers. She felt her stomach drop to her toes. Fear gripped her. The man put his finger to his lips. Shush, he mouthed to her. He climbed into the van but never took his eyes from hers. She wanted to take a picture of him and the van with her phone but she was frozen to the spot. The van pulled away and disappeared around the corner. Kelly had the uncontrollable urge to pee.

  Chapter 6

  The beer tent was getting busy. Most of the tables were full and the sounds of chatting and laughter filled the air. The fairground was in full swing and the claxons and sirens were blaring along the Newry. The atmosphere was charged with excitement. Most of the people were locals but there were lots of visitors too, drawn to Holyhead by the infamous Circus of Nightmares. The opportunity to see the show was too good to miss for fans of the online performances. It was pitched as a once in a lifetime chance to see the circus on the island. The tour dates for the next few years were already booked and published and would take the circus from Ireland, across Europe and into Russia before turning south to Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. There were no plans to return to North Wales at any point in the foreseeable future. It was pure luck and due to the cancellation of a London show which had made it possible at all. This was an impromptu stopover; Ireland was the true destination, so many fans had grasped the opportunity with both hands. It was too good to miss.

  Chelle wasn’t sure her sister Tiff was going to make it to the show. She was bladdered. More bladdered than she had ever seen her before. Tiff could usually handle her drink and Chelle was beginning to think there was more than alcohol in play. She’d been spiked. The fairground men had given her at least three shots but the effect they were having was unusually severe. She suspected they may have slipped a little something else into them. It was a cheap and dirty trick but it happened. Drugging someone to have sex with them was about as sick as it got but Chelle was well aware that it happened. She was also aware of several friends who had fallen foul of Rohypnol. It was a sad fact of modern society that both males and females had to be wary of being drugged on a night out. Luckily for Tiff, she was being looked after by her sister.

  ‘I don’t feel right, Chelle,’ Tiff slurred. Her eyes were rolling.

  ‘You’re not right,’ Chelle said. ‘I think you’ve been spiked.’

  ‘No way,’ Tiff said. ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes. Really. I think the men who bought you shots, spiked you.’

  ‘Bastards. No wonder I feel terrible.’

  ‘We need to get you home,’ Chelle said. ‘I’ll call a taxi.’

  ‘I don’t want to ruin your night. Get me some coffee,’ Tiff said, shaking her head. ‘I won’t drink anymore. I’ll sweat it out. Bastards. If I see them, they’ll be in for a kick in the nuts. I don’t want to go home. I really want to see the circus.’

  ‘I can’t see you staying awake.’

  ‘Let’s see how I am in a bit.’

  ‘Do you want some food?’ Chelle asked.

  ‘I’m not sure. Do you think it might sober me up?’

  ‘Have something to eat. That will help soak up the alcohol. It might help.’

  ‘I feel a bit queasy but I’ll try something,’ Tiff said.

  ‘What do you want?’

  ‘Get me a couple of hotdogs and some chips.’

  ‘A couple of hotdogs and some chips?’ Chelle said, chuckling. ‘There’s nothing wrong with you, fat cow.’

  ‘You said it might help,’ Tiff said, laughing. The world was fading in and out. She had some lucid moments but the urge to sleep was overwhelming. Her skin felt numb, as if it wasn’t attached to her. ‘I’ll have some coffee and food and I’ll be right as rain. If not, I’ll go home. I don’t want to spoil it for you. I know how much you want to watch it. What time is it?’

  ‘Half past four,’ Chelle said. ‘The show doesn’t start until eight o’clock. You might be alright by then if we get some food down you.’ Tiff nodded in agreement. ‘Don’t move from there,’ Chelle said, standing up. She finished her gin and tonic in one gulp and put her coat on, hanging her handbag from her shoulder. ‘I’ll be back in five minutes.’

  ‘I’ll be fine,’ Tiff said, nodding. Her eyelids felt like lead weights. ‘Don’t worry.’

  ‘Can you keep an eye on this numpty for me,’ Chelle said to the people on the next table. They were vaguely familiar and speaking Welsh, probably from the island. Maybe Llangefni or somewhere close to there. ‘She’s had a few too many. I’m getting her some coffee.’ One of the women smiled and nodded.

  ‘No problem. We’ve all been there. There’re plenty of people around. She’ll be safe there.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Chelle said. ‘I won’t be long.’ She turned to Tiff. ‘Don’t move from there, understand?’

  ‘Understood, sergeant major,’ Tiff saluted. She smiled. ‘I’ll be right here when you get back. You can’t get rid of me that easy.’

  ******************************************

  Llangefni market was busy. It wasn’t as busy at it used to be but that was a sign of the times. People bought online more and more. Market traders were a dying breed. Sharon was browsing the stalls. She had just finished her show on Mon FM. It had been a good day, plenty of listeners, calling in to ask for requests and chat about the topic of the day, which was the proposed building of apartments and shops at the marina on Newry Beach. The developers were promising to renovate two iconic buildings in return for planning permission for their mammoth project. Porth-y-felin House and the old Soldier’s Point Hotel were derelict and deemed as white elephants for decades as they fell into ruins. No one was sure what to do with them and the cost of renovation astronomical. It was a hot topic for debate and the show had gone well.

  Across the road, a commotion outside the Market Vaults caught her attention. Two clowns were meandering through the light traffic, giving out balloons to the children. The pavements were packed with shoppers. One of the clowns had a megaphone and was informing people that the Circus of Nightmares was operating at Holyhead until Thursday. They were creating a lot of interest as they walked along the main road. She bought the blouse she wanted and then joined the crowd of onlookers as the clowns performed magic tricks for the crowds. Everything appeared to be wholesome and entertaining until one of the clowns started to juggle. The crowd cheered and applauded as he added more and more balls. The second clown appeared to be jealous of the attention he was getting. He took out two ornamental daggers that gleamed in the winter sun. They were encrusted with gems, which glistened as he started to twirl them. The crowd’s attention was drawn to this more dangerous trick. He added a third dagger to his act and the crowd went wild. The blades twirled higher and higher, faster and faster and then the other clown kicked him up the backside with an oversized shoe. The performing clown caught all the daggers and put his hands on his hips, offended. The other pocked him in the eye. Holding his eye, the offended clown stuck one of the daggers into the other’s chest. Blood spirted from him. Then he stuck a second dagger into him and then the third. The injured clown fell to floor dramatically, clutching his chest. Crimson sprayed skyward in a ridiculous fountain.

  The crowd was stunned into silence. Children began to cry. Dozens of phone cameras filmed the drama. Someone shouted for the police to be called but before anyone could act, a van pulled up. It had a blue flashing light on the top. Two more clowns got out, wearing mock police uniforms. They ran to the injured clown and picked him up on
a stretcher, dropping him several times. Eventually, the hapless clown was put into the back of the van. Then they all climbed into the back of the van and closed the doors. No one was in the cab. A siren began to wail. The crowd watched amazed as the driverless vehicle made a three-point turn and then sped off up the hill towards Bodffordd.

  Chapter 7

  Alan and Kim arrived at Station Road, Rhosneiger. The front of the detached property faced inland; the back overlooked the beach. A call to the emergency services had been made indicating a potential homicide had occurred. An ambulance and two uniformed units had made it to the scene before them. They parked the car and walked up the drive. Kim tied up her blond hair with a scrunchie and zipped up her wax jacket against the wind. Alan felt the cold on his scalp, his thinning grey hair offered little protection nowadays. The pea-sized growth on his forehead was purple. It became itchy in the cold. He pulled on a wool beanie hat, tucking his ears beneath it. His knee was painful and stiff today, reminding him retirement wasn’t far away. It was time to think seriously about hanging up his handcuffs. His mother always said, old age doesn’t come alone, she brings unwelcome friends with her. Now he knew what she meant. As they reached the front door, another uniformed unit arrived.

  ‘We’ll need cordons set up front and back,’ Alan said to the officers as they exited their vehicle.

  ‘No problem,’ a female officer replied. ‘Is it a fatality?’

  ‘We’ve just arrived,’ Alan answered. ‘Let’s treat it as one, just to be on the safe side and keep an eye out for the press.’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  Alan and Kim approached the house. The front door was open. They walked into a wide hallway, tiled with granite. The floor gleamed like black glass. Contemporary artwork adorned the walls alongside black and white photography. Most of it featured local beauty spots. It was an old house but it had been recently renovated. Someone had spent a lot of money on structural improvements and décor. The interior had been renovated to a high spec.