by Paul Ruditis
That was one of the things that Phoebe respected most about Elise. Sure, she could be fun and even a little irreverent at times, but she took the news very seriously. Phoebe figured that might be why Elise enjoyed working with Phoebe on her column so much. It was the one part of the paper she didn’t have to stress out about. Sure, Elise was a stickler for making sure that Phoebe gave well-thought-out advice, but it wasn’t the same as making sure all the facts were straight before the paper ran a piece exposing a crooked politician.
“What if I told you that another animal—an elephant—was sick?” Phoebe asked. She had debated over actually getting the paper involved, but in the end she felt that the Mirror’s resources could come in handy in this case.
“Well, that would be moving more in the direction of a story,” Elise said. “But it still sounds like one of those TV news teasers that turns out to be a non-story. How did you hear about all this?”
“I met a man—”
“Sounds interesting,” Elise quickly jumped in.
“Not like that,” Phoebe said. Sure, they had flirted a little bit, but she was dating Jason. Sort of. “I mean, I met someone who works for the circus. You could say he kind of gave me an exclusive.” Oh, that sounded bad, Phoebe thought.
“I’m sure he did,” Elise said. “But the last time I checked, you weren’t an investigative journalist.”
“I don’t want to step on any toes,” Phoebe said. “But I just thought it was interesting.”
“Well, if you want to place some calls I’m not going to stop you,” Elise said. “Just don’t let it interfere with your next column.”
“I won’t,” Phoebe assured her. “I doubt it’s a real story, anyway.” She didn’t really want the paper involved, just the paper’s research department. “Do you think someone could do a quick check to see if any other reports have been filed on similar animal illnesses?”
“I’ll get someone on it,” Elise said. “But I’m not sure when we’ll be able to get back to you. This isn’t exactly a high priority.”
“I appreciate whatever you can do,” Phoebe said. “Thanks.”
“Tell Paige to get well soon,” Elise said.
“I will,” Phoebe said, feeling slightly guilty about lying to her boss. She had told Elise that she was at home tending to her sister. “Bye.”
“Bye.”
Phoebe shut her cell phone. Once again, she was thankful that she had a boss who was so understanding. Due to her night job slaying demons, Phoebe tended to call in sick at least once a week, using one lame reason or another. It was easier to come up with excuses now that there was a baby in the house, but Phoebe hated blaming Wyatt for all her unexcused absences. There seemed something potentially karmic about telling Elise that Wyatt was sick when he was perfectly well.
At least today she had been able to use a partial truth. She had told Elise that Paige had been in a hiking accident, and then she had let Elise jump to the natural conclusion that Paige had been injured in the accident.
Phoebe had taken a calculated risk in bringing up Tasha’s condition to Elise. If her editor had thought it was actually worth pursuing, she would have sent in a true journalist to cover it. In all likelihood it would have been someone Phoebe knew, and then she’d have to spend the afternoon hiding from a coworker while she continued to investigate the situation. It would have been pretty hard to come up with an explanation for why she was at the circus when she was supposed to be home taking care of Paige.
Luckily, the call had gone just as she’d expected.
Phoebe’s mind was on Tasha’s illness as she waited for Paige to return. They had agreed earlier to meet back at the spot where they had originally split up, by a trailer with a huge pirate flag draped on the side. In a sea of white and blue trailers, this one stood out. Phoebe briefly wondered what the flag was all about.
As she stood waiting for Paige, the clown from earlier ran by. As he hurried past Phoebe, he lifted his hat (and his wig) to her. The sight forced a smile onto her face.
At least someone is having a good day, she thought.
Phoebe was almost positive that Reed’s story was the reason Puck had sent the Charmed Ones to the circus. Animals that didn’t normally interact didn’t just take ill and die one after another without explanation. Sure, it could have been a coincidence, but considering she and her sisters had been sent to the circus specifically to find an Innocent in peril, it didn’t seem like that was likely.
“Hey,” Paige said as she found her sister beside the pirate flag. “I think I found something.”
“Me too,” Phoebe said.
“Tell me on the way,” Paige said, pulling her sister along.
“On the way where?” Phoebe asked.
“You’ll see.”
Phoebe followed as Paige guided her through the rows of empty trailers. The afternoon seemed to be taking a decidedly Nancy Drew-esque turn.
As they walked, Phoebe felt like it was starting to resemble a ghost town outside the Cow Palace. The fairgrounds were already beginning to empty as the audience made their way to their seats inside. The trailer area was also empty, as most of the circus personnel were in the staging area, prepping for the show.
Every now and then, Paige and Phoebe passed someone in costume heading for the back of the arena, but it seemed like most people were already inside. The few people they saw barely gave them a second glance.
Paige bypassed all of the trailers and went straight for the tents at the back of the restricted area. Phoebe hadn’t seen this section earlier, as the taller trailers had been blocking her view. She should have assumed something like it existed. It wasn’t like they were going to keep the animals in a double-wide.
About a dozen white tents of various sizes were scattered around the back section of the parking lot. This area was a little more crowded with circus staff, as the staging area for the arena was just beyond the tents.
“In here,” Paige said as she checked to make sure no one was watching. She then yanked Phoebe into the last tent in the line.
A heartbreaking sight confronted Phoebe when she entered. An elephant—presumably Tasha—was lying down on her side at the center of the tent. She had never seen a sick elephant before, but this one looked quite ill.
One of Tasha’s legs was chained to a spike in the ground. It seemed harsh, but Phoebe knew it was probably for the best. If Tasha was really feeling as bad as she looked, there was no telling what harm she might do to herself, or to others, without realizing it.
“Hello, girl,” Paige said as she cautiously approached the pachyderm. “I told you I’d be back. And I brought my sister with me.”
“Paige,” Phoebe cautioned. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Don’t worry,” Paige said. “She’s not going to hurt me.” Paige leaned down to pat Tasha on the head.
The elephant looked tired, as if she couldn’t even expend the energy to raise her head. But that didn’t mean Phoebe was comfortable getting close to her. One dizzy swing of the trunk could knock both Paige and Phoebe to the ground.
That was when it hit her: The trumpet sound from her premonition hadn’t come from a trumpet. It had been Tasha.
The realization eliminated any lingering doubt that they had found their Innocent. This was the reason Puck had sent them to the circus. Now all she had to do was figure out why Puck was so concerned about the elephant.
“Don’t worry, we’re here to help,” Paige continued, leaning in even closer to Tasha. “You’re going to be fine.”
“Paige,” Phoebe warned again as the elephant lifted her trunk off the ground.
“It’s okay,” Paige said.
Phoebe watched as Tasha continued to raise her trunk, then use it to pat Paige on the arm. It was almost as if the elephant could understand what her sister was saying.
As Paige worked at soothing the savage beast, Phoebe took stock of the area. The tent was pretty much empty, except for the sick elephant. A couple of
untouched hay bales sat off to the side, but nothing else was in the room.
Phoebe quickly amended her inventory when she looked up into the back corner of the tent and saw a video camera affixed to a support beam, just high enough that someone would need a ladder to change the tape.
Well, either a ladder or the power of levitation, Phoebe thought. She wondered if the video would contain anything interesting, and was about to mention it to Paige when they were unexpectedly interrupted.
“What the hell are you doing in here?” a dark-haired woman angrily asked as she came storming into the tent.
Chapter 12
“Get away from her,” the woman insisted as she walked toward Paige and Tasha.
Paige stepped away from the elephant, holding up her hands. “It’s okay,” Paige said. “We’re here to help.”
“Help what?” the woman asked. “Who are you? Did Jordan call you in to consult?”
“Not exactly,” Phoebe said, making a mental note to find out more about this Jordan person.
“Well then, what are you doing in here?” the woman asked again.
“Maybe we should start with introductions,” Paige said. “My name is Paige Matthews. I’m with Social Services.”
Phoebe looked at her sister, wondering where she was going with this. Paige hadn’t worked for Social Services for several months. But, aside from that, it wasn’t clear how that particular lie would help them in this situation.
“And this is Phoebe,” Paige said, pointing to her sister, but intentionally failing to provide more information.
“What does Social Services have to do with a sick elephant?” the woman asked.
“Have you noticed all the children around here?” Paige asked. “If there’s some kind of epidemic hitting the circus, we need to find out as soon as possible or we’re going to have to shut you down. Now, who are you?”
“Lane,” the woman said. “Lane Strickland. I’m Tasha’s trainer.”
Phoebe was surprised that the cover story seemed to be working. Then again, it helped that Paige was delivering it with such conviction. It was almost as if she was daring the woman to question her reason for being there.
“Nice to meet you,” Paige said, not bothering to hold out her hand. This added to the air of intimidation Paige was going for.
“A pleasure,” Lane said in return, not sounding remotely like she meant it. “What were you doing with Tasha? You shouldn’t have come in here unaccompanied. Tasha has been very skittish around people lately.”
Phoebe found that last part interesting. Was there a cause for this newfound fear of people? Or was Lane making up an excuse to get them out of the tent? Tasha certainly seemed fine around Paige.
“Really? We seem to be getting along,” Paige said, putting Phoebe’s thoughts into words. It seemed to Phoebe that her sister believed the latter option to be true.
Lane bent over to give the elephant a rubdown. By the way she handled the elephant, it looked like the woman truly cared for Tasha. But that wasn’t enough to convince Phoebe to cross Lane off her suspect list.
“I’m sorry, but you have to leave,” Lane said. “If Social Services is truly concerned, you should speak with the circus manager. I’d be happy to point out his trailer. In the meantime, the veterinarian is on his way over to discuss putting Tasha under a full quarantine.”
“Has it already gotten to that stage?” Phoebe asked.
“We think so,” the woman said impatiently.
“Do you mind if I ask you one quick question?” Phoebe asked, slipping back into journalist mode.
“Yes, I do,” Lane replied. “But since I get the feeling you aren’t going to leave until you find out whatever it is you came for, then I guess you can ask whatever you want, so long as we go outside to do it. I don’t want you bothering Tasha any more than you already have.”
Phoebe and Paige reluctantly followed Lane out of the tent.
“Your question?” Lane asked once they were outside.
For a brief moment Phoebe had forgotten what she had planned to ask. She actually had three questions, but figured Lane would only give her enough time to ask one. She chose the most direct query. “Have you ever seen anything like this illness before?” Phoebe asked.
“You mean before Zeus and Sabra?” Lane asked in a condescending tone.
Phoebe nodded her head. She suspected full well that Lane knew that was what she had meant.
“No,” Lane said, softening. “I’ve been working with animals since before I could walk. And I have never seen anything like the disease that is claiming the lives of these creatures.”
“Did you notice anything odd about Tasha before she got sick?” Phoebe asked.
“I thought you said one question,” Lane said, getting annoyed again.
“Please,” Phoebe said.
Lane seemed to drop her guard once again, if only slightly.
“Nothing,” Lane finally said. “We had a great workout the day before. Then the next morning, I came in to see her and she could barely move.”
“It hit that quickly?” Phoebe asked.
“Like someone had flipped a switch,” Lane said.
It sounds like someone—or some thing—got to Tasha, Phoebe thought.
“Thank you for your time,” Paige said.
“And thank you for leaving her alone,” Lane said sternly as she turned her back to them and went into the tent.
“Do you think we should wait for the vet to come by?” Paige asked.
“I think if we hang around here, Lane might sic a lion on us,” Phoebe said. “We can talk to the vet later. In the meantime, I think we need to regroup.”
Chapter 13
As they walked back through the trailers, Phoebe felt her cell phone vibrating in her purse. She hoped that it was Piper with some news about Puck’s motives. They had found their Innocent. Now all they needed to know was how to protect her…and from what.
Phoebe fished inside her bag and pulled out her phone. Piper’s name was flashing on the screen.
“I was just about to call you,” Phoebe said as she answered.
“Finally,” Piper said over the line. “I’ve been trying to get through to you for the past twenty minutes. Puck’s been blocking my calls. Is everything okay?”
“More or less,” Phoebe replied. “We haven’t run into Puck since we got here—at least, I don’t think we have. That’s the trouble with shape-shifters; you never know when they might be lurking around.”
Phoebe knew she didn’t have to tell that to Piper. They’d each had plenty of experience over the years with shape-shifters, changelings, and demons that could assume other identities. Oftentimes, these entities chose to steal the identities of the Charmed Ones, which always led to complications.
“I think I know who he wants us to protect,” Phoebe continued. “Can you look something up for us in the Book of Shadows?”
“Not at the moment,” Piper said. “I’m at the circus.”
“You’re here?” Phoebe asked.
“I just came in the front gate,” Piper said. “Boy, those tickets are expensive.”
“I didn’t think you were coming,” Phoebe said.
“Leo took a break from the retreat and came home,” Piper explained. “He thought I should be here. Where are you?”
“Someplace you can’t enter without a pass,” Phoebe said. “Hold on, I’ll send Paige for you. Where should she meet you?”
“At the caramel apple stand,” Piper said. “But tell her to hurry, I can feel my teeth rotting just from the smell of all this sugar.”
“She’s on her way,” Phoebe said as she hung up the phone.
“You’ll send me for her?” Paige asked. “What am I, a taxi cab?”
Phoebe rolled her eyes and told Paige where to meet their sister. Paige gave a little wave and orbed away.
Phoebe checked her watch. The show was about to begin. That meant they had approximately two hours to solve the mystery while the c
ircus staff was distracted by the performance. She hoped that would be enough time.
While Phoebe waited, the clown in the tiny blue bowler hat hurried past once again. He must have been late for his cue. Just like the last time, he tipped his hat—and wig—to her as he continued on his merry way.
“Oh look,” she said as he passed, “a running gag.”
I wonder if Puck would claim credit for that old joke too, she thought.
A moment later, Paige and Piper orbed in. Piper didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “So what have we learned?”
“Well,” Phoebe said, looking at Paige. “We think our Innocent’s an elephant.”
“An elephant?” Piper asked.
“An African elephant, to be exact,” Paige added.
“I wish at least some part of this would be surprising to me,” Piper said. “It makes sense, though. From what I’ve read, Puck has a connection to animals. Traditionally he gets along with them far better than he does with people.”
“So you think he really does want us to help?” Phoebe asked.
“I don’t know,” Piper said. “Leo seems to think Puck may be dangerous. He wanted me to get here right away.”
“Maybe he just thought any situation Puck would be involved in would be dangerous,” Paige suggested. “It does seem like Puck is a pretty powerful being. He’s been around since practically the beginning of time.”
“All the more reason to watch out for him,” Phoebe said. “Even if his intentions are good, we don’t know what he’s willing to do to see this thing through.”
“So, what’s the deal with this elephant?” Piper asked.
Her sisters quickly filled her in on what they had learned. Phoebe did most of the talking, since she had been the lead investigator, but Paige filled in the blanks with her impressions of the circus people she had observed while she was snooping.
From the snippets of conversation Paige had overheard, she deduced that the staff was trying not to jump to conclusions about the animals’ illnesses, but they were all deeply concerned. Beyond worrying about their own fate if the circus closed, there seemed to be an overwhelming fear for the rest of the healthy animals. The circus employees were like a close-knit family, and they considered the animals to be members of the family unit too.
