East Pender Boxed Set: Cozy Mystery Series Bundle of Books 1-14

by Leona Fox

  While people were allowed to watch and help, most of the local residents were standing away from danger, merely watching everything unfold. Not so Ellen, who ventured forth into the area to engage with the circus folk, some of whom were friendlier than others. Although since many of them were helping with the equipment they had other things on their mind than socializing.

  “Maybe we should leave them to it and stay away,” Kelly suggested, but Ellen scoffed at her.

  Rarely did she have the chance to indulge one of her personal interests like this and she was not going to deny herself the chance now that she had an opportunity. It was as though a new world had opened up to her and she was not going to walk away. Her first few attempts at conversation were met with grunts and brief acknowledgments. It wasn't until they met Ivan that they actually were speaking with one of the performers.

  Ivan was a brute of a man and he cut an imposing figure. He was at least six feet four inches tall with muscle packed around his body. He had a bald head and a thick bushy mustache under his nose. He wore black trousers and no shirt, so his hairy body was on view for all to see. Andy instantly bristled when he saw him; his defensive instincts kicking in. But he needn't have worried for Ivan bent down and picked up Scampy, who rolled onto his back in the big man's large hands, and allowed Ivan to tickle him.

  “Your dog is sweet,” he said in a deep, rumbling voice.

  “Thank you! He seems to like you,” Ellen said.

  “I have a way with animals,” Ivan continued in a thick Russian accent, “that is my place in the circus.”

  As if on cue Ellen heard the thump of footsteps behind Ivan. Then she saw a flicker of movement as something climbed up his body and appeared on his shoulder. It was a pet monkey. At the sight of it Scampy yelped and jumped down, running behind Ellen's legs where he growled at the new animal. The monkey hissed but Ivan laughed and wrapped his hand around the monkey's head, petting and soothing it until it was quiet once again.

  “I thought the circus didn't use animals anymore?” Kelly said, a tone of accusation in her voice.

  “If you are abusing these animals we're going to ask you to leave. You're not welcome here. This is the chief of police and he can get you to move on,” she said to Ivan, who blinked at her.

  “The way animals were treated brings me great shame, but you will see that these are more like my friends than pets. They are given the best food and they sleep even more comfortably than me,” he said, and chortled. This seemed to satisfy Kelly, and Ellen took up the baton of conversation.

  “I'm really fascinated by all this and I was wondering if you could tell us a bit about the other people around?” she said.

  “Well, over there you have the Twins of Fortune. They are the trapeze artists. Very talented boys, but they are typical brothers. Always arguing. Over there are the clowns, never serious. They should be helping but all they can do is laugh and joke about. Still, I suppose that is what they are there for. One is American so perhaps he feels more at home here. The group over there are the Fantastic Four. They are an acrobatic family, and they have been in the circus for generations. We have a lot of history in our circus. I myself come from a long line of animal trainers.”

  As he said this everyone’s attention was caught by the ringmaster chasing Aurora through the park. She had a grim look on her face and her hands were curled into tight fists as she stomped back to a trailer and slammed the door behind her. The ringmaster followed and cursed in Russian. Ivan sighed.

  “What was that about?” Ellen asked.

  “It is...a long story. Mr. Mysterio and Aurora...they fight a lot like that. She is the star but he is responsible for the circus and sometimes they do not always want the same things. She is a complicated girl,” he said with a tone of awe in his voice, his eyes still lingering on the trailer into which Aurora and Mr. Mysterio had disappeared.

  Ellen, Kelly, and Andy looked at each and raised their eyebrows. Of course it was no surprise that in an environment such as this there were pressures and tensions, both because of the show and travel deadlines and just for the fact of all these people spending so much time in close quarters with each other. Although they found it still was somewhat startling to see behind the scenes like this, especially when just a few moments before everyone had seemed so happy whilst in the parade.

  While it was fun to see everything being set up, the three of them realized it would spoil the magic of the show somewhat if they saw the performers acting normally. It wouldn't be long, Ellen thought, before they saw the clowns without make up, and she wanted to keep some of the mystique intact. So with that they walked away from the park, saying goodbye and thank you to Ivan, although he seemed a little more distracted. As they walked away they heard the Twins of Fortune shouting more angrily at each other.

  “I hope they're not like that tonight,” Kelly said, “I don't know how they could trust each other on the trapeze if they argue like that. And I wonder what they're arguing about.”

  But none of them spoke Russian so they were unable to parse the language. But, the body language of the brothers was emphatic and whatever it was they were arguing about, it was a matter of great importance to the two of them. By now, the crowd had diminished as most people had bought their tickets for the night, not wanting to miss out on the spectacular opening of the Red State Circus.

  Throughout the rest of the day Ellen was growing more and more excited, and everyone in the cafe was buzzing with the arrival of the circus. Ellen shared many stories with her customers, and many of them had stories of their own. The circus had managed to tap into a part of many people’s childhood, and had reminded them what it was to give in to awe and surprise.

  Too often in life it is easy to become cynical and jaded, and to not be surprised by anything anymore, but as people remembered what it was like when they first saw someone soar through the air, their eyes lit up with a childish glee. Those who had children started to tell their offspring about the wonders of the circus and how fun it was going to be later that night. The children became swept up in the excitement as well and suddenly the circus was the best thing in the world, even though they had yet to step into the big top.

  It was all Ellen could do to wait for the first show. As soon as it was time, she left the cafe and met Kelly, Andy, and Matthew at the park. The crew had been working hard all day and the big top now was standing proudly in the park. Its spire could be seen from miles around. The huge tent was an expanse of red and yellow, and the trailers and vans were parked around it in a semi-circle. There was another larger trailer at the front, which served as the box office, although there was a big sign saying 'Sold Out' hanging over the side.

  The excitement was palpable as everyone lined up to be let in. Ellen clutched her ticket firmly, a wide smile on her face as the four of them walked through the entrance to the tent and were thrust into a new world. They had to walk forward a little to get to the main arena but the smell of sawdust and candyfloss instantly hit them, as did the dim light. Ellen looked up at the top of the tent, which seemed an eternity away. There were ropes and a trapeze hanging from the ceiling, as well as a few other pieces of apparatus that would be used throughout the night in death-defying stunts. The noise of the crowd was deafening, too.

  All the seats were filled and everyone was packed closely together, adults and children, families and couples. They all were there, ready to witness the greatest show on Earth. There was music playing, the same song as had been heard when the circus had arrived in town. Ellen felt her heart beating along with the rhythm of the music.

  “I have to admit, even I'm getting a little excited,” Kelly said, but Ellen was too happy to respond.

  Kelly sat beside her husband, Matthew, then Ellen sat with Andy, who still was looking around suspiciously as he pointed out a number of safety hazards around the tent. But again, Ellen ignored him, her attention taken by the spotlight that was centered in the middle of the ring, just waiting for the ringmaster to st
ep in and begin the proceedings. Eventually the music stopped and people took this as a sign to stop talking.

  “Something's happening,” parents said to their children to get them to pay attention.

  All eyes were on the middle of the ring as a drumroll began. Then a blare of trumpets could be heard as a triumphant song was played and Mr. Mysterio leaped into the fray, his cloak billowing out behind him. He had in his hand a cane and this he twirled around as he welcomed everyone to the circus, but little did he know that a clown had appeared behind him.

  When the spotlight found the clown everyone in the audience laughed. Mr. Mysterio stopped talked and looked behind him, but the clown ducked out of sight. Mr. Mysterio carried on with his speech when the clown appeared again. The crowd erupted and hollered, pointing to the clown...then the clown pulled out a gun. Mr. Mysterio had a shocked look on his face as he held up his hands and dropped his cane to the floor. Ellen felt Andy tense beside her, the hero always ready to leap into action, but he wasn't fast enough. The clown pulled the trigger and a loud bang was heard and glitter fell from the ceiling.

  The show had begun.

  Everyone clapped their hands as Mr. Mysterio bowed and the clown disappeared off stage. One by one the acts came and went, dazzling the audience with expert performances and entertaining them with a good sense of humor. One of the clowns walked around the edge of the crowd in between acts, generally causing mischief and keeping people occupied. When Ivan came out Ellen and the others looked on with particular interest as the animals did his bidding. It was like he actually could talk to them. After seeing him in action, Kelly felt guilty for the way she had spoken to him earlier.

  Thankfully, the brothers’ bickering didn't seem to have an effect on their act as they moved in harmony through the air, catching and flipping each other over and over again. The clowns came out for their bit and had everyone howling with laughter at their antics. The Fantastic Four used all manner of props to launch themselves through the air, and each of them walked along a high-wire, making everyone's breath catch in their throat. Every act seemed to improve on the next.

  In one instance, Ellen glanced around to look at everyone's faces and she was happy with what she saw. Everyone's eyes were locked onto the middle of the ring, their mouths hanging open with wonder. Even Andy and Kelly had succumbed to the allure of the circus. Ellen was so pleased other people were loving it as much as she did.

  The memories it brought back were even more powerful now that she was sitting in the big top, too. She remembered how her father would sit her on his lap so she would have a better view, and how she wanted to be a part of it because it all seemed so glamorous and exciting. It would have been like living the grandest adventure. Her heart was filled with happiness and she had to brush a tear away from her face because the feelings were that strong.

  It all came to a head when the show reached its climax. Everything had been building to the moment when Aurora the Angel would take the stage. The lights went completely black and everything was silent. When the spotlight shone again Aurora was standing there, clad in the same sparkling leotard as she had been wearing in the parade. She stood completely still with her arms held aloft and her head tilted back, a wide smile on her face, a far cry from the way she had stormed through the yard earlier. It was difficult to see that the two had been the same person, for as Ellen watched her she really did seem like an angel.

  Soft music played in the background as Aurora twisted her body into unnatural shapes, then began using a rope that dangled from the ceiling to lift herself off the floor. It twisted around her body until it was a part of her and even though there was intense concentration on her face she never lost her smile. Everyone was completely enraptured by her. It was no wonder she was promoted as the star of the show because watching her was almost a spiritual experience. There was something about her that made her seem not of this world, some kind of splendor that took hold of everyone and kept them in a reverent glow.

  Aurora twisted her body up the rope until she was high above them all. The music reached a crescendo as she prepared for the end of her act, when suddenly the concentration on her face was broken. The rope wobbled, as did her body. She looked up in panic, then seemed to lose her grip and fell. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion.

  Ellen swore she saw Aurora close her eyes, as though she knew she was going home, the angel going back to heaven. There was a peaceful look on her face as she floated to the floor. Everyone rose from their seats, somehow all aware that this was not part of the show. Then everything sped up and, in a matter of seconds, there was a loud thump as Aurora's body crashed to the floor. The sound of bones cracking made everyone's stomach churn. Aurora was face down in the ring, her body twisted unnaturally. Time seemed to stand still as the rope fell harmlessly from the ceiling and landed beside her. For a moment nobody could believe what they just had witnessed.

  Chapter 3

  As soon as it was over Andy whipped out his badge and made his way to the floor, with Ellen quickly behind him. The rest of the crowd were talking among themselves, confused and afraid, wondering what they were supposed to do. The kids didn't understand. Ellen overheard their parents trying to explain to them that the beautiful lady had been hurt and they had to stay in their seats now.

  Quicker still were the circus folk who came rushing to Aurora's aid. Some of them were hoping against hope that by a miracle she had survived. If anyone deserved a miracle, it was her, her life so full of promise, but as they carefully turned her limp body over they saw that she had not survived. The light had gone from her eyes. Blood trickled out of her mouth and stained the floor. They all formed a circle around her as Mr. Mysterio cradled her in his arms, his face ashen with sadness and dread.

  As the crowd jostled, Andy pushed his way through, flashing his badge and declaring his presence. He and Ellen looked on with horror at Aurora's body. The sparkling leotard was torn and stained scarlet. It had lost whatever sparkle it once had. As much as she seemed an ethereal spirit while she had been twisting and twirling in midair, now she was just a girl, a girl who had lost her life before she even had had a chance to live it properly. Ellen was filled with a deep sorrow that such a place of magic and wonder should be the setting of this grisly scene.

  “I'm a cop, let me through,” Andy said. The circus folk glared at him and Ellen though, scowling at them.

  “We can take care of our own. We handle these matters internally,” one of them said.

  The clowns huddled together, crying, while Ivan stood solemnly with his huge arms folded over his barrel-chest. Andy was about to argue police procedure when one of the helpers came up to them, holding the frayed end of the rope. In an uncertain voice he said it didn't look right. The father of the Fantastic Four took it from him and looked at it, then handed it to his wife.

  “It's been cut,” he said in a hollow voice. Ellen and Andy glanced at each other, for this only meant one thing – somebody had wanted this to happen.

  “We're talking about murder now and this is not something you can handle internally,” Andy said firmly, pushing his way past the people blocking him.

  Still, the rest of the circus folk did not agree and they made no move to help him. Ellen wondered if she should speak but she was more concerned with the ramifications of this crime. Murder was a serious thing, especially within a community such as this, but before she could say anything Mr. Mysterio spoke in a soft voice.

  “Get out,” he said, and then, when nobody responded, he lifted his head, revealing the rivers of red in his eyes. Tears streamed down his cheeks and he yelled again, a deep, guttural command that shook the very foundations of the circus. Andy still was undeterred but Ellen pulled him away.

  “We need to find out what happened,” he said.

  “I know, but think about it. They're basically like an extended family and we're talking about murder. Do you know what that's going to do to them? This whole place is built on mutual trust and they're all
in this together, but now somebody killed Aurora and the killer mostly likely is standing around here.”

  As she said this both of them looked with suspicion upon the circus members. They found it was difficult to tell anything from their body language since people dealt with grief in different ways. Considering they knew so little about them anyway, it was impossible to have a baseline for the behavior. For example, was Mr. Mysterio always prone to emotional outbursts like that or could it have been an expression of guilt? They would have to ask around and find out all this information. It certainly was not the time now because the wounds were still too raw. If they asked too many sensitive questions the already-insular community would close its doors to them completely.

  Andy didn't look happy about it but he took Ellen's advice and stepped away to call in a team to investigate the crime scene. In the meantime, Kelly and Matthew rushed down to Ellen and the three of them helped usher out the rest of the guests, each one of them staring into the middle of the ring where Mr. Mysterio wept over the fallen angel.

  As soon as they all were out of the tent the accusations started flying around among the circus folk. Emotions were running high as they yelled at each other in English and Russian, confronting each other with harsh truths. There were claims of love and jealously, of envy of her position within the circus. Nearly everyone had something to say. All except Mr. Mysterio, who remained on the floor, cradling the body of Aurora.

  The clowns tried to help him up but he didn't seem to have the strength to do anything but sob over Aurora. Ellen wondered if it was just the sadness at losing a performer or if there was something more. Now that there had been a crime Ellen's mind had switched from a circus fan to a detective and she looked at everything with the cool eyes of suspicion.