mystic caravan mystery 02 - freaky lies

by Amanda M. Lee

“I guess.” Percival didn’t look convinced. “I would think that dismembering a body like that – and taking the eyes – has a purpose, though.”

  For someone so unruffled when screams rang out hours earlier, he seemed eager to talk about the ins and outs of ritualistic murder. That can’t be normal, right? “I honestly don’t know,” I finally said. “We need to keep our eyes open, though. If there is a murderer out there he could come back to check things out now that the body has been discovered. That could be dangerous for us.” And him, I silently added.

  “It could’ve been a message,” Nellie suggested, his eyes cloudy as he shifted them to the cornfield. “Maybe the message was for us.”

  That was a sobering thought. I’d had it myself, though, so I wasn’t surprised Nellie considered it, too. “The placement of the body does seem convenient,” I conceded. “We can’t jump to any conclusions.”

  “I’m not jumping to conclusions,” Nellie countered. “I do think we should make sure our … lines … are intact, though.”

  That was code. He wanted Raven and me to test the dreamcatcher and make sure there were no holes in the perimeter. We were diligent when setting the magical trap, but that didn’t mean the occasional lapse didn’t occur.

  “That’s a good idea,” I said. “I’ll take a walk with Kade later and make sure that our boundaries are secure.”

  “I’ll talk to Dolph,” Nellie said, referring to our resident strong man as he nodded and locked gazes with me. “We’ll walk the perimeter before bed, too. It can’t hurt to have multiple eyes on the boundaries. You know … better safe than sorry.”

  I did know. We were in an uncomfortable situation. Percival’s arrival – and insistence on staying close to us rather than hanging with the other clowns – meant that we had to veil our magical proclivities. It wasn’t a problem before Frank’s body was found – er, well, at least it wasn’t a huge problem – but now it seemed a nuisance. “It will be okay,” I said, forcing a bright smile for Percival’s benefit. “It’s just bad luck that Frank was killed and dumped so close to our visit.”

  “Yeah, bad luck,” Nellie intoned dryly, rolling his eyes. “I hate bad luck.”

  He wasn’t the only one.

  DINNER was a festive affair, everyone enjoying the fresh corn and cucumber salad as the group settled in for a long night of stories and drinking. Luke and Seth, our tiger shifter, built a bonfire while Nixie and Naida cleared the dishes and bagged up the garbage. Circus life is like camping in some respects, which means leaving garbage around to draw scavengers is a big no-no.

  I was lost in thought, my mind busy as the sun set and serious conversation turned to revelry. No matter how I tried to wrap my brain around it, I couldn’t come up with an acceptable scenario in which Frank’s death didn’t have something to do with us. Someone would have to be an idiot to dump a body so close to the circus grounds given the fact that our arrival was on every billboard between here and the city. No, Nellie was right. This was a message directed at us. The question was: Who specifically was it meant for?

  “What are you thinking?” Kade asked, moving up behind me and resting his hand on my hip. “You seem lost in thought.”

  “I’m thinking that … something bad is going to happen,” I said.

  Kade pursed his lips and brushed a strand of hair from my face as he leaned forward and fixed me with a serious look. “Like what?”

  “I … don’t know. It’s just a feeling. Don’t laugh. I can’t explain it.”

  “I’m not laughing,” Kade said, holding his hands up in a placating manner as the corners of his mouth twitched. “If someone else had said the same thing to me a month ago I would’ve laughed. I’ve seen a lot since then, though, and I’ve seen what you’re capable of. I have no intention of laughing.”

  “Oh, you want to laugh,” I countered, narrowing my eyes. “I’m just a normal woman, after all. Normal women are dramatic. I know what you’re thinking.”

  “I wasn’t thinking that,” Kade said. “I didn’t mean anything when I said you looked normal. I simply meant you looked as beautiful as you always do.”

  “Nice save,” I said, fighting the urge to laugh and failing. “It’s fine. I’m just … antsy.”

  “Because of the body?”

  I nodded. “Because of the body,” I confirmed. “Also because we can’t talk openly in front of Percival. I know it’s weird, but he seemed really interested in talking about the murder. It made me … uncomfortable.”

  Kade shifted so he could study the bonfire area where Raven, Nixie and Naida fell all over themselves to entertain a tickled Percival. “What do we know about him?”

  I shrugged. “There’s not much to know,” I replied. “The man dresses as a clown for a living. That makes him suspect.”

  Kade snorted. “You said there was nothing wrong with dressing as a clown.”

  “I only said that to mess with you. We both know it’s weird.”

  “Well, at least we finally agree on something,” Kade said, slipping his arm around my waist. “I guess I don’t have to worry about you falling for the accent, huh? The clown thing probably cancels it out.”

  He was cute, but I wasn’t above teasing him. “I don’t know,” I hedged. “That accent is … magical.”

  “I’ll show you magical,” Kade muttered, snapping my body flush with his so he could drop a scorching kiss on my upturned mouth. I was breathless when he finally released me. “How was that?”

  I checked my clothes to make sure they were still in place before answering. “Fantastical,” I said, gasping to regain my breath.

  “That’s what I thought,” Kade said, puffing out his chest before grabbing my hand. “Come on. Let’s check the perimeter and then enjoy the bonfire. It’s a nice night. Let’s have some fun.”

  “Will you talk in an accent for me?”

  Kade scowled. “Seriously, clowns are nothing but trouble. They suck.”

  9

  Nine

  The night was warm and quiet as Kade and I made our way to the outskirts of the Lincoln fairgrounds. I could hear the clowns hooting and laughing along their stretch of camp – and the barkers and game mavens settling in for a rowdy evening along their trailer row – but the only other sounds I could make out came from the winds as they rustled through the corn stalks.

  “This place is creepy,” Kade murmured, linking his fingers with mine as his eyes scanned the field. We weren’t in the same location where the body was found, mostly because that would entail hanging with the clowns – never a good idea when liquor is involved, and I’d seen them wrestling a keg toward their common area when we returned from town earlier – but we were close enough that memories of this morning bombarded me every time I jolted at the sound of rattling corn fields.

  “It’s not creepy,” I said finally, determined not to let my imagination get the better of me. “It’s a field of corn. I happen to like corn.”

  “I happen to like corn, too,” Kade said. “What I don’t like is dead bodies, missing arms and stolen eyes.”

  He had a point. Still … . “I think you’re overreacting,” I said, moving to disengage my hand from his. He didn’t let me, and I couldn’t help but smile when I saw his knuckles turning white under the pale moonlight and limited illumination of the nearby trailers. “Are you frightened? Do you need me to protect you? I’m willing to do it, but it will cost you a massage when we get back to my trailer.”

  I was messing with him, but he didn’t seem to be in the mood for games. “I’ll massage you no matter what,” he said absentmindedly, his eyes fixated on dark fields. “Are you saying you don’t feel that?”

  I stilled, surprised. I was usually the one spouting off about feelings while he fought the urge to laugh. “I … no.” It was an honest answer. “I don’t feel anything but the night air. It’s almost stifling because of the heat. It’ll be worse tomorrow. I can feel that.”

  This time Kade did crack a smile and the expression lit up hi
s handsome face under the ambient light of the midway rides to our right. “You can feel the weather now? Surely you are a witch.”

  “I’m not a witch,” I scoffed. “That’s Raven, and I would hate to think you can’t tell the two of us apart.”

  “Oh, I can tell you apart,” Kade said, releasing my hand so he could move his fingers to my waist and pull me closer. “I would never mistake you for the likes of Raven.”

  “That was a good answer.” My tempestuous history with Raven was well known, and even though I’d recently saved her life we weren’t exactly what I would call friendly – and that had only partially to do with the way she threw herself at Kade when he arrived.

  “I’m full of good answers,” Kade said, briefly rubbing his nose against mine – giving me a small thrill at the thought he was going to kiss me – before turning his attention back to the field. “I don’t like the way this place is laid out.”

  So much for taking advantage of the moment. I mean … for crying out loud … we had the moon and were alone for the first time all day. What more did he want? Wait … what were we talking about again?

  If Kade noticed my distraction, he didn’t mention it. Instead he remained fixated on the field. “That scarecrow bugs me, too,” he said, nodding in the direction of the straw man sentry to our left. “It’s like he’s watching us.”

  “You know he’s really nothing more than hay stuffed in clothing and mounted on a pike, right?” I couldn’t help but be dubious. Kade’s dislike of clowns was one thing – everyone understood hating clowns – but the scarecrow was an inanimate object. The clowns walked, talked and honked really annoying horns as they threw buckets of water on unsuspecting guests and crammed themselves in tiny cars. That’s a mountain of things to hate. Scarecrows did only one thing: annoy birds. “He’s not real.”

  “I know he’s not real,” Kade shot back, scowling. “It still feels creepy knowing he’s out there where a body was found with corn husks shoved in its eye sockets.”

  I was missing something. “Do you think the scarecrow did that?”

  “I just … feel as if he’s watching me,” Kade said, involuntarily shuddering. “He feels unnatural.”

  Given the fact that he worked for a supernatural circus that featured shifters, pixies, mind readers, a cross-dressing dwarf and a mage no one dared cross, his scarecrow fear seemed almost comical … and adorable. I squeezed his hand and smiled. “I’ll protect you from the scarecrow.”

  “Make fun of me all you want. I can take it.” Kade’s tone was grim but his expression softened when he saw the mirth in my eyes. “I can put up with you teasing me, but only you.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” I said, flashing a flirty smile as I nuzzled a little closer. “I would hate to think you’d want someone else to tease you.”

  “Just you,” Kade said, slipping an arm over my shoulders as he cast one final look at the scarecrow. “I can’t believe that thing doesn’t bother you.”

  “I’ve seen real monsters,” I reminded him. “After a while … after so many times of being attacked by things I’ve only read about in books … a fake monster simply doesn’t have the ability to work me into a terror-stricken frenzy.”

  “Ha, ha,” Kade intoned, falling into step next to me as we continued our perimeter sweep. “I still don’t like him.”

  “Duly noted.”

  “I like you, though, so let’s finish this up,” he said. “The faster we’re done the faster we can enjoy the campfire.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “What did you have in mind?”

  “Oh, no,” Kade said, wagging a finger in my face. “It’s a secret until we’ve completed our work. If I tell you now you’ll be distracted.”

  “And no one wants that,” I said, giggling as I let him lead me away from the scarecrow. “Pick up your pace. I’m dying to see what you’ve got in store for me.”

  “Your wish is my command.”

  TWO HOURS later I left Kade in Nellie and Dolph’s capable storytelling hands so I could grab two beers from the bucket near the picnic tables. I pulled up short when I found Max sitting there, his smile bright as he watched everyone cavort and have a good time.

  “What are you doing out here?” I asked, rummaging for beers in the ice before straightening. “You usually don’t come down to mix with the peasants unless you’re really bored.”

  “That’s not true,” Max replied, shaking his head. “I enjoy mingling with my subjects whether I’m bored or not.”

  He appeared to be in a good mood, which instantly put me on alert. “Uh-huh. What are you really doing here?”

  “I just wanted to touch base with you,” Max replied, patting the open spot on the bench next to him. “We didn’t get a chance to talk earlier. What do you know about the body?”

  I exhaled heavily. Of course he was here to talk about the body. That made sense. Still, I was a bundle of nerves whenever he came around these days. I ordered him to tell Kade the truth and now I dreaded the day he would finally get up the nerve to actually do it. “We know the victim was named Frank Ryland,” I answered, sitting next to Max and offering him one of the beers before popping the top on the other. “He was a ladies man and card shark. He was well known and somewhat well liked. Supposedly he didn’t have enemies, but I’m not sure I believe that.”

  “He died in a horrible manner and was left disfigured in the middle of a cornfield,” Max said. “He had at least one enemy.”

  I nodded as I swigged from the bottle, waiting until I swallowed before speaking again. “I didn’t get a chance to look around the scene for very long – for obvious reasons – but it felt ritualistic.”

  Max didn’t appear bothered by my observation. “What creature murders in that manner? We might be able to set a specific trap if we know what we’re looking for.”

  “I don’t know of any creature that murders that way,” I replied. “I’ve heard stories about humans who do, though.”

  Max arched an eyebrow, intrigued. “Do tell.”

  “There isn’t much to tell,” I said. “If it was just the arms and legs missing I wouldn’t be worried. The eyes are a different story.”

  “Witches,” Max murmured, knitting his eyebrows. “I’ve read the same stories. Witches are known for stealing eyes and using them in spells. The runners we sent ahead didn’t mention any abnormal witch populations in this area.”

  “No,” I agreed. “That doesn’t mean something isn’t out there, though.”

  “Do you think it spells danger for us?”

  “I can’t imagine why a body would be dropped so close to the fairgrounds if it wasn’t a message for us,” I answered. “It feels too … coincidental … otherwise. You know how I feel about coincidences.”

  “That’s a good point,” Max said, sipping his beer as he considered the situation. “Nothing has tripped the dreamcatcher since our arrival?”

  “No.”

  “Well, we can’t worry until we have something to worry about,” Max said, his pragmatic side taking over. “The body is troublesome, but until something else happens we can’t do anything.”

  Sadly, I couldn’t find a reason to argue with him. That didn’t mean I was above picking a fight. “When are you going to talk to Kade?”

  Max didn’t so much as raise an eyebrow at the shift in topics. He also didn’t acknowledge it. “Tell me about the new clown.”

  I bit off a hot retort and silently reminded myself that Max was technically my boss, even though before the big Kade lie I often thought of him more as a father than anything else. “His name is Percival Prentiss and he’s kind of a tool.”

  Max chuckled. “He’s a clown, my dear. They’re all tools.”

  “He has a great accent, but something seems slightly off about him,” I said. “I’m watching him. I can’t identify any one thing I specifically don’t like about him, but there’s just something … off.”

  “He seems popular with the female crowd,” Max said, inclini
ng his chin toward the far side of the fire, where Raven, Naida and Nixie struggled for Percival’s attention. “Is that because of the accent?”

  I shrugged. “It’s certainly not because of the clown thing.”

  “Good point,” Max said. “I’ll see whether I can find out any other useful information about him. He’s a clown, which automatically makes him odd. We don’t turn our backs on people just because they’re odd, though. You should know that.”

  “I wasn’t suggesting turning our backs on him,” I countered. “I just want to keep an eye on him. Eventually we’re either going to have to let him in on the big secret or cut him loose. That’s how it is with everyone we bring in. You know that.”

  “I do.”

  “Speaking of big secrets … .” I wasn’t ready to let the Kade question go without pressing Max.

  “I’m doing the best I can, Poet,” Max said, finally dragging his eyes from the fire and focusing on me. “I haven’t forgotten our conversation. I haven’t forgotten your ultimatum.”

  “Yet it’s been more than a week and Kade still doesn’t know the truth,” I reminded him. “You’re putting me in a bad position, Max.”

  “Because you love him?”

  Well, that was a pointed question. “Because I care about him,” I clarified. “I hardly know him well enough to love him.” What the heck? I hadn’t even seen him naked yet. I could hardly commit to loving someone if I hadn’t seen him naked. What? I’m shallow. I can’t help it.

  “Still, your feelings for him are quite … cute,” Max said, grinning as I scowled. He knew I hated being called cute. I was terrifying and mean. Everyone knew that. “I’m trying to figure out the best way to approach him. He’s still … standoffish … with me.”

  Kade wasn’t thrilled when the truth about our paranormal abilities came out. He was royally ticked off when he realized everyone had been lying to him. Still, he found a way to get over it and forgive us. We didn’t know him, after all. We were merely lying to protect ourselves, and he understood that. Max was another story.

  Kade knew Max his entire life. He was the gregarious friend of his deceased father who dropped in to see him several times a year. He took him on grand adventures and told him entertaining stories about the circus. Max’s betrayal stung the most and Kade still struggled with his feelings regarding the lie. I understood Max’s trepidation. That didn’t mean I could overlook the lie.