mystic caravan mystery 02 - freaky lies

by Amanda M. Lee

  “You have to tell him, Max,” I said, keeping my voice low. “I know you’re afraid to do it, but each day you wait will make hearing it that much harder on him. He’s already going to hate me for keeping the secret.”

  “So this is about you?” Max challenged. “Why do we have to tell him at all? He never has to know … or get angry with anyone. We can just let it go.”

  “Because he deserves to know where he came from,” I replied, not missing a beat. “And, yes, part of this is about me. I do care about him. We’re trying to build a relationship. I know that means very little to you, but my betrayal is going to crush him.”

  “And his anger is going to crush you,” Max said, blowing out a sigh as he tugged a hand through his snowy hair. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Tell him the truth,” I prodded. “He’s going to be angry, but he still deserves to know.”

  “And what happens if he leaves?”

  I’d considered the question myself. The last thing I wanted was to say goodbye to Kade. That didn’t mean I could keep up Max’s charade forever. “If he leaves it will be his decision,” I said, sucking in a breath as I forced my voice to remain even. “He might surprise us and want to get to know you as a father instead of a family friend. You could have a better relationship.”

  “Do you really believe that?”

  I shrugged. “I want to believe it,” I replied. “It doesn’t matter, though. He deserves the truth and you have to tell him. You’re his father. You owe him that.”

  “I know.” Max exhaled shakily. “I’m working on it.”

  “Work faster, Max. I can’t let this go for much longer. It’s not fair to him … and it’s not fair to us.”

  “What are you saying?”

  I gripped my beer tighter as I stood. “I’m saying that you have until we leave Nebraska Sunday night. After that … well … I’ll have to tell him.”

  Max was frustrated when he met my gaze. “Do you think he’ll thank you for blowing his life out of the water?”

  I shook my head. “No, but I want to move forward, and I can’t do that if a lie is holding us back,” I explained. “I don’t want to hurt you, Max, but I won’t continue to hurt him. I don’t have it in me.”

  Max made a disgusted sound in his throat as he leaned back against the table. “I hate that you’re so loyal.”

  “No, you don’t,” I said, a smile playing at the corners of my lips as I brushed a soft kiss against Max’s cheek. “I’m loyal to you, too.”

  “Not in this instance.”

  “I believe I’m doing the right thing for both of you,” I countered. “I won’t argue about it again, though. You have until we leave town Sunday. After that … well … I’ll take matters into my own hands.”

  10

  Ten

  “What were you and Max talking about?”

  I heard the question, but seeing Kade’s shirtless form in the doorway between my bathroom and bedroom momentarily distracted me. “Um, what?”

  I dragged my eyes up to Kade’s face and found him smiling. It was if he knew exactly what I’d been thinking, which was R-rated and not fit for discussion given his admission about wanting to get to know me better before taking the next step.

  “Do you want me to put my shirt on?” Kade asked, his eyes twinkling.

  That was the last thing I wanted. “I wasn’t thinking anything dirty,” I lied. “I was just … thinking about the body. The dead body, mind you, not your body.” That was entirely plausible.

  “I asked you a question,” Kade pressed. “What were you talking about with Max?”

  I opted not to lie. “You.”

  “I figured,” Kade said, using the towel in his hand to wipe the beading water from his face. He was a stickler about skin care. “What did he want to know?”

  “Just how you were doing,” I replied. “He said you’re still standoffish with him.”

  “I don’t mean to be,” Kade said, tossing the towel into the bathroom and killing the light before crawling into the bed next to me. He was in his boxer shorts but he might as well have been naked because I couldn’t stop my eyes from roaming his impressive torso. “I’m just … annoyed … where he’s concerned.”

  I didn’t think “annoyed” was the correct word. “Do you want to know what I think?”

  “Not unless it’s in regards to wherever your mind went when you saw me shirtless a minute ago,” Kade replied, rolling to his back and staring at the ceiling. He seemed resigned to a heavy discussion. “Fine. What do you think?”

  “I think it hurts more that Max lied to you than the rest of us,” I supplied. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think you’re happy about everyone else keeping the truth from you, but you didn’t know us and you understand why we lied.”

  “It hurt that you lied to me,” Kade said, causing my stomach to flip. “I know why you did it, but I still didn’t like it. I understand, though. You had to protect yourselves, and you didn’t know you could trust me.”

  “I think part of me always believed I could trust you,” I said, rolling so I could slip under the flimsy sheet and settle next to him. The trailer had air conditioning, but I preferred a fan at night. “I think I was more afraid of how you’d react than anything else.”

  “And how did I react?”

  “Like any normal human being would,” I replied. “You were confused and couldn’t believe what you were seeing. It didn’t take you long to come around, though.”

  “Normal?” Kade cocked a challenging eyebrow. “Is this payback because I said you looked normal earlier? I’ll have you know I’m anything but normal, honey.”

  “Oh, I know that,” I said, resting my head against his shoulder as he got comfortable. “I’ve seen you with your shirt off. I could never mistake you for normal after that.”

  “That was a marvelous answer,” Kade said, pressing a quick kiss to my forehead before closing his eyes. “I’ll try talking to Max tomorrow. Part of me is still angry. The other part thinks it’s stupid to hold onto a grudge for something like this.”

  “Really?” Hope coursed through me. Perhaps Kade would take the truth about his parentage better than I initially envisioned.

  “I approached the situation as a man betrayed by a family friend,” Kade explained. “I wasn’t the only one involved. Max had all of you to protect. I think deep down he knew I could be trusted. He wanted me to get to know you guys before the truth came out. I can’t fault him for that.”

  “That’s … good.”

  “It would be a different story if the secret had something to do with me,” Kade continued. “You guys needed to be protected. I understand that.”

  Well, crap. “I … .”

  Kade kissed my forehead a second time. “I’m exhausted,” he said, blowing out a weary sigh. “Can we table this discussion until the morning? I’m not in the mood for a big thing. We’ve got a busy day tomorrow.”

  “Sure,” I said, my heart clenching. “Goodnight.”

  “Sweet dreams,” Kade murmured, already drifting off. “Remind me to give you that massage I promised in the morning.”

  “I won’t forget.”

  KADE drifted off right away, leaving me alone with my busy mind as he frolicked in dreamland. I had no idea where his subconscious went, but he had a small smile playing at the corner of his lips, so I knew he enjoyed his time there.

  Because the bed was relatively small I couldn’t toss and turn until I got comfortable. Instead I was forced to remain close to Kade, his light snores filling the room until I couldn’t stand it, and I carefully disengaged from his arms. There would be no sleep for me tonight … at least not yet.

  In an effort to calm my tumultuous thoughts I slunk out of the trailer, being careful to quietly latch the door before embarking on a walk around the fairgrounds. I wasn’t worried about traversing the area alone. I had magic on my side and the dreamcatcher would alert me in plenty of time should someone cross the boundary. That didn�
�t put my mind at ease, though. Kade’s words haunted me, as I knew they would.

  He was right. Keeping the secret about our origins and mission was completely different from hiding the truth about his parentage. The big secret affected many. Max being Kade’s father affected only the two of them – and tangentially me, of course, because I stuck my big nose in Max’s business when I figured out the truth. I had no reasonable explanation for keeping it from him.

  It wasn’t even midnight, but the grounds were silent as I walked the empty pathways, my flip-flops clapping against the occasional rock. Most of the games and rides were still in sections. Everything wouldn’t be erected until the following day, just in time for opening night festivities the day after. Mystic Caravan is one of those machines that runs without someone watching every move and task. Everyone knows what they’re doing. Even the people I disliked – like most of the game barkers – know how to get things done.

  Before I realized where I was heading I ambled in the direction of the cornfield, listening carefully to make sure the clowns were down for the night before walking through their common area. I stopped before the edge of the dreamcatcher, tilting my head to the side and listening for the telltale signs of heavy feet in the cornstalks before taking a deep breath and crossing the barrier.

  Was it a smart move? Probably not. Something drew me to the area, though, and I was capable of taking care of myself.

  The field was dark, the only light coming from the muted moon. It would be full in a few days and it offered some illumination, except when clouds crossed it. I picked my way to where the body was discovered, slipping under the police tape and scanning the area as I approached.

  It was quiet … and empty. There was nothing there. I don’t know what I expected to find, or even whether I was truly looking for anything other than escape from my guilt, but the area was vacant and still.

  The police paid little heed to the crop as they tromped around looking for evidence. Many of the stalks were bent and leaning. I had a feeling the farmer who owned the land couldn’t be happy, but I’d never seen him despite the heavy police presence. That was odd, right? If a dismembered body showed up on your property, wouldn’t you come out to see what the hullabaloo was about? I made a mental note to research the owner the following day.

  After a few moments of fruitless searching I gave up. When I shifted back in the direction of the fairgrounds, my heart skipped a beat as my eyes landed on a dark figure watching me from the waving corn.

  It was too dark to make out any features. The figure wasn’t overly tall or built, the shoulders diminutive rather than broad. I knew immediately that I wasn’t looking at Kade. He hadn’t woken up alone and come looking for me. This was someone – or something – else.

  I licked my lips, refusing to take a step back and give the appearance of fear. “Nice night, huh?” As far as opening lines go, it probably wasn’t my best effort.

  The figure didn’t move, instead remaining unearthly still as I shifted from one foot to the other.

  I decided to try a different tactic. “Are you lost? The circus doesn’t open until Thursday. I don’t think there’s anything out here for you, unless you have a late night hankering for corn.” And dead bodies, I silently added. “The highway is that way.”

  I gestured for emphasis, but the shadow didn’t bother glancing in the direction I pointed. This was getting downright eerie.

  “I should probably get back,” I offered. “People will be looking for me.” The lie sounded desperate to my own ears, and the figure didn’t move … or cease the relentless staring. I couldn’t see actual eyes, yet I could feel a pointed gaze crawling all over me. The clouds over the moon were thick and I couldn’t make out details in the occasional reflective sheen the limited moonlight offered.

  I reached out with my mind, refusing to close my eyes for fear the figure would pick that moment to attack. It was hard to separate my growing terror from the angry mind emanations of my friend, and when I tried to zero in on his feelings I came up with nothing but … dread. Whatever found its way into the cornfield was not human. I wasn’t sure of much, but I was sure of that.

  “Well, okay,” I said, offering a shaky laugh. “You have a good night.” I took a large step to my left, keeping the figure in front of me and to the right. If I could create a large enough circle I would be able to make a break toward the dreamcatcher. I might not make it all the way to safety, but the dreamcatcher would alert and help would come if my silent companion crossed the line.

  I was relieved when the figure remained still, although I could feel its eyes on me as I took another step. The only thing between me and the carnival camp was corn stalks, and I loathed the idea of stepping into them because they’d put me at a disadvantage if I had to run. I was in danger of tripping, but the alternative was worse.

  “Enjoy your walk in the cornstalks,” I said, taking another step. This time the figure shifted in my direction. I had a choice, and I didn’t take more than a split second to make it. I broke into a run, bolting into the stalks and heading straight for the dreamcatcher line. I didn’t risk a glance over my shoulder; the sound of heavy footsteps and rattling stalks told me the figure was giving chase.

  I increased my pace, lashing out with my mind in an attempt to disorient my foe. It was probably a wasted effort, but I didn’t have many options. Whether real or imagined, I felt something grasp at the ends of my free-flowing hair as it streamed behind me. I wasn’t much of an athlete, despite being in good shape, but I pushed myself to the brink and crossed the dreamcatcher before I stumbled over my own feet and careened toward the ground.

  The dreamcatcher alerted, the magical net lighting up as my stalker followed. He raised his head to stare at the lights, giving me the opportunity to focus on his features. I couldn’t be sure, but I swear there was nothing there – including a nose. Holy … what the heck is going on?

  As if on cue, the wind picked up and the sky opened up to allow a deluge of rain. Naida! The water sprite could control the weather, and she’d been known to whip up a tornado or two when the mood struck. Interrupting her beauty sleep was definitely a tornado-worthy event.

  My assailant took an involuntary step back as a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. He glanced at me, seemingly conflicted about continuing the fight or fleeing. Self-preservation won out, and when I heard voices approaching from the fairgrounds I knew I was safe.

  The creature – and now I was certain it wasn’t human – made a guttural sound before disappearing into the cornstalks. I rolled to a sitting position, rubbing my sore knee as the voices grew closer. Nellie was the first to reach my side.

  “What happened?”

  He was dressed in a pink nightgown and sleeping hat and black combat boots, and carried an ax to complete the ensemble. It was surreal, yet somehow comforting. “There was something in the corn.”

  “What were you doing in the corn?” Kade, still dressed in only his boxer shorts, appeared at my side. His forehead creased with concern as he dropped to his knees and ran his hand over my sore leg. “Are you okay?”

  “I tripped,” I replied. “I’m fine.”

  “What were you doing out here?” Luke asked, his hair sleep mussed. He was shirtless, too, and I couldn’t help but smirk when I saw him puffing out his chest as he compared his muscles to Kade’s.

  “That’s a really good question,” Kade said. “I thought you were asleep with me.”

  “I … couldn’t sleep,” I said, holding my hands palms up. “I decided to take a walk. I couldn’t get the body out of my head, so I wanted to take a look at the area where we found it. It’s not as though we can wander around out there during the day.”

  “So you left the safety of the dreamcatcher?” Kade looked as if he was working overtime to keep himself from shaking me. “What were you thinking?”

  I was thinking that the guilt about lying to him was going to eat me whole. I couldn’t tell him that, though. “I only wanted to lo
ok around. I wasn’t thinking.”

  “It’s okay,” Luke said, grabbing me under my arms and helping me to a standing position. “She’s clearly in one piece and safe. There’s no need to yell at her.”

  Even though I’d interrupted his beauty sleep he still had my back. That’s why he’s the best friend I’ll ever have.

  “That’s not the point,” Kade snapped, brushing off the seat of my track pants. “She could’ve been hurt. She was hurt.”

  “It’s just a bruise,” I said. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

  “What was it?” Nellie asked, his eyes busily scanning the cornfield. “Could you tell what it was?”

  “I only know it wasn’t human,” I answered. “I tried scanning it and felt … nothing. It was dark inside of its head. Plus – I know this is going to sound weird – but I got a better look at it when the dreamcatcher went off. It didn’t appear to have a face.”

  Kade furrowed his brow. “It didn’t have a face? What does that mean?”

  I shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  Kade ran his tongue over his teeth and tugged a frustrated hand through his hair as he scanned the cornfield, pulling up short when his gaze reached the far side of the grounds. “The scarecrow is gone.”

  “What?”

  Kade pointed. “That scarecrow we saw earlier. It’s gone.”

  I followed his finger with my eyes and frowned. He was right. “I … huh.”

  “Do you think the scarecrow came alive and went after you?” Nellie asked, intrigued. “Because, if it did, that would be really … .”

  “Horrible,” Kade finished, slipping his arm around my waist.

  “I was going to say cool,” Nellie said. “I would love to hunt a wicked scarecrow.”