[Mystic Caravan Mystery 04.0] Freaky Games

by Amanda M. Lee

  Jasmine wasn’t in the mood to listen. “I knew that riding crop wasn’t part of a Halloween costume. I could smell the sweat on it.”

  “She’s lying!” Joshua bellowed. “That’s what these types of people do. They lie and get you to pay them money for making stuff up. They’re … grifters!”

  I exchanged a quick look with Nellie, amusement washing over me. Having such a fun reading so early in the night served as a nice tension breaker. It was clear my work with this particular couple was done, though.

  “Next.”

  18

  Eighteen

  “Are you coming to see the big show?”

  Nellie waited for me outside of my tent once I shut down for the night, his solid presence surprisingly welcome after the long day I’d been forced to endure. Most nights, as soon as the big show started, I usually either closed down or allowed Melissa to take the few stragglers who bothered to come by for a reading. Since I had no idea where Melissa was at present, I opted for closing down.

  “I’m not in the mood,” I said, tying the flaps and fixing Nellie with a curious look. It wasn’t like him to hover. In fact, he was against hovering on general principle. “Why are you hanging around me instead of messing with the guests?”

  “Maybe I like your face – despite the fact that it’s all scraped and puffy right now under that thick layer of makeup you’re sporting. Have you ever considered that?”

  I cocked a challenging eyebrow but didn’t answer.

  “Maybe I was making sure that your friend from earlier didn’t return,” Nellie conceded, grinning. “He seemed unhappy. Sometimes – and I’m not pointing fingers here – but sometimes you make people unhappy and it comes back to bite you in the behind. There might be a lesson in that.”

  “Yes, well, he had it coming,” I said, cracking my neck as I stretched. “I don’t care who he wants to spend his personal time with, but he was going to use, abuse and then discard that girl. Because he’s a total tool, he’d ruin her life in the process. I couldn’t just let him do that without trying to warn her.”

  “She was clearly going to marry him for his money,” Nellie pointed out. “Is she any better?”

  I nodded without hesitation. “Definitely. She truly loved him, or at least convinced herself she did. She was loyal and would’ve stayed with him despite the nonstop verbal abuse. She’s a good, if somewhat misguided, individual.”

  “Then I’m glad you messed with him.” Nellie fell into step with me, not questioning why I was heading toward the trailers rather than conducting my usual fairgrounds rounds or stopping by the big tent to enjoy a portion of the main event. “Just so you know, she called a cab. It picked her up about thirty minutes after she ran from your tent. The guy pleaded his case in the parking lot before losing his temper and kicking some tires.”

  “I saw you loitering around my tent opening several times tonight,” I noted. “Were you protecting me?”

  “I know you can take care of yourself.”

  “But?”

  “But I heard you had a rough morning and I wanted to make sure you weren’t suffering any ill effects,” Nellie conceded. “I mean … you traveled through time. That has to be hard on the immune system.”

  I didn’t bother hiding my smile. “You’re a good man – when you want to be, that is.”

  “I wasn’t lying earlier when I said I like your face either. Sue me.”

  “I think I’ll refrain tonight because I am feeling a bit tired.” I poked his side as we walked. “Do you know what happened this morning? I mean, you obviously know some of it. Do you know all of it?”

  “I got a rundown from Kade, who seemed a bit confused and overwrought, and then I clarified things with Nixie. She’s in a terrible mood, by the way. She spread the word about loaning money to Luke, like you asked, and he’s been burning your name in effigy to anyone who will listen.”

  “Is anyone listening?” I was legitimately curious. I would exert undue pressure on anyone who broke from my wishes … and I wouldn’t feel guilty in the least for invading a mind here or there to do it. Luke needed some tough love, and I was happy to be the one to give it to him.

  “Mark looked as if he was going to buckle for a bit,” Nellie replied, referring to the midway chief Mark Lane. “You know he likes to mess with people. He ultimately turned Luke down. I doubt very much it was to appease you, but he did it all the same, which is probably a good thing from your point of view.”

  “Did you have something to do with that?”

  Nellie pursed his lips, running his hand over his beard as he heaved a sigh. “I don’t know what to think about all of this,” he admitted after a beat. “I know I trust you. I always have. If you think Luke is in trouble, then I’m going to side with you. The guy is a pain in the ass when he wants to be, but I like him. You love him and want to protect him. There doesn’t seem to be much of a choice in there for anyone who honestly wants to do the right thing.”

  “I’m worried about him. He’s obsessed with that casino. It’s not healthy.”

  “I know you’ve already heard this from a few other people – including your muscle-bound love muffin – but Luke is an adult,” Nellie pointed out. “Are you sure you’re going about this the right way? As an adult, he’s allowed to throw all of his money away if he wants to do it.”

  “I don’t argue with that, but he’s starting to throw away other people’s money.”

  “Only because he’s limited by the amount of money he can pull out of his own accounts on a daily basis.”

  “Do you really believe that?”

  “It’s clear you don’t.” Nellie slowed his pace. “Tell me what’s really bothering you. I can see that something very heavy is weighing on you, and that’s on top of the figment and the ceaseless dust storms.”

  “We’re dealing with more than a figment, but I’m not sure what the other entity is,” I said. “I need to talk to Raven, but that will have to wait until later. As for Luke, I’m worried because I’ve never seen him act like this. He’s different … and not in a good way.”

  “Is this because he barreled into your trailer and demanded money? I heard he grabbed a hold of you when you turned him down. He has no right to put his hands on you.”

  I had no intention of telling anyone about that altercation, so my heart skipped a beat when I realized the Mystic Caravan gossip mill was already in full bloom. “Did Kade tell you that?”

  “No, Luke did,” Nellie replied. “He’s feeling a bit guilty, although he’s not approaching the situation as if he’s guilty, mind you. He’s blaming everything on you and making excuses for his actions. That’s why I’m prone to taking your side. You know how I feel about excuses.”

  I did indeed. In fact, I felt the same way about excuses. “There’s something wrong here, Nellie. I can’t shake the feeling that maybe something paranormal is going on here, like perhaps the casino owner casts some sort of spell over new visitors or something. I have no proof, of course, but I feel it.”

  “If that’s the case, why did I manage to walk away with minimal effort?” Nellie challenged. “I went the first two nights and stopped once I lost my money. Nixie and Naida did the same.”

  I held my hands palms up and shrugged. “I don’t have an answer for that question. All I have is theories. Like … maybe because you’re a different sort of being so the spell was easier for you to overcome. The same for Nixie and Naida. They’re from a different plane of existence.

  “Maybe it works more on Luke because most of his genes are human,” I continued. “Maybe Luke is more affected because he has an addictive personality. Maybe Luke is more affected because he got hit with a higher dose of magic. I honestly don’t know the answer. I do know that he’s not acting like himself and I don’t like it.”

  “I will agree that he’s acting out of sorts,” Nellie said. “I think it’s a little early to be screaming ‘gambling addiction’ and planning an intervention, though.”

  �
��You might not say that if he shoved you against a wall.”

  “He would be dead if he tried.”

  “You also might not say it if you loved him as much as I love him,” I added, my escaping sigh heavy as I worked to tamp down my worry. “If you want me to feel guilty about bossing him around, I won’t. I feel in my soul that something is wrong here. I love him … and I’ll die to protect him.”

  “That’s the other reason I’m taking your side,” Nellie said. He inclined his chin in the direction of my trailer, his lips curving under the wiry beard. “I think you have a lot of people on your side, even more than you’re ready to acknowledge. You need to remember that you’re not in this alone. We’ll all do what it takes to protect Luke.”

  I followed his gaze, my lips curving when I caught sight of Kade. He rested with his back against my trailer, his muscular arms folded over his chest, as if he expected me to join him at any moment. “I know that.”

  “I’m not saying you’re wrong, Poet,” Nellie added. “Maybe I just hope you are. Either way, we’ll stand with you when it comes to Luke. I promise you that.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  Nellie shook off his melancholy and turned back to the fairgrounds. “Have fun with your boy wonder. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  “That gives me a lot of room to work with,” I teased.

  “That’s the way I roll.”

  “COME ON. It will be fun.”

  Kade wouldn’t allow me to hide in my trailer and wallow, instead insisting that we walk around the fairgrounds and enjoy a beautiful evening and the rare opportunity to spend quality time together on a show night. I had to believe it was because his job required him to remain alert and he wanted me with him, but ultimately it seemed like a losing cause to argue, so I fell into step with him after minimal argument. When he suggested we play a few games, I couldn’t help but be dubious.

  “You want to play games?”

  Kade shrugged, the corners of his mouth tipping up. “Are you going to tell me that they’re rigged and it’s a waste of money?”

  “No, because that wouldn’t make much business sense. You don’t have to pay if you want to play, by the way. Mark will let you play for free.”

  “No, Mark won’t.” Mark Lane, always hiding in the shadows (and apparently never washing his hair or purchasing a bar of soap), emerged from behind one of the ticket booths and fixed me with a dark look. “That’s not how we make a profit here.”

  “I don’t expect to play for free.” Kade dug in his pocket and returned with his wallet. “I want some game tickets.”

  “Certainly.” Mark is so oily that I often wonder how he manages to stay upright without slipping in the puddle of goo he leaves behind. “How many tickets would you like?”

  “If you make him pay, I’ll make you pay,” I warned, my temper flaring.

  Mark chewed on his bottom lip as he flicked his eyes to me, perhaps debating my seriousness. Mark is human, and he’s good at what he does. While his personality leaves a lot to be desired I’ve never put up much of a fight with Max when it comes to Mark’s continued stay with Mystic Caravan. I wasn’t opposed to eventually tackling that argument if it became necessary, though. Max would take my side over Mark’s no matter how profitable the midway was. I knew that. I believed Mark knew it, too.

  “It’s fine, Poet,” Kade interjected. “I want to pay. I’m going to win you a stuffed animal. It won’t be much of a feat if I don’t have to pay.”

  I shifted my eyes to Kade, surprised. “You’re going to win me a stuffed animal?”

  Kade nodded. “That’s what men do when they’re at a circus and they want to impress a woman.”

  “Is that a law or something?”

  “It’s my law,” Kade said, handing Mark a twenty. “Get me some tickets.”

  “I don’t handle the tickets,” Mark countered. “I’m management. If you want tickets, you’ll have to get them from the booth.”

  “Oh, good grief.” I grabbed Kade’s twenty and stalked around the side of the ticket booth, handing it to the girl behind the window and wordlessly taking the tickets she offered while glaring at Mark with slit-eyed hatred. I gave the tickets to Kade upon returning, never letting my scowl slide. “You’re a real piece of work, Mark. You know that, right?”

  Mark shrugged, seemingly unbothered. “I’m management.”

  “Yeah? Well, things can change.” I started to move toward the games and then stilled, Nellie’s words from earlier penetrating my agitated mind. “I hear that you almost gave Luke money, by the way. Gossip says that you were very close to disobeying my orders. If you do, we’re going to have a problem.”

  Mark wasn’t supernatural. He didn’t boast any magical powers. But he wasn’t obtuse when it came to the rest of us and what we could do. He had the grace to be worried about my tone, swallowing hard as he nodded. “I wasn’t really considering it.”

  “You’d better not,” I said, my tone grave. “If you do, I swear you won’t like what happens.”

  “Yes, well … .”

  “Also, I’ll know even if Luke doesn’t tell me,” I added, cutting Mark off and mustering a cold sneer. “You know I will, so don’t push me on this. Luke is off limits when it comes to open pockets around your part of the camp. If any of your people go against my wishes, I’ll hold you responsible.”

  Mark opened his mouth, and I was sure he was going to argue. Instead he thought better of it, snapped shut his jaw, and offered me a curt nod. “Have a wonderful evening.”

  “We intend to,” Kade said, grabbing my hand and dragging me away from Mark. He waited until it was just the two of us to speak again. “You can be terrifying when you want to be. You know that, right?”

  I forced a smile for his benefit. “Do I terrify you?”

  “I happen to believe you’re a ball of fluff where I’m concerned,” Kade replied, his lips curving. “Granted, you’re an incredibly cute ball of fluff, but you’re fluffy all the same.”

  I managed to muster a scowl despite his earnest expression. “I’m going to fluff your socks off later.”

  “Oh, now that’s a threat I can get behind.” Kade pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth before straightening. “I don’t want to risk a fight – believe me, that’s not what I’m after – but are you sure this is the way you want to go with Luke?”

  That was the second time I’d heard the exact same question in less than an hour. It grated even worse this go around. I wasn’t used to having my decisions questioned. “Tough love, baby.”

  Kade cocked an eyebrow. “You know him better than I do – and I plan to have a very long conversation with him sooner rather than later – but he could instinctively balk against heavy-handed tactics. This could blow up in your pretty little face. I don’t want to see that happen.”

  “I know. I’ve considered that. He’s my family, though.”

  “He’s your brother,” Kade conceded. “I get that. I don’t want to get in between the two of you. I am worried this will get worse before it gets better.”

  I wasn’t sure how it could get much worse, but I knew better than voicing that belief aloud. I would definitely jinx us if I did. “You do what needs to be done to take care of your family. I would do the same thing for you.”

  “Just for the record, I don’t want you thinking of me as a brother.”

  This time the grin I flashed was legitimate. “Duly noted.”

  “I know that you would fight for me,” Kade volunteered, linking his fingers with mine as he lowered his forehead. “I know you have already fought for me, for that matter, and will continue to do so. I will do the same for you. Whatever you decide with Luke, I need you to know that I’m with you.”

  “I never doubted it for a second.”

  “Good.” Kade slung his arm over my shoulder and kissed my forehead. “We have an hour until the big show is over and I have to return to work. What stuffed animal do you want me to win for you?”

&nb
sp; “I don’t know. I haven’t ever looked at the stuffed animals here.”

  “Well, look. I want to get you what you want.”

  “I don’t think I’ve had a stuffed animal since I was a kid,” I admitted, my eyes busy as they flitted from booth to booth. “I lost the few remaining ones I was allowed to keep when I ran from the foster home. I had to travel light.”

  The admission wasn’t meant to be heavy, but Kade looked pained. “Then pick one,” he ordered. “I feel an incredible urge to win you something cuddly to sleep with at night.”

  “I thought that’s why I have you.”

  “Something else, like for when you need to take a nap and I have to work,” Kade conceded. “Come on. We only have an hour together before things get busy. Let’s spend it in style.”

  Surprisingly enough, that was the best offer I’d had all day. “Okay, but you might have to buy me some ice cream, too.”

  “Now you’re getting in the spirit. Let’s do this.”

  I knew what he was really saying. He wanted a small portion of our day to revolve around us and not Luke or the figment. I could give him that. Heck, I wanted to give him that.

  “Okay. I might want cotton candy, too. I haven’t had it in forever.”

  “Nothing is off limits tonight. That’s our mantra.”

  As far as mantras go, it was a good one.

  19

  Nineteen

  Once the big show ended, Kade left me with my stuffed bear – I would never hear the end of it when Luke realized I didn’t pick a wolf, but I was irritated with him so it hardly mattered – and left to handle traffic in the parking lot.

  I made my rounds through the midway, helping a few workers shut down their games before shuffling in the direction of Nixie and Naida’s tent. I had wanted to touch base with Nixie after what happened this morning, but lost most of the day to work. By the time I remembered, it was too late to pull her away from our guests, so I had no choice but to wait until closing.