Strolling Into Danger (A Seagrove Cozy Mystery Book 6) (7 page)

“Geeze,” Betty said. “Here we go again.”

“They should get the trapeze artists to go after him,” Lucy said. “The cops will never catch him.”

The circus had ended while the chase had been going on, the audience was gone and the roustabouts had started dismantling the bleachers. The far ring already was packed away and the middle ring was in progress. The safety net that had been below the trapeze already had been removed. They didn’t waste any time getting ready to leave.

Although, now the roustabouts had stopped working and were standing in a clump in the middle of the center ring. Like everyone else in the tent, their eyes were glued to Win.

But Win was on the platform now. He stood at the edge but did not step out onto the high wire. He turned and faced the crowd.

“Yes, I killed Pabelin.” His voice carried down to them, clear and strong.

“I thought she was having an affair with Maestro, and I killed her for it.” He paused and Zack’s voice sounded from the crowd.

“Come down, Winston. There is no point in continuing to run. We will catch you.”

He didn’t add eventually, but Sadie could hear it in his voice. He was weary but determined.

“You are right.” Win said and he stood to his full height.

“Pabelin, my darling. My love, I come to you.” He dove from the platform to the hard floor of the ring.

Sadie pulled Lucy and Betty away, running away, hoping they didn’t hear the sickening sound of Win hitting the ground. She led them outside the big top and over to the elephant enclosure, where she knew they would find comfort. The baby elephant ambled over and sniffed the women’s faces. Betty giggled and patted the baby on the head while Lucy rubbed its large ears. Momma elephant sauntered over and snuffled the top of Sadie’s head.

“She’s saying hello,” Sadie said. “And apologizing for her human’s rude behavior.”

“Her human was rude?” Lucy asked. “Why?”

“I don’t know why, but he ran me off the other day. Hopefully, he’s too busy to do it now.” Sadie heard the ambulance in the distance and looked at the other two.

They were engaged with the elephants, and if the siren was registering with them, it wasn’t showing. Momma elephant was tugging on Betty’s hair and making her laugh and the baby was leaning into the fence, obviously enthralled with the way Lucy was rubbing the spot behind its ears.

The three women still were communing with the elephants thirty minutes later when Zack appeared at Sadie’s side. He put a hand on her arm.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly. “That was pretty gruesome.”

“Pretty gruesome? I’d say that was very gruesome.” Sadie smiled up at him.

“But I’m okay now that you are here. Is the ambulance gone?”

“It’s about to pull out now,” Zack said.

“Why did you call the ambulance and not the meat wagon?" Sadie asked.

"Medical Examiner's van," Zack corrected her looking around.

"Let's use the correct term in public lest someone else puke or burst out in tears. I called the ambulance because it looks better to the public and there is a lot of public hanging around."

There was a cough from behind Sadie and she turned to see Mr. Big and Tall, one of Roman's goons, towering over her.

"Il capo would like to talk to you. If you would come this way, please." He indicated the direction he wanted them to go and almost smacked a roustabout in the head.

"What should I do with Lucy and Betty?" Sadie asked gesturing to them cooing over the baby.

"Better bring them with us," Zack said. "I don't want them to look up and wonder where you've gone. And I definitely don't want them back in the big top."

Sadie dragged Lucy and Betty from the elephant enclosure. They came reluctantly, and the (relatively) little creature took hold of Betty's sweater and Sadie had to pry it from its trunk. The cranky elephant handler came around the corner just as they were leaving and Sadie hustled them away. Zack stood between them and the angry man, but Sadie preferred not to be involved in another standoff with the man.

There was a traffic jam on the way to the office trailer. The roustabouts were loading a trailer with a forklift and the path was jammed with bits of circus tent. Zack led them through a gap between two semi-trailers and through the jumble of personal trailers and motorhomes. If anything, this area seemed even more chaotic than before, and it was while stepping over a bundle of wires that reached to her knees that Sadie heard the crying.

She was tempted to ignore it. Really it was surprising more people weren't crying. One of their own had jumped to his death, after all. But the sound drew her and she veered away from the others to follow it.

"Sadie!" Zack called, "where are you going?"

And when she didn't answer and kept walking away he said, "Dang it, Sadie, what are you getting into now?"

She didn't ignore him on purpose, it was just such a sound of pure sorrow she couldn't not find out where it was coming from. She felt a flutter in her heart in sympathy. The sound was coming from Pabelin's trailer and Sadie marched up and knocked on the door. It had to be Alena, Pabelin's daughter.

"Who's there?" the question was barely understandable through the tears and sniffling.

"Sadie Barnett. I was with the police chief the other day. Remember? The short red-head?"

"I remember you," came the muffled reply.

"Can I come in?" Sadie asked.

"I guess so." It sounded like she was talking through a towel.

Sadie thought she must be trying to clean up her face, but that didn't stop her from going in. Alena was sitting on her mother's bed holding a terry robe to her face and Sadie sat beside her and put an arm around her shoulders.

"Win Felton was your father, wasn't he?" she asked the girl.

Alena nodded and sobbed into Sadie’s shoulder. The girl couldn't be more than about twenty-four years old and, in the space of a week, she had lost her mother and father in the most gruesome way possible, murder-suicide. It would be a while before she felt normal again. Sadie held her tight.

“I’m an orphan,” Alena wailed. “I have no one in the world.”

At that moment, the trailer door flew open and Pabelin’s sister fairly flew into the tiny space.

“Of course you’re not alone in the world, silly child. You’ve got me - and your uncles.” She took the girl from Sadie and wrapped her arms around her tightly.

“But Aunt Silva,” Alena said into her aunt’s shoulder, “I treated you so badly.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Silva blinked tears from her eyes.

“We are family. We’ve lost a lot the last few days and we must mend our fences. But you are not alone. Never alone.”

Fresh sobbing broke out and Sadie stepped out of the trailer and closed the door quietly behind her. Zack, Betty, and Lucy were standing on the grassy area next to the trailer, waiting for her.

“It’s okay now,” Sadie said. “Alena isn’t alone anymore.”

“So we heard,” Zack said. “Come on, we need to get back to the office before Roman sends his goons after us.”

“Too late for that,” Mr. Big and Tall stepped out from between two trailers, trailed by the Strongman.

“We’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

“Sadie can’t resist a crying woman,” Zack said.

“Or baby elephants,” the Strongman said. “Their handler is out for blood.”

“But why?” Betty asked. “We didn’t hurt them. And they came up to us.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it, Miss,” Mr. Big and Tall looked Betty over appreciatively.

“He’s always complaining about something.”

"It's amazing to me that such an awful man can own such lovely elephants. They really are delightful," Lucy said.

"Il capo is waiting," the Strongman said. "Perhaps we should move along?"

Mr. Big and Tall led the way followed by Zack, Sadie, Lucy, and Betty. The Strongman brought up the rear. Normally, Sadie would have felt threatened being flanked by thugs, but the Strongman was clearly an ally and she felt Mr. Big and Tall  probably could be relied on in a pinch.

The big man opened the door to the office and stood back to let them in. Roman was sitting at the table, his head in his hands and he looked up as they came in. His face was white, he had black circles ringing his eyes and his hair was standing on end.

"Are you okay?" Sadie asked. "You look quite ill."

"Ill? No." Roman said slowly.

"But Winston was my cousin. That he would kill himself, I understand. Had I killed the woman I loved I would probably do the same. It's the fact of him killing Pabelin. I don't understand how he could do such a thing. I've lost two of my best performers and my faith in humanity. I'm not sure I'll ever get it back."

"I heard you wanted to speak to me. What can I do for you?" Zack asked.

"I wanted the official word," Roman said.

"We are packing to leave, are we going to have issues with the police? Are we allowed to leave?"

"Yes. You are free to go." Zack took a card from his wallet.

"Contact this number to arrange for the return of your deceased to their families." Roman took the card and set on the table, running his finger along the edge.

“Thank you. I will talk to the family and call tomorrow.” He smiled a bitter smile.

“We never will come back to this town again. And perhaps not this state. Not while I’m running this circus.”

“I don’t blame you,” Zack said.

“I wouldn’t be inclined to come back either. Let me know if there is anything Seagrove’s finest can do for you before you leave. I really am sorry for your loss.” He reached his hand out to shake and Roman stared at it for a moment before taking it.

Sadie wondered if Roman blamed Zack for Winston’s death. If the police hadn’t chased him, Winston might still be alive. But he would have been arrested for murder and most probably imprisoned for life so the result would have been much the same.

Betty, Lucy, and Sadie drove back to town in Lucy’s car. Lucy dropped Sadie and Betty at the shop before driving off toward her own little house a few streets over. Sadie felt bad watching her go. She knew Lucy wondered if appearing as Pabelin had driven him to his death. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Lucy.

“Why don’t you come back and stay with me tonight?” Sadie said. “Today was pretty rotten.”

“Thanks, Sade,” Lucy said. “But I’m fine. And I need some alone time to process the day. Don’t worry, I will be alright.”

“If you are sure,” Sadie said. She wished she felt like everything would be alright.

“Come on,” Betty said, taking Sadie’s arm. “Let’s go inside and have a glass of wine. It’s been a long, long day.”

“It has,” Sadie said, and let Betty guide her through the door.

Mr. Bradshaw raced out of the office and ran in rings around the women before he jumped straight up into Sadie’s arms. She showered his face with kisses and carried him upstairs.

“I’d better take him out for a walk,” she said.

“But instead of wine, let’s have hot chocolate with amaretto in it. I’ll get the milk heating and, if you don’t mind, you can make the hot chocolate while I take Mr. B w-a-l-k-i-e-s.”