The Corpse at the Carnival

by Grace York

  "That's what I'm afraid of. At least you have a grounding in the real world, with your late husband being a homicide detective. Adam's grip on reality may be somewhat more tenuous."

  "Nonsense," said Addison. "At least promise me you'll think about it. That is, if you want a nice pub meal instead of microwave rubbish tonight."

  Isaac stood and held up a hand, ushering her out of his office. "Fine," he said as they entered the main part of the police station and headed for the front door. "I'll consider it. But I can't make any promises."

  Addison was showered, changed, and in the pub with Olivia and Layla less than an hour later.

  "Are you two going to talk shop all night?" asked Olivia when she saw Isaac enter the pub and make his way over to them.

  "Not at all," said Addison. "In fact, I've got something else to do if you two can distract him for a few minutes."

  Olivia and Layla both frowned at that, but neither got the chance to ask what she meant before Isaac joined them.

  "Good evening, ladies," he said. "Can I get anyone a drink before I sit?"

  "Yes please," said Olivia and Layla together. They put their orders in, and Isaac turned for the bar.

  Layla was the first to jump in once he was out of earshot. "What are you going to do?" she asked Addison.

  "Nothing dangerous," she answered, surprised by the concerned looks on their faces. "I just want to talk to someone alone."

  "So why the big secret?" asked Olivia. "Why do we have to distract your boyfriend?"

  "He's not my boyfriend," said Addison with an eye roll. "I don't want him to know until after I speak to them, that's all."

  Layla smirked. "You want to surprise him, don't you?"

  "No."

  "Yeah you do," said Olivia, joining in.

  Why she'd thought inviting Isaac along for dinner with these two was a good idea Addison would never know. She just didn't like the idea of him home alone with a microwave meal. Not after he'd only just got over a cold. The man needed a decent feed.

  Isaac returned to the table with a tray of drinks, divvied them up, and put the tray back on the bar before finally taking his seat.

  "So, what's good to eat here?" he asked.

  The three of them stared at him. "You've never eaten here?" asked Olivia.

  "No, I haven't."

  "And you've lived here, what, ten years?"

  "Something like that."

  Olivia laughed. "We've lived here three months and I can't count the number of times we've eaten here."

  "You should be able to recommend what's good then," said Isaac.

  "Good point," said Addison. She handed them each a menu. "You guys check these out while I visit the ladies. If you order, I'll have the chicken schnitzel." She handed Olivia her credit card and left the table before anyone could protest.

  The toilets were down a corridor on the other side of the bar. Addison walked around the bar then, when she was sure Isaac wasn't looking, leant over and asked the guy serving whether Bob Carter was around.

  "I think he's in the office," said the young man. He had a scruffy surfer look, and mustn't have been much older than the legal drinking age. Addison hadn't seen him here before, but that wasn't unusual. Bob hired backpackers from time to time as casual staff.

  "Can I go through?" Addison asked.

  The young man shrugged. "I don't see why not."

  Addison walked past the ladies' toilets and on toward the office. Bob was the local who had managed to keep the carnival coming back to Getaway Bay for twenty years. She didn't know what she was going to ask him, but with all the questions swirling around her head about the Hanleys, she thought having known the family for so long he was at least worth talking to.

  As she got closer to the office she heard raised voices. She recognised Bob's voice, and the conversation sounded private. She turned on her heel and was about to walk away when she heard the other voice. This time it was one she recognised instantly.

  Harriet Hanley.

  Frozen in place, Addison couldn't help herself. She had to listen, and within moments she knew why Bob Carter worked so hard to keep the carnival coming back to Getaway Bay every year.

  22

  Addison composed herself in the bathroom before rejoining the little group at her table. She was desperate to tell Isaac what she'd overheard, but she couldn't. Not while Layla and Olivia were there.

  They'd already ordered the food, and Addison tried to put her information out of her mind and join in the small talk while they waited. It was hard. All she could think about was Bob and Harriet.

  It made so much sense. They were around the same age, she thought. Perhaps Bob was a couple of years older. What was it Mrs Jones had said on Friday night? Bob had struck up a friendship with Morris Hanley when the carnival had first come to Getaway Bay twenty years ago. That would have been before Harriet joined them.

  So Bob genuinely loved the carnival and wanted them to keep coming back. It was good for the town, of course, bringing in the last rush of tourists before the quieter winter season. But once Harriet came along, Addison bet Bob had an extra reason to keep bringing the carnival back to the bay.

  "Addison?" Isaac's voice cut through her reflection. She realised the three of them were staring at her.

  "Sorry, miles away," she said. "What was that?"

  "I asked whether you were baking for Hazel tomorrow," said Isaac. "And if you are, will there be any of those delicious cinnamon and pecan scrolls?"

  "Oh, right. Yes, and yes," she said with a smile.

  "Where were you?" Olivia asked.

  "Huh?"

  "You just said you were miles away. Where? What were you thinking about, Mum?"

  "Oh, nothing. Grocery list for tomorrow. Sorry." She turned her attention back to the group and pushed thoughts of Bob Carter and Harriet Hanley out of her mind.

  After they'd eaten, Layla at least got the message. "Come on, Olivia," she said, linking their arms together. "Let's walk home. It's a beautiful night."

  "Walk? Really?"

  "Yes, walk," said Layla, trying to signal Olivia with her eyes. It was comical to watch. Addison was sure Isaac knew exactly what Layla was doing, too. Olivia was the only clueless one.

  "But what about the car?"

  "Your mum can bring it home later," she said, practically dragging Olivia toward the door by now.

  "Oh, right." A smile spread across Olivia's face as she finally caught on. "It is a beautiful night. Bye Mum. Thanks for dinner."

  "I'll see you at home soon," Addison said, shaking her head at the both of them.

  "I assume that was some sort of attempt to leave us alone to talk about the case?" Isaac asked.

  "It was an attempt to leave us alone, at least," said Addison. "I don't care why. But yes, we need to talk about the case."

  Addison confessed that her earlier visit to the ladies' room was actually an intention to speak to Bob Carter about the Hanley's.

  "Addison," said Isaac with that stern voice he put on when she'd done something he wasn't happy about. "I promised your son I'd keep you safe. The role of a police volunteer is strictly an administrative one—"

  "Oh, come on. I was hardly putting myself in danger going to talk to a local publican in his own very crowded pub, was I? What do you think could have happened? How could I possibly have been in danger?"

  Isaac lifted his beer glass to his lips and drained the contents, keeping one eye on her the whole time.

  "Yeah, okay. Fair enough," he said, placing the glass back down on the coaster. He positioned it so it was exactly in the middle of the cardboard disc. "What did you learn?" he finally asked.

  "That Bob is Henry's father," she said with a triumphant grin.

  Isaac knocked over the glass.

  "Lucky that was empty," said Addison, righting it and putting it deliberately off-centre on the coaster. She kept one eye on it, and sure enough he moved it back to the centre.

  "You actually overheard them say Bob wa
s the father?"

  "As good as," said Addison. "They were arguing about his schooling. Bob doesn't want him home-schooled. He wants Harriet to leave him here, in Getaway Bay. That suggestion didn't go down well."

  "No, I bet it didn't. What would she tell Owen?"

  "That's exactly what she said."

  Isaac leaned in closer. "And what did Bob say?"

  "That it was time he had more to do with his son."

  "And what did Harriet say?"

  "Nothing. There was silence, and I figured I'd better leave. I felt bad for listening in on what was obviously a very private conversation. But all through dinner I kept going over it in my mind. It has a bearing on the case, doesn't it?"

  Isaac sat back in his chair and ran a hand through his thick, dark hair. "It could do, if Frankie found out and was blackmailing them. But we can only speculate on that at this point, without talking to them."

  "Are you going to talk to them?"

  "I'd like more evidence than an overheard conversation."

  "Of course." Addison tried to think. She ran through the list of suspects again in her head. "Bob was in the vicinity of Frankie's bunk at the time of the murder, right?"

  "Yes. He said he'd been at a meeting with Harriet and Dot."

  "Did Harriet and Dot confirm this?"

  "They did, as far as I know. Kendall hasn't told me otherwise."

  "Any chance Dot would lie for them?" Addison asked, although she thought she knew the answer. Dot loved that little boy.

  Isaac stood. "I think maybe it's about time I asked her."

  23

  Addison had only managed a couple of hours sleep overnight, but she woke up strangely energised. It was still early, so she decided to take Charlie for a walk on the beach before she got stuck into the morning's baking.

  Charlie went from dozing in his basket to jumping and spinning in circles in a matter of seconds as soon as Addison appeared with his lead.

  "Come on, little fella," she said, clipping the lead to his collar. "Let's go watch the sunrise."

  She grabbed one of his towels out of the hall cupboard and left it on the front verandah, then they headed off to the beach. There'd be no-one around this early, Addison figured, so she could let Charlie off to run free. Dogs were permitted off-lead on the beach closest to her home, but she didn't let Charlie off when there were children around. Not that she thought he'd ever harm a child, but he was excitable. Even a small dog could be frightening when it jumped up on a toddler.

  This morning, though, there were no toddlers in sight. She let Charlie go and he raced straight down to the water. Within seconds he was saturated and covered in sand. Perhaps she should have left out two towels to clean him off later.

  As she strolled and watched the sunrise, Addison thought back over last night's dinner with Isaac. Apart from discussing the case, she'd had a nice time. He was very easy to talk to. A little awkward at times, but then she figured he wasn't used to socialising. She wished Olivia and Layla would lay off, though. He was a nice man, but she couldn't even entertain the idea of a boyfriend. Not while Rob's memory still had hold of her heart.

  Charlie's ears pricked up and he stood for a moment facing the sand dunes. Addison called him, but it was no use. He raced off in the direction of whatever he'd heard. That was the other problem with letting him off the lead – he was usually very good and would come back as soon as he was called, unless there was something more interesting to discover.

  Addison followed him up the beach and into the dunes, and soon came across what had sparked his interest. Or rather, who.

  "I'm sorry," she said, grabbing hold of Charlie and clipping his lead back on.

  "It's fine," said Corey, one of the clowns from the carnival. Addison had met him the other day when Holly had introduced him and Luc. But it wasn't Luc with him right now.

  "I didn't mean to disturb you," she said, turning away. The other young man was trying to hide his face, but Addison had already recognised him. It was Nabil, the operator of the Ferris wheel. He'd been so helpful and kind when Addison and her family had been stuck at the top of the ride. She wondered why he was trying to hide from her now, but then it clicked.

  Nabil was Corey's secret boyfriend.

  Corey must have seen the realisation cross her face.

  "Please don't tell anyone," he said. He put a protective arm around Nabil, who finally turned to face her.

  "Tell anyone what?" said Addison. "I'm just out here enjoying the sunrise."

  "Thank you," said Nabil in a soft voice.

  "Of course." Addison could see the two of them were very fond of each other. "Although I don't understand why you would want to keep your relationship a secret."

  Corey was about to speak, but Nabil stopped him.

  "It's my family," he said. "They don't understand. They don't… approve."

  "They'd make him leave the carnival if they knew," said Corey. "We can't take that risk. And it's okay, really. We're happy to keep to ourselves."

  Addison understood, although it made her angry to think that a family could stand in the way of young love. She'd met Rob when she was their age.

  "I'll leave you to enjoy the sunrise," she said. "Come on, Charlie."

  As she walked away, Addison tried to quell her anger. She had no idea who Nabil's family were, or what their problem would be with his relationship with Corey. The circumstances of their family were none of her business. She certainly wasn't going to mention it to anyone, though. She wasn't going to be the reason the young couple were separated.

  A horrible thought occurred to her. What if she wasn't the only person who'd found out about them?

  What if Frankie knew?

  Isaac had already decided Frankie was the kind of character who wouldn't think twice about blackmailing someone for his own personal gain. What if it wasn't Harriet he was blackmailing, but Corey and Nabil? What if he'd threatened to tell Nabil's family about the couple?

  Nabil worked on the Ferris wheel. He was one of the people capable of sabotaging it, and he was right there when it stopped. And Corey was in the vicinity of Frankie's bunk. What if the two of them had conspired to kill him?

  What was it Corey had said the other day when Addison asked what he thought had happened to Frankie?

  He got what he deserved.

  Were those the words of a killer?

  No. Addison couldn't see it. They were both such nice young men. It had to have been someone else.

  Charlie was tugging on the lead, desperate to get back to the water. Addison checked her watch. It was past six, and she needed to get home and start baking otherwise Hazel would have nothing to sell today.

  "Sorry mate," she said to the little white dog. "Maybe Adam can bring you out later."

  Back at the beach house she used the towel to get most of the sand and water off Charlie, but he was still pretty dirty. She led him around the verandah and out to the back garden, where she let him off the lead. He promptly rubbed himself all over the grass.

  Addison let herself in through the back door and found Olivia in the kitchen making coffee.

  "Morning Mum," she said. "Want one?"

  "Yes please." Addison started gathering the ingredients for scones and muffins, before remembering Isaac's request for pecan cinnamon scrolls. Those took longer, but they were delicious. She knew Hazel always sold out of them, so she didn't mind the extra effort.

  "Where have you been?" Olivia asked as she held the milk jug under the steam wand. She was always better at frothing the milk than Addison was. There was a certain technique to it which Addison wasn't sure she'd ever master.

  "I couldn't sleep so I took Charlie for a walk to the beach. The sunrise was lovely. I think it's going to be another nice day. Why are you up so early?"

  "Couldn't sleep either," Olivia replied. Addison looked up to find her daughter staring at her with a sheepish grin.

  "What?"

  "I have a date today," said Olivia.

  "A d
ate? With who?"

  "Max. The guy from the bar last night."

  "What guy from the bar?"

  "You really weren't paying attention, were you?"

  Addison felt guilty. What had she missed? "I'm sorry, darling. I've been preoccupied."

  "With Isaac, yes, I know."

  "No, with the case. But let's not talk about that. Tell me about Max."

  Olivia switched the coffee machine off and cleaned the steam wand before pouring silky smooth milk into two mugs. She handed one to Addison. "He's been working behind the bar for a few weeks, apparently. We got talking last night. We're going to meet at the carnival today."

  "Oh, the blond guy? Looks like a surfer?"

  "He is a surfer, Mum. He's been travelling for a while, but he's been looking for somewhere to stick around. He likes working at the Red Lion."

  Addison sighed. Her little girl wasn't a little girl anymore.

  "Be careful on the Ferris wheel," she said.

  24

  Addison dropped the morning's baking off to Hazel, holding one pecan cinnamon scroll back in her handbag. She might as well hand deliver that one, save Isaac the trip. She bought two coffees to go then headed over to the police station.

  She'd promised not to tell anyone about Corey and Nabil. But that was before she realised their relationship might be a clue to Frankie's murder. All morning, as she baked, she'd oscillated between telling Isaac about them and not. She'd finally decided her duty as a police volunteer had to outweigh her conscience in this case.

  Besides, Corey and Nabil were only concerned about Nabil's family finding out. If they were innocent, then Addison was sure Isaac would have no problem keeping the relationship to himself. And if they were guilty, well, then they'd have bigger problems.

  Pushing the door to the station open, Addison bustled in with her coffee tray balanced in one hand and her over-laden handbag in the other. Before she knew it, she was face-to-face with two clowns.

  "What are you guys doing here?" she asked Corey and Luc. It was the last day of the carnival today, and she remembered something about a matinee session of the show as well as the grand finale this evening. "Don't you have a show today?"