A Charmed Life

by Jenny B. Jones

  “But—”

  “No buts. Dolly is taking her new video camera, so she’ll get it all.”

  “Are we ready to go?” Robbie does two swoops around the kitchen, his red Superman cape flapping behind him. “I didn’t get my name on the board all week, so I get a funnel cake. And the rides close extra early tonight, so we have to hurry.”

  “Get in the Tahoe, Robbie. Budge will meet us there.” Mom picks up her keys and gives me a final warning stare. “I’m serious. If you disobey me on this, there will be heavy consequences unlike any you’ve ever seen—including a long summer at your dad’s.”

  “Ugh. Say no more. Like I want to be there right now.” Just because Dad and I are on the mend doesn’t mean that I want to spend too much time in Manhattan right now. Dad called this morning, and Marisol’s already moved back in with him—indefinitely. Talk about a recipe for a nightmare.

  Barely resisting the urge to throw myself on the floor and scream No fair! I watch Mom and Robbie pull out of the shrub-lined driveway and turn onto the dirt road.

  Might as well get the dog task over with. Grabbing my own car keys—plus three more cookies—I slip out the back door and into my Bug.

  My phone beeps, and I check the text. It’s from Luke.

  You + Me = Later.

  I’m ready for our big talk. I think. And though I didn’t get to speak with him the rest of the day, I’m pretty sure Ashley Timmons was just blowing smoke. Some girls and their insecurities. I mean, she’s so full of it. Right?

  As I buckle my seat belt and do my fifth check in the backseat for any unwanted passengers, I feel another wave of anger over how tonight has turned out. I can’t believe everyone in town will be at the carnival, and I won’t. After all those long hours in clown shoes and honky noses! And for what? To get grounded and locked away while the rest of the world is watching Cherry and Stewart. And probably while Luke is solving the mystery. By himself. Without me . . . and hopefully without a certain blonde reporter.

  Ten minutes later I stop the Bug in Dolly’s driveway. Using Mom’s key, I unlock Dolly’s massive front door and slip inside. The setting sun bounces off the large windows in the living room, making me want to flick on the TV and curl up on the overstuffed couch.

  I bypass the warm, inviting space and call for the dog.

  “Peg! Here, Peg!”

  Thuds resound overhead as the dog scrambles through the rooms above, then down the stairs.

  “Hey, girl.” I stand at the end of the long staircase. Peg lands next to me with a leap and instantly goes to sniffing. “Um, kind of intrusive there. Watch the nose. Watch the nose!” I would never sniff her butt. She could at least return the courtesy.

  I reach down and run my hand over her furry head. “You ready to go out? Come on.”

  Peg’s ears perk at that command, and her feet clickity-clack on the hardwood floor as I open the back door. “Okay, girl. Do your thing, and make it snappy.”

  Ten minutes later the dog has not returned, so I step outside.

  “Peg!”

  I walk the grounds of Dolly’s massive yard, calling Peg’s name and searching high and low. Nothing. I even look over the side of the pool to make sure she’s not floating face down, doing the eternal doggy paddle. But aside from some stray leaves, the pool is empty.

  Where is that dog? This animal is all that Cherry has left of Betty the Bearded Lady. If I’ve misplaced Betty’s only child, I will never get ungrounded.

  And that’s when it hits me.

  Look through town. Tear it apart. But the answer you seek. Is circled ’round my heart.

  That’s it.

  I know the answer to the riddle.

  chapter thirty-seven

  Peg! The answer has to be with that dog! Aside from Cherry, there was nothing more important to Betty.

  Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone and call Ruthie.

  She answers on the third ring.

  “This better be important. We’re about to start, and I haven’t done my pre-unicycle deep-breathing exercises yet.”

  “Ruthie, I need to talk to Cherry. Now.”

  “Fine. I’ll get her. But some people need to recognize there’s more than one star to this show . . .”

  I continue yelling for the dog, but there’s no sign of the furry beast.

  Finally I hear Cherry’s voice. “Yes?”

  “This is urgent. I think I know the answer to the riddle, but I need to find Peg. I’m over here at Dolly’s, and I let her outside. But that was almost fifteen minutes ago. Where would she be?”

  The background noise of the carnival almost overpowers her voice. “I don’t know. Probably out at the barn. She loves the horses.”

  “The barn’s like a few miles away!” I’m not in the mood for a long walk.

  “Yeah, you’ll have to drive out there. She won’t come back on her own, though. That’s why you use the leash by the door.”

  “Oh. Right.” Well, excuse me. Any dog that is intelligent enough to work for a circus ought to be able to figure out how to pee and return home by herself. “I’ll go out to the horse stables then.

  Thanks.”

  “Wait—Bella. You said you have the answer?”

  “I think the answer is around Peg’s neck. She’s the missing piece in all of this. I’m going to check out her collar.”

  “Let me know what you find . . . and be careful out there.”

  Hopping back into the Bug, I beat it down the dirt road and turn into the field that leads to the horse stables.

  The foreman drives my way in his beat-up Ford, and I roll down my window. “Have you seen Peg—the dog?”

  He leans out his truck and spits on the green grass below. “Yup. Seen her around here nosing ’round my horses. Get her on back home, would ya? And close the gate when you leave the property. We’re all checking out for the night. Going to the big top to see Cherry.”

  Who isn’t? Oh . . . me.

  I search in every building until my feet ache. My patent-leather flats are not dog-hunting shoes. Sticking my head in the last stall, I grin with relief. “Peg!” The dog runs from the side of a chestnut mare and sniffs my hand. A smart girl probably would’ve brought treats. Now how am I going to coax her into my car?

  “Hey, Peg. It’s time to go back home now, okay? You’ve had your big walk.” And hopefully a big tinkle. “Let me see this collar here.” I go to my knees in front of the dog. She sticks her nose in my hand as I try to wrangle with her tags. “What does this say here?”

  “Thanks for the tip.”

  My head shoots up, and I’m on my feet. “Alfredo.” I eye the magician with cold dread. “Wh-what are you doing here?” My hand slips into my pocket.

  “Don’t even think about going for the phone. In fact”—his arm shoots out and grabs my hand—“these ought to keep you from doing anything stupid.” Alfredo wrenches my arms behind my back and slaps handcuffs on my wrists.

  “What are you doing? Are you nuts?” My pulse escalates until it pounds in my ears. “Let me go.”

  “I don’t think so.” Leaning down, he coos to the dog. “What do we have here? So the answer’s on the dog’s collar. My Betty—she had a heart of gold, but she wasn’t the smartest rabbit in the hat.” His beady eyes narrow as he flips over the dog’s name tag. “Nothing here!

  Just the dog’s stupid name.” He looks up at me with wild eyes. “It’s a name tag. Cherry said you knew the answer was on the dog’s collar.”

  “She called you after I talked to her, didn’t she?” How does a runaway convict have a cell phone?

  “Cherry knows I only want what’s best for her. She trusts me— whether she should or not. She told me you were gonna turn me in.”

  “So that’s why you haven’t contacted me.”

  “This could’ve played out much differently.”

  “Have you been staying out here?” I remember Dolly saying Cherry had been feeding the dog—a lot. “Cherry’s been bringing you foo
d, hasn’t she? She’s known you were here the whole time.

  You’ve forced her to break the law.”

  “Shut up!” Alfredo blasts. “I only want what’s best for her and—”

  He freezes like a statue as a truck rumbles outside. I take advantage of the moment and scream like I’m on fire. “Help! I’m in here, I—oomph!” My words are lost as Alfredo plasters his hand to my mouth.

  “Be quiet. This doesn’t have to be like this, so cooperate, would you?”

  I torque my head and glare. Like I’m going to let him just do—I shudder—whatever to me without a fight.

  “Alfredo?” A familiar voice calls. “Alfredo?”

  “In here!” my captor yells, causing the horse beside us to stir. “I got company.”

  Red Fritz steps into the dimming light of the stable. “You.” His voice is as menacing as one of the villains on Robbie’s cartoons. “This kid’s been a problem from the moment Stewart hired her.” He steps closer to me and runs a gloved finger down my cheek. “And then when I put him in charge of getting rid of you, he couldn’t do that right either. You got her locked up good?”

  I thrash against Alfredo, but he only drags me closer to him, ignoring the kick of my legs. “She’s not going anywhere.” He turns to me and drops his hand. “If you know anything about this dog’s collar, you better tell me now.”

  “It’s just a name. I thought there would be a map there on the back or something.” I shrug with as much casualness as I can fake. “Guess I was wrong. But you do know the police are up-to-date on all of this, right?” I watch Red’s eyes widen. “They know I was in contact with Alfredo, that my life was threatened, and that Cherry’s in danger.”

  Red stoops down and grabs the dog’s collar. “This is what I was called out here for? I got a fill-in covering the last half of the first show, and you drag me out here to read Betty’s mutt’s tags?” He peers closer. “Who would call an animal Peg Aurora Smith anyway? What’s wrong with names like Spot or Fido?” He shoves the dog aside. “Waste of time.”

  “What do we do now?” Alfredo asks.

  Red spears me with his beady eyes. “You know what to do. The girl goes with us. I got business to take care of during the second act.” He smiles and pats his pocket. “I just sold the carnival two hours ago. So now I have a show to wrap up, a niece to kill off, and my own little disappearing act to complete.”

  Fear roars through my head like a New York subway. “What are you going to do to Cherry?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know, you nosy little brat! You’ve been in my way ever since you went digging through Alfredo’s trailer. Yeah,

  I’m the one who so kindly returned your flashlight. But you still didn’t take the hint to butt out.” Red blows cigar smoke in my face, and I blink against the burn. “Let’s just say there will be a tragic accident during Cherry’s second performance.” He tsks his tongue. “And she will finally get that family she’s been dreaming of—when she’s reunited with her parents in heaven.” Red holds his large stomach and laughs.

  “Cherry’s parents didn’t die in an accident, did they?” As if I have to ask.

  “It’s taken awhile, but I’ve finally gotten what should’ve been mine all along.” Red jabs his pudgy thumb in his chest. “I was the oldest. I should’ve been the one to inherit the carnival—not my brother.”

  I send a look of desperation to Alfredo. “Are you seriously going to stand by and let this happen?”

  “Red’s cutting me in on the deal.” A wicked glint lights Alfredo’s eye. “It’s been me and him the whole time. He paid me to get Betty off his back.”

  “By killing her?” I charge.

  “By dating her.”

  “Speaking of good shows!” Red claps Alfredo on the back. “Now that was an Oscar-worthy performance. Imagine—that woman ever thinking a man would be interested in her.” His face sobers. “Take care of the kid and be in my trailer fifteen minutes before the final show is over.”

  Fear slides across my skin. “If you’re going to kill me, you might as well tell me what you’ve been looking for.”

  Red laughs. “Doesn’t matter now. I got the carnival sold, the check in my pocket, and soon I’ll be a grieving uncle. Everything else can just stay buried.” He waves a white hand over my head. “On second thought, bring the girl with us. We don’t have the time or the resources to deal with her here.” He moves his leering grin close to my face. “Don’t worry. It will be painless—mostly. Just like Betty, I’ve found if I want someone killed well, I have to do it myself.”

  My brain shudders. That slimy, creepy, curly-mustached freak. God, please help me. I’m too young and fashionable to die!

  Alfredo tightens his hold on my arms as Red motions him on. “Let’s go.”

  “Peg Aurora Smith. Stupid name for a stupid dog.” Red hops into his truck.

  “Anything you want to tell me?” Alfredo stares at me with focused intensity.

  “Nope.”

  “I had a feeling you wouldn’t make this easy.” His frown is sharp.

  “It’ll only hurt for a bit.”

  I thrash against him as he pulls out a taser. “No!”

  Violent heat pours through my body as I scream and drop to the ground.

  The electricity stops and I grasp for breath.

  “Now you got anything to say?”

  I close my eyes and turn my head in answer.

  Red’s face splits into a smile as he hands the magician a roll of silver duct tape. “You two meet me in the truck.”

  My leg connects with Alfredo’s knee but he holds up the taser. “You don’t want to do that.” He picks me up like a sack of feed and hoists me over his shoulder.

  My mind races with options for escape.

  And I think of the dog.

  Because she’s been the answer all along.

  chapter thirty-eight

  I stare at the floorboard of Red’s truck and pray like my life depends on it. ’Cause, um, I’m pretty sure it does.

  I have to get out of here! If only I could reach my phone. My body jerks as I force myself to breathe through my nose, slow and deep. Don’t panic. Do not panic, Bella.

  The vehicle comes to a rough stop, and the engine shudders into silence. “Get her out and bring her to the haunted house,” Red says.

  “I’ve already missed more of the show than I meant to. Let’s make this quick, because I sure can’t miss my niece’s Praying Mantis.”

  The door swings open and Alfred’s hands pull me by my arms.

  “Nice ride, princess?” He heaves my body into his arms and over his shoulder, pinning my legs down with his iron grip, my bound ankles making my attempts at kicking pitiful and pointless.

  The dark of the night covers us as the two men walk toward the haunted house. The eerie quiet of the closed rides does nothing to comfort me. God, please rescue me. Save me from a really painful death. I have a cat to raise!

  I’m jostled onto Alfredo’s bony shoulder as he climbs the steps into the dim spook house. My eyes search all around for anyone to help me. I scream behind my tape, but it goes nowhere.

  “Throw her inside. Shackle her to that rail.”

  Alfredo does as Red commands. He drops me on the floor, and pain rockets through my body. He jerks my hands overhead and in two swift motions locks my cuffs to a rail. I donkey kick him with my duct taped legs, but he barely stumbles.

  “Is she secure?”

  Alfredo’s nod is grave. “Don’t you think this is clumsy—leaving her to die like this? You know they’ll see the cuffs first thing.”

  “Who cares?” Red glances out the door. “We’ll be long gone with a big check to share. If anyone knows how to stay out of sight, it’s you.” He throws down his cigar. “Are you sure she’s secure?”

  Alfredo’s eyes laser into mine. “Two twists and a tug couldn’t even get her out of these babies.”

  Tears flow unchecked down my face. No, I’m not a crier, but if there ever was
a reason for it, surely this is it. And to die here of all places. Home of the worst job I’ve ever had. Well, aside from Pancho’s Mexican Villa. And scooping poop at Dolly’s. And getting attacked by the maxi-pad machine at the Summer Fresh factory. But, no, this has to be the worst. Because none of those other jobs resulted in my death.

  “Light her up.” Red runs his fingers down the curve of his mustache. “Don’t worry, girl. Once the smoke gets to going good, it’ll knock you out. You won’t feel a thing.”

  I flop like a fish, yanking on the cuffs, screaming behind my gag. Help me! Someone help me! Panic fills my chest as I struggle to breathe.

  “There’s enough plywood on this thing to make one heck of a bonfire.” Red checks his watch. “Ten minutes until Cherry’s routine. Get to it.”

  Alfredo’s wide eyes bore into mine again. Like he’s trying to send me some sort of message, but I don’t know what. Forgive him? Yeah, right. I’ll consider that when my body is melting like a s’more.

  The magician slams the door, and I’m thrown into darkness.

  Seconds later, I hear something slide through the handle. I’m toast.

  Literally. God, please.

  With ears attuned to every sound, I listen as the men work outside, my body jerking with every noise. Finally . . . silence.

  Silence is not good. Silence means the fire has started. And I’m minutes away from the end. Why didn’t I tell Luke how I felt about him? Why didn’t I tell my mom I loved her today? Or call my dad.

  Or punch Budge in the arm. And Robbie—I’ll miss that little guy and all his superhero fantasies.

  Tears continue to drop on my cheeks, and I wonder if I could cry enough to douse out some flames.

  I scream behind the tape as smoke filters its way into the trailer.

  Please, someone see the smoke and call for help. It’s my only hope.

  Smoke billows through the cracks of the haunted house, and a full minute passes until I see a flame lick the wall. I pull on the cuffs with all I’ve got.

  Right this moment Cherry is getting ready to fall to her death.