by Unknown
I brushed off my inner demons and headed to the back of the trailer where Lilli and I bunked together. Thinking of her reminded me I hadn’t checked in with her since the ambulance took her away. I’d been too distracted with Blake.
Feeling guilty, I located my cell phone and checked my messages. Poor Lilli had sent me fifteen texts. They’d cleared her for knee surgery later that afternoon. I sent her a quick note, grateful for the voice recognition software that made it a breeze to compose a message.
The performance went great. I have so much to tell you. Be there before your surgery. Hugs, Ruby.
Text sent, I quickly pulled on a very supportive sports bra followed by a red cirque t-shirt and some sweatpants, eschewing my usual sequined pin-up girl look. For once, I didn’t want anything to do with sequins. I wasn’t up to the bling. A few minutes later, I was back at Blake’s trailer.
A crowd had gathered in my absence and I gave a silent prayer of thanks for small favors. I would have died from embarrassment if everyone had seen me in a bed sheet.
The shy pervert cop still guarded the entrance to the RV. He nodded at me when I appeared and a second later, Detective Bowler emerged from the trailer, a dark scowl on his face. His gaze settled on me and he glared at me like I was dog poop on his shoe.
“You,” he barked, beckoning me forward. “Come inside.”
A ripple went through the crowd when they realized he meant me. So much for discretion. The rumors would have me pregnant with Blake’s love child in five minutes flat. They’d be talking about it on their CB radios while driving to their next destination. I knew most of the performers had a gig with another circus starting out in Ohio the next week, so they would caravan together and pass the long drive talking about my sex life. All the live long day.
Fantastic.
I stood up straight as I marched into Blake’s trailer, where I promptly froze at the sight before me. The entire trailer had been tossed. The kitchen cabinets hung open, their contents thrown on the floor. The couch cushions and the ones on the dining bench had all been sliced with a knife, spilling white fiberfill like snow.
Frowning, I looked at the cop. He was tall and lean with a sharp face. A jagged scar ran from his check to his jaw. As cops went he looked dangerous, like maybe he’d started out as a bad guy and switched teams. “What the hell happened in here?”
His eyes narrowed. “I’ll ask the questions, young lady. Where is Blake Cannon?”
I shrugged. “I have no idea. He was here last night and then gone when I woke up this morning. I never knew he left.”
“You known him long?” He pulled out his phone and began typing. I couldn’t say for sure, but I assumed he was noting my answers. Or maybe texting his wife, who knew?
“Well,” I hedged not sure how to explain it. In truth, I barely knew the guy, but I’d obsessed about him for months. “We knew of each other since the circus started six months ago. I tailored his suit once or twice.” At the cop’s confused look, I added, “I’m the seamstress for the cirque.”
“How long have you been involved with him,” he paused and waved his hand in the air, not quite sure how to phrase it. Finally, he settled on, “in a personal capacity?”
I cleared my throat, my cheeks burning. “Just last night.”
The detective raised his eyebrows at me, judging my loose morals. “Did he say anything? Mention anything?”
I shook my head. “We didn’t talk much.”
The cop’s eyebrows drew together, the expression skeptical. “All right. Give me your contact information and we’re done here.” He fished a card out of his back pocket and handed it to me. “Call me if you hear from him.”
I took the card. “What is he charged with, Detective?”
“Stealing from the wrong man,” came the cryptic reply. Finger poised over his phone, he prompted, “So how can I reach you?”
I gave him my cell phone number and just shrugged when he asked for an address. I didn’t have a home other than Lilli’s trailer. He sighed at that, but allowed me to leave. The crowd had grown while I’d been inside Blake’s RV, and refusing to make eye contact, I skedaddled to the back of the trailer, taking the same route I’d used earlier. Although I was dressed now, I still didn’t want to face people’s questions, not when I didn’t have any answers.
I didn’t know if Blake was a thief or not, but it sure felt like he’d stolen my heart.
Chapter Five
The cirque buzzed with the news of Blake’s disappearance and my suspected involvement. I couldn’t say for sure, but the snippets I overheard sounded like the prevailing theory was I’d killed Blake and stashed the body.
Never trust anything a carnie tells you.
Really, don’t trust them. They’ll say anything and they never care about the truth.
I could’ve told them what happened, but they would’ve stuck with the murder story. It had a better angle.
They gossiped over breakfast, while they packed up and as they drove off. I sat inside Lilli’s trailer watching them all through the window. Soon, I would be alone on the lot and free from further scrutiny. I couldn’t wait.
After everyone had cleared out, I changed into a sage green A-line dress, put on matching vintage costume jewelry and some high high-heels. Then I grabbed the keys for Lilli’s little VW Beetle and drove to the hospital. Because we were in Small Town USA with exactly two stop lights, it didn’t take long to locate the tiny local hospital. They probably wouldn’t have even had a hospital except the teeny town was also the county seat. I think that meant all the other towns were even smaller.
Lilli greeted me with a wan smile. Her red hair was twisted into an elegant chignon. The goose egg had disappeared leaving a gray smudge behind. “Hey girl, I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Sorry. It’s been crazy.”
She gestured to a chair, the movement regal as a queen’s. “Sit. Spill.”
“The performance was okay,” I said perching on the vinyl chair next to her bed.
“No.” She waved her hand. “It wasn’t okay.”
My heart sank and the doubts rushed in. Had I screwed up? Would she lose her contract because of me?
“It was fabulous, lady. I talked to Stan. He said you’re a natural.” She wagged a finger at me. “I told you, didn’t I?”
I flushed at the praise, pleased she was happy. “Oh thank God. You worried me there for a second.”
“Sorry. It’s the theater in me. I always go for the drama.” She gave me jazz hands with the word theater.
That made me laugh because it was true. “That’s why I love you, Lil.”
“I love you too, Ruby. You’re my sister from another mother.”
“Ditto.”
We smiled at each other for a moment.
“So what happened after the show?” She arched an eyebrow. “Did you finally pull off a magic trick with Blake?”
A blush burned up my cheeks. “How did you know?”
“I have my sources and I’ve watched you moon over him for months.”
“I didn’t think he knew I existed.”
Lilli chuckled. “Oh he knew. He watched you as much as you watched him.”
“What?” How had she noticed?
She tapped the side of one eye. “I see these kinds of things. So, how was Blake?”
“Great, but he’s gone and the police are looking for him.” I filled her in on the rest of the story and her eyes went wide.
Lilli put a hand to her heart. “Goodness, I had no idea he was such a handful.”
“Too much for me to hold onto,” I said, glum.
“Oh, don’t be sad. You’ll never forget him, and if I’m any judge of men, he was worth it.”
“I hope you’re right.” I already felt some regrets about sleeping with him.
Lilli took my hand in hers and leaned over to look deep into my eyes. “Ruby, don’t you dare let the past do anything but push you forward. You save that retrospective shit for when you�
��re ninety and can’t walk. We’ve got things to do.”
A nurse hustled into the room. “Time for your surgery, Miss Lush. I’m here to take you down to pre-op.”
I squeezed Lilli’s hand. “Good luck, Lil.”
She squeezed back. “Work on some costume sketches for me, will you? Give me something to look forward to when I wake up.”
“Sure. Birds, right?” The last we’d discussed costuming she’d mentioned a bird theme.
“Yes, bright, bold birds. Lots of feathers and a metric ton of sparkle.” She looked at the nurse patiently waiting for us to finish. “Do you know what the recommended daily allowance is for sequins?”
The nurse shook her head.
“All of them.” Lilli giggled.
“Same goes for Swarovski crystals,” I added.
The nurse smiled, friendly but still reserved. “They never covered that in school.”
Lilli tossed her head. “That’s because burlesque dancers are a breed apart.”
The nurse’s lips twitched as she moved to pull up the bed rails. “I’ll make a note of that. Now, we’ve got to get going or you’ll be late.”
I leaned down and gave Lilli a quick hug. “I’ll come see you later.”
“Yeah, bring some food when you do. They haven’t fed me all day and I would kill for pizza.”
I watched the nurse wheel her away and laughed when I overheard Lilli say, “Tell the surgeon to be careful when he cuts me. I’m half glitter.”
Chapter Six
I spent some time bumming around the small downtown after Lilli went into surgery. I ate at the diner there, indulging in a burger, fries and milkshake. Stuffed, I settled into a comfortable chair at the library where I sketched and checked out the fashion magazines. After the hustle and bustle of the last six months, it felt strange to live life at such a slow pace.
Toward dinner time, I spoke to a nurse who said the surgery went well and Lilli was in recovery but still out. I gave her an hour and then ordered a pizza with all her favorite toppings; mushrooms, bacon, sausage, pepperoni, pineapple, peppers and onions. Lilli’s pizza was as extravagant as she was. When I dropped it off later that evening, though, she was out like a light. The nurse on duty said she’d probably sleep most of the night. I left her the pizza and headed back to the trailer.
The lot stood empty save for Lilli’s RV. A lone parking light at the far end cast more shadows than light. I parked the bug next to the trailer, and, just as I stepped out of the car, another vehicle turned into the lot with a grind of gravel.
I watched as it drove toward me, seemingly on purpose. To my surprise, it was a limo. The sleek, black car stopped in front of me and a driver in a trim black suit stepped out.
He took off his hat, revealing short gray hair. With a nod, he asked, “Miss Palmer?”
“Yes,” I said, curious as to why he would want to talk to me.
“I have a message for you.” The driver extended an envelope.
I walked over to him and took it with a frown.
“I’m instructed to stay until you open it, Miss,” he prompted when I didn’t do anything but stare at the envelope.
“Oh, okay. Sorry.” I tore it open and my jaw dropped at the contents. First, there was an air ticket with a final destination of...Morocco? What? The accompanying note simply said:
Come with me. -Blake.
“Blake?” I looked at the driver who just shrugged.
“I’m to drive you to the airport as soon as possible.” He put his driver’s hat back on and opened the passenger door revealing the limo’s expensive leather interior. “Your flight leaves in two hours.”
When I didn’t move or speak, let alone breathe, the driver frowned at me. “Miss?”
“I-I don’t know.” I looked at the note again, my mind racing. I shook my head. “This is crazy. I can’t go.”
“You’re sure?”
I thought of Lilli and nodded. I couldn’t leave her to deal with a post-op knee by herself. Her health had to come first. Besides, the limo and the ticket was just too weird. It didn’t feel right.
“Very well, Miss. Sorry if I bothered you.” He shut the door and then returned to the driver’s seat. With a tip of his hat, he drove off.
I watched him go, unable to decide if I had made a mistake or averted disaster. It doesn’t matter anyway, I told myself, I have to be here for Lilli.
I was just about to enter the RV when the squeal of more tires caused me to turn around. A car screeched into the lot and raced toward me. It wasn’t the limo, but some kind of four door sedan. One of those big ones that old people always drive.
The car pulled alongside Lilli’s car and three men got out. Two of them I recognized as the police officers from earlier in the day. The third slouched in a grungy hoodie that hid his face.
“Ruby Palmer?” called the brash masculine voice of Detective Bowler.
“Yes?”
“You hear from Blake yet?” The two cops crowded around me while the hoodie guy stayed by the car.
I waved the note and the ticket. “Funny you should ask. I just received this.”
They grabbed the papers from me and poured over them.
“Morocco?” The cop who’d spent the morning staring at my breasts frowned at his partner.
Detective Bowler shrugged. “This changes things.” He waved the stranger forward. “You’re coming with us, sweetheart.”
“Am I under arrest?” I backed up, pressing myself into the RV’s door, as they advanced toward me. The hoodie guy darted toward me. Who was he? Some undercover cop or something?
“No, we’re detaining you,” said Detective Bowler.
“I don’t understand. Why?” I fumbled with the key to the RV thinking, if I could just get inside, I could shut out all this madness. What the hell had Blake done and why was I mixed up in it?
Rough hands pulled me back, keeping me from the door. I struggled and kicked, but couldn’t overcome their strength.
“Easy, Miss Ruby. We don’t want to hurt you,” said a soft voice. A voice that gave me pause. I watched with rising panic as the third man moved to stand in front of me. I knew that voice, but didn’t believe my ears. He shoved his hood back enough to reveal his face and my stomach sank.
“Clark.” Again. He was persistent, I had to give him that.
His lips split into a broad smile. “Looks like I might get that kiss after all.”
He leaned in and planted the wettest, grossest kiss I’ve ever shared with a man. Frog tongues probably had less slime. I tried to bite him, but he was nimble. In seconds, it was over and he stepped back with a triumphant smirk.
“Mmm, as sweet as I thought you’d be.” He leered at me. “I might have to kiss you again. You’re that good.”
“Fuck you, you sick bastard.” I kicked at him, but he moved, easily evading my foot. Since he was out of reach, I tried to bite the cops holding me back. While I could reach their biceps, I couldn’t make much of a dent through their clothing.
“Jeez, she’s a pistol,” said the ogling cop as he peeled my face off his arm.
“Wait until I shove your gun up your ass,” I snarled. They both just looked at me, momentarily stunned by the venom in my voice. “What? You think because you’re cops, I’ll let you get away with assault? Are you assholes even really cops?” My spidey sense was going nuts. Something was really wrong with these guys and that meant I was in serious trouble. I’d heard the stories of serial killers dressing up like officers to prey on women. With Clark involved, I didn’t think things would end well for me.
I squirmed and tried to kick them again, but they had the advantage. All I hit was air and proved that men really do have more upper body strength than women. Their hands tightened on me with bruising strength, forcing me to hold still.
“Let’s get her tied up,” Detective Bowler said. “Come on, Clark, make it snappy.”
Clark put a hood over my head and someone zip-tied my hands behind my back.
> “What’s going on? Why are you doing this to me?” I asked. My mouth tasted of Clark’s sweat and stale cigarettes. His flavor was as vile as his personality. I wanted to spit and then gargle with Listerine for a week straight. The hood didn’t help, it smelled like unwashed jockstrap with an overlay of gasoline.
“Just cooperate. It’ll be better for you,” said Bowler.
They started to lead me somewhere, probably their car. By some miracle I twisted free, desperation lending me strength. I ran, but blind with my hands tied behind my back, I was easy to catch. Someone tackled me down to the pavement, taking the opportunity to grope my breasts when I rolled onto my back. Probably the oogler cop or Clark. I slammed my knee up and scored a glancing blow to my groper’s crotch. Not a direct hit, but close enough they stopped feeling me up. Dirty fucking cops.
They lifted me to my feet, and, when I resisted, a fist caught me on the cheek. I screamed then, but that only earned me another punch.
“Where’s the god damn sedative?” barked the harsh voice of the Detective.
“Here,” said Clark.
Someone hiked up my skirt and jabbed a needle into my thigh. The drug hit me like a drinking binge chased by an overdose of sleeping pills. My bones turned to jelly and the men had to carry me as I quickly lost the ability to walk.
I tried to talk, tried to reason with them, but I sounded as drunk as I felt. My mouth couldn’t do more than slur vowels.
They stuffed me in the trunk of their car and took off at a fast clip, slamming me from one side of the trunk to the other as they went. I wanted to be smart and kick out the tail light, but I couldn’t coordinate my body let alone keep my eyes open. Darkness claimed me as I hurtled toward an unknown fate.
Lilli had called Blake a handful, but, for once, her powers of exaggeration hadn’t even come close. He was beyond a handful. He was dangerous and he just might get me killed.
Chapter Seven
A roaring sound filled my dreams. There was pain too. Throbbing aches that told me my dreams weren’t real.
That made me sad because Blake had come to me in the ether of unconsciousness. I desperately wanted him to be real. If he was real, it meant I was safe. Deep down, though, I knew safety had escaped, running from me and leaving me in the dust.