Strolling Into Danger (A Seagrove Cozy Mystery Book 6)

by Leona Fox

  There was a ring of police officers around the bottom and the female officer who had followed him up the first pole was waiting on the platform on the chance he would try to make it back.

  Sadie watched to see what he would do, but he never even slowed. He went from the wire to the platform and then up the pole to the top of the tent where he paused for a moment and then disappeared into the top of the tent.

  “How did he do that?” Sadie asked, not that she expected anyone to have the answer.

  She joined Betty and Lucy as they followed the officers out the nearest exit, which happened to be the performer’s entrance where they had entered. They turned to look up, but they were too close, the tent was in their way.

  There was a whistle and Sadie looked to see the Strongman standing on top of one of the big trailers that hauled the circus. He waved for them to come over.

  “Come on,” Sadie said to Betty and Lucy and they ran to the semi.

  “How do we get up?” Sadie called up to him.

  “There’s a ladder at the back,” the Strongman called down and Sadie knew why she’d never heard him speak.

  He had the most beautiful voice she’d ever heard and his accent was BBC English. A perfect voice for wooing women but absolutely wrong for a man who needed to intimidate. It was far too refined.

  They ran to the back of the trailer and Sadie scanned the top of the circus tent while Lucy and Betty went up ahead of her. She still couldn’t see any sign of Win on the tent.

  “Sadie!” Lucy called down to her. “Come on. You can see everything from up here.”

  Sadie climbed the cold metal ladder attached to the back of the semi-trailer and climbed up on her hands and knees. Lucy put out a hand and helped Sadie to her feet and pointed to the big top tent. Sadie steadied herself with a hand on Lucy’s arm and looked where the three others were pointing.

  Win was running along the top ridge of the tent. Sadie couldn’t help but admire his agility, then she thought of how high he was and decided she admired his courage more. Of course, she then thought of Pabelin and decided she didn’t admire him at all. Then he slipped, his foot sliding out into thin air and he dropped to one knee. She held her breath as he regained his footing and moved forward again.

  He reached the far pole, stood there a moment, and then jumped. He landed on the slope of the tent roof and slid to the edge of the roof. As he reached the edge, he stood, bent his knees, and as his feet hit the point where the canvas dropped away into wall, he jumped. He soared toward a truck parked near the front of the circus. He tucked and rolled as he landed, ending on his feet, still moving.

  He ran, jumping from truck to truck, until two officers climbed to the roof of a truck in his path. He veered to the left, jumping across the ten-foot wide walkway. Sadie held her breath, thinking he couldn’t possibly make the distance, but he flew, arms outstretched and then rolled, landing on the motorhome. She would have clapped if he wasn’t a murderer.

  Now Win was running toward them, but before Sadie could think about climbing down the Strongman positioned himself at the end of the trailer nearest the aerialist. Win slowed, and Sadie could see him calculating. His next jump took him toward the circus performers’ trailers. He made four more flying jumps before a pair of cops appeared on an RV in his path. Win changed direction again.

  Sadie wondered if they had enough people to trap Winston. At some point, they would run out of officers, and Zack’s people couldn’t make the huge jumps that would allow them to catch Win. It took time to climb down from the trailers, run across the gaps and climb again. By the time the officers appeared again the aerialist had moved across another gap the officers couldn’t hurdle.

  Win left the jungle of motorhomes and trailers to run along the line of semi-trailers that ran from the far fence to the front of the midway. He would pass on the other side of the big top and Sadie worried they would lose sight of Win. If she lost sight then surely Zack and his team would lose him, too.

  “Stop him, Chief,” she said under her breath and Lucy slid her arm around Sadie.

  “They’ll catch him,” Lucy said. “Don’t worry.”

  Sadie spotted four officers climbing a trailer on the other side of the big top.

  “Look,” she pointed. “They are going to cut him off.”

  Winston saw them, too, and on the next truck he changed direction again and jumped for the trailer that carried the wild cats. His first foot hit the trailer right on the edge, but he didn’t have the momentum to follow through and he teetered there, trying to force his body forward. Then he fell in a slow motion arc backward and down, disappearing from view. A roar split the air, sending sharp pangs of fear up her spine and raising the hair on the back of her neck. She ran to the Strongman.

  “Where did he fall?” she asked in a panic.

  “Don’t worry, the cats all have roofs over their cages,” he said, the melodic quality of his voice taking her by surprise yet again. He saw her react.

  “I know. My voice. It’s all wrong.”

  “But it’s so beautiful,” Sadie said. “You could do radio or voiceovers. Anything.”

  “Yes, but what I love is to be the Strongman in the circus. That I can do without my voice. And it is a good thing.”

  “It’s good you don’t have to use your voice?” she asked.

  “Yes. And maybe I’ll get the chance to tell you why, but now we should join the others. I believe they have captured Winston and I would like to know what he has to say for himself.”

  He helped them from the top of the tractor-trailer and led them toward the cathouse. They found the Chief and four of his officers leading Win Felton back toward the big top. He was handcuffed and scowling, radiating rage. Sadie took a step back and ran into the Strongman.

  “Sorry,” she croaked.

  “No need to worry,” he said. “They have him.”

  But the moment the words were out of his mouth the handcuffs slid over Win’s hands and fell to the ground. There was a shout from one of the officers and Win broke free, sprinting for the big top. A crowd of people ran after him. Sadie couldn’t tell the circus people from the police because so many were dressed as roustabouts or performers. She grabbed Lucy and Betty’s hands and joined the crowd racing to the big top.

  They came to a standstill at the edge of the nearest ring and Sadie dragged her friends around the edge of the throng until they could see what was going on. Winston Felton was climbing the center pole. He was about halfway to the platform and three police officers climbed after him. Win was pulling away. He was quick and nimble. His shoes were made to be flexible. The officers had on heavy lugged sole boots, the two uniformed cops were weighed down with their utility belts and the clown’s baggy clothing hampered the third.

  “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 ar
e 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." Rom
an 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.