Killing at the Carnival

by L. A. Nisula

  “And for how long?”

  “About half an hour in the morning when I’m sure everyone’s awake, and as much as I can get in in the evening after the place closes down. And I try to get in an hour of trick roping a day, and another hour of gun tricks, but I don’t have any bullets in the guns for those.”

  “I see, so there’s quite a bit of work involved seeing as you do so many kinds of tricks.”

  “I suppose so.” Nick paused to reload. “But I enjoy it.”

  Inspector Burrows gave him a moment to begin shooting again before he asked, “And do you always aim at the target, even when you don’t have any bullets in the gun?”

  “Always. Partly a safety thing. You don’t want to get in the habit of shooting at just anything. And partly to aid in the illusion of the trick. The audience can feel if you’re not doing it properly.”

  “Have you ever had an incident like this before? Ever shoot someone by accident?”

  “Of course not! I’m careful, I tell you.”

  “But how do you explain it, then? The real bullets in the gun and you hitting him like that?”

  “I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. Jerry and I are so careful to stop something like this from happening.”

  “And you’re certain you never met the victim before he climbed onto your stage?”

  “He didn’t look familiar.”

  “Where did you learn to shoot?”

  “My grandfather taught me.”

  “Yes, you said he was with the police.”

  “That’s right. In Boston.”

  Inspector Burrows blinked once. At first I thought it seemed odd, but then Art appeared from behind the tents. “Hey, Nick! Kingston’s looking for you!”

  “Thanks, Art.” Nick holstered his guns. “I’m sorry, Inspector, but when the circus owner calls...”

  “I understand. I’ll probably be back, though.”

  Nick nodded and jogged off towards the office wagons. Art came over and held out his hand until Inspector Burrows dropped a coin into it. “What’s he going to do when he realizes Kingston wasn’t looking for him?”

  Art grinned. “Kingston’s in town checking to see our posters are all up where they should be. If he runs into Nick when he gets back, he’ll just think he called for him before he left and forgot why. Pleasure doing business with you, Inspector.”

  As Art ran off, Inspector Burrows went to collect the target. “It seems I’ll have to arrest him.”

  “Arrest Nick? Why?”

  “Look at this. Even with me questioning him, even when I was practically accusing him of murder, he never missed a shot.”

  I looked at the target. Inspector Burrows was right, the bullet holes were all clustered around the playing card, every one at least nicking it. “Because he’s a good shot? You knew that.”

  “I’m sorry, Miss Pengear, but look at the pattern of his shots. He is a crack shot. Even when I was talking to him, even when I practically accused him of killing Mr. Spalding, he didn’t miss.”

  “But—” And then it hit me.

  Inspector Burrows saw the moment I understood what he was saying. “Even if that bullet was in the gun by accident, he would have shot at the card, not Mr. Spalding. And from the setup you showed me, he would have had to miss by a fair bit to hit Mr. Spalding in the chest by accident. And that was at what, ten paces? Fifteen? But when I brought up his disapproving relatives, he still managed to hit a target at fifty. He meant to shoot Mr. Spalding. And that makes it murder.”

  I stared at the holes in the card. “What am I going to tell Davy?”

  I didn’t expect Inspector Burrows to answer, but he said, “Would it be easier if I told him?”

  “No, no. I’ll come up with something.”

  “As long as it’s something to tell the boy and not a new way for you to get into trouble.”

  “Of course not.” Clearly investigating was not getting into trouble. “What happened at that first robbery?”

  I was surprised when he answered me. “There’s nothing much to tell.”

  “Then there’s no reason not to tell me.”

  He must have realized how worried I was about Davy since he said, “All right, Miss Pengear. Someone broke into the bank through the ventilation shaft. No one could figure out how they gained access to it. The Goston force thought it had to be the circus people because of the setup of the shaft. It was narrow with a lot of turns, so they were looking for someone capable of navigating it, like an acrobat. The thief got the money out of the safe and relocked it, then snuck out again. No fingerprints.”

  “And the money’s been turning up around here?”

  “That’s right.”

  “When the circus came?”

  “That’s right.”

  “You’re certain it was after they came?”

  “We don’t know the exact date it was spent, but it arrived at the bank the day after they came to town.”

  “Who deposited it?” When he didn’t answer, I thought about it. “Why was the bank looking for five-year-old robbery money from Goston?” Still no answer. “They weren’t, were they? They were checking the money coming in. Why? They don’t look at every bill that comes in. A criminal brought it in.”

  Inspector Burrows looked back at me.

  “I’m right, I can tell. Not a known thief or you’d be looking at him.” I ran through money crimes in my head. “A house of ill repute, perhaps?”

  Inspector Burrows rolled his eyes. “You’re trying to shock me into telling you.”

  “Is it working?”

  He sighed. “Just a run-of-the-mill bookie. They were watching the money from his legitimate storefront.” He pulled the target off of the stand. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, an arrest means paperwork.”

  And paperwork meant no more information for me. “I suppose I had better try to find Davy.”

  “Well, my offer still stands. Or I could ask Constable Lipson. I think his son is about Davy’s age.”

  “Thanks. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

  “I’m sure you will.”

  “You could have said that a little more enthusiastically.” I smiled as I said it, though, and turned towards the midway. It was best if Inspector Burrows thought I was looking for more food.

  Chapter Six

  I left Inspector Burrows at the practice grounds and headed back towards the public areas. If I didn’t do something, Nick was going to get arrested and charged with murder, and much as I hated to admit it, he did look like a good suspect. But Davy had been so certain, I kept thinking it couldn’t hurt to find out just a little more. But how could I do that?

  I nibbled at my fried dough. There really was no way for me to interview the other witnesses from the audience. Most of them would have had quite enough of the carnival and wouldn’t be hanging around today, and somehow I didn’t think Inspector Burrows was in any mood to let me see his list of addresses.

  Except Lucinda. Not only had she been the best placed to see it happen, but I knew more or less where to find her.

  I glanced back, but Inspector Burrows was still at the practice grounds, so I turned away from the midway and slipped around Nick’s wagon. That put me in the middle of the area of performers’ wagons. The only question was which was Lucinda’s.

  “Miss Pengear?”

  I turned and found Art trailing along behind me. “Hello, Art.”

  “Was that bad for Nick?”

  I knew what he meant at once. “It wasn’t good, I’m afraid.”

  “Oh, I didn’t mean—I mean...”

  I realized what he was really asking. “Oh, not your bit. Inspector Burrows would have gotten the target anyway. No, I’m afraid it’s Nick’s talent that’s getting him in trouble.”

  “I heard. He’s too good to miss unless he wants to. But I still don’t believe it. He’s a good bloke. I mean, he wouldn’t just shoot somebody. I know it.”

  “Davy said the same thing, although he doesn’t know
him, of course.”

  “But I do. That’s why I thought, if I could find out what the inspector was thinking…” Art started looking around. He fixated on a pair of roustabouts pounding in tent stakes. “Don’t know why Kingston hires louts like that. They’re dangerous.”

  “Hmm.” There was something he wasn’t telling me. So what was it?

  “If one of the main tent poles isn’t put in right, it’ll bring the whole thing down right on the audience’s heads.”

  He was still staring at something just beyond the roustabouts he was talking about. I leaned to the side so I could see what was in his line of sight. The practice grounds. I could see glimpses of them between the wagons. He was worrying about Nick. So he really did believe that he was innocent. Or he wanted to believe it, at least.

  “I mean, do you think they’d know the difference between a tent pole that supports the whole thing and one that just holds up an end?”

  I realized I wasn’t paying attention to what Art was saying. I looked around until I spotted the roustabout he was talking about . “Do you think he’s involved?”

  “Charlie? He hasn’t got the brains. Now Simon, he’d be clever enough, but he’s much too nice. Haven’t you heard a word I’ve said?”

  I tried to cover by asking, “Where is Lucinda’s wagon?”

  “Then you are going to investigate. Just like Davy said.”

  So that was it. “I’m sure Davy exaggerated my abilities.”

  “But you have solved mysteries before. Ones that Scotland Yard had given up on. Davy said they thought his aunt had been a murderer, and you proved that she was innocent. You’ll do the same for Nick, right?”

  I sighed. “I just want to have a word with Lucinda and find out what she saw.”

  “Oh, I don’t expect a guarantee or anything. Just have a bit of a poke at the facts.”

  “Don’t you trust Inspector Burrows?”

  “He’s all right for a copper, but I trust you more.” He grinned up at me, and I was reminded strongly that he was only a year or two older than Davy. Then Art pointed over my shoulder. “Lucinda’s is the green one with blue trim. I’d escort you, but I don’t think the inspector can get by without me.”

  “Naturally.”

  “I’ll let you know if I hear anything interesting.”

  “Thanks.” I watched him run back towards the practice grounds then started for the green wagon with blue trim.

  ~*~*~

  Lucinda’s wagon was a little smaller than Nick’s, but she had it all to herself. I pretended to study the geraniums she had planted in a pair of empty tea tins stuck on either side of her door while I tried to come up with a good way to approach her.

  Lucinda answered the question for me. I saw the curtain twitch, then the door opened, and Lucinda stood there, staring at me. “Can I help you?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you. I was just wondering how you were able to grow them so well on the side of a moving vehicle. They’re really beautiful.” Flattery didn’t seem to be working, but I kept at it. I extended my hand. “Cassandra Pengear.”

  She hesitated. “I think Joe mentioned you. You were with the police.”

  “Not officially. Inspector Burrows press-ganged me into taking notes. I’m a typist, you see, and I sometimes work for the Yard.”

  “And now you’re poking around the accident, aren’t you?”

  I knew I wouldn’t get anything out of Lucinda if she was on the defensive. “I suppose I am. I was there, at the show.”

  “With all the others, whispering.”

  “Well, you see, I was with a ten-year-old boy, and I’m trying to figure out how to explain to him what happened.”

  That seemed to soften her a little. “Well, accidents do happen, I’m afraid, especially with firearms.”

  It seemed to be a way in. “I know, but he was so excited about seeing a real cowboy. If there was something I could tell him, an explanation of how it went wrong.”

  “I don’t know how—”

  I saw I was losing her, so I switched tactics. “You must have been so upset being so close to it. It was disturbing enough being in the audience.”

  “Yes, it was terrible. I was so upset, I had to go to the infirmary and ask Doc for a sedative.”

  “But you did have the presence of mind to get everyone out and refunded for the tickets.”

  “Well, that’s the circus training. Show must go on. Never let them see you cry. As soon as the audience left, I fell apart.”

  “So Art brought you to the infirmary then?”

  “No, no. I sent him away. I didn’t want him to be as upset as I was. He talks a good line, but I think he’s only eleven. Twelve at most. And he’s a friend of Nick’s.”

  “Is that why Inspector Burrows didn’t interview you yesterday?”

  “It might have been. I didn’t realize the police were involved at all until I woke up this morning, and by then everyone was talking about it.”

  “I suppose you’ll be an important witness, though. I mean, you saw everything.”

  Lucinda pulled back. “Do you think he thinks that? I mean, there was nothing to see.”

  “But you know how Nick set up the trick.”

  “I don’t know how that could be of any help. I mean, what kinds of things do you think he’d ask?”

  “Well, I would think he’d want to know how you choose your volunteers.” When she didn’t offer an answer, I went on. “How do you choose your volunteers? I mean, you may as well practice the answers so you’ll be ready.”

  “I suppose so.” Lucinda came out of her wagon and sat on the step. I joined her, sitting on the step below so I could look up innocently at her. “I look for someone who the audience will like. For the first trick, the roping, it’s all right if they’re a bit obnoxious, a bit hungry for the spotlight, since the tying up at the end makes the audience feel vindicated. The second trick has less for them to do, so I pick someone who seems typical of the crowd that day.”

  “What if they don’t want to do it?”

  “I tease them a little. It makes for good theater.”

  “So you still take them?”

  “If they’re with friends. The group usually becomes very supportive once they see their friend on stage, and the volunteer usually starts to have a good time once they feel like they’re performing.”

  “Did Mr. Spalding seem like he wanted to be on stage?”

  “Mr. Spalding? Who—Oh, was that his name? No one said—Well, he didn’t raise his hand or anything, but he was looking at me, if you know what I mean, so I thought he’d like the attention.”

  “I suppose you find a lot of volunteers that way.”

  Lucinda smiled. “Not when their wives are there, of course.”

  Good, she was relaxing. “I suppose not. Did you notice anything unusual during the trick?”

  “Other than how it ended? No. Nick did everything just the same.”

  “And no one had tampered with the gun?”

  “It looked the same as always, but I wasn’t looking for anything unusual. And I don’t really do much with the guns, just carry them out to him.”

  “And before the show?”

  “I was in my wagon, dressing. These costumes take forever to put on properly.” Lucinda glanced at the door. “I really should be practicing.”

  “So Nick’s show will go on?”

  “If he hasn’t been arrested. If he has, I’ll find someone else who needs help. Joe Cardinal might want a little flair. Heaven knows his show needs it.”

  I smiled. “It was a trifle pedantic.”

  “There’s a reason we call him the Professor. He thinks it’s a compliment though.” She shrugged. “I’d suggest you take that nephew of yours to see the Mysterious Cobra. The snakes terrify me, but boys always love that one.”

  “Maybe I’ll get his aunt to take him.” I could see Lucinda was edging towards the door. If I wanted to be able to question her again, I’d have to st
ay on her good side now. I stood up. “Thanks for the suggestion. Perhaps I’ll be able to catch another of your shows.”

  “I hope so.” She seemed much friendlier now that she was getting rid of me.

  Away from the wagon, I decided I’d pressed my luck and Inspector Burrows’s patience about as far as I could for one morning, so I started for the midway. As I slipped out to the main path between two wagons, I almost knocked Art and Davy down.

  “Thought we’d see if you needed our help.”

  “I thought Inspector Burrows couldn’t function without you.”

  “He can’t. He just doesn’t realize it yet.”

  I smiled a little. Inspector Burrows never seemed to appreciate how much he needed me, either.

  Art saw his opening. “Did you get anything out of Lucinda?”

  “Not really. Not yet, anyway.”

  “Maybe she knows Martha,” Davy suggested. “Did you ask her that?”

  “She’s the kind of witness I have to step gently around. I can’t ask her too many things directly.” But it was a good idea. Lucinda seemed the sort to move around a lot. But then so did a lot of performers. And if she knew this person… “Art, is there anyone else here who might have been in shows up north?”

  Art folded his arms and rested his index finger along his chin. I supposed it was his thinking posture. “Lots of folks move around a lot in this game. I can ask around if it would help Nick.”

  “It would.”

  “Then I’m your man. Leave it to me.” He saluted and dashed between the tents.

  Davy looked as though he wanted to follow. “Come on. Lucinda suggested the Mysterious Cobra as something you’d like. I’ll buy you a ticket, and you can see it by yourself.”

  “By myself? Really?”

  “As long as you meet me exactly where I tell you when it’s over.”

  “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Then why—”

  “I don’t want to see the snakes.” Which was true, but I also wanted him out of the way until I could find Mrs. Albright.

  ~*~*~