McEntyre raised his hand slightly. The ice cream pavilion was deserted on this chilly night. Roger sat on one of the little, round, red stools. Four to each round yellow table. Josie sat on another. McEntyre didn't offer to pop for a cone. He just kept talking.
"So there's a reason we have fences around rides and there's a reason why they are posted in specific areas. For instance, let me tell you about that fence you were leaning over. You chose a particularly vulnerable point. The cars are traveling at forty-five miles an hour. The plan is to hit the dip smooth, shoot up into the loops and go on to the next rise. It's a lot of physics you don't necessarily need to understand. What you do need to know is that, once in a blue moon, the cars jump the tracks and where do you think they have the greatest probability of doing that?"
"As they come down that first slope?"
"The one where your head was sticking out? Why yes, you're right."
Roger unbuttoned his jacket and drew it back. He put his hand on his hip. Josie saw the shine of a buckle, the deep mahogany color of the leather belt. He carried no weapon at his waist but Josie wouldn't swear he didn't have one somewhere. She looked at his face again.
"I'll take my chances," Josie said. "According to you guys, there's no such thing as mechanical error, so I figure I'm pretty safe."
"Then let's talk human error. You know what these people do any chance they get?" McEntyre raised his brows, touched his mustache and looked at all the people in the park as if they were not particularly held in high esteem. "These people do stupid things. They lean the wrong way, they stand up, they throw stuff. You wouldn't believe the shit they think is funny. Once we had a kid who took a rock up on the Peak and threw it from the top to see which would hit the ground first, the car he was riding in or the rock. The rock landed on a baby stroller. Imagine that."
Josie didn't want to hear what came next. He told her anyway.
"Luckily the mother had just picked the baby up because it was fussing. The woman was hysterical, the stroller was crushed and the kid on the ride was kindly asked never to come back to Pacific Park again. The parents sued us. They said since no one was hurt there was no reason to keep their precious little boy out of the park. That incident cost us a small fortune to defend. Luckily, common sense won the day. A judge agreed that kid didn't deserve to come back."
"Okay," Josie propped her elbows on the table. "I was wrong. Leaning over that fence wasn't the smartest thing in the world to do."
"It wasn't even close," McEntyre said. He put a hand on the table. He didn't fidget. He was a very calm man. "What were you looking for?"
"It's what I was looking at. There are two cameras pointed at the coaster. I think there was a third in the middle area," Josie informed him.
"Did you want your picture taken?"
Josie propped her elbows on the yellow table, rested her chin on one upturned hand and said:
"No, I want to know how many cameras were pointed at the Shock & Drop. We only have one tape. Where are the rest of the tapes, Mr. McEntyre?"
Josie swore she saw just the hint of a smile underneath the straw colored mustache. It might have been a trick of the light, though, because Roger McEntyre didn't seem particularly amused or interested in the question.
"We looked through all our old files and turned everything we had over to Mr. Cooper as soon as we had questions about the tape. That one is all I had in the archives."
"So you're telling me there are multiple cameras on the Perilous Peak but there was only one camera on a ride as big as the Shock & Drop?" Josie asked incredulously.
Roger shrugged and stood up. He buttoned his coat. People had changed their mind and suddenly ice cream was very popular. The man didn't like crowds. They were walking again.
"That was then, this is now. It was an older attraction so I don't know how many cameras were on it. The roller coaster is newer, we've put more money into it and the footprint is three times that of the Shock & Drop. Three cameras are not excessive. If you'd like me to arrange a meeting with our park planning engineer so he can explain the ratio to you, I'll be happy to do that."
"I'll just bet you'd be tickled pink to do that," Josie said amiably.
He was giving her the company line but confrontation would accomplish nothing. Josie would wait until she had something more to work with and hopefully she'd have that in time for the preliminary hearing. They walked toward the back lot where Jude and his team were still working.
"Why didn't the park get the Shock & Drop up and running again if there wasn't a mechanical problem?" Josie asked.
"Why are you reaching for straws?" Roger shot back. Then he saw that she was not going to let it go. He sighed. "That attraction was due to be phased out, so it was no problem to shut it down in anticipation of Tim Wren's mother filing against us. When she didn't, we just kept it out of commission. The plan is documented. I'm sure Mr. Getts has that information."
"And you know that Mr. Getts didn't get all the documentation he asked for."
"I heard that was a problem. There's a high turnover in our administrative staff. It's hard to find good help these days." Roger lied straight-faced. "I'll check it out."
Josie stayed quiet for a minute, admiring Roger McEntyre. She recognized the tone, the walk, the posture. She recognized him. He had seen service and that meant he was a good soldier. His loyalty was to this place. Josie talked to him plain, the way her father had spoken to her.
"Just so you know, I don't believe a word you say, and I won't believe the engineering reports. I'll take every piece of information you feed me and rip it apart piece by piece until I understand exactly what went on here. I'll look for information you don't want me to have. I'll talk to people you don't want me to talk to."
"I'd do the same thing." His eyes glittered sharp and dark. He saw everything around him, what was going on past him and things so close they would blur for anyone else. "Do what you have to do. You're not going to find what you're looking for here. And, just so you know, you can't count on me being around to pull you back if you ever get in trouble again. Not here. Not anywhere."
"I figured as much," Josie said, her eyes never leaving his even when he moved a step closer and lowered his voice a tick.
"And if you make too much trouble, I'll have a restraining order issued against you and everyone you've ever said hello to."
Josie inclined her head.
"I can live with that, but if you know something, if you're covering up, you'll be an accessory to wrongful death when I file. . ."
Josie didn't finish her sentence. Roger's phone rang. He whipped it out of his pocket and walked away. Josie moved close enough to hear him say, "I got it covered."
"What's going on?" Josie asked but McEntyre was already headed out. Josie tried to stop him, hand on the arm, a question thrown his way.
"There's a disturbance on the east side of the park. It's nothing that concerns you."
"Hey boss, we've got a red code." A man in plain clothes was on the run past Josie and Roger. He paused, waiting to see if Roger needed assistance.
"I'm there." Roger yanked his arm away from Josie. She took a few steps forward and called after him.
"What's going on out there McEntyre?"
Roger ignored her as he looked over his shoulder and spotted another man to his left. Josie jogged a few steps. She heard him give the order.
"It's Eric. Go. Fast." Roger's head whipped back to Josie one last time. He was angry to find her so close. He pointed. He gave an order. "Finish up, get out and stay out."
With that he was gone. Josie sprinted inside where Jude's team was working on the Shock & Drop.
"Jude," she hollered. "I'm going to the east side. Don't wait. Call me later."
Jude's head popped up but Josie was already gone, running through the crowds without a care for the stares as she passed, carrying with her an awful feeling that whatever was going down would be a hell of a lot worse if she didn't
get there fast.
Jude rushed to the hangar entrance. He could just make out Josie's head as she bobbed and weaved through the crush of people. Colin Wren came up beside him, silent as a ghost.
"Are they done?" Jude asked Colin even though he was still looking after Josie.
"Almost. They're packing up," he answered.
Jude nodded and turned back. He was suddenly anxious to be away from this place. Ten minutes later they were packed up, and ready to go. They had everything they needed, everything except Colin Wren.
CHAPTER 18
The news of trouble was like a stone skipped on a pond.
There's been an accident.
A shooting.
Something awful!
Oh, God! Where?
People were drawn to trouble because it was human nature. They stopped. They turned. They searched for it. They stared at it and passed the news in excited whispers and frantic calls.
Where are the kids?
Something is wrong with the Reeling Rotater.
But they didn't have to talk about what they could see. Against a black sky feathered with the glow of Pacific Park's lights, the buckets attached to the massive spokes of the humongous wheel of the Reeling Rotater hung motionless. The buckets were painted purple and green and red. The cages that enclosed the riders were made of steel mesh. Neon lights speckled the machinery and stuttered on a controlled blink. People were strapped to a bench and locked inside to keep them from being thrown around as they were turned up, down and sideways while the gargantuan wheel rotated. Faster and faster, twisting and turning, it was a most horrifying ride made even more terrifying now that it was at a standstill. On the ground, park guests fell silent as families drifted, pulled toward the bloodcurdling screams and pleas for help that came from the sky.
Josie slowed but didn't stop. She went around those who seemed rooted where they stood. Half of the buckets were upside down. Three of those were in the highest position. Others were sideways and only two were upright. The lights on the buckets twinkled and flashed like an SOS. On the hub of the wheel a huge neon spiral of colors pulsated to the sound of computer generated music.
Josie pushed through the people, scanning for any sign of Roger McEntyre. She found him moving through a group of teenagers like they were the enemy. McEntyre was closer to the ride entrance but Josie was taller. She saw what was happening and it sent a shock of panic through her. Archer had a young man in a Pacific Park uniform thrown up against the wall of the operator's booth. The operator was screaming for help and Archer was screaming back. Frantically, Josie fought her way forward trying to reach Archer before McEntyre did but McEntyre was a pro and jumped the fence.
"Archer!"
Josie screamed, unable to move any faster. He didn't hear her warning. She jostled left and right when suddenly there was a clearing she saw McEntyre clamp down on Archer's shoulders and yank him to the ground. Archer hit hard and tried to roll away but McEntyre was fast. He bent over and jerked Archer up, whisking him away before Josie could reach them.
On the deck three men in plainclothes closed ranks: one hustled the ride operator away, two others smiled as they took over the operation. Josie tagged three more working the crowd, calming everyone. A thousand heads turned east as The Reeling Rotater came to life with a grating, mechanical groan. The lights blinked off then on and slowly those who had been stuck were lowered to the ground. Josie didn't wait to see the first two people come out of their basket, pale and shaken. She knew everyone would be fine now – except the one person she cared about.
"Miss? Miss?"
Someone tugged at Josie's arm just as she was about to go after Roger and Archer. Startled, Josie looked at the girl who wore Pacific Park pink and a grand smile. She had the overt brightness of a child told to go kiss great aunt Maude and like it.
"Miss? We're going to have to shut down the Reeling Rotater, but Pacific Park would like you to have two free tickets to. . ."
"Where's the security office?" Josie demanded.
"I just wanted to give you – .Hey, you can't do that." The girl stammered as Josie grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Where is it?" Josie screamed. "The security office. Where is it?"
"Over there." Flustered, the girl flung one arm out and the free tickets scattered beneath the feet of the moving masses. "Near the Western Wheels Restaurant. I mean behind it."
Josie took off with a 'thanks' thrown over her shoulder. She jogged in the direction the frightened girl had pointed. She danced to her left, thinking she saw something. She moved a man out of the way with her hands on his shoulders. An objection died on his lips when he turned and saw she was in no mood for anything he could dish out. She ran a few more steps then fell back again. McEntyre was about fifty yards on pushing Archer ahead of him like a POW. Josie kept her eyes on the men as best she could but they traveled in the shadows on the edges of the park, she waded through the crowds. She reached the side gate a few minutes after they did and saw the flash of a rotating light. McEntyre and Archer weren't alone.
"Wait! Hey, hold it!"
Josie held up her hands as she ran toward the cops who were pushing Archer into the backseat of a black and white. McEntyre stood by, indifferent to Archer's fate. Archer's head was pushed down, and his wrists were cuffed. The cop who had custody of him slammed the door. His partner was already behind the wheel. The engine purred. They were ready to go.
"Officer. Hold up." Josie bellowed, wedging herself between McEntyre and the cop. "I'm this man's attorney. I want to talk to him."
"You can see him after he's been booked," the officer answered.
"Has he been read his rights? If. . ."
The uniformed officer gave Josie the once over then waited on Roger McEntyre. Something passed between them and the officer was satisfied. He planted himself in the car and slammed the door. The engine was already running. They pulled out fast enough to force Josie out of the way. Furiously, she whirled on Roger McEntyre.
"You could have stopped them. I saw the way he looked at you. You could have made them give me a minute."
"And you should have left your client behind when you came here. This is my place and I won't have him in my park. Now get the hell out of here before I have you arrested as an accessory to assault." McEntyre turned his back as if she was of no consequence.
"That's bull and you know it." Josie stepped in front of him. She dogged him, insisting he listen. "I left Archer in that parking lot. It's not my fault that your guard is incompetent. And if you're implying I planned this. . ."
"You want to play?" McEntyre was in her face. "Do you? Because if you do, I can make a damn good case that you conspired with your client to intimidate my employees and our guests."
McEntyre let that thought sink in. He squared his shoulders, and he rotated his neck. Finally, McEntyre had it together again. When he spoke, whatever he was feeling had been packed away and Roger McEntyre offered Josie Baylor-Bates a bit of advice.
"He's dangerous. Maybe it's time you admitted that to yourself."
***
When Josie screamed for them to wrap it up Jude had turned to Doctor Hart, Wilson had looked at Jude and the three of them went into overdrive. The scramble was on to get what they needed before Roger McEntyre cut them off. None of them thought about Colin Wren and none of them noticed when he walked away toward the Reeling Rotater. Once there, he was invisible but Colin Wren saw everything and everyone. He saw the glitter in people's eyes – young and old – as they waited for the worst. Maybe they even hoped for it. No one looked away. No one had that respect. It was blood lust, pure and simple.
Colin saw Archer on the platform, his big hands around the neck of that young man. That boy, whose job it was to push a lever, who wanted to go home when his shift was over, whose eyes were like those of an animal caught in the headlights and knew it was about to become road kill. Colin Wren saw the dispassionate expressions of the men who took contro
l, assessed the cause of the fray and calculated the effect of their actions on the waiting crowd.
Colin Wren saw it all and realized that, in a way, he was watching his son's death: The cries, the fear, and the clean up. Both times Archer was in the middle of the fray. Colin had followed along as they spirited Archer away. He had stayed closer to the shadows than McEntyre and paid more attention than Josie Bates. He avoided them all. He saw the police and rejoiced that Archer was getting what was coming to him this night at least. He had heard Roger McEntyre say Archer was dangerous and now Colin believed it heart and soul. Not because McEntyre said it with greater conviction than the District Attorney but because this time Colin had seen Archer in action. This time it occurred to him that maybe something needed to be done about Archer – not Pacific Park.
CHAPTER 19
"That was the dumbest thing you've ever done. I can't believe how stupid you are, Archer. What in the God's name were you thinking?"
"I was thinking I wasn't going to sit in that car like some freaking little girl and wait for you to solve my problems."
"Oh, that's just great. You got yourself arrested because you don't want me to show you up? I ought to walk out of here right now."
Josie's hands chopped the air. She threw them up in despair as she paced the small room. She pointed at Archer. She didn't want to look at the man across the room. He was no less angry, no less frustrated than she but, damn it, he had created this mess and now he was making it worse.
"May I point out that you do need me given the fact that you haven't done a real fine job of solving your problem either, Archer? What you did was just plain idiotic."
"What I did was smart. They were stupid. They put a guy on the side gate and let me walk right through the front. They're such sorry sons of bitches they can't even keep me out of an amusement park."
"Archer, "Josie wailed. "Who is it that's locked up? Who was dragged out of Pacific Park like a dog?"
Archer's chin went up like he'd been clocked. He licked his lips and swallowed his fury.
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