Carnival: An Urban Fantasy by Willa Blackmore

Author:Willa Blackmore [Blackmore, Willa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2024-12-29T00:00:00+00:00

20

Chapter 20

MELISSA

It’s too early for this crap, Melissa thought. She was standing at the edge of the carnival grounds, hugging her coat tight against the crisp autumn chill. The morning fog still clung to the half-assembled rides, shrouding the grounds in a quiet stillness that hadn’t yet been disturbed by the usual clatter of work.

The deputies had shown up right after dawn, catching everyone off guard. She’d expected them, but not before the sun was even fully up. Now the air was thick with irritation. And not just due to the deputies. Two women - sisters of Tula Whitlow - had come with them. One, a stunning black woman - her name was Emmery - looked as if she’d just stepped out of Vogue. The other sister, a tiny little blonde named Alafair, was way more rough around the edges. She was dressed in a ratty old band shirt, cut-off jeans and combat boots. Obviously neither of them were law enforcement, but even so, the two women seemed to be in charge, ordering the deputies this way and that, their eyes cool and calculating. Like predators assessing a new territory, while zeroing in on their prey.

Still blanketed in morning dew, the grounds were hushed, the only sound the muffled voices of groggy workers emerging from their tents and RVs, still bleary-eyed and wrapped in blankets or half-zipped jackets. Here and there she heard snatches of conversation, muttered complaints about being rousted out before they’d even had breakfast.

Melissa watched as the last of the crew shuffled up to the Ferris wheel where the deputies were waiting. They exuded about the same enthusiasm as a group of prisoners heading for the guillotine.

At least we’ll get it over and done with. Maybe still get in a good day’s work.

The news of the missing boy and his truck, abandoned so close to the carnival, had spread fast. And everyone knew who’d been with him last: Annabelle, the new hire.

The whispers had already started, some of them mean-spirited. Melissa could feel it in the air - the budding of resentment, the prickle of blame. These folks didn’t take kindly to cops poking around, not with so many of them carrying the weight of past run-ins and bad blood.

The deputies moved through the gathered crowd with purposeful strides, clipboards in hand, jotting down notes as they went from one sleepy, irritated face to the next. Melissa had done her best to gather everyone quickly, assuring the deputies they’d have full cooperation. She stood off to the side, trying to project an air of calm control, but every second, her nerves seemed to fray just a little bit more.

While the deputies questioned the carnies, Melissa found her gaze drawn to the sisters as they wound their way through the carnival grounds.

Alafair had paused near a game booth, hand hovering over a stack of stuffed animals. Her lips were moving. Either the woman was talking to herself, or having a conversation with the stuffies hanging from the ceiling.

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