The Screaming Room by Thomas O'Callaghan

Author:Thomas O'Callaghan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery & Detective, General, Suspense, Thrillers, Fiction, Espionage
ISBN: 9780786018123
Publisher: PINNACLE BOOKS
Published: 2007-04-25T05:17:07+00:00

Chapter 51

“Step right this way, ladies and gentlemen! Right this way! See the sword-eating Claudius and the tiger-faced lady! Right this way, ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages!” The circus barker stood behind his rainbow-colored podium at the entrance to the Midway, a corridor of wonders that led toward the circus’s big top. “Our Midway is now open, ladies and gentlemen! And later tonight, our big top will open for the main event! A wonder of wonders! Not to be missed!”

The Pie in the Sky Circus was a traveling extravaganza that toured the East Coast, delivering weekends of joy and pleasure. Under three multicolored tents, it featured a “barrelful of clowns,” a troupe of trapeze artists, and a host of animal acts.

It was a bright Friday afternoon when Margaret arrived on the fairgrounds outside of Lester J. Coddinton Elementary School in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The caller to the Tip Line, a clown named JellyBeans, had told the police to look for a red and yellow camper, just to the right of the big top.

Margaret walked to the camper and knocked on its door.

No one answered.

Just as she was about to knock again, a voice sounded.

“Who ya lookin’ for?”

Margaret followed the voice to the back of the camper, where she found a wafer-thin midget seated on a stool.

“You JellyBeans?” she asked.

“Nope. Ya lookin’ for work. Are ya?” said the little man.

“No. I’m looking for a clown. Goes by the name of JellyBeans.”

“Jelly’s my friend. Whaddya want with him?”

“He’s expecting me,” said the Sergeant.

“He’s expecting you, is he?” The little man squinted as if examining the Trojan Horse.

“That’s right. We spoke on the phone.”

“What’s this all about?”

“It’s personal,” said Margaret, amused.

“I’m on to you Immigration people, ya know. Always buttin’ in and stirrin’ up trouble. You people make me sick.”

“You gonna tell me where JellyBeans is or do I have to bust you for interfering in the investigation of a crime?” Margaret flashed the tin. JellyBeans! Good God!

“You callin’ my friend a criminal? Come down off that high and mighty horse of yours, sister, and fight like a man!” The dwarf climbed down from his stool, not a simple task, and squatted, kung-fu style.

“You’ve gotta be kidding,” said Margaret, laughter now erupting. “Look. I’m not here to arrest anyone. I’m just here to ask your friend a few questions. Like I told you before, JellyBeans is expecting me.”

“Scared the pants off ya, didn’t I?” the dwarf gloated.

“That ya did.”

“Well if you must know, my bestest friend, Jelly, is sleepin’ it off right here in this camper. He drank buckets of swill last night and the show goes on in less than three hours.”

“Would it be asking too much to wake him for me? I’m asking this as a favor, mind you,” said Margaret, fighting the impulse to squat down to the little man’s level.

“Well…okay,” said the dwarf. “Give him a minute to freshen up.”

The dwarf disappeared inside the camper. Shortly after that, he stuck his head outside.

“Da-da-da-dah! His highness, Lord Jellsworth, will see you in his royal chamber! Step right this way.

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