deeper
into the arcade. Then he spied Madam Mystic’s tent. The police had
talked to her. Maybe he could wheedle some information from her. It would be
worth a try.
The flap of the tent was open; the inside, like
their caravans, looked like a hurricane had whipped through it. The Amazon
African grumbled as she put things back in order, her gold earrings brushing
her strong ebony jawbone.
When he stepped inside she turned. “Back so soon, my
brother? Good. Plop down your money and state your concerns.”
“Just a social call. Now that I’m part of the circus family it’s time we
get to know each other better.”
Her laugh was harsh. “We’re a traveling bunch of
misfits and don’t accept outsiders well.” She glanced at him sardonically and
lit three candles. “Besides, I know you well enough.”
He heard the humor in her calypso tone and tried not
to take offense. “Perhaps I have a certain magnetism you’ve yet to appreciate—and
mysterious hidden qualities.”
“Hidden from me? I doubt it.” She winked. “If you
can stand the clutter, sit down. Want some tea? You look like a man with a
tremendous thirst. ”
Wariness slithered through him. “No, no thank you.
We’re all concerned about the police coming through the grounds like storm
troopers, invading our caravans, upsetting our schedules, and interfering with
business. Can you tell me what the cops know that they aren’t telling?”
“They’re wondering the same about all of us. But they
didn’t cross my palm with any dinario . ” She frowned. “By the way, neither have you. And
Madam Mystic has a rule…no money no talk. So, fork over the green or be on your
way.”
“I’m sure when you peek into your crystal ball
you’ll see my pay day isn’t until the end of the week. And it won’t be much,
only enough to buy the barest essentials.”
She waved her hand across the crystal and stared at
it a minute. “You can’t hoodwink me. You have some bucks tucked away, and a
very wealthy brother.”
He gazed at the crystal and saw nothing but the
clear glass. “How do you know those things?”
She smiled. “I make it a point to learn a bit about
all the Circus-Carney family.”
“Then you’re aware what the police are looking for
and who has it?”
“Perhaps, but I mind my own business. With your secrets, you should be glad I’m
closed-mouthed. Now back to the subject of money. You get paid to be a
roustabout and jack of all trades and I get paid to tell the future—and often
the past. You don’t work for free and neither do I. So, call your brother to
help you out.”
Resentment shot through Hugh like a hot poker. “I
earn my own way. If money is an issue, I’ll leave my watch with you as a pawn
until I get paid.” He took it off and pushed it toward her.
She pushed it back. “You’ll need your watch. Working
with Tigra and the tigers, requires perfect timing.” She looked him up and
down. “I’ll let you run a tab. Five bucks a visit to be paid in full at each
paycheck or I’ll cast a curse on you.”
He shook his head. Another curse, that’s all I need. I should run like hell out of here.
“You could leave,” she said with humor ringing in
her voice, “but you’ll only come back and by then the price will have soared
like a sky-rocket. So agree to pay me, and I’ll give you a reading you’ll never
forget.”
The big, buxom African was an accomplished scammer.
“What did you mean earlier when you said that sometimes you read the past?”
She waved her hand across the crystal Ball and
peered deeper into it. “I see a dog. No, no, it’s a wolf...a werewolf. I see
bubbling mud…”
A chill slid down Hugh’s spine. “Stop! I don’t want to hear about the past. I want to know who killed Rolo and who the
thief was who stole the golden arrowhead from the museum.”
“But that is the
past, my friend. Make up your mind. What is it you really want?”
“Dammit. Future or past, I want the name of
into the arcade. Then he spied Madam Mystic’s tent. The police had
talked to her. Maybe he could wheedle some information from her. It would be
worth a try.
The flap of the tent was open; the inside, like
their caravans, looked like a hurricane had whipped through it. The Amazon
African grumbled as she put things back in order, her gold earrings brushing
her strong ebony jawbone.
When he stepped inside she turned. “Back so soon, my
brother? Good. Plop down your money and state your concerns.”
“Just a social call. Now that I’m part of the circus family it’s time we
get to know each other better.”
Her laugh was harsh. “We’re a traveling bunch of
misfits and don’t accept outsiders well.” She glanced at him sardonically and
lit three candles. “Besides, I know you well enough.”
He heard the humor in her calypso tone and tried not
to take offense. “Perhaps I have a certain magnetism you’ve yet to appreciate—and
mysterious hidden qualities.”
“Hidden from me? I doubt it.” She winked. “If you
can stand the clutter, sit down. Want some tea? You look like a man with a
tremendous thirst. ”
Wariness slithered through him. “No, no thank you.
We’re all concerned about the police coming through the grounds like storm
troopers, invading our caravans, upsetting our schedules, and interfering with
business. Can you tell me what the cops know that they aren’t telling?”
“They’re wondering the same about all of us. But they
didn’t cross my palm with any dinario . ” She frowned. “By the way, neither have you. And
Madam Mystic has a rule…no money no talk. So, fork over the green or be on your
way.”
“I’m sure when you peek into your crystal ball
you’ll see my pay day isn’t until the end of the week. And it won’t be much,
only enough to buy the barest essentials.”
She waved her hand across the crystal and stared at
it a minute. “You can’t hoodwink me. You have some bucks tucked away, and a
very wealthy brother.”
He gazed at the crystal and saw nothing but the
clear glass. “How do you know those things?”
She smiled. “I make it a point to learn a bit about
all the Circus-Carney family.”
“Then you’re aware what the police are looking for
and who has it?”
“Perhaps, but I mind my own business. With your secrets, you should be glad I’m
closed-mouthed. Now back to the subject of money. You get paid to be a
roustabout and jack of all trades and I get paid to tell the future—and often
the past. You don’t work for free and neither do I. So, call your brother to
help you out.”
Resentment shot through Hugh like a hot poker. “I
earn my own way. If money is an issue, I’ll leave my watch with you as a pawn
until I get paid.” He took it off and pushed it toward her.
She pushed it back. “You’ll need your watch. Working
with Tigra and the tigers, requires perfect timing.” She looked him up and
down. “I’ll let you run a tab. Five bucks a visit to be paid in full at each
paycheck or I’ll cast a curse on you.”
He shook his head. Another curse, that’s all I need. I should run like hell out of here.
“You could leave,” she said with humor ringing in
her voice, “but you’ll only come back and by then the price will have soared
like a sky-rocket. So agree to pay me, and I’ll give you a reading you’ll never
forget.”
The big, buxom African was an accomplished scammer.
“What did you mean earlier when you said that sometimes you read the past?”
She waved her hand across the crystal Ball and
peered deeper into it. “I see a dog. No, no, it’s a wolf...a werewolf. I see
bubbling mud…”
A chill slid down Hugh’s spine. “Stop! I don’t want to hear about the past. I want to know who killed Rolo and who the
thief was who stole the golden arrowhead from the museum.”
“But that is the
past, my friend. Make up your mind. What is it you really want?”
“Dammit. Future or past, I want the name of
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