Read Online Clowns and Cowboys (A Miranda and Parker Mystery Book 3) by Linsey Lanier - Free Book Online Page A

nasty.
    “Do you share the theory it wasn’t natural causes?” she asked him.
    He slipped a protective arm around Dashia’s shoulders. “We don’t have a theory. We heard a rumor the police weren’t sure how he passed away. We only want things to be made right, whatever happened.”
    Interesting comeback. “What about Layla?”
    “Layla?”
    “The silk aerial artist? How well do you know her?”
    Dashia glanced up at Yuri as if asking permission to speak. He gave her a slight nod.
    “We don’t know her very well,” she said.
    “Didn’t she date Tupper?”
    Her eyes widened as if she was surprised Miranda knew that little tidbit. “Well, yes. But she was very private.”
    Uh huh. “Can you tell me Layla’s last name?”
    “Last name?”
    “Surely you know it. I understand she was from Eastern Europe.”
    Dashia glanced up at her husband again. Miranda knew she was about to lie.
    “There you two are!”
    She spun around and caught sight of Sam jogging up to join them. He had on a dark blue Harley-Davidson T-shirt, khaki cargo shorts, and a camouflage cowboy hat to replace yesterday’s Stetson. His big silver belt buckle gleamed with the image of a longhorn and the embossed words “Cowboy Up,” southwestern for “man up.”
    “Sam,” she said when he reached them. “What are you doing here?”
    He frowned at her. “I live here, like everybody else.”
    “I mean what are you doing right here?” She pointed to the ground.
    He raised his palms. “Coming to help you two out. Did you talk the police?”
    She didn’t answer. “Right now, we’re talking to this gentleman and his wife.”
    Sam folded his arms. “I can see that. Have you met? This is Yuri Varga. He’s our human cannonball.”
    “So his wife said.”
    “His act is absolutely amazing. He flies over sixty feet in the air at sixty-five miles per hour. Nothing scares Yuri. He missed the net once. That’s how his face got messed up.”
    She scowled at him as if that remark was the rudest thing she’d ever heard.
    “Oh, ole Yuri brags about it. Those scars are badges of honor. Right, big guy?” He gave the man a punch on the arm.
    Yuri forced a smile. “I’m only grateful I lived. Sam, did you hire these detectives?”
    “Yes, I did. I want to find out what happened to Tupper.”
    “We all do.”
    So it was Sam the cannonball had heard the rumor from.
    Miranda wanted to give Sam a shake for spreading it. And for bumbling into their investigation and ruining the rhythm of their questioning.
    But he seemed oblivious. “I thought I’d take you over to check out Layla’s trailer again. That okay?”
    She glared at him. Now the Vargas knew they’d been here. And to Layla’s trailer. She wanted to give her new client a kick.
    “If you’ll excuse us,” Dashia said. “We need to have our lunch. We have a rehearsal this evening to prepare for.”
    “Rehearsal? Isn’t the circus shut down?”
    “Just for today,” Sam said. “Boss wants to have a memorial performance for Tupper tomorrow night. You know. The show must go on.” He raised his hands and gave her that innocent sheep look she used to find endearing.
    “Guess so,” she said through gritted teeth.
    As the Vargas were getting settled into the picnic table next to their boys Sam turned to them. “You two know Layla’s missing, don’t you?”
    Yuri had a dark look and Dashia frowned. “What do you mean she is missing?”
    “I mean she’s gone. She doesn’t answer her door.”
    Dashia looked nervously at her husband again. “Was she fired?”
    Sam looked suddenly deflated. “I don’t see how.”
    “Maybe she got a hotel room in the city. She never really liked living in the back lot.” Quickly Dashia put a napkin to her face to hide her slip. So she knew the aerial artist better than she’d said.
    “Let me know if you hear from her,” Sam said.
    “All right.”
    He turned to Miranda. “C’mon. Let’s go to Layla’s.”
     
     
     

Chapter Ten
     
    As