glance at Joe.
“Let’s go out the back.” I peered around our cubicle partition. “Nonchalantly walk with me. Don’t attract any attention.”
“Right.” Aunt Eunice narrowed her eyes. She resembled a shifty-eyed crook. She slouched beside me, then stated in an overly loud voice, “I think I’ll head on over to the restroom. Haven’t had much of a chance all day. A woman my age can’t hold it long.”
“What are you doing?” The woman was an embarrassment.
“Creating a distraction.”
Well, duh. I sighed and marched faster toward the exit. “I said not to attract attention. Oh, never mind.” Like anyone would believe she’d announce to a building full of people her intention of going to the restroom. We were doomed.
A throng of people mingled out back. Mostly carnival workers, although there were a few attendees. Young girls who seemed more interested in the workers than spending time on the rides. Getting to Millie’s trailer would take ingenuity.
“We need another distraction. One better planned than the restroom announcement.”
“I’m on it.” Aunt Eunice marched into the group of people, threw a hand to her forehead, gave a little squeak, and swooned. She collapsed in a surprisingly graceful crumble.
With everyone’s attention on her, I ducked behind a trailer. Covert eyeballing of my surroundings showed no one watched me. With a deep breath, I made my way to the target. Yellow crime scene tape still blocked Millie’s trailer. A shining beacon that I’d probably be in trouble from my cousin. Well, not if he didn’t catch me.
Even with my short height, I managed to get tangled trying to duck under the tape. I’d never been good at the limbo. Too hyper. Never could take my time doing anything. Disentangling myself, I let the yellow ribbon float to the ground.
A turn of the doorknob and I stepped inside. I flicked on my flashlight and directed the beam to each corner of the room. Fingerprint powder covered every surface, even the dishes in the sink. Nothing appeared different from my first visit. One step inside and that annoying floorboard creaked, announcing to anyone inside that he wasn’t alone.
Making my way to where I’d found the body, I took special care not to touch anything. I chided myself about not wearing gloves. Even I should have known that a crime-solver wears gloves when visiting a crime scene. It was written in one of my helpful guides.
Pale moonlight filtered through the red curtains, casting the room in the strangest shade of gray I’d ever seen. I doubted anyone would find that color in a crayon box.
The bathroom beckoned. Shivers ran down my spine, and I considered changing my course of action. What were the chances of finding another body hanging from the shower? I shook off the feeling and proceeded, sighing with relief to see the stall empty.
I ran the beam over the walls, finally settling on the showerhead. Using a nearby hand towel, I grasped it firmly and tugged. It pulled farther away from the wall. I grinned.
No way a struggling body could’ve hung here and not pulled the plumbing free. Not even someone as small as Millie. She hadn’t hanged herself. Someone had placed the body here after the fact.
A creak came from the front room.
I clicked off my flashlight and plastered my back to the wall. My ears strained. My heart thumped wildly. Praying against discovery, I held my breath.
Soft footsteps rasped against the worn vinyl of the trailer floor. I suddenly wished for the ski mask I’d tossed back into Joe’s car. If seen, my hair would be a dead giveaway. I mentally kicked myself for using the word dead.
I closed my eyes, took another deep breath, and hurled myself from the bathroom. My feet tangled in a discarded towel and I toppled forward. The fall to the floor sent a spasm of pain through my shoulder. My feet slipped as I struggled to stand. The footsteps were no longer soft. Someone pounded toward me.
My skidding feet reminded me of a
“Let’s go out the back.” I peered around our cubicle partition. “Nonchalantly walk with me. Don’t attract any attention.”
“Right.” Aunt Eunice narrowed her eyes. She resembled a shifty-eyed crook. She slouched beside me, then stated in an overly loud voice, “I think I’ll head on over to the restroom. Haven’t had much of a chance all day. A woman my age can’t hold it long.”
“What are you doing?” The woman was an embarrassment.
“Creating a distraction.”
Well, duh. I sighed and marched faster toward the exit. “I said not to attract attention. Oh, never mind.” Like anyone would believe she’d announce to a building full of people her intention of going to the restroom. We were doomed.
A throng of people mingled out back. Mostly carnival workers, although there were a few attendees. Young girls who seemed more interested in the workers than spending time on the rides. Getting to Millie’s trailer would take ingenuity.
“We need another distraction. One better planned than the restroom announcement.”
“I’m on it.” Aunt Eunice marched into the group of people, threw a hand to her forehead, gave a little squeak, and swooned. She collapsed in a surprisingly graceful crumble.
With everyone’s attention on her, I ducked behind a trailer. Covert eyeballing of my surroundings showed no one watched me. With a deep breath, I made my way to the target. Yellow crime scene tape still blocked Millie’s trailer. A shining beacon that I’d probably be in trouble from my cousin. Well, not if he didn’t catch me.
Even with my short height, I managed to get tangled trying to duck under the tape. I’d never been good at the limbo. Too hyper. Never could take my time doing anything. Disentangling myself, I let the yellow ribbon float to the ground.
A turn of the doorknob and I stepped inside. I flicked on my flashlight and directed the beam to each corner of the room. Fingerprint powder covered every surface, even the dishes in the sink. Nothing appeared different from my first visit. One step inside and that annoying floorboard creaked, announcing to anyone inside that he wasn’t alone.
Making my way to where I’d found the body, I took special care not to touch anything. I chided myself about not wearing gloves. Even I should have known that a crime-solver wears gloves when visiting a crime scene. It was written in one of my helpful guides.
Pale moonlight filtered through the red curtains, casting the room in the strangest shade of gray I’d ever seen. I doubted anyone would find that color in a crayon box.
The bathroom beckoned. Shivers ran down my spine, and I considered changing my course of action. What were the chances of finding another body hanging from the shower? I shook off the feeling and proceeded, sighing with relief to see the stall empty.
I ran the beam over the walls, finally settling on the showerhead. Using a nearby hand towel, I grasped it firmly and tugged. It pulled farther away from the wall. I grinned.
No way a struggling body could’ve hung here and not pulled the plumbing free. Not even someone as small as Millie. She hadn’t hanged herself. Someone had placed the body here after the fact.
A creak came from the front room.
I clicked off my flashlight and plastered my back to the wall. My ears strained. My heart thumped wildly. Praying against discovery, I held my breath.
Soft footsteps rasped against the worn vinyl of the trailer floor. I suddenly wished for the ski mask I’d tossed back into Joe’s car. If seen, my hair would be a dead giveaway. I mentally kicked myself for using the word dead.
I closed my eyes, took another deep breath, and hurled myself from the bathroom. My feet tangled in a discarded towel and I toppled forward. The fall to the floor sent a spasm of pain through my shoulder. My feet slipped as I struggled to stand. The footsteps were no longer soft. Someone pounded toward me.
My skidding feet reminded me of a
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