Freeks(51)
“The sooner the better, don’t you think?” Deputy Bob asked with a raised eyebrow.
Gideon stood up taller. “Our contract is up on Sunday. We’ll be leaving then.”
“The thing is that I don’t think Caudry is zoned for that type of animal.” Deputy Bob pointed to Mahilā. “And I was willing to let it slide, but now that it seems you can’t control—”
“We have control of the tigers,” Gideon cut him off and pointed his finger at the deputy. “There is an animal here, some type of oversized coyote, and it’s messing with us. You need to get control of it.”
“I’m a deputy.” He smirked and tapped the badge on his chest. “Not animal control. And once you get these tigers out of here, I’ll see about sending the animal control boys out here to have a look at your claims about alleged coyotes.”
“You think my tiger attacked herself?” Gideon countered.
“No, I think you have two tigers, and the one that’s left doesn’t look too happy about being here,” Deputy Bob said. “They’re wild animals, maybe even rabid. And if you don’t get them out of here by the time the carnival opens this afternoon, I’ll have to shut you down.”
Gideon gritted his teeth, but he nodded. “Fine. The tigers will be gone.”
Deputy Bob grinned. “Glad to hear it. Now I hope y’all can enjoy the rest of your stay in Caudry.”
The deputy turned and went back to his car, so I walked over to Gideon.
“Why’d you let him make you get rid of the tigers?” I asked as Deputy Bob got in his car.
“Whatever’s been bothering us seems attracted to the tigers,” Gideon explained. “It’ll be safer for them if they’re gone. Maybe with the big cats gone, we’ll get some peace and quiet around here.”
Deputy Bob finally turned off his flashing lights and backed out of the campsite. When he turned out, Carrie Lu walked in. She watched the police car leave, then looked over at the crushed tiger pen.
“What the hell is going on here?” Carrie asked no one in particular.
30. the hierophant
People immediately began peppering Carrie with questions about Seth and what she was doing and how she was doing, but her appearance really said it all.
Her black hair had been pulled into a ponytail, and her deep-set eyes had dark bags underneath, contrasting with her pallor. With her shoulders hunched and her arms hugged against her chest, it was like she was trying to fold her slender frame into herself.
Roxie pushed her way through the small crowd of people that had gathered around Carrie, then she looped her arm around her roommate’s shoulders.
“Seth is awake, and he’s doing better,” Carrie said. “The doctors say he should be well enough to be released tomorrow.”
“That’s great news,” Gideon said. He stood a few feet back, away from the well-wishers, but his low rumbling British accent pushed through the murmurs of everyone else. The exhaustion of this place was wearing on him, but he looked relieved and even managed a small smile.
“It’s been hell sleeping in the hospital, though, so I just came back to catch a nap and grab some of my things,” Carrie explained.
“Give her space, people,” Roxie commanded, and began leading Carrie to their trailer. “She can talk to you when she wakes up.”
“Actually, I was just going to call a meeting,” Jackie said, and everyone turned to look at her in surprise, including Gideon and her husband, Brendon.
She stood in front of her motorhome, already dressed in a jumper with her blond hair curled even though it was barely seven in the morning. Behind her, her daughter, Alyssa, was inside the trailer with her face pressed against the glass door, making her nose smoosh up like a pig’s snout.
“I would like it if you would join us for the meeting, Carrie,” Jackie said, resting her blue eyes on Carrie. “I understand if you need your rest, though.”
Carrie nodded numbly. “I can stay for the meeting.”
“Are we having it now, then?” Gideon asked with a cocked eyebrow. He glanced around the campsite, looking skeptical and annoyed. As the head of the carnival, he was usually the one who called the meetings.
“Since Carrie is here now, I think it would be best.” Jackie tried to keep her voice even, but I heard a slight nervous tremor running through it.
Gideon turned and shouted, calling for everyone to join us in the campsite for a meeting. Most people were already outside and awake, but a few stragglers made their way out. Hutch scurried around to set up lawn chairs, and I rushed to help him.
Roxie led Carrie to a picnic table in the back, while Gideon took a seat front and center. Mom finally emerged from our Winnebago with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders and sat down next to him.
“What’s all this about?” Brendon asked his wife while everyone took their seats.
“I think it’d be better if you just sat down with everyone,” Jackie whispered.
He eyed her warily, but he complied, sitting down next to his brother near the front. With the whole campsite here, we were actually a couple chairs short, so Hutch and I chose to stand in the back.
“Thank you all for coming out here so early, but in light of everything that’s happened, I think it’s best that we talk about it all now,” Jackie began.